Laparoscopic Pelvic Floor Repair

What is laparoscopic pelvic floor repair?

Laparoscopic pelvic floor repair refers to the use of laparoscopic or minimally invasive surgery for correction of pelvic organ prolapse.

How does laparoscopic pelvic floor repair work?

Over the last decade, doctors have used laparoscopic surgery for diagnosis and treatment of most gynaecological conditions. In the process, doctors have discovered that laparoscopy can help identify and repair many different defects which cause pelvic organ prolapse, restoring them to normal positions.

How is laparoscopic pelvic floor repair different from other surgical alternatives?

In traditional repair surgery, incisions are made through the vaginal skins and the torn or damaged connective tissues is plicated using absorbable suture materials. In laparoscopic pelvic floor repair, surgeons reattach the prolapsed pelvic organs to the pelvic floor muscles or bony landmarks using non-absorbable / permanent suture or mesh materials. The repair is based on the concept that pelvic organs prolapse mainly as a result shearing forces which damage the connective tissues that attach the pelvic organs to the pelvic floor.

What types of pelvic organ prolapse are laparoscopic pelvic floor repair suitable for?

Laparoscopic surgery is suitable for correction of detachment types of pelvic floor defects which form cystocoele, rectocoele, uterine and post-hysterectomy vault prolapse.

What are the benefits of laparoscopic pelvic floor repair?

The benefits of laparoscopic pelvic floor repair include high success rates (over 90%), little post-operative pain, reduced risk of painful vaginal scars and vaginal strictures.

What are the risks of laparoscopic pelvic floor repair?

Risks associated with laparoscopic pelvic floor repair are uncommon. They include risks associated anaesthesia, laparoscopic surgery and vaginal repair. The latter may include rare injury to bladder, bowel, blood vessels and nerves of the pelvis.

Is laparoscopic pelvic floor repair right for me?

As every individual patient has different types of pelvic floor defects, different tissue quality, different health status, and different expectations, you should consult with your own specialist to determine if laparoscopic pelvic floor surgery is right for you.

At CARE, our highly experienced surgeons specialize in the management of pelvic organ prolapse. We have treated thousands of women, many of whom have been referred due to the complexity of their problems or previous unsuccessful surgical repairs.

CARE surgeons are particularly skilled in the laparoscopic pelvic floor repair and sacro-colpopexy and have taught and demonstrated these techniques at many national and international meetings.