Validation of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Vaginal Symptoms (ICIQ-VS) in two south- Asian languages.

INTRODUCTION: The multifaceted nature of pelvic floor disorders means that a systematic evaluation is required for optimal treatment outcome. It is also generally acknowledged that a valid tool is necessary to objectively assess symptoms reported by affected women. METHODS: The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Vaginal Symptoms (ICIQ-VS) questionnaire was translated to Sinhala and Tamil and a validation study carried out among women attending gynecology clinics at North Colombo Teaching Hospital, Ragama, and the district general hospitals Mannar and Vavuniya. RESULTS: Content validity was assessed by the level of missing answers, which was < 4% and 2% for each item in Sinhala and Tamil, respectively. Construct validity was assessed by the ability of the questionnaire to differentiate between patients and controls. Both differentiated patients from controls on vaginal symptoms score (VSS) (p < 0.001), sexual symptoms score (SSS) (p < 0.01), and quality of life (QoL) (p < 0.001). There was a strong positive correlation between Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) scores and VSS (Sinhala r s = 0.64, p < 0.001, Tamil r s = 0.65, p < 0.001), and QoL (Sinhala r s = 0.49, p < 0.001, Tamil r s = 0.60, p < 0.001). Internal consistency as assessed using Cronbach's coefficient alpha: 0.78 (0.76-0.78) and 0.83 (0.80-0.84) in Sinhala and Tamil, respectively. Test-retest reliability was assessed by weighted kappa scores (Sinhala 0.58-0.88 and Tamil 0.76-0.90). Both questionnaires were sensitive to change and showed that VSS and QoL improved following surgery (Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The validated Sinhala and Tamil translations of ICIQ-VS will be useful for assessing vaginal and sexual symptoms among women speaking Sinhala and Tamil.

Diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas of cervical ectopic pregnancy.

IMPORTANCE: Cervical pregnancy is a rare variety of ectopic pregnancy. The etiology is obscure. Its diagnosis may be difficult, and its management has enormously changed during the last 10 years. Unfortunately, the most effective, fertility-sparing treatment is still unclear until now. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the safety and efficacy of different treatment modalities of cervical pregnancy. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A comprehensive systematic review of the literature was performed using the electronic databases MEDLINE and PubMed, using key words cervical, ectopic, and pregnancy, between January 2005 and June 2013. We included all case reports and case series reporting on cervical ectopic pregnancy. RESULTS: A total of 252 cases of cervical ectopic pregnancy were analyzed. Eighty-eight cases (34.9%) had medical treatment, 69 cases (27.5%) had surgical treatment, and 95 cases (37.6%) had combined medical and surgical treatment. Various conservative treatment regimens have been introduced to preserve fertility in young women, with methotrexate being one of the most widely used and effective drugs. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: A high index of suspicion, combined with meticulous review of clinical and radiological findings, is essential to make an accurate diagnosis of cervical pregnancy. The success of conservative treatment depends mainly on early diagnosis. Such cases would be best managed at specialist tertiary referral centers and preferably, where available, Early Pregnancy Assessment Units, whether medical, surgical, or combined treatment modalities were attempted.