This surgery is done to repair a cystocele, which is a hernia of the bladder or a vaginal wall that has slipped out of its proper position (prolapse). This condition occurs when there is a weakening of the pelvic floor muscles and sometimes the vaginal walls. The need for repair is often caused by vaginal delivery of a baby.
An anterior repair is performed to correct a cystocele or a urethrocele, a pouched protrusion of the urethral mucous membrane. A posterior repair is done to repair and strengthen the vaginal wall in the case of a rectocele or enterocele. A rectocele is when the back passage bulges through the vaginal wall while an enterocele is when the small bowel bulges through the upper part of the vaginal wall. All of these procedures repair and strengthen the vaginal wall.
Repair of the bladder and urethra may be recommended to treat stress incontinence. This is when urine leakage cannot be prevented when coughing, sneezing, laughing, jumping, walking, sitting, or standing.
The vaginal wall repair does not by itself treat stress incontinence. An additional procedure is needed in women who have stress urinary incontinence along with a cystocele.
Rectocele Repair
A rectocele is a bulge of the front wall of the rectum into the vagina. The rectal wall may become thinned and weak, and it may balloon out into the vagina when you push down to have a bowel movement. Most rectoceles occur in women where the front wall of the rectum is up against the back wall of the vagina. This area is called the rectovaginal septum and may be a weak area in the female anatomy.
Enterocele Repair
An enterocele occurs when the small intestines push down on the vagina from above.