Sacrocolpopexy

Condition: Pelvic Prolapse

Pelvic prolapse is a condition that occurs when muscles and ligaments that support your pelvic organs weaken. As a result, these organs (uterus, vagina, cervix, bladder, urethra, or rectum) slip from their normal position.

Severe uterine prolapse can cause the uterus to slip (prolapse) partially into the vagina. It may cause the upper part of the vagina to sag into the vaginal canal or even outside the vagina. Some women with prolapse have no symptoms. Others may experience:

A feeling of sitting on a ball
Pulling in the pelvis
Pelvic or abdominal pain
Painful intercourse
Tissue from the vagina sticking out
Bladder infections
Vaginal bleeding
Unusual discharge
Constipation or frequent urination.

Pelvic prolapse is common, affecting about one in every three women who have had a child. One in nine women have symptoms that are severe enough to need surgery.

Risk Factors

Multiple vaginal deliveries
Age
Obesity
Hysterectomy
Smoking

Your doctor may suggest medicine, rehabilitation or lifestyle changes to ease your symptoms. If non-surgical treatments do not help or if your symptoms get worse, your doctor may recommend surgery.

Surgery

The procedure is called sacrocolpopexy. During the operation, surgical mesh is used to hold your affected pelvic organ(s) in their natural position. The mesh remains in place permanently. This procedure is not the same as what occurs during transvaginal placement of mesh. Your doctor can fully explain the differences and process to you. Sacrocolpopexy is viewed as the best way to correct pelvic prolapse and resolve symptoms. The surgery may also be done following a hysterectomy to provide long-term support for the vagina.

Sacrocolpopexy can be performed through traditional open surgery, minimally invasive surgery, or robotic surgery.

Using a da Vinci® robot, surgeons make a few small incisions – similar to traditional laparoscopy. The robot is designed to provide surgeons with enhanced capabilities, including high definition 3D vision and a magnified view. Your doctor controls the robot, which translates his or her hand movements into smaller, precise movements of tiny instruments inside your body. The robot cannot act on its own. Surgery is performed entirely by the surgeon.

Incision Comparison Sacrocolpopexy

Benefits of Robotic Surgery

Compared with traditional open surgery, robotic surgery requires significantly smaller incisions. The potential benefits for sacrocolpopexy patients include: