Preoperative prolapse phenotype is predictive of surgical outcome with minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy.

BACKGROUND: The gold-standard treatment for advanced pelvic organ prolapse is sacrocolpopexy. However, the preoperative features of prolapse that predict optimal outcomes are unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop a clinical prediction model that uses preoperative scores on the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification examination to predict outcomes after minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy for stages 2, 3, and 4 uterovaginal prolapse and vaginal vault prolapse. STUDY DESIGN: A 2-institution database of pre- and postoperative variables from 881 cases of minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy was analyzed. Data from patients were analyzed in the following 4 groups: stage 2 uterovaginal prolapse, stage 3 to 4 uterovaginal prolapse, stage 2 vaginal vault prolapse, and stage 3 to 4 vaginal vault prolapse. Unsupervised machine learning was used to identify clusters and investigate associations between clusters and outcome. The k-means clustering analysis was performed with preoperative Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification points and stratified by previous hysterectomy status. The "optimal" surgical outcome was defined as postoperative Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification stage <2. Demographic variables were compared by cluster with Student t and chi-square tests. Odds ratios were calculated to determine whether clusters could predict the outcome. Age at surgery, body mass index, and previous prolapse surgery were used for adjusted odds ratios. RESULTS: Five statistically distinct prolapse clusters (phenotypes C, A, A>P, P, and P>A) were found. These phenotypes reflected the predominant region of prolapse (apical, anterior, or posterior) and whether support was preserved in the nonpredominant region. Phenotype A (anterior compartment prolapse predominant, posterior support preserved) was found in all 4 groups of patients and was considered the reference in the analysis. In 111 patients with stage 2 uterovaginal prolapse, phenotypes A and A>P (greater anterior prolapse than posterior prolapse) were found, and patients with phenotype A were more likely than those with phenotype A>P to have an optimal surgical outcome. In 401 patients with stage 3 to 4 uterovaginal prolapse, phenotypes C (apical compartment predominant, prolapse in all compartments), A, and A>P were found, and patients with phenotype A>P were more likely than those with phenotype A to have ideal surgical outcome. In 72 patients with stage 2 vaginal vault prolapse, phenotypes A, A>P, and P (posterior compartment predominant, anterior support preserved) were found, and those with phenotype A>P were less likely to have an ideal outcome than patients with phenotype A. In 297 patients with stage 3 to 4 vaginal vault prolapse, phenotypes C, A, and P>A (prolapse greater in posterior than in anterior compartment) were found, but there were no significant differences in rate of ideal outcome between phenotypes. CONCLUSION: Five anatomic phenotypes based on preoperative Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification scores were present in patients with stages 2 and 3 to 4 uterovaginal prolapse and vaginal vault prolapse. These phenotypes are predictive of surgical outcome after minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy. Further work needs to confirm the presence and predictive nature of these phenotypes. In addition, whether the phenotypes represent a progression of prolapse or discrete prolapse presentations resulting from different anatomic and life course risk profiles is unknown. These phenotypes may be useful in surgical counseling and planning.

Online Search Strategies and Results From a Crowdsourced Survey on Asymptomatic Bacteriuria.

IMPORTANCE: Despite the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB), what proportion of the population is aware of this condition and the quality of internet resources are currently unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to use an online crowdsourcing platform to explore general knowledge and internet search strategies, along with the quality of information, on ASB. STUDY DESIGN: An online survey was administered through a crowdsourcing platform to women 50 years or older via Qualtrics, which is a sophisticated online survey tool. Participants completed a survey on ASB, and participants were asked how they would search the internet for information both on urinary test results and on ASB. Outcomes included survey responses, and qualitative data were coded and analyzed thematically. χ2 Testing and regression modeling were used to look for variables associated with concern for ASB. RESULTS: There were a total of 518 participants who passed attention check qualifications, and only 45 respondents (8.7%) had heard of ASB. Many were concerned about progress to a worsening infection (n = 387 [77.6%]). When controlling for confounders, education beyond a college degree was not associated with a lower concern for ASB when compared with those with a high school education or less (adjusted odds ratio, 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.25-1.55; P = 0.31). Medical providers were the target audience for a majority of the websites, and many of the patient-facing results were of poor quality. CONCLUSIONS: Our national survey of women demonstrated a prevalent knowledge deficit surrounding ASB. We must seek to create high-quality, readily available, patient-facing information to increase awareness of ASB, allay concerns, and increase antibiotic stewardship.

Decision-making and Treatment Preferences Surrounding Bacteriuria in Nonpregnant Women: A Qualitative Investigation.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Best practices suggest nontreatment for asymptomatic bacteriuria in a nonpregnant population, yet there is little literature on patient preference or understanding of asymptomatic bacteriuria treatment. We hypothesize that there might be core factors that affect antibiotic preferences and care-seeking decisions for urinary tract infection and asymptomatic bacteriuria in a postmenopausal population. METHODS: We performed semi-structured interviews with postmenopausal individuals who had been previously treated for at least one patient-reported urinary tract infection. Interviews covered a discussion about their approach to seeking antibiotics for management and knowledge/preferences for asymptomatic bacteriuria management. Two authors independently coded the interviews and identified a set of symptom-related knowledge and experiences that relate to care-seeking and treatment preferences. We then graphically represented a mental model of antibiotic-seeking practices as an influence diagram, illustrating how knowledge and values affect preferences for care. RESULTS: We performed 30 interviews of participants with a mean age of 69.4 (SD 6.4). Among participants, there were four core factors that influence antibiotic seeking for bacteriuria. Participants noted concern for sequelae from untreated bacteria as their primary motivation, but also noted past experiences, information sources, and testing results as themes that affected their mental model surrounding bacteriuria treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The cognitive approach to care-seeking and treatment preference for bacteriuria is influenced by a few central factors. An improved ability to allay concerns either by provider discussions or educational materials are necessary to bridge the gap from the existence of evidence-based guidelines to patient and provider comfort with adherence to these guidelines.

The Use of Disposable Supplies: Measuring Suburethral Sling Surgical Waste by Cost and Weight.

IMPORTANCE: The health care industry is a leading contributor to solid waste in the United States, and two thirds of a hospital's regulated medical waste is produced from surgery. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to assess the utilization of single-use disposable supplies during suburethral sling cases. STUDY DESIGN: We observed suburethral sling plus cystoscopy procedures at an academic medical center. Cases with concomitant procedures were excluded. Our primary outcome was the quantity of wasted supplies, defined as disposable supplies that were opened at the start of the procedure and were unused. Secondarily, we quantified those supplies in both weight and United States dollars. In a subset of cases, we obtained the weight of the total amount of trash generated from the procedure. RESULTS: A total of 20 cases were observed. Most frequently wasted items included an emesis basin, large ring basin, and rectangle plastic tray. Redundant supplies wasted included a 1-L sterile water bottle and, on average, 2.73 (SD, 2.34) blue towels. The sum of the weight of the wasted items among cases was 1.33 lb, associated with $9.50. The average total amount of trash produced from 11 cases was 14.13 lb (SD, 2.27). Removal of the most frequently wasted items would achieve a 9.4% reduction in solid waste produced by the case. CONCLUSIONS: A large waste burden per surgical case was produced by a minor procedure. Removal of frequently wasted items, a reduced number of towels, and smaller cystoscopy fluid bags are simple strategies that would decrease overall waste production.

Risk of postoperative mesh exposure following sacrocolpopexy with supracervical versus total concomitant laparoscopic hysterectomy.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The primary objective was to compare rates of mesh exposure in women undergoing minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy with concurrent supracervical vs total hysterectomy. We hypothesized there would be a lower risk of mesh exposure for supracervical hysterectomy. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study using the Premier Healthcare Database. Women undergoing sacrocolpopexy with supracervical or total hysterectomy between 2010 and 2018 were identified using Current Procedural (CPT) codes. Complications were identified using CPT and diagnosis codes; reoperations were identified using CPT codes. Mesh exposures were measured over a 2-year period. A multivariable logistic regression was performed with a priori defined predictors of mesh exposure. RESULTS: This study includes 17,111 women who underwent minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy with concomitant supracervical or total hysterectomy (6708 (39%) vs 10,403 (61%)). Women who underwent supracervical hysterectomy were older (age 60 ± 11 vs 53 ± 13, p < 0.01) and less likely to be obese (4% vs 7%, p < 0.01). Postoperative mesh exposures within 2 years were similar (supracervical n = 47, 0.7% vs total n = 65, 0.62%, p = 0.61). On logistic regression, obesity significantly reduced the odds of mesh exposure (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.01, 0.8); concomitant slings increased odds (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.28, 2.83). Supracervical hysterectomy was associated with higher rates of port site hernias (1.3% vs 0.65%, p < 0.01), but lower surgical site infections within 3 months (0.81% vs 1.2%, p = 0.03). Reoperation for recurrent prolapse within 24 months was similar (supracervical n = 94, 1.4% vs total n = 150, 1.4%, p = 0.88). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative mesh exposure rates do not significantly differ based on type of concomitant hysterectomy in this dataset.

Antibiotic utilization and symptom improvement in a retrospective cohort of women with urinary tract infection symptoms.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common bacterial infections in women. We hypothesized that over half of those treated empirically would receive inappropriate antibiotics, those treated expectantly would have lower symptom improvement without antibiotics, and that overall progression to sequelae would be uncommon. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study of women with UTI symptoms, we quantified the proportion who received inappropriate antibiotics in those treated empirically, defined as those with a negative urine culture or antibiotics that were changed according to culture sensitivities, and identified factors associated with symptom improvement during expectant management. Secondarily, we sought to determine the proportion of UTI sequelae in both groups. During the study time frame, a modified UTI Symptom Assessment (UTISA) questionnaire was administered at baseline and again, with a global rating for change instrument, when urine culture results were relayed. RESULTS: Analyses included 152 women, mean age 66.5 (SD 15.0) years, 30 (20%) received empiric antibiotics, and 122 (80%) expectant management. At baseline, the empiric group reported greater mean scores for dysuria (p < 0.01), urgency (p < 0.01), frequency (p < 0.01), and incomplete emptying (p < 0.01). Positive culture results were reported for 16 (53%) in the empiric group and 72 (59%) in the expectant group. Inappropriate antibiotics were prescribed to 18 (60%) of the empiric group. A negative urine culture was associated with improvement in symptoms in the expectant group. No subjects experienced UTI sequelae within 30 days of initial evaluation. CONCLUSION: In our cohort of older women with UTI symptoms, deferring antibiotics until urine culture  resulted appeared to be safe and decreased the use of inappropriate antibiotics.

Dysregulated wound healing in the pathogenesis of urogynecologic mesh complications.

To test the hypothesis that dysregulated wound healing is associated with Urogynecologic mesh complications, we collected vaginal cell secretions using vaginal swabs after polypropylene mesh implantation in patients with (N = 39) and without (N = 40) complication. A customized multiplex immunoassay measured markers of inflammation (MCP-1, IGFBP-1, IL-2, IL-10, IL-17, PDGF-BB, bFGF, IL-1b, IL-6, IL-12p70, TNF-α), neuroinflammation (IL-1RA, TGF-ß, IL-15, IL-18, IL-3, M-CSF), angiogenesis (VEGF), and matrix proteins (fibronectin, tenasin c, thrombospondin-2, lumican) between groups. Patients with complications were younger, heavier, implanted with mesh longer, and more likely to be ever smokers. A 5 kg/m2 BMI increase and ever-smoking were associated with a 2.4-fold and sixfold increased risk of complication, respectively. Patients with the highest tertile of bFGF, fibronectin, thrombospondin-2, TNF-ß, or VEGF had an odds ratio (OR) of 11.8 for having a mesh complication while ≥ 3 elevated had an OR of 237 while controlling for age, BMI, and smoking. The highest tertile of bFGF, thrombospondin-2, and fibronectin together perfectly indicated a complication (P < 0.0001). A receiver-operator curve for high bFGF, thrombospondin-2, and fibronectin showed excellent discrimination between complications and controls (AUC 0.87). These data provide evidence of dysregulated wound healing in mesh complications. Modifiable factors provide potential targets for patient counseling and interventions.

Association Between Enlarged Genital Hiatus and Composite Surgical Failure After Vaginal Hysterectomy With Uterosacral Ligament Suspension.

IMPORTANCE: The impact of a persistently enlarged genital hiatus (GH) after vaginal hysterectomy with uterosacral ligament suspension on prolapse outcomes is currently unclear. OBJECTIVES: This secondary analysis of the Study of Uterine Prolapse Procedures Randomized trial was conducted among participants who underwent vaginal hysterectomy with uterosacral ligament suspension. We hypothesized that women with a persistently enlarged GH size would have a higher proportion of prolapse recurrence. STUDY DESIGN: Women who underwent vaginal hysterectomy with uterosacral ligament suspension as part of the Study of Uterine Prolapse Procedures Randomized trial (NCT01802281) were divided into 3 groups based on change in their preoperative to 4- to 6-week postoperative GH measurements: (1) persistently enlarged GH, 2) improved GH, or (3) stably normal GH. Baseline characteristics and 2-year surgical outcomes were compared across groups. A logistic regression model for composite surgical failure controlling for advanced anterior wall prolapse and GH group was fitted. RESULTS: This secondary analysis included 81 women. The proportion with composite surgical failure was significantly higher among those with a persistently enlarged GH (50%) compared with a stably normal GH (12%) with an unadjusted risk difference of 38% (95% confidence interval, 4%-68%). When adjusted for advanced prolapse in the anterior compartment at baseline, the odds of composite surgical failure was 6 times higher in the persistently enlarged GH group compared with the stably normal group (95% confidence interval, 1.0-37.5; P = 0.06). CONCLUSION: A persistently enlarged GH after vaginal hysterectomy with uterosacral ligament suspension for pelvic organ prolapse may be a risk factor for recurrent prolapse.

Preprocedure and Immediate Postoperative Changes to Genital Hiatus Following Minimally Invasive Sacrocolpopexy.

IMPORTANCE: This study assesses resting genital hiatus (GH) measurements under anesthesia as compared with in-office measurements for intraoperative planning purposes. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of general anesthesia and apical suspension on GH measurements compared with office measurements. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort of women who underwent minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy within an academic urogynecology practice. Genital hiatus for each patient was measured at 4 time points: (1) preoperative office examination (baseline) at rest (GH rest ) and with strain (GH strain ); (2) following anesthesia induction, at rest (GH induction ); (3) immediately after sacrocolpopexy, at rest (GH colpopexy ); and (4) 4- to 6-week postoperative visit, strain (GH postop ). Enlarged baseline GH strain was defined as ≥4 cm. Paired statistics and analysis of variance were used for comparisons. RESULTS: Fifty-one women were included, whose mean age was 61.3 ± 8.2 years; the majority had stage ≥3 prolapse (n = 39 [76.4%]). Concomitant procedures included hysterectomy (n = 33 [64.7%]) and posterior colporrhaphy or perineorrhaphy (n = 8 [15.7%]). The majority had an enlarged baseline GH strain (n = 39 [76.4%]), and overall cohort mean was 4.7 ± 1.3 cm. Compared with baseline GH rest , mean GH induction was larger (GH induction : 4.6 ± 1.4 cm vs GH rest : 3.8 ± 1.2 cm, P < 0.01) but not different from baseline GH strain (GH induction : 4.6 ± 1.4 cm vs GH strain : 4.7 ± 1.3 cm, P = 0.81). GH colpopexy was decreased from baseline GH strain with a mean difference of 1.1 ± 1.3 cm ( P < 0.01). This difference was driven by women with enlarged baseline GH strain who experienced a mean decrease of 1.5 ± 1.1 cm ( P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Genital hiatus after induction of anesthesia does not significantly differ from preoperative straining GH. Apical suspension with sacrocolpopexy alone resulted in immediate reduction in GH measures, with greater decreases observed in women with enlarged preoperative GH.

Operative Time for Minimally Invasive Sacrocolpopexy: Comparison of Conventional Laparoscopy versus Robotic Platform.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the operative time for minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy using conventional laparoscopy vs robotic assistance. In addition, we sought to compare intraoperative complications, mesh complications, anatomic prolapse recurrence, and retreatment. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Academic hospital. PATIENTS: All 142 women who underwent minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2019. INTERVENTION: We compared operative time between laparoscopic and robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexies. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 142 women were included. Mean age was 61.8 ± 9.6 years and mean body mass index 27.1 ± 4.4 kg/m2. A total of 86 (60.6%) sacrocolpopexies were performed laparoscopically and 56 (39.4%) with robotic assistance. There were no significant differences in baseline demographic variables. A higher proportion of concomitant hysterectomies were performed with robotic assistance as compared with laparoscopic cases (n = 42, 73.7% robotic vs n = 43, 50.6% laparoscopic; p <.01). Mean operative times were significantly different between robotic and laparoscopic groups (176.3 ± 45.5 minutes and 195.0 ± 45.4 minutes, p = .02). On linear regression, the variables predicting significant change in operative time were robotic assistance, concomitant hysterectomy, age, body mass index, and no resident involvement. There were no differences in intraoperative bladder or bowel injury, anatomic recurrence beyond the hymen, retreatment, or mesh complications (all p >.05). CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to previous research, the use of robotic assistance does not appear to increase operative time for patients undergoing minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy in a large academic practice.

Complications Reported to the Food and Drug Administration: A Cross-sectional Comparison of Urogynecologic Meshes.

IMPORTANCE: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration uses the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience database to evaluate the safety of urogynecologic meshes; however, reports on individual meshes have not been characterized. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare complications among available urogynecologic meshes reported to the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience database. STUDY DESIGN: This study is a cross-sectional analysis of medical device reports (MDRs) of urogynecologic mesh from January 2004 to March 2019, using the Reed Tech Navigator (LexisNexis), which codes MDRs. The percentage of reports containing specific complaints (not an adverse event rate) were compared with χ 2 tests with Dunn-Sidak correction. Correlations with time on market, mesh weight, stiffness, and porosity were determined. RESULTS: The 34,485 reports examined included 6 transvaginal meshes, 4 sacrocolpopexy meshes, and 10 midurethral slings. Most reported events were pain, erosion, and infection. For transvaginal prolapse, less than 10% of Uphold Lite (Boston Scientific) reports contained pain or erosion versus greater than 90% of Prolift/Prolift+M (Ethicon, P < 0.001). For sacrocolpopexy mesh, greater than 90% of Gynemesh (Ethicon; Prolift in vaginal form) reports included erosion and pain versus less than 60% for Artisyn (Ethicon), Restorelle (Colpoplast), and Upsylon (Boston Scientific, P < 0.0001). For slings, Gynecare TVT Obturator had the highest proportion of erosion and pain complaints. Heavier sling meshes had more reports. When Ascend (Caldera Medical), an outlier with only 5 reports, was excluded, transvaginal mesh stiffness correlated strongly with number of reports. For transvaginal meshes, number of reports correlated with time on market (ρ = 0.8, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Individual meshes have different properties with different complication profiles, which should inform mesh development and use. Gynemesh MDRs included pain and erosion more frequently than others. Comprehensive registries are needed.

Factors Associated With a Positive Urine Culture in Women Seeking Urogynecologic Care for Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms.

IMPORTANCE: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common bacterial infections and more frequently affect women than men. OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to determine clinical characteristics associated with a positive urine culture in women seeking treatment for symptoms of UTI. STUDY DESIGN: In this prospective cohort study, women seeking treatment for UTI symptoms were administered the Urinary Tract Infection Symptom Assessment questionnaire at baseline and at the time of culture results. Participants were grouped by history of recurrent UTI (rUTI) based on chart review. Our primary outcome was the proportion of "positive" urine cultures (≥10 3 colony-forming units) compared between rUTI groups. Characteristics were compared and the relative odds of a positive culture were calculated with a logistic regression model. RESULTS: Analyses included 152 women, 79 (52%) with rUTI and 73 (48%) with no history of rUTI. Overall, 90 (59.2%) had a positive culture. Participants with a positive culture were more likely to report history of rUTI ( P = 0.01). There was a 2.45-fold increased adjusted odds of a positive culture in those with a history of rUTI (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34-5.03; P = 0.01) when controlling for confounding variables, including scores on the Urinary Tract Infection Symptom Assessment for frequency (aOR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.40-0.91), dysuria (aOR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.10-2.12), and age (aOR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.05). CONCLUSIONS: In a cohort of women seeking care for UTI symptoms, older women, those with a history of rUTI and those presenting with dysuria are more likely to have a positive urine culture compared with those with urinary frequency.

Characteristics Associated With Repeated Evaluations for Urinary Tract Infections in Older Women: A Case-Control Study.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to estimate the incidence of repeated evaluations for urinary tract infection (UTI) after a single occurrence and to identify characteristics associated with repeated evaluations in a female Medicare population. METHODS: This was a case-control study of women aged 65 years or older undergoing incident outpatient evaluation for UTI between the years of 2011 and 2018. We defined UTI evaluation as an outpatient encounter with diagnostic codes for UTI and an order for urine culture. We excluded women with diagnostic codes suggestive of a complicated UTI. Among all women with an incident UTI evaluation, cases were defined as those with repeated evaluations, defined as either a total of ≥2 UTI evaluations in 6 months and/or ≥3 in 1 year. The characteristics of cases versus controls were compared with both an unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression model. RESULTS: Our overall cohort consisted of 169,958, of which 13,779 (8.1%) had repeated evaluations for UTI. In unadjusted analyses, cases were more likely to be older than 75 years, of White race, and to have cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, dementia, renal disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (all P's < 0.01) as compared with controls. In adjusted analysis, ages 75 years to 84 years (P < 0.01) and ages older than 84 years (P < 0.01) along with multiple medical comorbidities were significant risk factors for repeated evaluations for UTI. Black women had lower odds of repeated evaluations for UTI (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Among women with a single UTI evaluation, repeated evaluations for UTI were associated with older age, White race, and medical comorbidities. Future studies should investigate racial disparities seen in care-delivery behavior and/or care-seeking behavior.

Incidence of urosepsis or pyelonephritis after uncomplicated urinary tract infection in older women.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Our primary aim was to describe the incidence of the diagnosis of urosepsis or pyelonephritis during the 60 days following initial evaluation of an uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) among female Medicare beneficiaries ≥ 65 years of age. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of women ≥ 65 years of age undergoing evaluation for an incident, uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) between the years 2011-2018 included in the Medicare 5% Limited Data Set (LDS). We grouped women into age categories of 65-74 years, 75-84 years, or > 84 years old. We excluded women with possible complicated UTI, those hospitalized within 60 days prior to index UTI evaluation, and those residing in a nursing home and place of service consistent with an inpatient setting/facility. The association between age and risk of each outcome was estimated with Cox proportional hazards models, controlling for relevant comorbidities. RESULTS: Between 2011-2018, 169,958 women met our inclusion/exclusion criteria and were evaluated for uncomplicated UTI. In total, 2935 (1.7%) had a subsequent diagnosis of either urosepsis (n = 2848, 1.6%) or pyelonephritis (n = 145, 0.08%). In adjusted analysis, the hazard of urosepsis was significantly higher for women > 84 years (aHR 1.49, 95% CI 1.38, 1.65; p < 0.01) and those aged 75-84 (aHR 1.24, 95% CI 1.13, 1.37; p < 0.01) compared to those aged 65-74 years. In contrast, age group was not significantly associated with the hazard for pyelonephritis. CONCLUSIONS: Urosepsis and pyelonephritis are very uncommon after evaluation of incident uncomplicated UTI in female medical beneficiaries ≥ 65 years of age.

Total Vaginal Hysterectomy With Uterosacral Ligament Suspension Compared With Supracervical Hysterectomy With Sacrocervicopexy for Uterovaginal Prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: To compare prolapse recurrence after total vaginal hysterectomy with uterosacral ligament suspension to recurrence after supracervical hysterectomy with mesh sacrocervicopexy for the primary management of uterovaginal prolapse. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of women undergoing uterovaginal prolapse repair at an academic center from 2009 to 2019. Women who underwent vaginal hysterectomy with uterosacral ligament suspension or laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy with mesh sacrocervicopexy were included. The primary outcome was composite prolapse recurrence (prolapse beyond the hymen or retreatment with pessary or surgery). Secondary outcomes included mesh complications, time to recurrence, and overall reoperation for either prolapse recurrence or mesh complication. We used propensity scoring with a 2:1 ratio of sacrocervicopexy to uterosacral suspension. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 654 patients, of whom 228 (34.9%) underwent uterosacral suspension and 426 (65.1%) underwent sacrocervicopexy. The median follow-up was longer for the sacrocervicopexy group (230 vs 126 days, P<.001) and less than 1 year for both groups. The uterosacral group had a greater proportion of composite prolapse recurrence (14.9% [34/228] vs 8.7% [37/426], P=.02) and retreatment for recurrent prolapse (7.5% [17/228] vs 2.8% [12/426], P=.02). The uterosacral group demonstrated a shorter time to prolapse recurrence on multivariable Cox regression (hazard ratio 3.14, 95% CI 1.90-5.16). There were 14 (3.3%) mesh complications in the sacrocervicopexy group. Overall reoperation was similar between groups (4.8% [11/228] vs 3.8% [16/426], P=.51). CONCLUSION: Total vaginal hysterectomy with uterosacral ligament suspension was associated with higher rate of, and shorter time-to-prolapse recurrence compared with supracervical hysterectomy with mesh sacrocervicopexy.

Incidence of Sacral Osteomyelitis and Discitis After Minimally Invasive Sacrocolpopexy.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence and associated risk factors for sacral osteomyelitis and sacral discitis after sacrocolpopexy remain unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of sacral osteomyelitis and discitis after minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy and their association with the method of sacral mesh fixation. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of consecutive minimally invasive sacrocolpopexies performed by 11 female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery board-certified surgeons from January 2009 to August 2019 within a single health system. Sociodemographic, procedure, and clinical variables were abstracted from the electronic health record (EHR). We then performed a confirmatory EHR interrogation, cross-referencing procedural codes for laparoscopic and robot-assisted sacrocolpopexy and diagnostic codes for sacral osteomyelitis and sacral discitis. RESULTS: The EHR chart review identified 1,189 women who underwent laparoscopic (55.2%) and robot-assisted (44.8%) minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy, all with polypropylene mesh. Median follow-up was 7.7 months (interquartile range, 0-49.8). Titanium helical tacks were used in 52.7% patients, sutures in 41.6%, and both in 5.6%. No cases (0%) of sacral osteomyelitis or discitis were identified by chart review. The system-wide EHR interrogation of procedural and diagnostic codes identified 421 additional procedures for a total of 1,610 minimally invasive sacrocolpopexies. Among these, there were no cases (0%) of osteomyelitis or discitis. CONCLUSIONS: Sacral osteomyelitis and discitis are rare early outcomes after minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy with an incidence of less than 1/1,000 cases. Given an absence of cases, we were unable to assess for an association between method of sacral attachment and sacral osteomyelitis and sacral discitis.

Assessing pelvic organ prolapse recurrence after minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy: does mesh weight matter?

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: There has been a trend toward the use of ultra-lightweight mesh types for minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy. We hypothesized that ultra-lightweight mesh would have a greater proportion of composite anatomical pelvic organ prolapse recurrence than lightweight mesh. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of minimally invasive sacrocolpopexies at two academic institutions from 2009 to 2016. Our primary outcome was composite anatomical prolapse recurrence, defined as prolapse beyond the hymen or retreatment with pessary or surgery, compared between ultra-lightweight (≤21 g/m2 [range 19-21]) and lightweight (>21 g/m2 [range 35-50]) mesh types. We assessed time to prolapse recurrence using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 1,272 laparoscopic (n = 530, 41.7%) and robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexies (n = 742, 58.4%). Lightweight mesh was used in 745 procedures (58.6%) and ultra-lightweight mesh in 527 (41.4%). The lightweight mesh had longer median follow-up than the ultra-lightweight group (344 [IQR 50-670] vs 143 days [IQR 44-379], p < 0.01). There was no difference in composite anatomical prolapse recurrence between lightweight and ultra-lightweight mesh (54 [7.2%] vs 35 [6.6%], p = 0.68). Ultra-lightweight mesh demonstrated a shorter time to prolapse recurrence (p < 0.01), which remained significant on multivariate Cox regression (HR 2.38 [95% CI 1.47-3.87]). The lightweight mesh had significantly more mesh complications (43 [5.8%] vs 7 [1.3%], p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Ultra-lightweight mesh for minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy was not associated with a higher proportion of composite anatomical prolapse recurrence; however, it was associated with a shorter time to recurrence. Longer follow-up is needed to assess the clinical importance of this finding, particularly given the trade-off of more complications with lightweight mesh.

Comparison of 100 U With 200 U of Intradetrusor OnabotulinumToxinA for Nonneurogenic Urgency Incontinence.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare efficacy and adverse events between 100 U and 200 U of onabotulinumtoxinA for 6 months in women with nonneurogenic urgency incontinence. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of 2 multicenter randomized controlled trials assessing efficacy of onabotulinumtoxinA in women with nonneurogenic urgency incontinence; one compared 100 U to anticholinergics and the other 200 U to sacral neuromodulation. Of 307 women who received onabotulinumtoxinA injections, 118 received 100 U, and 189 received 200 U. The primary outcome was mean adjusted change in daily urgency incontinence episodes from baseline over 6 months, measured on monthly bladder diaries. Secondary outcomes included perceived improvement, quality of life, and adverse events. The primary outcome was assessed via a multivariate linear mixed model. RESULTS: Women receiving 200 U had a lower mean reduction in urgency incontinence episodes by 6 months compared with 100 U (-3.65 vs -4.28 episodes per day; mean difference, 0.63 episodes per day [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.05-1.20]). Women receiving 200 U had lower perceptions of improvement (adjusted odds ratio, 0.32 [95% CI, 0.14-0.75]) and smaller improvement in severity score (adjusted mean difference, 12.0 [95% CI, 5.63-18.37]). Upon subanalysis of only women who were treated with prior anticholinergic medications, these differences between onabotulinumtoxinA doses were no longer statistically significant. There was no statistically significant difference in adverse events in women receiving 200 U (catheterization, 32% vs 23%; adjusted odds ratio, 1.4 [95% CI, 0.8-2.4]; urinary tract infection, 37% vs 27%; adjusted odds ratio, 1.5 [95% CI, 0.9-2.6]). CONCLUSIONS: A higher dose of onabotulinumtoxinA may not directly result in improved outcomes, but rather baseline disease severity may be a more important prediction of outcomes.

A Systematic Review of Randomized Trials Investigating Methods of Postoperative Void Trials Following Benign Gynecologic and Urogynecologic Surgeries.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) studying postoperative void trials (VTs) following gynecologic and urogynecologic surgery to investigate (1) the optimal postoperative VT methodology and (2) the optimal time after surgery to perform a VT. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov. METHOD OF STUDY SELECTION: We systematically searched the aforementioned data sources from inception to November 22, 2019, using a combination of subject headings and keywords for the following 3 concepts: gynecologic surgery (prolapse, benign gynecologic, and incontinence surgery), postoperative period, and voiding. We identified any RCT in English that studied VT methodology or timing in patients undergoing benign gynecologic or urogynecologic surgery. Discrepancies were adjudicated by a third reviewer. We followed the standard systematic review methodology and used the Jadad scoring system to assess bias. Extracted study outcomes included the following: proportion of patients discharged home with catheter, proportion of VT failure, surgery for retention, retention after initial VT, postoperative calls and visits, time in postanesthesia care unit (PACU), time to discharge, time to spontaneous void, duration of catheterization, patient and provider burden, and urinary tract infection (UTI). TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: We double screened 618 abstracts and clinical trial descriptions, assessed 56 full-text articles, and ultimately included 21 RCTs. The evidence was of low to moderate quality overall. The studies were divided into the following 2 categories: VT methodology (10 studies) and VT timing (11 studies). VT methodology included backfill-assisted (in operating room vs PACU), autofill, and force of stream studies. One RCT compared backfill-assisted with and without postvoid residual volume check. Outcomes were similar for all VT methods, except backfill-assisted decreased time to spontaneous void compared with autofill. In the VT timing category, earlier VT performance correlated with a shorter time to discharge, time to spontaneous void, duration of catheterization, and lower patient burden and UTI rate but had a higher rate of retention after initial VT. There was no difference between earlier vs later VT timing for proportion of discharged home with catheter or rate of VT failure. No studies reported outcomes of provider burden or postoperative calls. CONCLUSION: In comparing VT methodologies, VT by backfill-assisted (in operating room vs PACU, ± postvoid residual volume), autofill, and force of stream resulted in similar outcomes with no one method being superior. Performing VT at an earlier postoperative time point results in shorter time to discharge and spontaneous void, shorter duration of catheterization, lower patient burden, and lower UTI risk, but it may increase the risk of retention after initial VT.

Impact of Genital Hiatus Size on Anatomic Outcomes After Mesh-Augmented Sacrospinous Ligament Fixation.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective is to compare anatomic outcomes at medium term after mesh-augmented sacrospinous ligament fixation among women categorized by their preoperative and postoperative genital hiatus size. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study in women undergoing Uphold mesh-augmented sacrospinous ligament fixation between 2010 and 2017. We compared 3 groups: (1) women with a wide genital hiatus preoperatively and 6 weeks postoperatively ("Persistently Wide" cohort), (2) women with a wide genital hiatus preoperatively but normal hiatus 6 weeks postoperatively ("Improved" cohort), and (3) women with a normal genital hiatus preoperatively and 6 weeks postoperatively ("Stably Normal" cohort). We defined a wide hiatus as 4 cm or greater and a normal hiatus as less than 4 cm. The primary outcome was anatomic failure, defined as recurrent prolapse beyond the hymen or retreatment for prolapse with surgery or pessary. RESULTS: Ninety-seven women were included in the study. Overall, mean age was 68 years (±7.15 years), mean body mass index was 28.36 kg/m2 (±5.34 kg/m2) and mean follow up time was 400 ± 216 days. Anatomic failure did not differ between groups (Persistently Wide, 15.4%; Improved, 11.1%; Stably Normal, 10.0%; P = 0.88). In logistic regression, the odds of anatomic failure remained similar among all groups (P = 0.93). CONCLUSIONS: A persistently wide genital hiatus alone was not associated with anatomic failure in this small study cohort. Therefore, surgical reduction of the genital hiatus with level III support procedures may not affect prolapse recurrence at the time of mesh-augmented sacrospinous ligament fixation. Further studies are needed to confirm this relationship and investigate other potential mechanisms for these findings.