Robotic-assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy in Glasgow

The main symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse vary depending on which organ is involved, but common symptoms include:

Pelvic pressure or fullness

A sensation of heaviness or fullness in your pelvic area, often described as a feeling that something is falling out or bulging in your vagina. This pressure might get worse with prolonged standing, lifting, or exertion. It might also improve when lying down.

A noticeable, vaginal bulge

This appears as a visible or palpable bulge or protrusion at your vaginal opening.

Discomfort and pain

Pain and discomfort in your lower abdomen, pelvis, or lower back.

Urinary symptoms

These symptoms include:

• Frequent urge to urinate or the need to urinate more often
• Difficulty emptying your bladder completely (urinary retention)
• Stress incontinence, or leaking urine during coughing, sneezing, or physical activity
• Feeling of incomplete bladder emptying, especially with bladder prolapse (cystocele)

Bowel symptoms

These symptoms include:

• Constipation or straining during bowel movements
• Difficulty with bowel movements or feeling of incompletely emptying your bowel
• Faecal incontinence (unintentional loss of stool) in severe cases, especially with rectal prolapse (rectocele)

Sexual symptoms

These symptoms include:

• Decreased sensation or satisfaction during sexual activity
• Pain or discomfort during intercourse (dyspareunia)
• Some women may avoid sexual intercourse due to embarrassment about the prolapse

During the operation, your consultant will insert a camera called a laparscope through a small incision near or in your belly button (the navel or umbilicus). Your surgeon will also make two or three small cuts on your abdomen to pass instruments inside to perform the operation.

As the surgery is being performed, your abdomen will also be filled with carbon dioxide gas. This gas sits in the space outside your intestine and is removed at the end of the operation. The reason for this is to create space around the affected area so your surgeon can perform the surgery easier.

Your consultant will then stitch a strip of artificial mesh material onto your vagina, before the other end is stapled to your lower back bone (sacrum). This is done with dissolvable stitches. The mesh is then covered over with the lining of your abdomen, known as the peritoneum. 

Before finishing surgery, your surgeon will look inside your bladder with a small camera to ensure it wasn’t damaged during surgery. Once the carbon dioxide gas has been released from your abdomen, your consultant will close any surgical openings in your abdomen with stitches. 

The procedure typically takes around two to four hours to complete.

We offer this procedure with a state-of-the-art robotic approach, which can help speed up your recovery time even more and can result in reduced levels of pain and discomfort following surgery.

The Da Vinci robotic surgical system

At Ross Hall Hospital, our experienced surgeons are highly skilled in using the Da Vinci robotic surgical system to perform laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy surgery. This advanced technology offers numerous advantages, including a shorter recovery time and a quicker return to your daily routine after surgery.

The Da Vinci system is an advanced surgical tool that enables your surgeon to carry out minimally invasive procedures significantly improved visual clarity than conventional surgery. During the operation, your surgeon will sit at a console near you in the operating room, where they will control a camera and specialist instruments with remarkable accuracy and precision.

It is important to understand that the robot does not operate on its own. Instead, your consultant has complete control over it. The way the system works is by mirroring every movement your surgeon makes in real time. This allows the robot to manipulate surgical instruments to move like with a human hand, but with greater precision and incredibly smooth motion.

Robotic-assisted surgery provides several key benefits, including:

Advanced precision and control

Robotic-assisted surgery allows your surgeon to operate with greater precision and control compared to traditional surgical techniques. The system’s high-definition 3D visualisation and enhanced magnification offer a clearer, more detailed view of your surgical site during the procedure.

Reduced post-surgery pain and discomfort

Robotic surgery aims to lessen the physical strain on your body. With smaller incisions, there is a decreased chance of infection and scarring. Since less tissue is affected, people can experience less pain and irritation after surgery, making the overall recovery experience more positive.

A faster recovery and return to your everyday life

One of the major benefits of robotic surgery is the potential for a quicker recovery. The minimally invasive approach, with smaller incisions, causes less trauma to your body. This often results in a shorter hospital stay and a faster return to your normal activities, including work, exercise, and driving.

State-of-the-art technology lead by specialists

Robotic-assisted surgery merges the advanced skills of our surgeons with state-of-the-art surgical technology. This combination allows for more complex procedures to be performed more effectively. You can take advantage of the latest advancements in medical technology, leading to better outcomes and a lower risk of complications.

This procedure at Ross Hall Hospital starts from £10,667.

Paying for treatment in a way that works for you

Our fixed-price packages include the cost of your surgery and all appropriate aftercare appointments. However, any pre-surgery diagnostic tests and your consultant’s outpatient appointment consultation fee are charged separately.

Our flexible payment options help you spread the cost of your payment across a time period that suits you. We offer fixed-term monthly payment plans over one to five years with no deposit required. If you decide to pay over 10 months, you will pay interest-free. If you are paying for a longer period, you will pay 9.9% APR.

If you have private health insurance, surgery will usually be covered by your provider. Speak to your insurer directly to find out.

When you choose to go private with Ross Hall Hospital, you can expect:

• Flexible appointment times to fit your schedule
• The freedom to choose your hospital and your consultant
• Bespoke, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
• Private en-suite rooms as standard
• Tasty and nutritious meals cooked onsite to your dietary requirements
• Support from the same compassionate clinical team from beginning to end
• Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
• Flexible payment options to help spread the cost of your care

If you want to know more about this procedure and find out if it's the right treatment for you, book your appointment online today.