V-NOTES sterilization trial finds early dip in sexual function; single-port robotic surgery shortens stays; Iowa builds MFM telehealth network

• Research Oct 21, 2026
  V-NOTES tubal sterilization lowers sexual function scores at six weeks but not six months versus laparoscopy in 108-woman trial
  A randomized controlled trial published online Oct. 21 in Surgical Endoscopy assigned 108 women to transvaginal V-NOTES or laparoscopy for bilateral tubal ligation and salpingectomy. The primary end point, change in total Female Sexual Function Index score, fell 4.01 points after V-NOTES and rose 0.90 after laparoscopy at six weeks (difference -4.91; 95% CI -5.56 to -4.25; adjusted P < .001), with no significant difference at six months (difference 0.23; 95% CI -0.34 to 0.79; adjusted P = .855). V-NOTES took longer, 70.0 versus 52.5 minutes.
  Sources: Surgical Endoscopy, PubMed
• Research Oct 24, 2026
  Single-port robotic gynecologic surgery shortens hospitalization versus laparoscopy in 8,243-patient cohort
  A single-center retrospective cohort study published Oct. 24 in the Journal of Robotic Surgery compared 2,134 patients who had robotic surgery on the da Vinci Xi single-site or da Vinci SP platform with 6,109 who had conventional laparoscopy. Total hospitalization was shorter with robotic surgery, 2.54 versus 3.18 days (P < .001), and transfusion was less frequent, 0.6% versus 2.5% (P < .001), while surgical site infection, complications, mortality and 30-day readmission did not differ significantly. The authors said the findings support prospective evaluation of the clinical and economic value of single-port robotic surgery.
  Sources: Journal of Robotic Surgery, PubMed
• Technology Oct 21, 2026
  UnityPoint Health builds Iowa maternal-fetal medicine telehealth network; first site did 52 anatomy scans in its first month
  UnityPoint Health - Des Moines is developing what it says will be Iowa's first statewide maternal-fetal medicine telehealth network, Business Record reported Oct. 21. Specially trained sonographers capture ultrasound images locally and physicians in Des Moines review them remotely. The first site, UnityPoint Health - Fort Dodge, joined in June 2026 and supported 52 fetal anatomy scans in its first month, and more than 130 patients have received specialty services locally, according to the health system, which is supported by a Healthy Hometowns grant from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.
  Source: Business Record

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