Colporrhaphy is a surgical procedure used to repair the internal parts of the vagina, specifically aimed at treating moderate to severe stress urinary incontinence in women. Generally, colporrhaphy comes in two types:
- Anterior colporrhaphy, which lifts the bladder.
- Posterior colporrhaphy, which involves repairing the posterior vaginal wall and narrowing it.
Stress urinary incontinence refers to the unintentional leakage of urine, often occurring during activities such as certain movements during exercise or coughing. When non-invasive methods fail to effectively treat urinary incontinence, colporrhaphy may be recommended as a treatment option.
Procedure of Colporrhaphy
Initially, depending on the patient’s condition and the physician’s recommendation, the patient undergoes general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, or sometimes local anesthesia. To keep the vagina open during the procedure, a medical instrument called a speculum is inserted into the vagina.
Next, the physician makes a small incision on the vaginal skin to identify any defects in the underlying tissues. After separating the skin from the fascia and addressing any excess skin if present, the surgeon removes it and then sutures the incision site.
Colporrhaphy is a surgical option aimed at improving symptoms of stress urinary incontinence by restoring the anatomy and function of the vaginal tissues affected by the condition.