3. INTRODUCTION
Definition
Due to defect in the pelvic supporting structures hence
Uterus and/or adjacent organs descend from their anatomic confines to
positions within or outside the vaginal introitus
◘ Components / Varieties
ANTERIOR VAGINAL WALL
Urethra urethrocele
Bladder - cystocele
Uterine prolapse / vault prolapse
POSTERIOR VAGINAL WALL
Rectovaginal pouch - Enterocele
Rectum - Rectocele
4. Introduction cont.
Note:
May occur in combinations, e.g.
○ Cystourthrocele: most common
○ Eneterocele + Rectocede
○ Uterine prolapse + enterocele
Vaginal prolapse may occur without uterine prolapse
Uterus cannot prolapse without carrying the upper vagina
◘ Prevalence
Incidence in UPTH- 3.75% ( Ugboma ,Okpani et al)
Estimates
○ Multiparous 12 – 30%
○ Nullipara - 2%
Less among black women compared with white
Increase in the elderly / postmenopausal women
5. CLASSIFCATION
2. CLASSIFICATION: staging systems
◘ Conventionally
Cervix is reference point
Degrees (grades)
○ 1st degree – cervix within vagina
○ 2nd degree – cervix at introitus
○ 3rd degree – outside introitus, at the vulva- procidentia
◘ Shaw’s classification- same as above
-Additional 4th degree – procidentia
◘ Baden’s Classification
Hymen is reference point
Grades 0 to 4 for each component
6. POP – Q (Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification) Staging
System
Devised by International Continence Society (ICS) in 1996
Standardization of terminology / reports lacked in other grading
systems.
Hymen is the fixed reference point from which measurements are
made
Staging
○ Measurements (in cm) – defined sites (9) on the vag. walls
and perineum
○ Stages 0: No prolapse (-3cm)
I : > 1cm above Hymen (< -1cm)
II: ≤ 1cm above or below Hymen (≥ -1cm but ≤ +1cm)
III: > 1cm below Hymen but 2cm less than TVL
(> + 1cm but < + [TVL -2]cm)
IV: ≥ + (TVL -2)cm
○ Specify condition of exam & position of patient
(eg straining down, traction, standing)
7. ANATOMY OF PELVIC SUPPORT
Peritoneum: not contributory
Pelvic fascia
Pelvic floor muscles
◘ Pelvic floor fascia
Fascia over pelvic floor muscles
Endopelvic fascia: main support
○ Lateral cervical (transverse cervical, cardinal
or Mackenrodt) ligament lat. aspect of cervix /
upper vagina to pelvic side walls
○ Uterosacral ligament back of uterus to front
of sacrum
8. ANATOMY CONT.
○ Pubocervical ligament (fascia) ant. Aspect of cervix to back of
body of pubis
○ Posterior Pubourethral Ligament post. inf. of symphysis pubis
to ant. of middle ⅓ of urethra & bladder
Pelvic Floor muscles
○ Levator ani muscle - (pelvic diaphragm)
* Pubococcygeus
* iliococcygeus
Puborectalis
○ Coccygeal muscle
○ Urogenital diaphragm
* Superficial Transverse perineal muscles
* Deep Transverse perineal muscles
9. AETIOLOGY/PREDISPOSING
FACTORS
◘ Aetiology
▪ Weakness in one or more supports of the uterus and vagina
-Transverse cervical / uterosacral complex uterine prolapse
-Pubocervical cystocele
- Pubocervical + post. Pubourethral urethrocele
-Recto vag. fascia / defects in ® and (L) levator ani
Inherent defect in supports - strong familial incidence
Acquired factors
○ Child birth
* Single most important factor
* 7 times high in para 7+
* Bad obst. Practice
10. AETIOLOGY CONT.
Ageing
Menopause
Increase intra-abdominal pressure
-COAD
-Ascites
-Tumors *
-Pregnancy: rare
Surgery – post-hysterectomy
Congenital factors
-Weakness of pelvic fascia and conn. Tissues e.g. Ehlers – Danlos
syndrome
-Congenital shortness of the vagina
-Deep uterovesical / uterorectal pouches
11. Clinical presentation
◘ History : Symptoms
Lump in vagina or protruding out of it
Lower backache
Frequency of micturition
Urgency
Feeling of incomplete voiding / retention of urine
Stress incontinence
Difficulty evacuating the bowel
Digitations rectally or vaginally to empty the bowel
Discharge / bleeding p/v – decubitus ulcers
Inquiry of predisposing factors, eg.
COAD, Parity / mode of deliveries etc.
12. Physical examination
General – state of health, anaemia, chest/cvs, abd
etc.
Vaginal examination / speculum examination
○ State of vulva / vagina
○ Stress incontinence
○ Ulcerations – decubitus ulcers
Identify components – speculum exam
Rectal exam