The Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center recently performed the Richmond area's first da Vinci sacrocolpopexy -- a minimally invasive surgical procedure designed to correct pelvic organ prolapse. More than 120,000 cases of uterine and vaginal vault prolapse are surgically treated in the United States yearly.

Prolapse occurs when the connective tissues or muscles within the body cavity are weak and unable to hold the pelvic and vaginal tissues in their natural orientation. Traditional surgery required a prolonged hospital stay and a recovery time of six to eight weeks, along with increased pain for patients.

The da Vinci robot performs the complicated operation laparoscopically, requiring only four very small incisions. Patients can return to regular activities, including work, within two weeks. Read more here.