2. WHAT IS PELVIC ORGAN
PROLAPSE?
Pelvic organ prolapse is the descent of the genital organs
beyond their normal anatomical confines. It is caused by
herniation through deficient pelvic fascia or due to
weakness or deficiency of the ligaments or muscles or
blood or nerve supply to the pelvic organs.
3. DEFINITION AND CLASSIFICATION
A prolapse is protrusion of an organ or structure beyond its
normal confines. Prolapses are classified according to their
location and the organs contained within them
Anterior vaginal
wall prolapse
POSTERIOR
vaginal wall
prolapse
APICAL vaginal
prolapse
Urethrocele
Urethral descent
Cystocele
Bladder descent
Cystourethrocele
Descent of bladder and urethra
Rectocele
Rectal descent
Enterocele
Small bowel descent
Uterovaginal
Uterine descent with inversion
of vaginal apex
Vault
Post-hysterectomy inversion of
vaginal apex
5. PREVALENCE
41-50 % of women over age of 40 years.
Lifetime risk:
- 7% operation for prolapse
- 11% operation for incontinence/prolapse
The annual incidence of surgery for pelvic organ
prolapse within 15-49 per 10000 women.
6. GRADING
1ST Degree
Descent within the vagina
2nd Degree
Descent to the introitus
3rd Degree
Descent outside the introitus
8. The connective tissue, levator ani and intact nerve
supply are vital for the maintenance of the position of
the pelvic structures and are influenced by pregnancy,
childbirth and ageing.
Whether congenital or acquired, connective tissue
defects appear to be important in the aetiology of
prolapse and urinary stress incontinence.
AETIOLOGY
9. AETIOLOGY
1. Congenital
2% of symptomatic prolapse occurs in nulliparous women
Genital prolapse is rare in Afro-Caribbean women
2. Childbirth and Raised Intra-Abdominal Pressure
Major factor – vaginal delivery
Nerve and mechanical damage resulting from vaginal delivery
Parity is associated with increasing prolapse
Prolapse during pregnancy is rare, but may be mediated by the effects
of progesterone and relaxin
Increase in intra-abdominal pressure will put an added strain on the
pelvic floor
Conditions such as constipation or chronic cough can also raised intra-
abdominal pressure
10. 3. Ageing
Loss of collagen and weakening of fascia and connective tissue
Particularly during the post-menopause as a consequence of
oestrogen deficiency
4. Postoperative
Poor attention to vaginal vault support can lead to vault prolapse
Usage of mechanical displacement such as colposuspension may lead
to development of rectocele or enterocele
AETIOLOGY
11. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
There are three components that are responsible for
supporting the position of the uterus and vagina
LIGAMENTS AND FASCIA
LEVATOR ANI MUSCLES
POSTERIOR ANGULATION OF THE VAGINA
By suspension from pelvic side walls
By constricting thereby maintaining the position of the organ
Which is enhanced by rises in intra-abdominal pressure
causing closure of the ‘flap valve’
15. NORMAL CONDITION
At rest, tonic contraction of levator ani muscles provides support
to pelvic organs with their activity adjusting to variation in posture,
increased vaginal distension, and intra-abdominal pressure.
In presence of normal support by levator ani muscle, the supportive
connective tissues of vagina pulled the vagina superiorly and back
towards the sacrum placing the upper vagina at a nearly horizontal
orientation over the levator ani muscle.
With presence of intra-abdominal pressure, the upper vagina is
compressed against the levator ani muscles and pelvic organ
support is maintained.
16. PELVIC ORGAN PROLAPSE
Damage to any component of vaginal connective tissue support
changes the vaginal axis to a vertical position directly over the
genital hiatus.
Thus with increase in intra-abdominal pressure, the vagina is no
longer compressed against the levator ani muscles but directed
downward toward the genital hiatus thus can cause pelvic organ
prolapse.
19. Non-specific clinical features
Pressure, pain or “fullness” in vagina or rectum or both
Sensation of ‘your insides falling out’ – vaginal tissue bulge
Urinary incontinence
Urine retention
Fecal incontinence
Chronic constipation
Back or pelvic pain
Tampons pushing out
Dyspareunia (painful / difficult sexual intercourse)
Apareunia (inability to perform sexual intercourse)
Coital incontinence (leakage of urine or stool during intimacy)
21. EXAMINATIONS
ABDOMINAL EXAMINATION
VAGINAL EXAMINATION
COMBINED RECTAL AND VAGINAL EXAMINATION
To exclude organomegaly / abdominopelvic mass
Examine in dorsal position (if protrude beyond introitus)
Assess with ptt straining in left lateral position & Sims speculum
To differentiate rectocele from enterocele
25. There is no single way to
COMPLETELY prevent these
problems.
MANAGEMENT
1. Overweight women are at a significantly increased risk.
2. Avoid constipation and chronic straining – increase fiber and fluid intake.
3. Seek medical attention if chronic cough which increases abdominal and
pelvic pressure.
4. Avoid heavy lifting and learn how to lift safely
5. Do not smoke.
6. Avoid repetitive strenuous activities.
26. MANAGEMENT
To avoid injuries to
supporting
structures during
time to vaginal
delivery either
spontaneously or
instrumental.
Encourage early
ambulation and
encourage pelvic floor
exercise by squeezing
the pelvic floor
muscles during
puerperium
Avoid strenuous
activity and avoid
pregnancy too soon
and too many by
contraceptive
practice
Antenatal and
Intranatal Care
POSTNATAL Care
GENERAL
MEASURES
27. REMEMBER!
1. Antenatal physiotheraphy & relaxation exercises (attention to weight gain
and anemia)
2. Proper supervision and management of second stage of labour
3. A generous episiotomy
4. Low forceps delivery if there is delay in second stage
5. Suture perineal tear
6. Postnatal exercises and physiotherapy
7. Early postnatal ambulation
8. Adequate spacing of births
9. Avoid multi-parity
10. Prophylatic HRT in postmenopausal women
28. REMEMBER!
1. Antenatal physiotheraphy & relaxation exercises (attention to weight gain
and anemia)
2. Proper supervision and management of second stage of labour
3. A generous episiotomy
4. Low forceps delivery if there is delay in second stage
5. Suture perineal tear
6. Postnatal exercises and physiotherapy
7. Early postnatal ambulation
8. Adequate spacing of births
9. Avoid multi-parity
10. Prophylatic HRT in postmenopausal women
29. REMEMBER!
If symptoms are mild,
practice pelvic floor
physiotherapy (Kegel
Exercise).
Once prolapse has
developed, Kegel will not
correct the problem but
may prevent the
prolapsed from worsen.
32. Silicon rubber
based ring
pessaries most
popular form
Ring pessary is
made of soft
plastic polyvinyl
chloride & available
in different sizes.
33. INDICATIONS?
A young woman planning a
pregnancy
During early pregnancy
Puerperium
Temporary use while clearing
infection and decubitus ulcer
A woman unfit for surgery
In case a woman refuses for
surgery
34. LIMITATIONS
It is never curative and only be palliative
It can cause vaginitis
Pessary needs to be changed every 3 months
The wearing of pessary is not comfortable to some women and may cause
dyspareunia
If the vaginal orifice is very patulous, the pessary is often not retained.
A forgotten pessary can be the cause of ulcer, rarely carcinoma of vagina and
vesicovaginal fistula
A pessary does not cure urinary stress incontinence
36. TYPES OF SURGERY
OFFERED TO PATIENTS WITH
PROLAPSE DEPENDS ON:
1. The age of patient
2. Desire to retain the uterus
3. Menstrual history
4. General condition
5. Degree of uterine prolapse
6. Uterine abnormality
39. 2. Perineorrhaphy / Colpoperineorrhaphy
To repair the prolapse of
posterior vaginal wall
40. UTEROVAGINAL PROLAPSE
UTERINE PRESERVING SURGERY
1. Hysterosacropexy
Open or laparoscopic route
Mesh is attached to the isthmus of cervix and uterus to other part of
anterior longitudinal ligament on sacrum
2. Manchester repair
Accessing uterus vaginally
Amputate cervix
Use uterosacral cardinal ligament complex to support uterus
Rare method
3. Le Fort colpocleisis
Partial closure of vagina while preserving the uterus
42. PROCEDURE INVOLVING HYSTERECTOMY
To proceed as that of anterior
colporraphy up to pushing up of bladder
The UV fold of peritoneum incised
The cervical incision is extended
posteriorly along the cervicovaginal
junction and the pouch of douglas is
opened
Uterus is delivered anteriorly
First clamp on utero sacral and cardinal
ligaments, tissues cut and ligated on
both sides
Second clamp involves uterine vessels
which are cut and ligated
1. VAGINAL HYSTERECTOMY
43. PROCEDURE INVOLVING HYSTERECTOMY
Third clamp on round ligament, fallopian
tube and ovarian ligament which are cut
and ligated
Uterus removed
Peritonium closed by purse string suture
Enterocele correction done by McCall’s
culdoplasty
Anterior colporrhaphy is completed
Posterior colpoperineorrhaphy
performed if there is rectocele