Zdeněk Rušavý

Full Citation: Rusavy Z, Marinic Veverkova A, Smazinka M, Kalis V. Vaginal packing after laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy and surgical outcome after one year: A randomized controlled trial. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2025;104(12):2331-2338.

There is one thing about research work that intrigues me - at one point in time you may become the only person in the world that knows something more than anyone else and you get the privilege to share this knowledge with others. Furthermore, clinical research breaks the routine of everyday medical practice, motivates you to stay updated and ensure that the care you provide remains current and of the highest quality. It is the successful outcomes (patents, publications), peer recognition and awards like this that recharge the energy and fuel the motivation.

Zdeněk Rušavý, MD, PhD, is a certified urogynecologist and clinical professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University. 

In addition to his clinical and research work, Prof. Rušavý is actively involved in medical education, teaching at Charles University, educating midwives at the University of West Bohemia and supervising doctoral theses at Masaryk University in Brno.

After graduating from Charles University, he completed his PhD in 2016 on obstetric interventions and pelvic floor disorders, followed by habilitation in 2019 focused on the primary prevention of childbirth trauma. He was appointed full professor in 2024. His professional development has been enriched by clinical training at leading institutions in France, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico and Australia.

Prof. Rušavý serves on the executive board and scientific committee of the European Urogynecology Association (EUGA) and is a board member of the Czech Urogynecology Society, as well as a member of the International Urogynecological Association (IUGA). He has authored or co-authored more than 75 scientific papers and six book chapters.
The core of Prof. Rušavý’s scientific work lies in the prevention and treatment of pelvic floor disorders. His earlier research focused primarily on primary prevention, aiming to reduce childbirth-related pelvic floor trauma through optimized antepartum and intrapartum techniques. As part of secondary prevention, he has been deeply involved in educating clinicians on the recognition and management of pelvic floor injuries. More recently, his work has concentrated on tertiary prevention, with a strong emphasis on surgical treatment and outcomes research.

Rethinking Routine Practice in Pelvic Organ Prolapse Surgery

Pelvic organ prolapse is a common condition that can significantly affect quality of life, and laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy has become the gold-standard minimally invasive surgical treatment for advanced cases. Despite its widespread use, certain perioperative practices remain based more on tradition than on solid evidence.
In this randomized controlled trial, Prof. Rušavý with colleagues evaluated the necessity of routine postoperative vaginal packing with antiseptic-soaked gauze following laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy. The study demonstrated that vaginal packing provided no benefit – neither in reducing early postoperative complications nor in improving anatomical outcomes one year after surgery. Importantly, the absence of packing did not compromise surgical success, while its omission spared patients an uncomfortable and sometimes distressing postoperative intervention.

These findings have direct clinical relevance, as they support abandoning an unnecessary step in standard practice. By simplifying postoperative care without compromising outcomes, the study contributes to more patient-centered surgery and smoother recovery after pelvic organ prolapse reconstruction.

Bridging Clinical Care, Research and Education

Prof. Rušavý views research as a vital component of clinical practice, not only as a way to advance knowledge, but also as a means of breaking routine, maintaining high standards of care and sharing new insights with the wider medical community. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, engaging in sports and exploring mountainous landscapes in all seasons. He also values travel, fine art and music as ways to maintain balance and perspective.

Being selected as a finalist for the International Medis Awards represents a great personal honor for him and serves as strong motivation to continue his scientific work. He sees this recognition as meaningful acknowledgment of the effort invested in improving evidence-based care for women with pelvic floor disorders.