Surgery for Rectocele or Enterocele

Discharge Instructions

The organs in the pelvis are supported by structures around them. Things like aging and childbirth can cause these structures to weaken. Loss of support lets pelvic organs fall out of their normal position. This is called prolapse. If the rectum falls out of place and bulges into the vagina, it is called rectocele.If the small intestine falls out of place and bulges into the vagina, it is called enterocele. Surgery can be done to fix these problems. This will help relieve your symptoms.

The Surgical Procedure

• To correct a rectocele, the rectum is moved back to its normal position. The tissue between the vagina and rectum is sutured (stitched) to strengthen it. This stops the rectum from bulging into the vagina.

• To correct an enterocele, the small intestine is moved away from the vagina. Excess tissue is then sutured. This holds it in place.

Your Incisions

During surgery, the doctor reaches your pelvic organs through the rectum for a rectocele repair or through the abdomen for an enterocele repair.

Your doctor will put dressings on your incisions if he or she goes through the abdomen. You may take off the dressings after _______ or they will fall off on their own.

You may wash your incisions with mild soap and water after you take off the dressings or they fall off. Pat your skin dry. Do not use oils, powders or lotions on your incisions.

You may shower ________ after your surgery.

Pain

Take your pain medicine on time and as directed.

You may also take ibuprofen 400 to 600 mg for better pain control as you need. Keep taking your pain medicine on time and as directed. Take the ibuprofen midway between doses of your pain medicine. Do not take ibuprofen if you have kidney problems, stomach ulcers or if your doctor tells you not to take them.

An ice pack may help with pain and swelling. Wrap the ice pack in a towel. Leave the ice on for 20 minutes at a time.

To prevent constipation

• Eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

• Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

• Your doctor may tell you to take a stool softener or laxative.

Activity

You can drive when:

• You are no longer taking your pain medicine.

• You can move side to side without pain.

Ask others to help with chores and errands while you get better.

Don’t lift, push or pull anything that weighs more than _______ pounds for _______ weeks.

Don’t mow the lawn, shovel, use a vacuum cleaner or do other activities that take a lot of effort for ______ weeks after surgery.

Climb stairs slowly and pause after every few steps.

Walk as often as you feel able.

You can have sex again in _______ weeks.

Follow up

Your follow up appointment after surgery will be within _______ weeks.

Call your doctor if you have:

• A fever over 101.5 degrees.

• Chills

• Drainage from your incisions or rectum that smells bad.

• Bleeding that does not stop after 10 to 15 minutes of direct pressure.

• Bleeding that soaks through ___ pads in ___ hours.

• More pain, redness or drainage.

• Trouble passing urine.

• Nausea that doesn’t go away.

• Vomiting

• No bowel movement (BM) in 2 days after surgery and after taking Milk of Magnesia.