Anterior Vaginal Wall Repair Treatment

Introduction

Anterior vaginal wall repair is a surgical procedure used to correct the patient’s vaginal bulge. “Bulge (Prolapse)” means to slip out of place. In the case of a vaginal bulge, the bladder or urethra sinks into the vagina. The urethra is the tube that carries urine out of our body. Anterior vaginal wall repair surgery tightens the vagina’s front wall. Tightening the muscles and soft tissues help the urethra or bladder stay in its proper position. 

The repair may be done while the patient is under:

General anesthesia: The patient will be asleep and won’t feel any pain.

Spinal anesthesia: The patient will be awake, but she would be paralyzed from the waist down and would not feel pain. The patient will be given medicines to help her relax.

About 10% of women who have had children require surgery for a vaginal bulge. A bulge of the front (anterior) wall of the vagina is usually due to a weakness in the fascia (strong tissue layer) that divides the vagina from the bladder. This weakness may cause a feeling of dragging or fullness in the vagina or an uncomfortable prolapse that extends beyond the vaginal opening. It may also cause difficulty passing urine with a slow or intermittent urine stream or symptoms of urinary urgency or an increase in the frequency of urination.

Why is it performed?

The aim of surgery is to relieve the symptoms of vaginal prolapse and laxity and to improve the bladder function without interfering with sexual function.

Symptoms of Prolapse

In many cases of vaginal prolapse, the patient might not have symptoms. If the patient does have symptoms, they may include:

• pain while having sex
• a sense of fullness or discomfort in the front wall of the vagina
• a sense of pulling or heaviness in the bladder
• a little pain in the back that gets better when you lie down
• increase in the frequency of urination
• stress incontinence

Consult with your doctor if you notice these symptoms. You may have vaginal prolapse. They may recommend anterior vaginal wall repair.

Risks of Vaginal Surgery

Most often, the benefits of anterior vaginal wall repair outweigh the risks and/or side effects. In some cases, the patient may experience the following problems post-surgery:

• pain while urinating
• a frequent and sudden urge to urinate
• leakage of urine
• damage to the urethra, vagina, or bladder

Discuss these risks with your surgeon or medical staff before having an anterior vaginal wall repair.

Causes of Prolapse

The formation of vaginal prolapse depends on a number of factors. The patient is more likely to develop a bulge that requires anterior vaginal wall repair if the patient

• is pregnant
• delivers a baby vaginally
• is overweight
• feels strain during bowel movements
• lifts heavy objects
• have a continual cough

One can prevent prolapse by

• maintaining a healthy weight and BMI
• treating a continual cough
• treating continual constipation
• lifting properly by bending the knees

Surgical Procedure

• Anterior vaginal wall repair is performed by the surgeon by giving the patient general or spinal anaesthetic. 
• Under general anaesthetic, the patient falls asleep and experiences no pain. 
• Under a spinal anaesthetic, the patient is paralyzed below the waist and unable to feel pain, but she is awake.
• Your surgeon will make a surgical cut in the front wall of the patient’s vagina. 
• The surgeon will reposition the bladder or urethra to its normal location through the incision. 
• Surgical stitches in the tissues between the patient’s vagina and bladder will help in holding the organs in place. 
• The surgeon may also remove any additional vaginal tissue. 
• This can help tighten the patient’s muscles and ligaments effectively.

How successful is surgery?

Success rates for anterior vaginal wall repair are about 70-90%. There is a slight chance that the prolapse may come back in the future, or another part of the vagina may prolapse for which the patient might need further surgery

When can I return to my usual routine?

• In the early postoperative period, you should avoid situations in which excessive pressure is exerted by the repair, i.e. lifting heavy weights, straining, heavy exercise, coughing, and constipation. 
• Maximal strength and healing around the repair occurs within 3 months and care with heavy lifting >10kg/25lbs needs to be avoided until this time.
• It is usually advisable to plan to take up to 6 weeks off work, your surgeon can guide you as this will depend on your job type and the exact surgery you have had.
• You should be able to drive and be fit enough for light activities such as short walks within 1 month of surgery.
• You should wait at least 1 month before having sexual intercourse; some women find using additional lubricant during sex is helpful. 
• Lubricants can easily be bought at supermarkets or medical stores.

Are there any Complications?

With any surgery, there would always be a small risk of complications. The following complications can happen after any surgery

• Anaesthetic problems1: With anaesthetics and modern monitoring equipment, complications due to anaesthesia are very rare.
• Bleeding: Serious bleeding requiring blood transfusion usually doesn’t occur post vaginal surgery (less than 1%).
• Post-operative infection. Antibiotics are given just before surgery and all attempts are made to keep surgery sterile, there is a very small chance that an infection will develop in the vagina or pelvis.
• Cystitis (Bladder infections) occur in about 6% of women post-surgery and are more common if a catheter has been used for urine ejection. Symptoms include burning or stinging while urinating, increased urinary frequency and sometimes blood in the urine. Cystitis is usually easily treated by a course of antibiotics as per prescribed by the doctor.

Post-Surgery

• You’ll most likely remain in the hospital for a few weeks after anterior vaginal wall repair. 
• The patient’s bladder may be affected by the surgery, and she may need to use a catheter for one to two days. 
• A catheter is a small tube that’s placed in the bladder to excrete urine from your body.
• The patient may be advised by the doctor to be on a liquid diet after this surgery. 
• Once the patient is able to urinate and have normal bowel movements, she can resume a regular diet.

Best Hospitals for Anterior Vaginal Wall Repair Treatment

• Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon
• Medanta The Medicity, Gurgaon
• Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon
• Max Hospital, Saket, New Delhi
• Apollo Hospital, New Delhi

Best Doctors for Anterior Vaginal Wall Repair Treatment

• Dr. Mamta Pattnayak
• Dr. Preeti Rastogi
• Dr. Renu Raina Sehgal
• Dr. Anuradha Kapur
• Dr. Madhu Roy

Why Choose GetWellGo for Anterior Vaginal Wall Repair Treatment?

There are several benefits for the international patients to opt for GetWellGo for anterior vaginal wall repair treatment. Here are some key reasons why GetWellGo is an excellent choice:

• Patient-Centric Approach
• Comprehensive Patient Care
• Expert Medical Team
• Affordable and Transparent Pricing
• Medical Visa Assistance
• Accommodation
• Convenient Travel Arrangements
• Follow-up Care and Telemedicine

FAQ

1. What are the advantages of anterior vaginal wall repair?

• Improved bladder function: Decreases signs and symptoms like dysuria, polyuria and urinary incontinence.
• Enhanced vaginal support: Helps to bring back the normal appearance of the vaginal area and greatly decreases uneasy sensations when engaging in exercises.
• Improved quality of life: Helps reduce the symptoms of pelvic pressure, bulge, and the actual pain.
• Long-term results: Effective when used in conjunction with the correct aftercare process that is known to closely follow surgery.

2. What is the success rate of anterior vaginal wall repair?

• The evaluation of the procedure is that it’s about 75-90% effective due to various factors being the state of the patient’s health, the degree of the prolapse, and following the recommended measures after the operation.

3. How long does the procedure take?

• The operation itself might last half an hour to an hour in simple cases of prolapse or might be longer if other operations are done simultaneously.

4. What is the time frame from which a woman is able to resume normal activities after anterior vaginal wall repair?

• Hospital stay: Actually, the majority of the patients are discharged within 1-2 days after the procedure is performed.
• Initial recovery: Mild physical activities are tolerable within two weeks or the time the swollening has reduced significantly.
• Full recovery: Discharge and complete healing of the fissure take approximately 6-8 weeks. Do not engage in many lifting of heavy objects, vigorous activity or even sexual activity in the next few days.