Surgical Options for Bladder Prolapse

“Great gains have been made in the treatment of Pelvic Organ Prolapse. The development of Advanced Minimally Invasive Techniques allows you to recovery quicker, with shorter hospital says, and better outcomes.” J. Kyle Mathews, MD Plano OB Gyn Associates / Plano Urogynecology Associates

Surgical Options for Bladder Prolapse

Bladder Prolapse or cystocele is when the bladder falls down and often becomes visible. Urinary leakage often accompanies Bladder Prolapse or cystocele. This condition may cause pelvic pressure, difficulty emptying the bladder, a vaginal bulge that can be felt, and incontinence . Repair of Bladder Prolapse or Cystocele involves  the surgical reduction of the bulge and placing the bladder back into its normal anatomic location. Medically this is called an Anterior Repair or Anterior Colporrhaphy.

The traditional repair for Bladder Prolapse is plicating or overlapping tissues with suture to reduce the bulge and support the bladder.  Excess vaginal tissue is also usually trimmed at the time of surgery.   Unfortunately this procedure has a very high failure rate ranging from 25 to 60 percent.  Many patients and doctors find this high failure rate unacceptable and successfully repairing Bladder Prolapse or Cystocele is certainly one of the more challenging surgeries gynecologists and urogynecologists perform.

More modern surgical techniques  treats Bladder Prolapse or cystoceles as a hernia of the bladder into the vagina, hence, the use of mesh or donor tissues as a patch or graft to improve success rates. The placement of these materials in a safe and effective manner is highly dependent on the surgeon’s skill and experience.    Having used these method extensively over the past number of years, my experience has been a success rates of about 90% in my hands.

Bladder Prolapse or Cystocele Repair is done in the surgery center or operating room under general, regional, or local anesthesia. The procedure takes 60 minutes to perform and most insurance companies cover this procedure.

As with all proposed surgical procedures, a complete understanding with a thorough discussion of the risks, benefits, and options should had when considering treatment of  Bladder Prolapse.