Colporrhaphy is basically the surgical restoration of a defect in the wall of the vagina. It serves to correct both cystoceles (a condition of the bladder protruding into the wall of the vagina) and rectoceles (a condition of the rectum protruding into the wall of the vagina).
What is the function of colporrhaphy procedure ?
The main function of Colporrhaphy is to correct pelvic organ prolapse. To understand what that means, we need to first grasp what pelvic organ prolapse is.
What is pelvic organ prolapse ?
The organs inside a woman’s pelvis (these include the uterus, bladder and the rectum) are normally secured in their place by ligaments and muscles otherwise known as the pelvic floor. If these supportive structures are damaged by overstretching, the pelvic organs can bulge (or prolapse) from their natural position down into the vagina. When this occurs it is known as pelvic organ prolapse. Sometimes a prolapse can be significant enough to protrude outside the vagina, also.
What are the risk factors for pelvic organ prolapse ?
Risk factors causing pelvic organ prolapse include progressive age, repeated and laborious childbirths, prior history of hysterectomy, ongoing heavy physical activity (like weight lifting) and chronic constipation.
What are the symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse ?
Symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse can vary from stress incontinence (that means inadvertent leaking of urine with increased activity), a heaviness or abdominal bulge, painful intercourse, low back pain, and difficulty in urinating or in movement of bowels.
What are the types of colporrhaphy procedure ?
Colporrhaphy may be done to repair the anterior (or front) as well as posterior (or back) vaginal walls.
- Anterior colporrhaphy procedure : An anterior colporrhaphy is used to treat an Anterior Vaginal Prolapse (cystocele or urethrocele). It is the anterior vaginal wall that supports and holds the bladder. If the vagina moves out of place, the bladder also moves. This kind of prolapse is known as a cystocele. This anterior vaginal wall prolapse greatly affects function of the bladder. Urinary symptoms include difficulty in urinating, incomplete emptying of bladder, overactive or hyper bladder symptoms like urine leak whilst coughing, sneezing, laughing hard, or even exercising.
- Posterior colporrhaphy procedure : Posterior colporrhaphy treat rectoceles (or Posterior Vaginal Prolapse). The posterior vaginal wall supports and holds the rectum (where the stool is stored daily). When the posterior vaginal wall weakens, the rectum can prolapse. This prolapse is the rectocele. Posterior vaginal wall prolapse make stool and bowel movements pretty difficult, since forcing the stool down makes the rectum swell forward, rather than pushing out the stool.
The patient is first put on either general or regional anesthesia. Then, a speculum has to be inserted inside the vagina to keep it open through the procedure. An incision will have to be made into the skin overlying the vagina to identify the defect in the underlying fascia. After that, the vaginal skin is to be separated from its fascia and the defect is corrected by folding over the vaginal skin and suturing. The incision is finally closed with stitches.
What are the investigations to be done prior to colporrhaphy procedure ?
- A complete physical examination of the body is mandatory.
- A prolapse is easily diagnosed with a vaginal examination. Your gynaecologist will put a speculum (that is a plastic or metal instrument, to split the vaginal walls and see cervix and vagina) to note which organ or organs are prolapsing.
- A pelvic ultrasonography has to be performed to study the pelvis.
The patient has to refrain from both eating and drinking post midnight on the decided day for the procedure. An enema will have to be administered at night prior to procedure, in cases of posterior colporrhaphy.
What is the care to be taken after colporrhaphy procedure ?
A Foley’s catheter may be placed for one to two days post the surgery. A liquid diet is advised till return of normal bowel function. Activities causing a strain on the site of surgery, such as weight lifting, sneezing, coughing, straining with constipation and sexual intercourse are to be avoided for several weeks (minimum 4 weeks) till complete healing ensues.
What are the risks of colporrhaphy procedure ?
Potential complications could be loss of sensation, secondary infection, bleeding, accidental injury to adjacent pelvic structures, painful intercourse, recurrent prolapses, and a failure to correct the primary defect. A fistula occurs rarely and is an opening between the vagina and the bladder or the vagina and the rectum.
How to find gynecologists for colporrhaphy procedure ?
Now you can find gynecologists for colporrhaphy procedure from different hospitals and destinations on a single platform, Hinfoways. You can avail opinions from multiple gynecologists, get approximate cost of colporrhaphy procedure from different hospitals, compare things and then choose a gynecologist for colporrhaphy procedure .
Find and choose a gynecologist for colporrhaphy procedure on Hinfoways. Make an informed choice.
Disclaimer: The content provided here is meant for general informational purposes only and hence SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, care or evaluation by a qualified doctor/physician or other relevantly qualified healthcare provider.
