The Gynecology-Obstetrics team of Hospital da Luz Coimbra performed recently the first sacrocolpopexy, a surgical procedure to treat pelvic organs prolapse , a condition caused by the weakening of the pelvic floor normal support, similar to a vaginal hernia, that affects many women. “The pelvic organs (vagina, uterus, cervix, bladder, urethra, intestine and rectum) are sustained by a group of muscles and other support structures, that may weaken over lifetime, due to the natural process of ageing, to pregnancies and births, diseases (such as obesity and chronic constipation) or due to previous surgeries (like hysterectomy)”, explains Sara Teixeira Campos , one of the specialists in Gynecology-Obstetrics that performed this first surgery at Hospital da Luz Coimbra. In these situations, she highlights, “the weakening of the support structures may lead to strain and/or rupture, allowing the pelvic organs to displace, falling through the pelvic floor, which originates the so-called prolapse”. Sacrocolpopexy is the procedure of choice in the treatment of vaginal prolapse after hysterectomy, that is to say, the one with best immediate results, with a lower rate of relapse in the long term, compared with surgeries by vaginal route. Traditionally, the intervention was made through an incision in the abdomen. The laparoscopic approach, through four small incisions in the abdomen (of about 5 mm), being less invasive and allowing a more accurate and effective surgery, improves results”, further states Sara Teixeira Campos. This surgery allows a faster recovery with a reduced period of hospitalization and also improvements in terms of pain, blood loss, risk of infection and complications in the long term. In the photo above, Patrícia Almeida and Giselda Carvalho (gynecologists), Emília dos Mártires (anesthesiologist), Sara Teixeira Campos and Preciosa Sousa (nurse).
