Comparison of the effectiveness of sacrospinous ligament fixation and sacrocolpopexy: a meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Sacrocolpopexy and sacrospinous ligament fixation (SSLF) have been used for the restoration of apical support. Studies comparing sacrocolpopexy and SSLF have reported conflicting results. We aim to assess the current evidence regarding efficiency and the complications of sacrocolpopexy compared with SSLF. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library and performed a systematic review meta-analysis to assess the two surgical approaches. RESULTS: 5Five randomized controlled trials, 8 retrospective studies, and 2 prospective studies including 4,120 cases were identified. Compared with abdominal sacrocolpopexy (ASC), SSLF was associated with a lower success rate (88.32% and 91.45%; OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.29-0.95; p = 0.03), higher recurrence (11.58% and 8.32%; OR 1.97; 95% CI 1.04-3.46; p = 0.04), and dyspareunia rate (14.36% and 4.67%; OR 3.10; 95% CI 1.28-7.50; p = 0.01). Patients in this group may benefit from shorter operative time (weighted mean difference -25.08 min; 95% CI -42.29 to -7.88; p = 0.004), lower hemorrhage rate (0.85% and 2.58%; OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.25-0.85; p = 0.009), wound infection rate (3.30% and 5.76%; OR 0.55; 95% CI 0.39-0.77; p = 0.0005), and fewer gastrointestinal complications (1.33% and 6.19%; OR 0.33; 95% CI 0.15-0.76; p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Both sacrocolpopexy and SSLF offer an efficient alternative to the restoration of apical support. When anatomical durability and sexual function is a priority, ASC may be the preferred option. When considering factors of mesh erosion, operative time, gastrointestinal complications, hemorrhage, and wound infections, SSLF may be the better option.

Novel treatment of chronic perineal pain in a woman by extracorporeal shock wave therapy: a case report and published work review.

In published work review, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has been showed to be effective in treating chronic perineal/pelvic pain in men, but there was no published report on its use in women. We report a case of female chronic perineal pain successfully treated by ESWT. A 51-year-old woman presented with persistent perineal scar pain after excision of a vulval-vaginal nodule despite oral analgesics and gabapentin. After 11 cycles of ESWT, she reported termination of analgesics consumption and decreased perineal pain score from 8 to 2. The Short Form 36 Questionnaire demonstrated improvement in physical and mental health conditions. There was no complication encountered. We postulate that the effect of ESWT in this patient was based on reduction of muscle tone and alternating the threshold of pain memory, similar to the mechanisms in male patients. Further study is required to determine the use of ESWT in treating female chronic perineal pain.

Laparoscopic Non-Mesh Cerclage Pectopexy for Pelvic Organ Prolapse.

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is widespread among the female population and significantly impairs the patient's quality of life. It is important to restore apical support for treating POP. Sacrocolpopexy and pectopexy are indicated for apical prolapse. Using a synthetic mesh in these techniques increases success by enhancing apical support. However, the implantation of synthetic mesh is associated with mesh-related complications. In addition, the exorbitant cost of synthetic mesh and lack of universal access limit the popularity of these procedures. The current study develops a unique technique known as laparoscopic non-mesh cerclage pectopexy (LNMCP), in which permanent cervical cerclage sutures are embedded in the round ligament until the iliopectineal ligament. The iliopectineal ligament was sutured, resulting in a firm cervical suspension. The procedure was successfully performed in 16 cases in the hospital. The surgical duration was 67.8 min ± 15.5 min, and the blood loss was 73.1 mL ± 51.1 mL. No procedural complications were seen. LNMCP is associated with an objective success rate of 100% and a subjective success rate of 93.8%. LNMCP for patients with apical prolapse obviates the need for a mesh, thereby avoiding complications associated with mesh erosion and reducing medical costs. In addition, it is easy to perform even in resource-poor areas without access to synthetic mesh.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries after Various Modes of Vaginal Deliveries in Chinese Women.

BACKGROUND: Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) can cause an adverse impact on women's physical and mental health. There was lack of published data in Chinese population particularly on studying the risk of OASIS for nonrotational outlet forceps. This study was to determine the incidence and risk factors of OASIS. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study carried out in a tertiary referral hospital in Hong Kong. The control group was selected randomly. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the influence of potential risk factors on OASIS. This study reviewed the obstetric records of OASIS women and random control from January 2011 to June 2014. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the influence of potential risk factors on OASIS. RESULTS: Of 15,446 women delivered, 49 had OASIS. The percentage of OASIS increased from 0.3% (2011) to 0.38% (2014). There was an increasing trend of OASIS in attempted spontaneous vaginal delivery without episiotomy (P < 0.01), but it did not increase the OASIS risk (P = 0.46). Univariate analysis of 49 cases and 438 control subjects showed that forceps delivery (odds ratio [OR] =8.73, P < 0.01), prolong second stage of labor (OR = 1.43, P < 0.01) increased the risk for OASIS. In multivariate regression models, only forceps delivery (OR = 6.28, P < 0.01) proved to be independent risk factor. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of OASIS in Chinese women was increased after 2012, but still lower than the reported figures in the literature. Outlet forceps delivery could be a possible associated risk factor.

Randomized controlled trial of foot reflexology for patients with symptomatic idiopathic detrusor overactivity.

The aim of this study was to examine whether foot reflexology has beneficial effects on patients with idiopathic detrusor overactivity. One hundred and nine women with symptomatic idiopathic detrusor overactivity were randomized into either foot reflexology treatment group or nonspecific foot massage control group. The primary outcome measure was the change in the diurnal micturition frequency. There was significant change in the number of daytime frequency in the reflexology group when compared with the massage group (-1.90 vs -0.55, p = 0.029). There was also a decrease in the 24-h micturition frequency in both groups, but the change was not statistically significant (-2.80 vs -1.04 p = 0.055). In the reflexology group, more patients believed to have received "true" reflexology (88.9 vs 67.4%, p = 0.012). This reflects the difficulty of blinding in trials of reflexology. Larger scale studies with a better-designed control group and an improved blinding are required to examine if reflexology is effective in improving patients' overall outcome.