Stress urinary incontinence, vaginal prolapse and diverticulitis. Three very distinct medical conditions but all suffered by 75-year-old Zaida Solis Gonzáles of Puerto Rico. It was this converging health crisis that brought Mrs. Solis to Cleveland Clinic in Florida, an academic medical center renowned for its research and advancements in the treatment of pelvic floor disorders and colorectal diseases.
Mrs. Solis was referred to Cleveland Clinic in early 2007, after five hospitalizations due to an inflamed colon and several urinary tract infections. She was seen by urogynecologist G. Willy Davila, MD, and colorectal surgeon Juan Nogueras, MD, who often collaborate when it comes to treating patients with pelvic floor dysfunction.
The pelvic floor is a network of muscles, ligaments and other tissues that hold up the pelvic organs. When this system is torn or weakens, the organs may shift, bulge and push outward or against each other resulting in a number of potential health problems. Pelvic floor disorders occur primarily in women and become more common with age, affecting more than 50 percent of women age 55 and older.
Another very common condition, diverticulosis appears as small bulges within the colon. It affects about 50 percent of people over age 60 and almost everyone over age 80. Usually diverticulosis does not cause any troublesome symptoms and can be controlled with a high-fiber diet. When the bulges become infected or inflamed, the condition becomes diverticulitis. In rare and severe cases surgery is needed.
For Mrs. Solis, a mother of four, multiple pelvic conditions and diverticulitis resulted in overlapping symptoms making diagnosis difficult. Once her conditions were identified, however, Drs. Davila and Nogueras were able to recommend multiple treatment options that could be conducted during a single surgery with no major incisions.
Mrs. Solis
This comprehensive and minimally invasive approach was very appealing to Mrs. Solis. So in April 2007, she underwent two procedures to correct her vaginal prolapse, a third procedure to treat her stress urinary incontinence, and a laparoscopic resection to remove the inflamed portion of her colon.
“Dr. Nogueras and I were able to work together in that one day to treat all of Mrs. Solis’ conditions during a single surgery that consisted of four procedures,” explains Dr. Davila. “Because all the procedures were minimally invasive, there were no large incisions, and her recovery was much quicker and easier.”
Today, Mrs. Solis is at her home in Puerto Rico enjoying life, free of the pain and discomfort she had endured for many years.
“I am very grateful to the doctors and support staff at Cleveland Clinic for their wonderful care,” adds Mrs. Solis. “I would have never dreamt that they could accomplish so much in one day.”
Cleveland Clinic in Florida Physician on Discovery Health Show
Viviane F. Connor, MD, (center) Co-Director of the Section of Minimally Invasive Gynecology at Cleveland Clinic in Florida, recently appeared on the Discovery Health continuing medical education program “Pelvic Health: Optimizing Care.” The show, which covered menorrhagia and fibroids, stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, is available to a general audience for viewing at health.discovery.com and offers continuing medical education credits to physicians. In addition, the show will be broadcast multiple times during the year.
