A weak bladder. Pelvic pain. Pelvic pressure. These complex health conditions are uncomfortable – even painful – but can definitely be fixed.

Saint Mary’s Advanced Urogynecology Service provides hope for patients with complex cases involving urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.

Using minimally invasive surgical techniques, including the da Vinci Surgical System, uro-gynecologists, and father and son duo, Jason Bennett, MD, and Michael Bennett, MD, are sub-specialists who perform advanced surgeries for women who have been unsuccessful with previous alternative treatments.

One of those surgeries is robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexy to treat pelvic organ prolapse.

According to WebMD, “Prolapse (or falling) of any pelvic floor organs (vagina, uterus, bladder or rectum) occurs when the connective tissues or muscles in the body cavity are weak and can not hold the pelvis in its natural position.”

Bennett states: “As many as 30-40 percent of women experience prolapsed organs.”

“Treating prolapsed organs through sacrocolpopexy is not new, but using robotic-assisted surgery to treat it is,” said Jason Bennett. “For the surgeon, the benefits of the da Vinci are that it simulates wrists movements as well as better visualization to move and better visualization. For the patient, using the robot allows them:

1. quicker healing time,
   

2. smaller incisions/scars
   

3. less pain and
   

4. a shorter length of stay in the hospital so they can get back to their lives quicker.”
   

The second surgery is minimally invasive InterStim Therapy to treat urinary incontinence.

Urinary incontinence or loss of bladder control is a frustrating and often embarrassing problem for more than 13 million Americans, according to WebMD.

“InterStim works like a pacemaker for the bladder,” said Jason Bennett. “It is surgically inserted and sends electric impulses into a patient’s bladder to regulate the urge to empty, which causes people to have the sense of urgency.”

Bennett has seen great success with InterStim, with some patients having a 50-60 percent reduction in the number of times they go the bathroom. “One patient went to the bathroom 40 times a day, four or five times at night, and that’s now down to half.” 

The specialty services of the Bennetts are a wonderful complement to the gynecology services offered through Saint Mary’s Ob/Gyn Specialists and Advantage Health OB.

If you would like more information about the Saint Mary’s Advanced Urogynecology Service, please call (616) 685. 4171.