Multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach to pelvic floor disorders

Abstract

Pelvic floor disorders encompass a spectrum of different functional and anatomical disorders, which often require input from different disciplines. Usually, patients are referred with one main complaint, but often other symptoms are associated. For example, a patient referred with rectal prolapse may also suffer with urinary incontinence and associated anterior and middle compartment prolapse.Multidisciplinary assessment and treatment should be conducted from initial assessment to best understand which specialties should be involved in symptom management. Conservative and surgical interventions both play an important role for these pathologies and are often used in combination.The aim of this manuscript is to present the importance of the multidisciplinary approach to pelvic floor disorders and the value of different healthcare professionals and specialties. Consideration about future expansions of pelvic floor services will be presented as well, with special attention to the role of dietician, pain team and psychologist.

Keywords

• Multidisciplinary assessment
• Pelvic floor disorders
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Fecal incontinence