• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Anterior vaginal wall repair

• Overview
• Recovery
• Risks

Definition:

This is a surgical procedure that tightens the anterior vaginal wall to repair a cystocele (the sinking of the bladder into the vagina) or urethrocele (the sinking of the urethra into the vagina). A rectocele (the bulging of the rectum into the vagina) is repaired by tightening the posterior vaginal wall.

Alternative Names:

A/P repair; Vaginal wall repair; Anterior and/or posterior vaginal wall repair; Anterior and/or posterior colporrhaphy

Description:

To perform the anterior vaginal repair, an incision is made through the vagina to release a portion of the anterior (front) vaginal wall that is attached to the base of the bladder.

The supportive tissue between the vagina and bladder is folded and stitched to bring the bladder and urethra in proper position. There are several variations on this procedure that may be necessary, based on the severity of the prolapse (bulging or sinking).

This procedure may be performed using general or spinal anesthesia. You may have a foley catheter in place for 1 to 2 days after surgery. You will be given a liquid diet immediately after surgery, followed by a regular diet when your normal bowel function has returned. Stool softeners and laxatives may be prescribed to prevent straining with bowel movements, since this can cause stress on the incision.

A similar procedure can be performed on the posterior (back) wall of the vagina to repair a rectocele.

Indications:

This procedure is used to repair the vaginal wall prolapse or herniation that occurs with urethrocele or cystocele. This surgery by itself does not treat stress incontinence -- an additional procedure is needed in women who have stress urinary incontinence along with a cystocele.

In mild cases of cystocele, your doctor may recommend trying pelvic floor muscle exercises first, before resorting to surgical treatment. In some women, a pessary (a device placed in the vagina to hold up the prolapse) can be used to avoid surgery.

• Review Date: 5/15/2006
• Reviewed By: Audra Robertson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.