Day 2 | Session 3 | Concurrent | 
Pelvic floor surgery in NZ: maintaining skills and moving forwards

The future of Urogynaecology in NZ

An update on where we are headed in the ever changing world of urogynaecology. A discussion on how we can work together to provide the best care for all our patients across the motu. Will mesh return? How will the registry work? Who can operate? What about the trainees? 

Dr Fiona Bach
Obstetrics and Gynaecology SMO
Christchurch Women's Hospital & Oxford Women's Hospital

Fiona attended medical school and completed her registrar training in Yorkshire, England. She then volunteered in Ethiopia, supporting the training programme at the University of Gondar. Fiona returned to the UK to undertake urogynaecology subspecialty training in Birmingham and subsequently moved to Christchurch. Her medical philosophy is that women should be in control of their own health and doctors should work alongside them to establish the best treatment outcomes available.

Outside of clinical medicine her research interests focus on patient reported outcomes and she enjoys teaching as part of her role at the University of Otago. 

Posterior vaginal repair - two techniques, one objective

This presentation reviews two commonly used techniques for posterior vaginal repair: traditional midline plication and rectovaginal septoplasty. 

Surgical videos are used to highlight key anatomical principles, technical steps, and common pitfalls relevant to everyday practice.

Dr Xiamin Liang
Urogynaecologist
Te Toka Tumai, Auckland

Xiamin is a urogynaecologist based in Auckland. She completed her FRANZCOG training in New Zealand, followed by subspecialty urogynaecology (CU) training in Auckland and Melbourne. She enjoys partnering with colleagues around the motu to support patient care and improve access to urogynaecology services.

Dr Esther Tutty
Fellow
Urogynaecology Trainee
Te Whatu Ora - Counties Manukau

Esther is working as a fellow at Middlemore hospital and is currently a year 1 urogynaecology subspeciality trainee.

Modified Manchester Repair - back to the future

There has been renewed interest in the uterine sparing Modified Manchester Repair procedure for uterovaginal prolapse. Recent favourable reports in the clinical literature reassure this is a safe, effective and economical operation. It remains within the scope of the general gynaecologist.   

Wider adoption of this procedure will help our specialty attend to the increasing clinical demand for surgical management of uterovaginal prolapse.   

In this presentation, the classical “Modified Manchester Repair will be described, with updates on the literature and current patterns of practice.  A video clip will demonstrate surgical management of a case with large cystocoele and uterine descent using a (very simple) variation of the Modified Manchester Repair.

Dr Jackie Hawley
Gynaecologist
Wellington

Dr Jackie Hawley is a Gynaecologist with special interest and clinical focus in urogynaecology, in particular pelvic floor reconstruction and management of prolapse.  She works in Te Whatu Ora and private practice in Wellington.

Her interest in vaginal surgery and prolapse work date back to registrar training. She has had several clinical leadership roles and been an external clinical advisor for ACC. Jackie enjoys clinical teaching and proctoring and participates in urogynaecology outreach in the Pacific.  

Jackie was taught the Manchester repair in the UK in the 1990’s and has continued to perform and teach components of this operation.

The art of closure: colpocleisis in contemporary practice

Colpocleisis is a safe and durable option for elderly women with advanced pelvic organ prolapse who are no longer sexually active, with low complication and recurrence rates. It can be performed as a primary procedure or for recurrent prolapse and avoids the use of mesh. 

This presentation includes a surgical video and practical tips to optimise outcomes, informed by the presenter’s experience in reconstructive and gender-affirming genital surgery.


Dr Sanni Aschenberger
Licenciate in Medicine, MPH, FRANZCOG

Sanni completed her medical degree in Finland and specialist obstetrics and gynaecology training in New Zealand, including the RANZCOG Advanced Training Module in Pelvic Floor Disorders. Sanni is a generalist obstetrician and gynaecologist at Wellington Regional Hospital, with a busy private gynaecology practice. 

Sanni has a strong interest in urogynaecology and pelvic pain and has been involved in developing multidisciplinary urogynaecology services across Wellington and the lower North Island. She is a member of the RANZCOG Aotearoa New Zealand Urogynaecology Working Group and a gynaecologist member of the national gender-affirming genital reconstruction team.