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Surgery for Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A Historical Perspective

Current Urology Reports volume 13, pages 256–261 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Surgical treatment of pelvic organ prolapse has evolved from the use of pomegranates as pessary devices to contemporary robot-assisted laparoscopic sacral colpopexy. Symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse requires correction of all the defects to achieve optimal outcomes. Factors to consider in selecting the appropriate repair include patient’s age; stage of prolapse; vaginal length; hormonal status; desire for uterine preservation and coitus; symptoms of sexual, urinary, or bowel dysfunction; and any comorbidities that influence her eligibility for anesthesia or chronically increase intra-abdominal pressure. There is currently no consensus as to the best surgical approach for advanced pelvic organ prolapse. Reconstructive surgery for pelvic organ prolapse is currently performed by vaginal or abdominal (open, laparoscopic, and robotic approaches) approaches or a combination. It is important to maintain skills in proven procedures such as abdominal sacrocolpopexy and sacrospinous ligament suspension. This paper discusses the historical evolution of surgery for pelvic organ prolapse from antiquity to date.

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No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

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Affiliations

  1. Section of Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery, Voiding Dysfunction, Neuro-Urology, and Urodynamics, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 1 Robert Wood Johnson Place, Medical Education Building 588, New Brunswick, NJ, 08903, USA

    Yanina Barbalat & Hari S. G. R. Tunuguntla

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  1. Yanina Barbalat
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  2. Hari S. G. R. Tunuguntla
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Correspondence to Hari S. G. R. Tunuguntla.

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Barbalat, Y., Tunuguntla, H.S.G.R. Surgery for Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A Historical Perspective. Curr Urol Rep 13, 256–261 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-012-0249-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-012-0249-x

Keywords

  • Pelvic organ prolapse
  • Cystocele
  • Apical prolapse
  • Allograft
  • Sacral colpopexy
  • Rectocele
  • Colpocleisis
  • Female urology
  • Surgery