Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery Helps Overcome Symptoms of Prolapse
As women age the pelvic floor muscles can weaken leading to pelvic organ prolapse. Sometimes making changes like quitting smoking losing weight or regularly performing Kegel exercises can make the prolapse symptoms manageable. However if other treatment options fail and your symptoms interfere with your daily life pelvic reconstructive surgery may be the best option.
What is pelvic reconstructive surgery?
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists lists out several different surgical options for pelvic organ prolapse. There are obliterative procedures and reconstructive ones. Among the reconstructive options are sacrohysteropexy and sacrocolpopexy. In sacrocolpopexy surgical mesh is inserted through an abdominal incision and as Voices for PFD notes it replaces the weakened support.
What are the benefits of minimally invasive surgery?
According to Therapeutic Advances in Urology open abdominal mesh sacrocolpexy is associated with a higher rate of complications more blood loss and longer hospital stays than its less invasive counterparts. Reid Health offers da Vinci sacrocolpopexy where a robotic surgical device and a 3D view inside your body offers more control and precision.
How long will it take to recover?
UVA Health notes that robotic surgery boasts smaller incisions and a quicker heal time. Two to three weeks is typical and you may need to take pain pills during the first week. These may make you feel drowsy so keep this in mind when planning for your recovery. You should refrain from any heavy lifting for four to six weeks after your surgery and wait six weeks to resume sexual activity.
While the journal Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery credits robotic sacrocolpopexy with a high cure rate and a low complication rate for certain types of prolapse every surgery presents potential risks. Possible complications include bleeding infection and mesh erosion. Be sure to talk with your doctor about all your options before surgery and what you can expect afterward.