Pelvic Floor Surgery

Pelvic floor Repairs

The pelvic floor is a set of muscles that form a hammock or sling around the opening of the pelvis. The pelvic organs, including the womb (uterus), rectum and bladder, are held in position by the pelvic floor muscles and the surrounding tissues. The incidence of pelvic floor disorders increases when the muscles of the pelvic floor and connective tissue are injured or weakened. Some of the common pelvic floor disorders include pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, and anal incontinence.

When the pelvic floor muscles and connective tissue that support the pelvic organs are weakened, the pelvic support is lost resulting in protrusion of the bladder, urethra, cervix and rectum. This is called pelvic organ prolapse. Women with pelvic organ prolapse will experience excessive pressure in the lower abdomen associated with a bulging or aching sensation, difficulty in urination, and urinary tract infections. If the symptoms are mild, non-surgical treatment options such as medications, pelvic floor exercises, vaginal pessaries (a device that is inserted in the vagina to support the pelvic floor), and lifestyle changes may be helpful.

Surgery can be considered in patients with severe symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse. There are different types of procedures to address a specific prolapse. The aim of pelvic floor reconstruction is to restore normal anatomy and function of the pelvic organs.