Pelvic Floor Repair Surgery in Abu Dhabi
What is a Pelvic floor Disorder?
The “pelvic floor” refers to a group of muscles that form a hammock over the pelvic opening. Usually, these muscles and surrounding tissues hold the pelvic organs in place. These organs include the bladder, uterus, vagina, small intestine, and rectum. Sometimes problems with these muscles and tissues occur. Some women develop pelvic floor disorders after childbirth. With age, pelvic organ prolapse and other pelvic floor disorders become more common in women. One or more pelvic organs may stop functioning adequately when pelvic floor diseases arise. The following conditions are linked to abnormalities of the pelvic floor
- Urinary Incontinence
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse
- Anal Incontinence
Diagnosing pelvic floor disorder
If you suspect you may have pelvic prolapse, talk to the doctor. They will examine your medical history and pelvic organs to understand how vital your pelvic muscles are. That may be all they have to do to make a diagnosis.
Your doctor may also detect pelvic organ prolapse during a routine pelvic exam, such as when you get a Pap Smear test.
If pelvic prolapse is suspected, the doctor may order various tests. They may also need to determine if more than one organ has dislocated, how severe the prolapse is, and if you have other related conditions.
Before considering pelvic floor repair surgery as a treatment option, the doctor may advise you to get the following tests done
- Bladder function tests that measure the function of the bladder and surrounding structures.
- An X-ray of the urinary tract (intravenous pyelography) allows your doctor to look at the kidneys, bladder, and ureters and see how well they work.
- A cystourethrogram involves X-rays of the bladder before and after urination and shows if there is anything wrong with the bladder or urethra.
- A pelvic CT scan can help your doctor rule out other conditions.
- A pelvic ultrasound creates an image of your pelvic organs to determine if any other organ has slipped out of place.
- A pelvic MRI creates a 3D image of the pelvic organs and muscles and can help your doctor confirm pelvic prolapse.
Diagnosing pelvic floor disorder
Pelvic floor repair surgery, or pelvic floor reconstruction or pelvic floor repair, is a surgical procedure to treat conditions related to weakened or damaged pelvic floor muscles and tissues. The pelvic floor refers to the ligaments, muscles and tissues supporting the pelvis’s organs, including the bladder, uterus, and rectum. Pelvic floor problems can arise from various factors such as pregnancy and childbirth, aging, obesity, chronic coughing, repetitive heavy lifting, or previous pelvic surgery. Conditions that may require pelvic floor repair surgery include
POP happens when the pelvic organs, like the uterus, bladder, or rectum, descend or protrude into the vaginal wall due to weakened pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic floor repair surgery aims to restore the organs to their normal position and provide support by repairing or reinforcing the weakened tissues.
SUI is a condition characterized by the involuntary leakage of urine amid activities that apply pressure on the bladder, like sneezing, coughing, laughing, or exercising. Pelvic floor repair surgery can be performed to strengthen the muscles and support the bladder, reducing or eliminating urinary leakage.
Various techniques can be employed during pelvic floor repair, depending on the specific condition and the surgeon’s preference. These may include:
The surgery is performed through the vagina, where incisions are made to access the pelvic floor muscles and tissues. The surgeon may use sutures, grafts, or mesh to repair and reinforce the weakened areas.
In some cases, an abdominal incision or minimally invasive techniques like laparoscopy or robot-assisted surgery may be used to access and repair the pelvic floor.