Moonless night sky increases Isistius species (cookiecutter shark) and live human contact.

The nocturnal feeding behavior and zoogeographical habitat of cookiecutter sharks Isistius brasiliensis and Isistius plutodus (Isistius spp.) greatly reduces interaction of this species with live humans. Attacks on live humans are exceedingly rare with 7 cases reported worldwide, 6 of them in Hawai'i, and 5 of these occuring among channel swimmers. Published research suggests that periods of bright moonlight may increase Isistius spp. contact with live humans and does not otherwise identify significant trends or risk factors. Yet 5 of the 6 Isistius spp. bites on live humans in Hawai'ian waters occurred with the moon set and after nautical twilight end and before nautical twilight start. From 1961-2023 in Hawai'i, 129 successful solo channel crosses and 5 Isistius spp. related injuries in the habitat of cookiecutter sharks were analyzed across two groups: one where both the moon and sun were set (dark group) and one where the moon and/or sun was in the sky (light group). There was a significant difference for swimmers bitten by Isistius spp. in the dark 4 (12%) versus light groups 1 (1%), p = 0.012, RR 12.6 (95% confidence interval: 1.5-108.9). Swim start time and year was also significant (Pearson correlation 0.566, p <0.001). Swimmer gender and use of shark deterrent devices and artificial illumination were not significant. The growing popularity of channel swimming in Hawai'i and swim start times have contributed to an increasing likelihood of live human and Isistius spp. contact and a moonless night sky is a significant risk factor for this interaction.

Vaginal repair of neobladder-vaginal fistula: a case report and review of the literature.

Neobladder substitution after radical cystectomy for invasive cancer has become commonplace as it preserves normal volitional voiding through the native urethra and avoids urinary diversion. Neobladder-vaginal fistula (NVF) is a rare postoperative complication of this procedure that results in decreased quality of life. We describe a case of vaginal repair of a NVF and present a review of the literature.

Actinomyces infection associated with the transobturator sling.

We present a case of Actinomyces infection associated with the transobturator sling. The patient had a transobturator sling complicated only by a left vaginal sulcal perforation. She subsequently developed mesh erosion that led to two partial mesh resections performed in the operating room at 6 weeks and again at 6 months after the initial surgery. She subsequently required a groin dissection and removal of the entire left side of the sling due to persistent infection. The presence of a foreign body is believed to create an environment that makes growth of the bacteria more likely. With increased use of artificial mesh in incontinence and prolapse surgery, we may see increasing numbers of these types of infections.

Defining an at-risk population for obstetric anal sphincter laceration.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to calculate the number of cesarean deliveries needed to prevent 1 case of obstetric anal sphincter laceration associated with operative vaginal delivery in an at-risk cohort. STUDY DESIGN: An institutional, computerized database was used to analyze women with obstructed labor who could have been managed by either operative vaginal or cesarean delivery from September 2006 to March 2008. Women with 1 or more of the following diagnoses comprised the cohort: cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD), arrest of descent, maternal exhaustion, and fetal distress. RESULTS: Fifty (23.9%) out of a total of 209 women managed by operative vaginal delivery experienced an anal sphincter laceration compared to none of 254 women in the cesarean delivery group (P < .0001). The ARR therefore was 23.9% (95% confidence interval, 18.1-29.7) and the NNT was 4.2 (95% confidence interval, 3.4-5.5). CONCLUSION: Five cesarean deliveries are needed to prevent 1 anal sphincter laceration associated with operative vaginal delivery in this cohort.

Effectiveness of transobturator tape in women with decreased urethral mobility.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether preoperative urethral mobility is associated with success of the transobturator insertion of suburethral polypropylene slings. STUDY DESIGN: A cohort of women who underwent a transobturator insertion of a suburethral polypropylene sling for urodynamic stress incontinence between October 2003 and January 2005 was prospectively assessed. RESULTS: Of the 134 women in the study cohort, 107 (80%) provided postoperative data at a median followup interval of 10 months. Postoperatively, 92 (86%) reported complete resolution of stress urinary incontinence on the Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 questionnaire, and 15 (14%) reported persistent incontinence. The median preoperative urethral mobility was significantly decreased among women who were incontinent postoperatively compared to those who were continent (40 degrees [10-60] vs. 50 degrees [10-90], p=0.0049). Women with preoperative urethral mobility < 45 degrees were at least 4 times more likely to report postoperative incontinence compared with women with preoperative urethral mobility > or = 45 degrees (29.4% vs. 6.9%, RR 4.29, 95% CI 1.59-11.60, p = 0.005). In addition, women with preoperative urethral straining angles < 45 degrees from the horizontal were at least 5 times more likely to report postoperative incontinence compared with women with preoperative urethral straining angles > or = 45 degrees (41.7% vs. 8.7%, RR 5.21, 95% CI 1.88-14.42, p = 0.006). Neither patient age nor the concomitant performance of an anterior colporrhaphy affected these results. CONCLUSION: Women with preoperative urethral mobility or preoperative urethral straining angles < 45 degrees appear to be at higher risk for failure following a transobturator insertion of a suburethral polypropylene sling.

Incisional endometriomas after Cesarean section: a case series.

OBJECTIVE: To review a series of women with endometriomas developing in the scar of the skin incision performed for cesarean section. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 37 patients diagnosed with incisional endometrioma at the time of surgical excision from 1975 to 2005 were identified from the comprehensive surgical database, which includes all operative procedures performed at this institution. The medical records of 33 of the 37 patients were available for review. RESULTS: The endometriomas ranged in size from a diameter of 1-12 cm and were initially observed to be present 6 months to 9 years (mean, 3.2) after the surgical procedure. Diagnosis was best made by needle aspiration of chocolate colored fluid from the mass. Medical therapy with a gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist, medroxyprogesterone acetate or combination oral contraceptives had been attempted in 14 patients without a change in lesion size. All patients were cured by surgical excision of the endometrioma. CONCLUSION: The overall incidence of incisional endometriomas following cesarean section during the 30-year period was 0.08%. Optimal treatment is by surgical excision. It is hypothesized that failure to close the parietal and visceral peritoneum with sutures at the time of cesarean section may markedly increase the postoperative occurrence of an endometrioma in the skin incision scar.

Vaginal trachelectomy following laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy and sacrocervicopexy.

BACKGROUND: Current evidence supports cervical preservation at the time of abdominal prolapse repair using synthetic mesh to minimize vaginal mesh extrusion. This report aims to describe management of benign cervical disease following laparoscopic sacrocervicopexy including successful trachelectomy performed vaginally. CASE: A 70-year-old sexually active woman presented with symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence. Her Papanicolaou smears over several years were unremarkable, and she had a benign endocervical polyp removed in the office 3 months before surgery. She underwent an uncomplicated robotic-assisted laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy and sacrocervicopexy. She presented 8 months after surgery with persistent vaginal spotting after intercourse and was found to have a recurrent endocervical polyp. Ultimately, she underwent uncomplicated trachelectomy performed vaginally with resolution of her symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Retention of the cervix at the time of mesh-augmented abdominal prolapse repairs introduces a unique set of evaluation and management considerations for benign cervical disease. Trachelectomy performed vaginally was successful and uncomplicated in this case.

Rectal mesh erosion after robotic sacrocolpopexy.

We report an unusual case of rectal mesh erosion presenting 16 months after robotic sacrocolpopexy. The patient initially underwent a robotic sacrocolpopexy, lysis of adhesions, midurethral sling, and posterior colporrhaphy for symptomatic grade 2 pelvic organ prolapse and urodynamic stress incontinence. Her postoperative recovery was uneventful. Sixteen months later, an anterior 2 × 2-cm rectal mesh erosion was noted on the colonoscopy performed when she presented with hematochezia.

Urethral mesh erosion after single-incision mid-urethral sling.

BACKGROUND: This report aims to describe urethral mesh erosion after a single-incision synthetic midurethral sling placement and to discuss possible causes for this complication. CASE: A 41-year-old woman presented with recurrent stress urinary incontinence after an anchored single-incision midurethral sling placement. Cystourethroscopy and translabial pelvic ultrasonography demonstrated the size and location of the injury. Mesh removal, urethral reconstruction, and Martius transposition flap were performed. The entire mesh removed was 24% shorter than the product before insertion. CONCLUSION: Mesh contraction may play an important role in delayed urinary tract injury especially after anchored synthetic midurethral sling placements.

Pelvic organ prolapse quantification use in the literature.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POPQ) system should be simplified based on its use in the peer-reviewed literature. METHODS: The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and International Urogynecology Journal were used for this study. All articles relating to pelvic organ prolapse published in these journals from January 2005 to December 2010 were reviewed for their use of the POPQ system. The POPQ points described in the Materials and/or Results sections of these articles were recorded. RESULTS: Two hundred eighty-three articles using the POPQ system were identified. One hundred thirty-two (47%) articles used the POPQ system but only to determine the stage of prolapse. Specific points were not mentioned. One hundred two (36%) articles evaluated specific POPQ points (Aa, Ba, Ap, Bp, C, D). Forty-nine (17%) articles evaluated points Gh, Pb, and Tvl. CONCLUSIONS: The POPQ system, based on its use in the peer-reviewed literature, may need revisions. An abbreviated version of the system may be considered, allowing for more widespread use.

Assessment of internet-based information regarding pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to establish descriptive data on the content, accuracy, and relevance of Internet-based information regarding pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence. METHODS: Using the search terms, urinary incontinence, uterine prolapse, dropped uterus, cystocele, and dropped bladder, the first 20 Web sites that appeared in each of 3 highly used search engines were identified. Two experienced reviewers independently evaluated each site for specific content, relevance, and accuracy. RESULTS: A total of 220 individual sites were identified: government-, university-, and/or society-sponsored sites represented 14.1% of the identified sites. Private parties, community groups, or unknown sponsors represented 73.2% of the sites. Industry represented 12.7% of the sites. The year the site was created was displayed in 45.9% of the sites, although 66.4% of the sites contained a year of update. Overall, 45% of the sites were rated as mostly/completely relevant to the search term and 44% of the sites were rated as mostly/completely accurate. Government-, university-, and/or society-sponsored sites were significantly more likely to be rated mostly/completely relevant and mostly/completely accurate compared with all other site sponsors with P = 0.05 and P = 0.0003, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Government, university, and/or medical societies sponsor a minority of Web sites compared with other sponsors but provide more comprehensive content that is more relevant and accurate to the topics of pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence.

Perineal body length among different racial groups in the first stage of labor.

OBJECTIVE: Anatomic differences among racial groups may contribute to observed differences in the occurrence of severe perineal lacerations at the time of vaginal delivery. The purpose of this study was to identify differences in perineal body length between racial groups. METHODS: Perineal body length was measured in primigravid women aged 18 to 45 years who were admitted in labor. Women were classified into 1 of 6 racial groups: White, Filipino, Japanese, Chinese, Native Hawaiian, or Micronesian. The primary outcome, perineal body length, was compared using analysis of variance. RESULTS: A total of 200 women were recruited. There were no significant differences in perineal body length (P = 0.42) and severe perineal lacerations (P = 0.82) between the different racial groups. The mean (SD) perineal body length of women who had a severe laceration was 3.9 (0.5) versus 3.9 (0.6) cm in women who did not have a severe laceration (P= 0.98). CONCLUSION: Perineal body length does not seem to differ among the different racial groups studied and therefore an unlikely cause of racial variation in rates of severe perineal lacerations.

Polypoid cystitis resulting from ovarian abscess.

We present the case of a 41-year-old woman who presented with gross hematuria, urinary urgency and frequency, and intermittent abdominal pain after vaginal hysterectomy 2 years prior. The presence of an adnexal mass was suspected by pelvic examination and confirmed by transvaginal pelvic ultrasonography. Cystoscopy with biopsy was consistent with an inflammatory bladder polyp, which was initially discovered by pelvic ultrasonography and noted to be contiguous with the adnexal mass. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy, lysis of adhesions, left salpingoophorectomy, and transvesical resection of the bladder mass. Histology was consistent with ovarian abscess and chronic sinus tract formation that was contiguous with an inflammatory bladder polyp.

Decreased rate of obstetrical anal sphincter laceration is associated with change in obstetric practice.

A study was conducted to describe the rate of obstetrical anal sphincter laceration in a large cohort of women and to identify the characteristics associated with this complication. Data from all vaginal deliveries occurring between January 1996 and December 2004 at one institution were used to compare women with and without anal sphincter lacerations. Among 16,667 vaginal deliveries, 1,703 (10.2%) anal sphincter lacerations occurred. Regression models suggested that episiotomy (OR 1.36; 95% CI 1.16, 1.58), vacuum delivery (OR 3.19; 95% CI 2.69, 3.79), and forceps delivery (OR 2.79; 95% CI 1.94, 4.02) were each associated with the increased risk of anal sphincter laceration. Year of delivery was associated with a decreased risk of anal sphincter laceration (OR 0.94; 95% CI 0.92, 0.96) with the rate of laceration decreasing from 11.2% to 7.9% during the study period. Episiotomy and operative vaginal delivery are significant, modifiable risk factors. Changes in obstetric practice may have contributed to the dramatic reduction in anal sphincter laceration during the study period.

The impact of pelvic organ prolapse on sexual function in women with urinary incontinence.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) on sexual function in women with urinary incontinence (UI). In this retrospective, case-cohort study, we reviewed the medical records of all women evaluated for UI between March and November 2003. All patients completed the short forms of the Urogenital Distress Inventory, Incontinence Impact Questionnaire, and Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire. Women with stage two or greater POP, as determined by the pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POPQ) system, were compared to women with stage 0 or 1 POP. Sixty-nine women with POP and 47 women without POP were included. Patient demographics did not differ between the two groups. Women with POP were significantly more likely to report absence of libido (53% versus 30%, P=0.02), lack of sexual excitement during intercourse (46% versus 27%, P=0.05), and that they rarely experienced orgasm during intercourse (49% versus 30%, P=0.05). In conclusion, women with POP in addition to UI are more likely to report decreased libido, decreased sexual excitement, and difficulty achieving orgasm during intercourse when compared to women with UI alone.