Obs & gynae Flashcards
What is pelvic organ prolapse?
Descent of pelvic organs into the vagina
Why does pelvic organ prolapse occur?
Weakness and lengthening of the ligaments and muscles surrounding the uterus, rectum, and bladder
What is a uterine prolapse?
When the uterus descends into the vagina
What is a vault prolapse?
–> Occurs in women who have had a hysterectomy and no longer have a uterus, the top of the vagina (the vault) descends into the vagina
What is a rectocele?
rectum prolapses forwards into the vagina
What are rectoceles caused by?
–> defects in the posterior vaginal wall
–> associated with constipation
What is the pathophysiology of a rectocele?
–> Can develop faecal loading in the part of the rectum that has prolapsed into the vagina
–> faecal loading leads to significant constipation, urinary retention ( due to compression on the urethra) and a palpable lump in the vagina
–> women may use their fingers to press the lump backwards correcting its anatomical position and aloowing them to open their bowels
What is the presentation of a rectocele?
–> Constipation (faecal loading)
–> urinary retention ( due to urethral compression
–> palpable lump in posterior wall of vagina
What is a cystocele?
–> bladder prolapses backwards into the anterior vagina
What are cystoceles caused by?
–> defect in the anterior vaginal wall
What is prolapse of the urethra into the vagina called?
urethrocele
What is prolapse of the bladder and the urethra into the vagina called?
–> cystourethrocele
What are the risk factors for pelvic organ prolapse?
–> Pelvic organ prolapse is the result of weak and stretched muscles and ligaments. The factors that can contribute to this include:
–>Multiple vaginal deliveries
–> Instrumental, prolonged or traumatic delivery
–> Advanced age and postmenopause status
–> Obesity
–> Chronic respiratory disease causing coughing
–> Chronic constipation causing straining
What is the presentation of pelvic organ prolapse?
–> A feeling of “something coming down” in the vagina
A dragging or heavy sensation in the pelvis
–> Urinary symptoms, such as incontinence, urgency, frequency, weak stream and retention
–> Bowel symptoms, such as constipation, incontinence and urgency
–> Sexual dysfunction, such as pain, altered sensation and reduced enjoyment
–> Women may have identified a lump or mass in the vagina, and often will already be pushing it back up themselves. They may notice the prolapse will become worse on straining or bearing down.
What is a Sim’s speculum and how can it be used to examine for pelvic organ prolapse?
–> u-shaped, single bladed speculum thats used to support either the anterior or the posterior wall of the vagina whilst the others are examined
Which system is used to grade the severity of a pelvic organ prolapse?
Pelvic organ prolpase quantification system ( POP-Q)
How can a uterine prolaspe be graded?
POP-Q system
Grade 0 –> normal
Grade 1 –> lowest part is more than 1cm above the introitus
grade 2 –> lowest part within 1 cm of the introitus (above or below)
Grade 3 –> lowest part is more than 1cm below the introitus but not fully descended
Grade 4 –> full descent with eversion of the vagina
What is uterine procidentia
Pelvic organ prolapse extedning beyond the introitus
What is the management of pelvic organ prolapse
–> Conservative management -
–> Vaginal pessary
–> Surgery
What is the conservative management of pelvic organ prolapse?
–> mild symptoms/ do not tolerate surgery or pessary/
–> Physio (pelvic floor excercises)
–> weight loss
–> lifestyle changes (for asociated stress incontience such as redcued caffeine intake and pads)
–> treatment of related symptoms
–> vaginal oestrogen cream
How can vaginal pessaries be used to treat pelvic organ prolapse?
–> inserted into the vagina to provide extra support to the pelvic organs
–> Ring (sits below the uterus and holds it up)
–> shelf or Gellhorn - flat disk with a stem, sits below the uterus with the stem pointing downwards
–> Cube pessaries
–> Donut
–> hodge - rectangular - hook around the posterior aspect of the cervix and the other extends into the vagina
–> can be changed and cleaned
–> Oestrogen crema can help with irritation of the vaginal wall
What is the surgical treatment for pelvic organ prolapse?
–> definitive option - anterior/posterior colporrhaphy
–> hysterectomy option
–> NICE recommends that Mesh repairs should not be carried out
What are the complications of pelvic organ prolpase surgery?
–> Pain, bleeding, infection, DVT and risk of anaesthetic
–> Damage to the bladder or bowel
–> Recurrence of the prolapse
Altered experience of sex
What is urinary incontinence?
Loss of control of urination