Pelvic Floor Reconstructive Surgery
The organs located within your pelvis are the bladder, uterus and bowel. These organs are supported by the pelvic floor, which includes muscle, fascia and ligaments. Sometimes the pelvic floor is weakened, resulting in Pelvic Organ Prolapse. The different types of prolapse are as follows:
- Cystocele – A prolapse of the bladder involving the front wall of the vagina
- Rectocele – Weakening of the tissue connecting the rectum to the vagina
- Enterocele – Small intestine descends into pelvis, pushing on the top of the vagina
- Uterine Prolapse – Uterus drops down into the vagina
There are multiple procedures for correcting Pelvic Organ Prolapse. Depending on the degree of Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Dr. Jeyalingam makes recommendations and discusses management options, including available procedures
Pelvic Floor Reconstruction Surgery Types
Colporraphy
Colporrhaphy is used to correct a cystocele and rectocele.
Sacropoplexy
A sacrocolpopexy is used to repair pelvic organ prolapse. The prolapse is corrected by using mesh to suspend the vagina to a small ligament on the sacrum, in order to support the area in its anatomical position. Traditional sacrocolpopexy requires a large horizontal incision in the lower abdomen in order to reach these organs.
Robotic-assisted surgery is performed with the da Vinci® Surgical System, a device that allows surgeons to have better laparoscopic visualization and instrumentation through complex procedures with ease and safety. The sacrocolpopexy procedure is performed through a few tiny incisions using inserted wristed surgical instruments. Dr. Jeyalingam controls these instruments with a device, while looking through a lens in the console which provides a three-dimensional, magnified view of the surgical field. The robotic instruments mimic the movements of the surgeon’s hands and will not move unless the surgeon is looking through the lens.