Prolapse Repair

The tissues supporting the bladder can weaken with time, and the bladder may push into the vagina and sometimes outside the vaginal opening (often referred to as a balloon or large cyst coming out of the vagina). Repairs will help restore the anatomy, as well as reduce any discomfort or pressure felt due to the prolapse.

Bladder prolapse can be repaired using your own tissues while using stitches, or very rarely, supported with an extra layer of tissue such as mesh. Studies have shown that it is best to attempt a repair without mesh if this is the first treatment for prolapse, and if the prolapse recurs, then consider mesh.

The procedure is typically done all through the vagina. A tiny cut is made across the front side of the vagina near the bladder, and the stitches are placed under the vaginal skin to strengthen the tissues. Since the cut is in the vagina, this treatment is cosmetic and no scars on the outside are seen.

When the prolapse of the apex, or top of the vagina, is noted on your pelvic examination, it is necessary to have that area supported and fixed before the repairs are done for the bladder (cystocele) or the area near the rectum (rectocele). If not supported, the prolapse repairs may not last as long as expected, and the bulge in the vagina may come back very soon.

Two techniques that have been proven effective, with results lasting 60-85% over 5 years, are the uterosacral ligament fixation and the sacrospinous fixation. These techniques involve putting stitches that are usually dissolvable to the support system (called ligaments), which existed before having vaginal deliveries.

Your doctor will attach stitches to the strong part of the ligaments. With time, the stitches dissolve and strong tissue usually develops, simulating the older strong ligaments. Like with most prolapse repair surgeries, your physician will suggest weight, activity/lifestyle and lifting alterations after having this procedure done to preserve the results.

Advantages of these techniques include:

• Does not involve the use of mesh
• Cosmetic (no scars visualized)
• Overnight procedure

The tissues on the back side of the vagina can weaken with time and a bulge or sac-like structure can push into the vagina. This can cause symptoms like painful bowel movements, difficulty having a bowel movement or painful intercourse. Constipation and vaginal deliveries with episiotomies or lacerations are often a reason for developing this type of prolapse.

Your physician can help restore the anatomy of the vagina by performing a small procedure that does not involve mesh, and instead uses your own tissues plus stitches to strengthen the vaginal wall tissue and remove the prolapse. Our approach to rectocele repair does not involve any bowel surgery but it does require that your bowels be functioning well and any constipation be avoided to help your results last.

To avoid a lengthy incision across the abdomen, we may perform robotic surgery. With robotic surgery, the incisions are small (usually less than ½ an inch) and not cosmetically problematic. This allows for easier and faster recovery while giving your surgeon greater access during the procedure because of the 3D, image-guided features of robotic technology and the agility it promotes.

Not all surgeons use robotics to perform this procedure. However, our fellowship-trained surgeons are highly experienced using laparoscopy and robotic surgical techniques.