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Anterior vaginal wall repair

Contents of this page:

Illustrations

Anterior vaginal wall repair
Anterior vaginal wall repair
Cystocele
Cystocele
Anterior vaginal wall repair (Surgical treatment of urinary incontinence) - series
Anterior vaginal wall repair (Surgical treatment of urinary incontinence) - series

Alternative Names    Return to top

A/P repair; Vaginal wall repair; Anterior and/or posterior vaginal wall repair; Colporrhaphy- repair of vaginal wall; Cystocele repair

Definition    Return to top

Anterior vaginal wall repair is surgery that tightens the front (anterior) wall of the vagina. It is done to help with the sinking of the bladder into the vagina (cystocele), or the sinking of the urethra into the vagina (urethrocele or urethral hypermobility).

Description    Return to top

This procedure may be done while you are under general or spinal anesthesia. Under general anesthesia, you will be unconscious and unable to feel pain. With spinal anesthesia, you will be awake, but you will be numb from the waist down and you will not feel pain.

Usually, an incision (cut) is made through the front wall of your vagina.

Sometimes, your doctor also makes an incision in your belly. This incision may be up and down or across.

Why the Procedure is Performed    Return to top

This procedure is used to repair the sinking of the vaginal wall (prolapse) or bulging that occurs when the bladder or urethra sink into the vagina.

Symptoms of prolapse that you may have include:

This surgery by itself does not treat stress incontinence (leaking urine when you cough, sneeze, or lift). It may be performed along with other surgeries.

Before doing this surgery, your doctor may have you learn pelvic floor muscle exercises (Kegel exercises), use estrogen cream in your vagina, or try a device called a pessary in your vagina to hold up the prolapse.

Risks    Return to top

Risks for any surgery are:

Risks for this surgery are:

Before the Procedure    Return to top

Always tell your doctor or nurse what drugs you are taking, even drugs, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription

During the days before the surgery:

On the day of your surgery:

After the Procedure    Return to top

You may have a foley catheter to drain urine for 1 or 2 days after surgery.

You will be on a liquid diet right after surgery. When your normal bowel function returns, you can return to your regular diet.

Outlook (Prognosis)    Return to top

This surgery will usually repair the prolapse, and most times symptoms of prolapse will go away. This improvement will often last for years.

References    Return to top

Herschorn S. Vaginal reconstructive surgery for sphicteric incontinence and prolapse. In: Wein AJ, ed. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 66.

Maher C, Baessler K, Glazener CM, Adams EJ, Hagen S. Surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse in women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;3:CD004014.

Update Date: 1/13/2009

Updated by: Louis S. Liou, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Urology, Department of Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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