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Vaginal Prolapse

Vaginal Prolapse


INTRODUCTION:

  • The network of muscles, ligaments, and skin in and around a woman’s vagina acts as a complex support structure that holds pelvic organs, and tissues in place.
  • This support network includes the skin and muscles of the vaginal walls (a network of tissues called the fascia).
  • Various parts of this support system may eventually weaken or break, causing a common condition called vaginal prolapse.

RISK FACTORS:

  • Childbirth (especially large babies)
  • Menopause
  • Hysterectomy
  • Advanced age
  • Obesity
  • Dysfunction of the nerves and tissues
  • Abnormalities of the connective tissue
  • Strenuous physical activity
  • Prior pelvic surgery

TYPES:

  • Anterior vaginal wall prolapse: Urethrocele, Cystocele(base of bladder), Cystourethrocele
  • Posterior vaginal wall prolapse:Rectocele, Enterocele
  • Apical vaginal prolapse: Uterovaginal , Vaginal prolapse

SYMPTOMS:

  • The most common type of genital prolapse is Cystocele
  • The symptoms that result from vaginal prolapse commonly affect sexual function as well as bodily functions such as urination and defecation.
  • Pelvic pressure and discomfort are also common symptoms.
  • Pressure in the vagina or pelvis
  • Painful intercourse (dyspareunia)
  • A mass at the opening of the vagina
  • A decrease in pain or pressure when the woman lies down
  • Recurrent urinary tract infections
  • Difficulty emptying bowel
  • Difficulty emptying bladder
  • Constipation
  • Urinary stress incontinence
  • Pain that increases during long periods of standing
  • Protrusion of tissue at the back wall of the vagina
  • Protrusion of tissue at the front wall of the vagina
  • Enlarged, wide, and gaping vaginal opening
INVESTIGATION:
  • Q-tip test:Predictive factor of success of anti-incontinence surgery.
  • Bladder function test:This tests the ability of the bladder to store and evacuate urine (i.e. urinate) and to dispose of it.
  • Pelvic floor strength:assesses the strength of the muscles and ligaments that support the vaginal walls, uterus, rectum, urethra, and bladder.

Imaging technique:

  • MRI
  • Ultrasound
  • Cystourethroscopy
TREATMENT:

Nonsurgical options: 

  • Most appropriate for women who are not sexually active, cannot undergo surgery because of medical reasons, or experience few or no symptoms associated with the condition.
  • Estrogen replacement therapy 

Surgical repair:

  • For young nulliparous women with 2° or 3° uterovaginal prolapse
  •  Abdominal sling operation (e.g. Purandare, Shirodkar, Khanna and Mnatre sling operation)
  • For a parous women in early weeks of pregnancy.
  •  Ring pessary in the first trimester of pregnancy.
  • For a parous women in pregnancy with 2° or 3° prolapse at 28 weeks.
  • Ring pessary till child birth and few weeks after and then Fothergill’s repair.
  • For < 40years multipara, desirous of retaining menstrual function and reproductive function with 2° or 3° prolapse.
  •  Fothergill’s repair with  tubal ligation
  • For women > 40 years completed family size
  • Mayoward’s vaginal hysterectomy (with ant. Colporrhaphy and posterior colpoperineorrhaphy) with pelvic floor repair.

For elderly menopause patient with advanced prolapse

  •  Lefort’s repair
  • For enterocele
  • Moscowitz repair
  • For vault prolapse
  •  Right transvaginal sacrospinous colpopexy (in obese and elderly, not fit for abdominal surgery).
  •  Transabdominal sacral colpopexy using Mersilene mesh extraperitoneally (in patient fit for abdominal surgery).
  • Congenital prolapse of uterus / Nulliparous prolapse without cystocele : 
  • Purandare’s cervicopexy.
  • Fothergill’s repair(treatment of choice uterovaginal prolapse)

Other therapy:

  • Electrical stimulation
  • Biofeedback
Exam Question
 
  • Shirodkar’s abdominal sling is the treament of choice for nulliparous woman who has 3rd degree uterovaginal prolapse without any cystocele or rectocele.
  • Urinary incontinence in uterovaginal prolapse is mostly is due to Stress incontience
  • Treatment of choice in a multiparous female with 2nd degree uterovaginal prolapse is Fothergill’s operation with tubal ligation
  • Cystocele is formed by base  of the bladder 
  • The most common type of genital prolapse is Cystocele
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