Mercy Robotic Surgery

Uterine Prolapse

If the pelvic muscles, ligaments and tissues become weakened and cannot support the uterus it may fall out of position and into the vaginal canal, a condition called uterine prolapse.


Your Mercy gynecologic surgeon can perform a sacrocolpopexy procedure to correct a vaginal vault prolapse or uterine prolapse. With a traditional open surgical procedure a large incision is made in the lower abdomen to access the uterine area. However, by using the daVinci® Surgical System your surgeon can perform a sacrocolpopexy procedure that offers numerous potential benefits including:

• less pain
• less blood loss and need for surgical blood transfusion
• less risk of infection
• less scarring
• lower risk of wound infection
• shorter hospital stay
• quicker return to normal daily life activities

Risk Factors and Symptoms

In addition to family history of uterine prolapse, the condition is often the result of muscle tone loss due to multiple pregnancies, difficult and prolonged labor and deliveries, and delivery of large babies. Obesity and chronic constipation can also be risk factors for the condition. While mild cases of uterine prolapse can have no accompanying symptoms, some patients with more advanced cases include:

• feeling of pelvic heaviness
• lower back pain
• sensation of sitting on small ball
• noticeable tissue protruding from vaginal canal
• difficulty with urination and bowl movement

 

Diagnostic Tests

To confirm uterine prolapse your gynecologist perform a pelvic exam to check your pelvic muscle strength. Your gynecologist may also refer you for an ultrasound or MRI to determine the degree of prolapse.

 

Treatment Options

Once diagnosed your doctor may recommend any of the following courses of treatment depending on your personal medical condition and the degree of prolapse:

• weight loss regimen
• kegel exercises - to strengthen pelvic muscles
• vaginal pessary implantation – a temporary or permanent insert to help lift the uterus back into place
• Sacrocolopexy
• in the case of severe prolapse your gynecologist may recommend a hysterectomy