120,000+ cases of uterine and vaginal vault prolapse are surgically treated each year in the U.S.
Prolapse (or falling) of any pelvic floor organ (vagina, uterus, bladder or rectum) occurs when the connective tissues or muscles within the body cavity are weak and unable to hold the pelvic organs in their natural orientation. The weakening of connective tissues can accelerate with age, after child birth, with weight gain or strenuous physical labor. Women experiencing pelvic organ prolapse may have problems with urinary incontinence, pelvic pain or pressure, vaginal ulceration, sexual dysfunction and/or having a bowel movement.
Treatment
Vaginal Vault Suspension can be performed by Sacrocolpopexy or Uterosacral Ligament attachment. Sacrocolpopexy is a procedure to surgically correct vaginal vault prolapse where mesh is used to hold the vagina in the correct anatomical position. Uterosacral ligament attachment is performed by connecting the top of the vagina to strong supportinve ligaments in the pelvis. Either procedure can also be performed at the same time as or following a hysterectomy for the treatment of uterine prolapse to provide long-term support of the vagina. Vaginal Vault Suspension has traditionally been performed as an open surgery. A large horizontal or vertical incision is made in the lower abdomen in order to manually access the intra-abdominal organs, including the uterus.
If your doctor recommends Vaginal Vault Suspension, you may be a candidate for a da Vinci Vaginal Vault Suspension. This procedure uses a state-of-the-art surgical system designed to enable a physician trained in robotic surgery to perform a minimally invasive procedure through small incisions.
For most West Tennessee women, The Jackson Clinic robotic da Vinci Vaginal Vault Suspension offers numerous potential benefits over a traditional open approach:
- Significantly less pain
- Less blood loss and need for transfusions
- Less risk of infection
- Less scarring
- Shorter hospital stay
- Shorter recovery time
- Quicker return to normal activities