This Medical Video: Anterior vaginal wall relaxation (cystocele) is one of the most
commonly diagnosed forms of pelvic organ prolapse in women. More
than 200,000 cystocele repairs are completed yearly, however to date
the procedures that are completed do not provide very high cure
rates and/or poor anatomic outcomes. Successful treatment of
anterior vaginal wall prolapse remains one of the most challenging
aspects of pelvic reconstructive surgery we face. We have developed
very good procedures that provide excellent support for the
posterior wall (ie rectoceles) and the apex of the vagina (ie
vaginal vault prolapse) and reproduce normal anatomy. We were one of
the first centers in the country to utilize grafts in rectocele
repairs and have seen improved cure rates to over 90% with minimal
complications. It has been known for many years that abdominal
sacralcolpopexy with placement of a mesh graft at the top of the
vagina for vaginal vault prolapse is the most successful procedure
in the literature. We have made advancements with this procedure as
well in being able to offer our patients a laparoscopic minimally
invasive approach for sacralcolpopexy, with the same excellent cure
rates (92%) and with hospital stays typically less than 24 hours and
reduced complications. However the anterior wall has been one of the
most difficult compartments in the vagina to get good anatomic
results and high cure rates with traditional repairs and at the same
time not cause sexual dysfunction, pain with intercourse, voiding
dysfunction (ie incontinence or urgency/frequency syndrome), or a
shortened or scarred down vagina. The transobturator approach was
developed as a less invasive way to place an anterior wall graft
(see below) however this still involved blind needle passes and the
graft did not support the apex of the vagina, therefore the search
for improvements in these procedures is ongoing.