Recommendations on the management of pudendal nerve entrapment syndrome: A formalised expert consensus.

BACKGROUND: Since the development and publication of diagnostic criteria for pudendal nerve entrapment (PNE) syndrome in 2008, no comprehensive work has been published on the clinical knowledge in the management of this condition. The aim of this work was to develop recommendations on the diagnosis and the management of PNE. METHODS: The methodology of this study was based on French High Authority for Health Method for the development of good practice and the literature review was based on the PRISMA method. The selected articles have all been evaluated according to the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians assessment grid. RESULTS: The results of the literature review and expert consensus are incorporated into 10 sections to describe diagnosis and management of PNE: (1) diagnosis of PNE, (2) patients advice and precautions, (3) drugs treatments, (4) physiotherapy, (5) transcutaneous electrostimulations (TENS), (6) psychotherapy, (7) injections, (8) surgery, (9) pulsed radiofrequency, and (10) Neuromodulation. The following major points should be noted: (i) the relevance of 4+1 Nantes criteria for diagnosis; (ii) the preference for initial monotherapy with tri-tetracyclics or gabapentinoids; (iii) the lack of effect of opiates, (iv) the likely relevance (pending more controlled studies) of physiotherapy, TENS and cognitive behavioural therapy; (v) the incertitudes (lack of data) regarding corticoid injections, (vi) surgery is a long term effective treatment and (vii) radiofrequency needs a longer follow-up to be currently proposed in this indication. CONCLUSION: These recommendations should allow rational and homogeneous management of patients suffering from PNE. They should also allow to shorten the delays of management by directing the primary care. SIGNIFICANCE: Pudendal nerve entrapment (PNE) has only been known for about 20 years and its management is heterogeneous from one practitioner to another. This work offers a synthesis of the literature and international experts' opinions on the diagnosis and management of PNE.

Nocturnal Urinary Disorders and Multiple Sclerosis: Clinical and Urodynamic Study of 309 Patients.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe nocturia with or without leakage in a population of patients with multiple sclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective, single center study of 309 patients with multiple sclerosis who were followed at an experienced neurourology center between 2011 and 2013. All patients had daytime urinary symptoms associated with this disorder. Among the patients with nocturia 2 groups were defined, including those with isolated nocturia but without nocturnal urinary incontinence and patients with nocturia associated with nocturnal urinary incontinence. The control group comprised patients without nocturia. The clinical variables and urodynamic data studied were gender, age, EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale), the USP (Urinary Symptoms Profile) questionnaire overactive bladder score, bladder capacity, detrusor activity and volume at the first detrusor contraction. RESULTS: Of our patients 53.3% had nocturia, including 35.7% with nocturnal urinary incontinence. The average ± SD USP overactive bladder score was statistically greater in patients with nocturia than in controls (9.14 ± 4.3 vs 5.1 ± 3.5, p = 8.21E-17). Mean maximum cystometric capacity was statistically higher in the control group than in patients with nocturia (380.17 ± 113.79 vs 313 ± 128.4 ml, p = 5.60E-6). A similar outcome was found for the first contraction (mean 232.58 ± 146.05 vs 181.14 ± 100.11 ml, p = 0.041). CONCLUSION: Isolated nocturia or nocturnal urinary incontinence is a frequent problem encountered with multiple sclerosis. Our results suggest that an overactive detrusor is the main mechanism. Further studies are needed to verify the complications arising from nocturia.

Posterior vaginal wall pull down maneuver: a clinical test to diagnose intrinsic sphincter deficiency in women suffering from genuine urinary stress incontinence.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the predictive value of a simple clinical test (posterior vaginal wall pull down maneuver) in the diagnosis of intrinsic sphincter deficiency. METHODS: The present prospective study included 62 women suffering from stress urinary incontinence. Every patient underwent a urogynecological examination including multichannel urodynamic testing (cystometry, urethral pressure profile, Valsalva Leak Point Pressure measurement) and a clinical examination including posterior vaginal wall pull down maneuver. Posterior vaginal wall pull down maneuver was carried out with the bladder filled with 400 mL of saline in a supine position, and was obtained by means of a split speculum allowing gentle pull down traction of the posterior vaginal wall. Posterior vaginal wall pull down maneuver was considered as positive when a urine leak was observed during the manoeuvre. Intrinsic sphincter deficiency was urodynamically defined by maximum urethral closure pressure ≤20 cmH2 O. Correlations between positive/negative posterior vaginal wall pull down maneuver and urodynamic intrinsic sphincter deficiency were calculated. RESULTS: There was a statistical correlation between age and low maximum urethral closure pressure (P < 0.0001), and between low maximum urethral closure pressure and positive posterior vaginal wall pull down maneuver (P < 0.0001). Regarding the intrinsic sphincter deficiency diagnosis, the posterior vaginal wall pull down maneuver positive predictive value was 94.67% and the negative predictive value was 95.4%, with a specificity of 97.6% and sensitivity of 90%. CONCLUSION: Posterior vaginal wall pull down maneuver is a reliable clinical test, easy to carry out, inexpensive and without significant risk. This test allows the diagnosis of intrinsic sphincter deficiency in women suffering from stress urinary incontinence, thus avoiding further invasive urodynamic testing (urethral pressure profile, Valsalva Leak Point Pressure measurement) in women with genuine stress urinary incontinence. Furthermore, it is helpful when choosing the type of sling procedure (retropubic vs transobturator) when a surgery is planned.