Surgery for pelvic organ prolapse is performed to restore their anatomy and would include different types of procedures depending on the type of prolapse and the stage of prolapse that the patient is experiencing.
Pre-procedure preparation for the surgery would include: not eating for six hours before the surgery, arriving on the day of the operation to the hospital where you will get admitted to the ward and have an anaesthetic assessment.
We do not perform surgery on the same day of the consultation as we have to book the procedure into our operating rooms. Surgery is usually performed under general anaesthesia and occasionally under spinal anaesthesia. Surgery may take anything between an hour to two hours. There is no pain during the operation as the patient is asleep. After the procedure, the woman usually stays in the hospital for about two to three days, and we suggest four weeks off of work. Pain levels are moderate and controlled with various intravenous medications that we use immediately afterwards, for about 24 hours and tablets thereafter.
Most of the surgery does not leave scars as we perform it through the vagina, so it will be only one scar on the top of the vagina that you cannot see and cannot feel. On occasions, we perform pelvic organ prolapse surgery through a keyhole surgery or laparoscopy. That would leave small scars on the tummy.
Recovery is about four to six weeks and you will know whether the treatment worked or not once you have recovered. The success rate of vaginal pelvic floor repair is about 70 – 80 and laparoscopic is about 80%.
There is a possibility of the symptoms returning in 5-10 years time. The surgery cost will depend on the operation. This is something that will be covered by medical aid, especially a hospital fee. You may, however, have outstanding fees for the surgeons and an anaesthetist fee; depending on your level of medical aid cover.
