Estimation of Urinary Frequency: Does Question Phrasing Matter?

PURPOSE: To evaluate if question phrasing and patient numeracy impact estimation of urinary frequency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective study looking at reliability of a patient interview in assessing urinary frequency. Prior to completing a voiding diary, patients estimated daytime, and nighttime frequency in 3 ways: (1) how many times they urinated (2) how many hours they waited in between urinations (3) how many times they urinated over the course of 4 hours. Numeracy was assessed using the Lipkus Numeracy Scale. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients completed the study. Correlation of estimates from questions 1, 2, and 3 to the diary were not statistically different. Prediction of nighttime frequency was better than daytime for all questions (correlation coefficients 0.751, 0.754, and 0.670 vs 0.596, 0.575, and 0.460). When compared to the diary, Question 1 underestimated (8.5 vs 9.7, P = .014) while Question 2 overestimated (11.8 vs 9.7, P = .027) recorded voids on a diary. All questions overpredicted nighttime frequency with 2.6, 2.9, and 3.9 predicted versus 1.6 recorded voids (P < .001). Although not statistically significant, for each question, the predicted frequency of numerate patients was more correlated to the diary than those of innumerate patients. CONCLUSION: When compared to a voiding diary for daytime urinary frequency, asking patients how many times they urinated underestimated, and asking patients how many hours they waited between urinations overestimated the number recorded voids. Regardless of phrasing, patients overestimated nighttime urination. Patients in our functional urology population have limited numeracy, which may impact accuracy of urinary frequency estimation.

Persistence in Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation Treatment for Overactive Bladder Syndrome is Best Predicted by Patient Global Impression of Improvement Rather Than Symptom-Specific Improvement.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether progression to maintenance percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) was related to perceived global impression of improvement (PGII) rather than symptom-specific improvement in patient with overactive bladder (OAB). We hypothesize that PGII will predict continuation of PTNS long-term. METHODS: This prospective observational study included 90 patients with OAB that initiated PTNS. The PGII and OAB short-form questionnaires (OABq-SF) were used to assess bladder symptom severity and improvement. Those that completed the 12-week induction phase were offered to continue PTNS monthly maintenance or pursue other options. The primary outcome was difference in PGII score between those pursuing maintenance therapy versus other options. Descriptive statistics and mixed effect modeling analysis were employed. RESULTS: Seventy patients (78%) completed 12 weeks of PTNS. The majority of completers pursued monthly maintenance (P< .01) and had significantly lower median PGII scores compared with those who sought alternatives (P < .01), while OABq-SF scores did not differ significantly (P = .65). Patients that pursued monthly PTNS maintenance had lower body mass index than those who chose alternative therapies (P < .01). Only 19% continued PTNS therapy for at least 1 year. CONCLUSION: More patients pursued PTNS monthly maintenance over any other therapy, and this was significantly associated with lower PGII scores. Global improvement, and not symptom-specific response, predicts long-term PTNS maintenance. No symptom-specific predictors were identified in those who pursued maintenance over other options. One-year continuation rates are low.

Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in vaginal surgery for pelvic organ prolapse: Predictors of high risk in a low-risk population.

AIM: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) rates in vaginal pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repair are low. Our aim is to evaluate specific risk factors for VTE in patients undergoing vaginal POP repair. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study using the American College of Surgeons NSQIP database. Using CPT codes, cases of vaginal POP repair between 2014 and 2017 were identified. Patient and operative characteristics were collected. VTE was defined as pulmonary embolism (PE) or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) within 30 days from surgery. Univariate analyses were performed using the Student t test for continuous and χ2  tests for categorical variables. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors independently associated with VTE. RESULTS: Of 44 207 women who underwent vaginal POP repair, there were 69 cases of VTE (0.16%). VTE rates for obliterative (0.15%) and functional (0.16%) vaginal POP repair, as well as for repairs with hysterectomy (0.17%) and without hysterectomy (0.12%) were not significantly different (p = .616 and .216, respectively). Multivariate analysis demonstrated predictors for postoperative VTE to be ASA physical status classification ≥ 3 (aOR, 1.99; p = .014), length of stay >75th percentile (aOR, 2.01; p = .007), operative time >3 h (aOR, 2.24; p = .007), and dyspnea (aOR, 3.26, p = .004). CONCLUSION: Despite the low incidence of VTE after vaginal POP repair, patients with ASA physical status classification ≥ 3, length of stay >75th percentile, operative time >3 h, and dyspnea were at higher risk for VTE. Vaginal POP repair may have independent VTE risk factors not captured in standard risk assessment tools.

Testing of Patients and Support Persons for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Infection Before Scheduled Deliveries.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the rate of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection with the use of universal testing in our obstetric population presenting for scheduled deliveries, as well as the concordance or discordance rate among their support persons during the initial 2-week period of testing. Additionally, we assessed the utility of a screening tool in predicting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing results in our cohort. METHODS: This was an observational study in which all women who were scheduled for a planned delivery within the Mount Sinai Health system from April 4 to April 15, 2020, were contacted and provided with an appointment for themselves as well as their support persons to undergo COVID-19 testing 1 day before their scheduled delivery. Both the patients and the support persons were administered a standardized screen specific for COVID-19 infection by telephone interview. Those support persons who screened positive were not permitted to attend the birth. All patients and screen-negative support persons underwent SARS-CoV-2 testing. RESULTS: During the study period, 155 patients and 146 support persons underwent SARS-CoV-2 testing. The prevalence of asymptomatic COVID-19 infection was 15.5% (CI 9.8-21.2%) and 9.6% (CI 4.8-14.4%) among patients and support persons, respectively. The rate of discordance among tested pairs was 7.5%. Among patients with COVID-19 infection, 58% of their support persons also had infection; in patients without infection, fewer than 3.0% of their support persons had infection. CONCLUSION: We found that more than 15% of asymptomatic maternity patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection despite having screened negative with the use of a telephone screening tool. Additionally, 58% of their asymptomatic, screen-negative support persons also tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Alternatively, testing of the support persons of women who had tested negative for COVID-19 infection had a low yield for positive results. This has important implications for obstetric and newborn care practices as well as for health care professionals.

Gel-Infused Translabial Ultrasound in the Evaluation of Female Urethral Stricture.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to describe our technique of gel-infused translabial ultrasound (GITLUS) to assess the female urethra for stricture and to highlight its utility when compared with other diagnostic techniques. METHODS: Consecutive patients presenting with prior diagnosis and/or suspicion for female urethral stricture underwent evaluation with uroflowmetry, postvoid residual, video urodynamics, and cystoscopy at the surgeon's discretion. All patients underwent GITLUS; 8-MHz curvilinear and 6-MHz linear high-frequency transducers were used to image the urethra from meatus to bladder neck while instilling 20 mL of lidocaine jelly to distend the urethra. Stricture location, length, caliber, and presence of periurethral fibrosis were assessed. Two healthy volunteers underwent GITLUS to serve as a comparison. RESULTS: Eight patients with suspected stricture underwent GITLUS. In all cases, GITLUS identified and characterized stricture and demonstrated periurethral fibrosis. Two healthy volunteers underwent GITLUS, which demonstrated a patent urethra and no evidence of fibrosis. Cystoscopy and video urodynamics on patients with stricture did not perform as well at identifying and fully assessing strictures. Six patients underwent definitive surgical repair, and GITLUS findings were confirmed. One patient had a postoperative GITLUS demonstrating resolution of the stricture and periurethral fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Gel-infused translabial ultrasound is a novel and accurate technique that in this small series appeared to identify and further characterize female urethral stricture in cases where it was utilized. Further research is needed to determine its role in preoperative planning and in providing a definitive diagnosis of stricture when other studies are equivocal.

Rectus Fascia Versus Fascia Lata for Autologous Fascial Pubovaginal Sling: A Single-Center Comparison of Perioperative and Functional Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To compare perioperative and functional outcomes of autologous fascia lata versus rectus fascia pubovaginal sling in female patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS: The charts of all patients undergoing pubovaginal sling for SUI from 2012 to 2017 at a single center were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those with the sling harvested from the fascia lata (FL group) and those with the sling harvested from the rectus fascia (RF group). RESULTS: Between 2012 and 2017, 105 women underwent pubovaginal slings: 21 using FL and 84 using RF. Operative time did not differ significantly between the FL and RF groups (84 vs 81.9 minutes; P=0.68). Estimated blood loss was lower in the FL group (91.7 vs 141.6 mL; P=0.04). There were more wound complications in the RF group, although this was not statistically significant (0% vs 14.3%; P=0.12). Overall complications were comparable between FL and RF groups (52.4% vs 48.9%; P=0.81), but the proportion of Clavien grade 2 or greater were higher in the RF group (4.8% vs 20.2%; P=0.11). Overall, wound complications accounted for 29.3% of postoperative complications in the RF group (12/41). Functional outcomes were comparable between FL and RF groups, with similar rates of patients without SUI symptoms after 1 month (82.4% vs 76.4%; P=0.74), 1 year (55.6% vs 63.8%; P=0.76), and at the latest follow-up (66.7% vs 65.8%; P=0.87). CONCLUSIONS: When compared with rectus fascia for pubovaginal sling, fascia lata may decrease perioperative morbidity, especially wound complications, without compromising functional outcomes.

Radiation exposure during videourodynamic testing: Is dose reduction possible using a standardized protocol?

AIMS: To evaluate the impact of a protocol for standardized image capture during video urodynamics (VUD) on radiation exposure. Secondly, to categorize radiation exposure by condition warranting VUD and to identify clinical variables that correlate with increased radiation exposure. METHODS: One hundred fifty patients underwent VUD using our standardized protocol. All images were taken using low dose and pulsed settings. Four images are captured: one scout image, one filling image, one voiding image, and one post-void image. If the patient is unable to void with the catheter in place, the catheter is removed and a second image is taken during an attempt at unintubated flow. If vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is identified, an alternate protocol is entered to document parameters. The mean radiation exposure measured in dose area product (DAP), fluoroscopy time, and number of images were noted and compared with previously published fluoroscopy data collected at our institution before protocol implementation. RESULTS: The mean fluoroscopy exposure after the implementation of our protocol was 273.5 mGy/cm2 taking 5.2 images in 4.5 seconds. Protocol implementation leads to a 51.2% reduction in radiation exposure calculated by mean DAP (P < .0001) and a 96.5% reduction in fluoroscopy time (P < .0001). The presence of VUR, fluoroscopy time, and body mass index (BMI) > 25 were associated with higher radiation exposure (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Implementation and adherence to a standardized protocol for fluoroscopy led to a reduction in radiation exposure fluoroscopy time. The presence of VUR, fluoroscopy time, and BMI > 25 were associated with higher radiation exposure.

American Urogynecologic Society Consensus Statement: Cystoscopy at the Time of Prolapse Repair.

Injury to the urinary tract is a known risk of surgical repair of anterior and apical pelvic organ prolapse. Cystoscopy at the time of surgical prolapse repair is a low-risk procedure that can identify genitourinary tract injury by inspecting the bladder and urethra as well as by visualizing the ureters and ureteral efflux. There are several techniques to assist with visualization of ureteral efflux. Identifying injury intraoperatively may allow for mitigation of the morbidity of the injury. Universal cystoscopy should be performed at the time of all pelvic reconstructive surgeries, with the exception of operations solely for posterior compartment defects.

Use of Concomitant Stress Incontinence Surgery at Time of Pelvic Organ Prolapse Surgery Since Release of the 2011 Notification on Serious Complications Associated with Transvaginal Mesh.

PURPOSE: There is controversy regarding the performance of concomitant anti-incontinence procedures at the time of pelvic organ prolapse repair. Data support improvement in stress urinary incontinence with a concomitant sling but increased adverse events. We assessed trends in preoperative stress urinary incontinence evaluation, concomitant anti-incontinence procedure at pelvic organ prolapse surgery and postoperative anti-incontinence procedures at our institution before and after the 2011 FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) Public Health Notification pertaining to vaginal mesh. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who underwent pelvic organ prolapse surgery from 2009 to 2015. Preoperative workup included assessment of subjective stress urinary incontinence and/or evaluation for leakage with reduction of pelvic organ prolapse on physical examination, urodynamics or a pessary trial. The percentages of concomitant and postoperative anti-incontinence procedures were compared before and after the 2011 FDA notification. RESULTS: A total of 775 women underwent pelvic organ prolapse repair. The percentage of anti-incontinence procedures at pelvic organ prolapse repair decreased from 54.8% to 38.0% after the FDA notification (p = 0.002) while the incidence of preoperative objective stress urinary incontinence on examination, urodynamics and pessary trials remained constant. The incidence of postoperative anti-incontinence procedures within 1 year of the index surgery remained low. CONCLUSIONS: We found a decrease in the incidence of concomitant anti-incontinence procedures at the time of pelvic organ prolapse repair following the 2011 FDA notification despite no significant decline in subjective stress urinary incontinence or demonstrable stress urinary incontinence on preoperative evaluation. Further analysis is warranted to assess the impact of the FDA notification on treatment patterns in women with pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.