Patient Outcomes After Robotic Ventral Rectopexy With Sacrocolpopexy.

IMPORTANCE: As few studies exist examining postoperative functional outcomes in patients undergoing robotic sacrocolpopexy and ventral rectopexy, results from this study can help guide surgeons in counseling patients on their outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate functional outcomes and overall postoperative satisfaction as measured by the Pelvic Floor Disability Index 20 (PFDI-20), Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12), and Patient Global Impression of Improvement Scale (PGI-I) in patients who underwent combined robotic ventral rectopexy and sacrocolpopexy for concomitant pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and rectal prolapse or intussusception (RP/I). METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort and survey study of patients with combined POP and RP/I who underwent the previously mentioned surgical repair between January 2018 and July 2021. Each patient was contacted to participate in a survey evaluating postoperative symptoms related bother, sexual function, and overall satisfaction using the PFDI-20, PISQ-12, and PGI-I. RESULTS: A total of 107 patients met study inclusion criteria with 67 patients completing the surveys. The mean age and body mass index were 63.7 ± 11.5 years and 25.0 ± 5.4, respectively. Of the patients, 19% had a prior RP repair and 23% had a prior POP repair. Rectal prolapse or intussusception recurrence was reported in 10.4% of patients and objective POP recurrence was found in 7.5% of patients. Sixty-seven patients (62%) completed the surveys. The median time to survey follow-up was 18 (8.8-51.8) months. At the time of survey, the mean PFDI-20 score was 95.7 ± 53.7. The mean PISQ-12 score for all patients was 32.8 ± 7.2 and the median PGI-I score was 2.0 (interquartile range, 1.0-3.0). CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of patients who underwent a combined robotic ventral rectopexy and sacrocolpopexy, patient-reported postoperative symptom bother was low, sexual function was high, and their overall condition was much improved.

Outcomes in Women With Pelvic Organ Prolapse Presenting With Pessary-Related Complications.

IMPORTANCE: There is currently a paucity of data describing the outcomes of women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and/or urinary incontinence (UI) who present with pessary-related complications. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe outcomes in women with POP and UI managed with a pessary who present with pessary-related complications. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of women with POP and/or UI who elected for management with a pessary from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2020. Patients were included if they had used a pessary for at least 1 year and had a documented pessary-related complication. Complications were defined a priori, and patient charts were abstracted using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Revisions codes associated with pessary use. RESULTS: Of 2,088 of women receiving pessary care, 444 (21%) experienced a complication. Of 154 of women, 34.6% experienced 2 pessary-related complications during the study period, whereas 12.6% (56) experienced 3, 4.5% (20) experienced 4, and 1.8% (8) experienced 5. One hundred fifty-two patients (34.2%) underwent surgery during the study period to manage their POP and/or UI. Patients who were older were less likely to have surgery (adjusted odds ratio, 0.70 [95% confidence interval, 0.20-0.90]; P = 0.002), and patients who had an indication of pessary use for both POP and UI were more likely to undergo surgery during the study period (adjusted odds ratio, 2.12 [95% confidence interval, 1.29-3.48]; P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that 1 in 5 patients has a documented complication associated with pessary use of greater than 1 year. Of these patients, one third will eventually undergo surgery for management of their POP and/or UI.

Restrictive opioid prescribing after surgery for prolapse and incontinence: a randomized, noninferiority trial.

BACKGROUND: Opioids are routinely prescribed for postoperative pain control after gynecologic surgery with growing evidence showing that most prescribed opioids go unused. Restrictive opioid prescribing has been implemented in other surgical specialties to combat the risk for opioid misuse and diversion. The impact of this practice in the urogynecologic patient population is unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine if a restrictive opioid prescription protocol is noninferior to routine opioid prescribing in terms of patient satisfaction with pain control after minor and major surgeries for prolapse and incontinence. STUDY DESIGN: This was a single-center, randomized, noninferiority trial of opioid-naïve patients who underwent minor (eg, colporrhaphy or mid-urethral sling) or major (eg, vaginal or minimally invasive abdominal prolapse repair) urogynecologic surgery. Patients were excluded if they had contraindications to all multimodal analgesia and if they scored ≥30 on the Pain Catastrophizing Scale. Subjects were randomized on the day of surgery to the standard opioid prescription protocol (wherein patients routinely received an opioid prescription upon discharge [ie, 3-10 tablets of 5 mg oxycodone]) or to the restrictive protocol (no opioid prescription unless the patient requested one). All patients received multimodal pain medications. Participants and caregivers were not blinded. Subjects were asked to record their pain medication use and pain levels for 7 days. The primary outcome was satisfaction with pain control reported at the 6-week postoperative visit. We hypothesized that patient satisfaction with the restrictive protocol would be noninferior to those randomized to the standard protocol. The noninferiority margin was 15 percentage points. Pain level scores, opioid usage, opioid prescription refills, and healthcare use were secondary outcomes assessed for superiority. RESULTS: A total of 133 patients were randomized, and 127 (64 in the standard arm and 63 in the restrictive arm) completed the primary outcome evaluation and were included in the analysis. There were no statistically significant differences between the study groups, and this remained after adjusting for the surgery type. Major urogynecologic surgery was performed in 73.6% of the study population, and minor surgery was performed in 26.4% of the population. Same-day discharge occurred for 87.6% of all subjects. Patient satisfaction was 92.2% in the standard protocol arm and 92.1% in the restrictive protocol arm (difference, -0.1%; P=.004), which met the criterion for noninferiority. No opioid usage in the first 7 days after hospital discharge was reported by 48.4% of the patients in the standard protocol arm and by 70.8% in the restrictive protocol arm (P=.009). Opioid prescription refills occurred in 8.5% of patients with no difference between the study groups (9.4% in the standard arm vs 6.7% in the restrictive arm; P=.661). No difference was seen in the rate of telephone calls and urgent visits for pain control between the study arms. CONCLUSION: Among women who underwent minor and major surgery for prolapse and incontinence, patient satisfaction rates were noninferior after restrictive opioid prescribing when compared with routine opioid prescribing.

Is there an association between 6-month genital hiatus size and 24-month composite prolapse recurrence following minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy?

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Although an enlarged postoperative genital hiatus (GH) size has been identified as a predictor of recurrence following pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery, the protective role of concurrent level III support procedures to reduce the GH size at the time of minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy (MI-SCP) remains unclear. The objective of this study was to compare 24-month composite prolapse recurrence following MI-SCP between patients with a 6-month postoperative GH measurement of <3 cm versus ≥3 cm; and to explore the impact of concurrent level III support procedures on prolapse recurrence, bowel, and sexual function. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of two randomized controlled trials of women who underwent MI-SCP from 2014 to 2020. Our primary outcome was composite prolapse recurrence defined as retreatment with either pessary or surgery, and/or subjective bothersome vaginal bulge. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was generated to identify a 6-month GH cutoff point associated with 24-month composite recurrence. RESULTS: Of the 108 women who met the inclusion criteria, 13 (12%) had composite prolapse recurrence at 24 months: 12 patients (11.1%) reported a bothersome vaginal bulge, and 3 patients (2.8%) underwent retreatment with surgery. A ROC curve demonstrated that a 6-month postoperative GH size of 3 cm had 84.6% sensitivity to predict vaginal bulge and/or retreatment at 24 months (area under curve = 0.52). There was no difference in the composite prolapse recurrence between the groups; however, only patients with a 6-month GH >3 cm underwent retreatment. CONCLUSIONS: Twenty-four-month composite prolapse recurrence does not differ based on 6-month GH size; however, surgical failure may be more common in those with a GH size greater than 3 cm.

Adherence to Perioperative Behavioral Therapy With Pelvic Floor Muscle Training in Women Receiving Vaginal Reconstructive Surgery for Pelvic Organ Prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe adherence to behavioral and pelvic floor muscle training in women undergoing vaginal reconstructive surgery for organ prolapse and to examine whether adherence was associated with 24-month outcomes. METHODS: Participants were women ≥18 years of age, with vaginal bulge and stress urinary incontinence symptoms, planning to undergo vaginal reconstructive surgery for stages 2 to 4 vaginal or uterine prolapse. They were randomized to either sacrospinous ligament fixation or uterosacral ligament suspension and to perioperative behavioral and pelvic floor muscle training or usual care. Measurements included anatomic failure, pelvic floor muscle strength, participant-reported symptoms, and perceived improvement. Analyses compared women with lower versus higher adherence. RESULTS: Forty-eight percent of women performed pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFMEs) daily at the 4- to 6-week visit. Only 33% performed the prescribed number of muscle contractions. At 8 weeks, 37% performed PFMEs daily, and 28% performed the prescribed number of contractions. No significant relationships were found between adherence and 24-month outcomes. CONCLUSION: Adherence to a behavioral intervention was low following vaginal reconstructive surgery for pelvic organ prolapse. The degree of adherence to perioperative training did not appear to influence 24-month outcomes in women undergoing vaginal prolapse surgery. IMPACT: This study contributes to the understanding of participant adherence to PFMEs and the impact that participant adherence has on outcomes at 2, 4 to 6, 8, and 12 weeks and 24 months postoperatively. It is important to educate women to follow up with their therapist or physician to report new or unresolved pelvic symptoms.

Changes in sexual function over 12 months after native-tissue vaginal pelvic organ prolapse surgery with and without hysterectomy.

Background: There is a need to determine how preoperative sexual activity, uterine preservation, and hysterectomy affect sexual function after pelvic organ prolapse surgery. Aim: (1) To determine changes in sexual function in women, stratified by preoperative sexual activity status, after native-tissue pelvic organ prolapse surgery. (2) To examine the impact of hysterectomy and uterine preservation on sexual function. (3) To determine predictors for postoperative dyspareunia. Methods: This was a planned secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study. Sexual function was evaluated preoperatively and 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Sexual function was compared between those who had a hysterectomy and those who had uterine-preserving prolapse surgery. A logistic regression analysis was performed to assess predictors for dyspareunia. Outcomes: Pelvic Organ Prolapse-Urinary Incontinence Sexual Function Questionnaire. Results: At 12 months, 59 patients underwent surgery and were followed up (hysterectomy [n = 28, 47.5%] vs no hysterectomy [n = 31, 52.5%]; sexually active [n = 26, 44.1%] vs non-sexually active [n = 33, 55.9%]). Of those who did not undergo a hysterectomy, 17 (54.8%) had a uterine-preserving procedure. At 12 months, sexually active patients had significant improvement in sexual function (mean ± SD, 0.37 ± 0.43; P = .005), while non-sexually active patients reported significant improvement in satisfaction of sex life (P = .04) and not feeling sexually inferior (P = .003) or angry (P = .03) because of prolapse. No variables were associated with dyspareunia on bivariate analysis. Clinical Implications: It did not appear that either uterine preservation or hysterectomy had any impact on sexual function. There was a 10% increase in people who were sexually active after surgery. Strengths and Limitations: The major strength of our study is the use of a condition-specific validated questionnaire intended for sexually active and non-sexually active women. We interpreted our results utilizing a validated minimal clinically important difference score to provide interpretation of our results with statistical and clinical significance. The limitation of our study is that it was a secondary analysis that was not powered for these specific outcomes. Conclusion: At 12 months, for patients who were sexually active preoperatively, there was a clinically meaningful improvement in sexual function after native-tissue pelvic organ prolapse surgery. Non-sexually active women reported improvement in satisfaction of sex life. There was no difference in the sexual function of patients undergoing uterine preservation or posthysterectomy colpopexy when compared with those with concurrent hysterectomy, though this sample size was small.

Postpartum urinary retention: an expert review.

Postpartum urinary retention is a relatively common condition that can have a marked impact on women in the immediate days following childbirth. If left untreated, postpartum urinary retention can lead to repetitive overdistention injury that may damage the detrusor muscle and the parasympathetic nerve fibers within the bladder wall. In rare circumstances, postpartum urinary retention may even lead to bladder rupture, which is a potentially life-threatening yet entirely preventable complication. Early diagnosis and timely intervention are necessary to decrease long-term consequences. There are 3 types of postpartum urinary retention: overt, covert, and persistent. Overt retention is associated with an inability to void, whereas covert retention is associated with incomplete bladder emptying. Persistent urinary retention continues beyond the third postpartum day and can persist for several weeks in rare cases. Recognition of risk factors and prompt diagnosis are important for proper management and prevention of negative sequelae. However, lack of knowledge by providers and patients alike creates barriers to accessing and receiving evidence-based care, and may further delay diagnosis for patients, especially those who experience covert postpartum urinary retention. Nationally accepted definitions and management algorithms for postpartum urinary retention are lacking, and development of such guidelines is essential for both patient care and research design. We propose intrapartum recommendations and a standardized postpartum bladder management protocol that will improve patient outcomes and contribute to the growing body of evidence-based practice in this field.

Outcomes of Pessary Use at 1 Year in Women Treated for Pelvic Organ Prolapse in a Large Multicenter Registry: Developed by the Pelvic Floor Disorders Registry.

IMPORTANCE: There is a lack of high-quality long-term follow-up regarding pessary treatment. Most studies are case series or retrospective with a small sample size and short-term follow-up. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate differences in women who continue versus discontinue pessary use and the effectiveness, quality of life, and safety associated with pessary management at 1 year. STUDY DESIGN: This study analyzed a multicenter national registry following women for 3 years with vaginal prolapse treated with a pessary or surgery. The primary outcome of this analysis was to compare the difference in characteristics among those who continue versus discontinue pessary use at 12 months. RESULTS: Among 1,153 participants enrolled, 376 (32.6%) opted for a pessary, and 296 (78.7%) were successfully fitted. Data were available for 240 participants (81%). At 1 year, 62% (n = 148) were still using pessaries, and 38% (n = 92) had stopped with 25% opting for surgery. Most commonly reported de novo adverse effects were urinary leakage (16%), feeling or seeing a bulge (12%), and vaginal discharge (11%). There was no difference in baseline characteristics among women who continued versus discontinued pessary use. At 12 months, subjective symptoms were similar between groups, with similar change in symptoms from baseline on most validated instruments. Those who continued to use a pessary reported worse urinary symptoms due to de novo urinary leakage ( P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: At 1 year, most women successfully fitted with a pessary continued pessary use. Although there was a significant improvement in condition-specific quality of life and low rates of complications, approximately 40% of women discontinued pessary use by 12 months. We were unable to identify any baseline characteristics associated with pessary discontinuation.

Postoperative pain and the need for intervention after sacrospinous ligament hysteropexy compared to colpopexy: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare postoperative pain between patients undergoing sacrospinous ligament colpopexy (SSLF) and hysteropexy (SSLH). METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of all patients undergoing native tissue SSLF and SSLH between January 2013 and March 2020. The electronic medical record was queried for demographic and perioperative data until the postoperative visit. The primary outcome was a composite incidence of any of the following: telephone calls, urgent office visits, additional analgesic prescriptions and need for intervention for pain in the buttocks, posterior thigh or perirectal area. Secondary outcomes were the incidence of persistent pain at the postoperative visit and perioperative risk factors associated with reported pain. RESULTS: A total of 406 patients met inclusion criteria (308 SSLF, 98 SSLH). The composite pain outcome was seen in 99 patients (24.4%; 95% CI 20.5%-28.8%), and there was no statistical difference between cohorts. Persistent pain was seen in 15.6% and 13.3% of SSLF and SSLH patients at 6 weeks (p = 0.58). Twelve patients (3.0%) underwent interventions for pain, including physical therapy (2), trigger point injections (5) and suture release (5). Compared to SSLF patients, SSLH patients were more likely to need interventions (7 [7.1%] vs. 5 [1.6%], p = 0.005) and office visits (14 [14.3%] vs. 13 [4.2%], p = 0.0005) for pain. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in the overall incidence of postoperative pain between patients who underwent SSLF or SSLH. However, patients who underwent hysteropexy were more likely to need intervention and office evaluation for postoperative pain.

Determining the Ideal Intraoperative Resting Genital Hiatus Size-Balancing Surgical and Functional Outcomes.

IMPORTANCE: The intraoperative resting genital hiatus (GH) size can be surgically modified but its relationship to prolapse recurrence is unclear. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to identify the optimal intraoperative resting GH size as it relates to prolapse recurrence and functional outcomes at 1 year. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective cohort study was conducted at 2 hospitals from 2019 to 2021. Intraoperative measurements of the resting GH, perineal body, and total vaginal length were collected. The composite primary outcome consisted of anatomic recurrence, subjective recurrence, and/or conservative or surgical retreatment at 1 year. Comparisons of anatomic, functional, and sexual outcomes were compared between patients stratified by the optimal intraoperative GH size identified by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients (median age of 63 years) underwent surgery, with 59 (86.8%) presenting for follow-up at 1 year. Based on the 13 patients (22%) with composite recurrence, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated an intraoperative resting GH size of 3 cm, had 76.9% sensitivity (confidence interval [CI], 54-99.8%), and 34.8% specificity (CI, 21.0-48.5%) for composite recurrence at 1 year (area under curve = 0.61). Nineteen patients had an intraoperative GH less than 3 cm (32.2%) and 40 had a GH of 3 cm or greater (67.8%). The intraoperative resting GH size was significantly larger in patients with prolapse beyond the hymen at 1 year (4 cm [3.0, 4.0]) compared with those with prolapse at or proximal to the hymen (3.0 cm [2.5, 3.5], P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative GH size may not reliably predict composite prolapse recurrence at 1 year, although there was an association between intraoperative resting GH size with prolapse beyond the hymen.

Starting a peripartum pelvic floor disorder clinic: what to expect in the first thirty-six months.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Subspecialty peripartum pelvic floor disorder (PFD) clinics provide care to a unique patient population. We aim to describe the experiences of such a clinic in the first 36 months after its establishment. METHODS: This is a descriptive case series of all women who presented to a subspecialty PFD clinic at an academic medical center over 36 months (January 2018-December 2020). Patient characteristics, referral patterns, and care plans will be described. RESULTS: Four hundred eighty-three women presented for care. Women were a mean age of 31.0 ± 4.2 years, most were primiparous (404, 83.6%), and over half (279, 57.8%) had a spontaneous vaginal delivery. Three hundred eighteen women (66.9%) had obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI), which was also the primary referral indication in 313 (64.8%). Most consultations were from an obstetrician (246, 51.3%), and the median time from delivery to evaluation was 17 days (IQR 11.0-34.0). The majority of women had one additional follow-up visit (330, 68.3%). One hundred forty-one (29.9%) women underwent minor office procedures, and 26 (5.4%) underwent surgery. The number of referrals sequentially increased from year 1 (59, 12.2%) to year 3 (215, 44.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The 36-month experiences in our growing subspecialty peripartum PFD clinic demonstrate both sustainability and feasibility of this new service line, with consistent clinical growth over time and 483 new consultations, 2/3 of which were for OASI and the other 1/3 for a variety of peripartum pelvic floor indications. Our data outline a model for care, including timeline for follow-up, treatments administered, and number of interventions, both office and surgical.

Adherence to Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Referrals in Women With Fecal Incontinence.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the incidence of patient adherence with prescribed pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT) in women presenting with fecal incontinence (FI) and to describe patient characteristics associated with nonadherence. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of women presenting with FI who were prescribed PFPT between January 2010 and December 2019. Adherence with PFPT was defined as either completion of documented recommended physical therapy sessions or discharge from therapy by the therapist before completion of the prescribed sessions. RESULTS: Complete data were available for 248 patients. A total of 159 (64.1%) patients attended at least 1 session of PFPT. Patients who did not attend any sessions were more likely to have a concurrent diagnosis of pelvic organ prolapse (69.7% vs 55.3%, P = 0.03). When controlled for confounding variables, concurrent prolapse remained associated with nonattendance (adjusted odds ratio of 1.9 [95% confidence interval, 1.0-3.3]). Of the patients who attended PFPT, the adherence rate was 32.7% (n = 50), whereas the rate was 20% for the total cohort. Nonadherent patients were more likely to have a higher body mass index (28.9 vs 26.9, P = 0.02), but this was no longer statistically significant once other patient characteristics were controlled for. Of the entire cohort, 136 (54.8%) followed up with their physicians after the initial referral to PFPT. Of the 59 patients, 43.7% were offered second-line therapy. CONCLUSION: Of the women prescribed PFPT for a diagnosis of FI, approximately two thirds attended at least a single session, but only one third of those patients were adherent with the recommended therapy.

Surgical Correction of Pelvic Organ Prolapse Has No Effect on Renal Function.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of the study were to determine whether symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a cause of subclinical renal impairment by characterizing baseline renal function in women undergoing surgical correction for POP and to assess the effect of surgical POP repair on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) postoperatively. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was designed to evaluate women undergoing surgical repair for at least stage II anterior or apical POP at a single institution. Data collected included preoperative serum creatinine values, patient demographics, and clinical risk factors for renal impairment. Postoperative serum creatinine values were obtained at routine 4- to 6-week follow-up. At that time, patients were evaluated for objective and subjective surgical success and surveyed on postoperative nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use. Preoperative eGFRs were calculated and compared with postoperative values. Appropriate statistical tests were performed. RESULTS: A total of 25 participants were recruited between August 2019 and March 2020. The median age was 70 years (interquartile range, 62-73 years). One participant (4%) reported a history of stage III chronic kidney disease preoperatively. At a median follow-up of 40 days (interquartile range, 34-49 days), no prolapse was recorded past the level of the hymen. There was no difference between preoperative and postoperative eGFR (median preoperative, 81 vs 76 mL/min per 1.73 m2, P = 0.3). Higher POP stage was not associated with significant changes in postoperative eGFR (P = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical POP repair is not associated with any change in eGFR. It is unlikely that untreated POP causes subclinical renal impairment in the vast majority of women.

Same-Day Discharge After Minimally Invasive Sacrocolpopexy Is Feasible, Safe, and Associated With High Patient Satisfaction.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the incidence of adverse events and postoperative health care resource utilization, as well as to determine satisfaction in patients after a same-day discharge (SDD) protocol compared with routine care (discharge ≥postoperative day 1). METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study of SDD after minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy. Eligibility criteria included age younger than 80 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade I/II, caretaker for ≥24 hours postoperatively, and surgical start before 1 pm. Perioperative data were obtained through the medical record and direct patient inquiry. A satisfaction survey was administered at the postoperative visit. A historical control group was used to compare outcomes. RESULTS: Forty-seven women met the eligibility criteria. Mean age was 62 (±9) years. Most were White (95.7%), were overweight (body mass index, 27.7 ± 5.5 kg/m2), and had stage 3 prolapse (63.8%). Same-day discharge was achieved for 37 patients (78.7%). Patient characteristics of the SDD cohort were similar to the routine-care cohort, with the exception of previous hysterectomy (57.5% vs 100.0%, P < 0.001) and the American Society of Anesthesiologists score (2 [1-2] vs 2 [1-3], P = 0.002). There were significantly fewer postoperative telephone calls in the SDD cohort but no other differences in health care resource utilization. Adverse events did not differ between groups. The SDD cohort reported high satisfaction and would recommend SDD to family or friends independent of whether or not SDD was achieved (91.9% vs 80.0%, P = 0.29). CONCLUSIONS: Nearly 80% of women undergoing minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy on an SDD protocol went home as planned. Compared with routine care, there was no increase in adverse events or postoperative health care resource utilization. Patient satisfaction in the SDD cohort was high. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Same-day discharge after minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03730103?term=same+day+discharge&cntry=US&state=US%3AOH&city=Cleveland&draw=2&rank=1; NCT03730103.

Complications following vaginal colpopexy for the repair of pelvic organ prolapse.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The primary aim of this study was to compare differences in complication rates across different types of vaginal colpopexy using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. METHODS: Patients who underwent intra- or extraperitoneal vaginal colpopexy with or without concurrent hysterectomy were identified in the 2014-2016 NSQIP database using Current Procedural Terminology codes. Patient demographics, preoperative comorbidities, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification system scores, and total operating time were obtained. NSQIP-tracked 30-day codes were used to determine the complication, reoperation, and readmission rates. RESULTS: A total of 9546 colpopexies were performed during the study period. The mean age was 62 ± 12 years, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 28 ± 6 kg/m2. The majority of patients were white (73%) with an ASA class of 2 (65%). The overall rate of postoperative complications was 10.5%. The most common complications were urinary tract infections (UTI) (5.1%), transfusion (1.0%), and superficial surgical site infection (0.7%). Excluding UTI, the rate of postoperative complications was 5.4%. After performing multivariable logistic regression, higher ASA class (class 3: aOR 1.69, 95% CI 1.16-2.51; class 4: aOR 3.98, 95% CI 1.51, 9.30) and extraperitoneal colpopexy with hysterectomy were independently associated with a higher odds of experiencing a non-UTI postoperative complication (aOR1.43, 95% CI 1.10, 1.84). Minority race was also independently associated with higher odds of experiencing a non-UTI postoperative complication (aOR 1.33, 95% CI 1.15, 1.52). CONCLUSION: One in ten women undergoing vaginal colpopexy experienced a postoperative complication. Minority race and extraperitoneal colpopexy with concurrent hysterectomy were independently associated with an increased risk of a non-UTI postoperative complication.

Evaluation of Strategies to Prevent Urinary Tract Injury in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review tools for the prevention of urinary tract injury in adult women undergoing minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. DATA SOURCES: A medical librarian (M.P.H.) searched Ovid Medline 1946 to, Ovid Embase 1929 to, CINAHL 1965 to, Cochrane Library 1974 to, Web of Science 1926 to, and SCOPUS 1974 to present on April 2 and April 3, 2020. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: Articles evaluating strategies for the prevention of urinary tract injury at the time of minimally invasive gynecologic surgery were included. Articles that were nongynecologic, nonhuman, and nonadult were excluded. If a study did not describe the surgical approach or type of surgical procedures performed, it was excluded. If the study population was <50% gynecologic or <50% minimally invasive, it was excluded. Articles evaluating techniques for the diagnosis or management of injury, rather than prevention, were excluded. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: The search yielded 2344 citations; duplicates were removed, inclusion criteria were applied, and 9 studies remained for analysis. Three studies evaluated bladder catheters, and 6 evaluated ureteral catheters. In the 3 studies evaluating bladder catheters, there were no urinary tract injuries. Urinary tract infection was greater in women who received a bladder catheter. In the studies evaluating the use of ureteral catheters, we found inconsistent reporting and heterogeneity that precluded meta-analysis. The results of the available studies do not indicate that ureteral catheters decrease the risk of injury, and indicate that they increase morbidity. CONCLUSION: The evidence is insufficient to support the routine use of bladder catheters or ureteral catheters for the prevention of urinary tract injury at the time of minimally invasive gynecologic surgery.

Outcomes of labiaplasty in women with labial hypertrophy.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: High-quality data are lacking to understand outcomes in women who undergo labiaplasty for labial hypertrophy and whether there is an association with body dismorphic disorder (BDD). METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of a retrospective cohort of women who underwent labiaplasty for labial hypertrophy at a tertiary care referral center. Women were identified by CPT codes and were included if the procedure was performed by a urogynecologist. The health record was queried for demographic, pre-, intra-, and postoperative data. For the cross-sectional component of the study, participants were contacted to complete a survey. RESULTS: Thirty-six women met study inclusion criteria; 21 participated in the survey, and retrospective data were available for 20. At the time of labiaplasty, the women had a mean age of 30 ± 12 years and mean BMI of 23.9 ± 4.4 kg/m2. The most common preoperative motivation for undergoing labiaplasty, based on the medical record, was pain (85.0% 17/20). Complications were uncommon and minor. No women met criteria for BDD. Participant survey-reported primary motivation for undergoing partial simple vulvectomy was "pinching" in 10 (47.6%), "pain" in 4 (19.0%), and "appearance" in 7 (33.3%). The majority of women reported that labiaplasty achieved their preoperative goal (20/21, 95.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Women who underwent labiaplasty were primarily motivated by functional concerns, and outcomes indicate a high satisfaction with genital appearance postoperatively as well as a positive effect on body image and quality of life. We recommend that surgeons work to understand what motivates women to pursue surgical intervention by asking about cosmetic concerns.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse Severity and Genital Hiatus Size With Long-Term Pessary Use.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between pessary use more than 1 year and change in prolapse severity. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of a previously published randomized controlled trial of women undergoing office management of pessaries for management of symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence. Primary outcome was change in pelvic organ prolapse quantification measurement genital hiatus (GH). Secondary outcomes included change in prolapse stage, type of pessary, size of pessary, number of pessary changes, and duration of use. Baseline data were collected from the earliest documented examination within the hospital record before pessary placement and compared with their final study visit. Demographics were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Student t test and Mann-Whitney tests were used for categorical comparisons. Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients were used to evaluate change over time. RESULTS: The cohort was 132 predominantly non-Hispanic White (75%) women with symptomatic prolapse >stage 2 (70.5%). All were postmenopausal. Median duration of pessary use was 39.5 months (interquartile range, 17-64.5 months). Genital hiatus (P = 0.014) and prolapse stage (P = 0.001) decreased as duration of pessary use increased. Those with baseline stages ≥3 had a significant decrease in GH as duration of pessary use increased compared with stages <3 (-0.5 cm vs 0 cm, P < 0.001). There was no difference in change in GH when comparing women with baseline GH less than 3 to 3 cm or greater. CONCLUSIONS: Pessary use by women with pelvic organ prolapse causes a change in vaginal anatomy over time as seen by decreasing stage and point GH.

Subspecialty care for peripartum pelvic floor disorders.

Obstetrical perineal and anal sphincter lacerations can be associated with considerable sequelae. The diagnosis of short-term bowel, bladder, and healing problems can be delayed if patients are not seen until the traditional postpartum visit at 4 to 6 weeks. Specialized peripartum clinics create a unique opportunity to collaborate with obstetrical specialists to provide early, individualized care for patients experiencing a variety of pelvic floor issues during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Although implementation of these clinics requires thoughtful planning and partnering with care providers at all levels in the obstetrics care system, many of the necessary resources are available in routine gynecologic practice. Using a multidisciplinary approach with pelvic floor physical therapists, nurses, advanced practice providers, and other specialists is important for the success of this service line and enhances the level of care provided. Overall, these clinics provide a structured means by which pregnant and postpartum women with pelvic floor symptoms can receive specialized counseling and treatment.

A randomized controlled noninferiority trial of reduced vs routine opioid prescription after prolapse repair.

BACKGROUND: Given the accelerating opioid crisis in the United States and evidence that patients use fewer opioid tablets than prescribed, surgeons may choose to decrease prescribed quantities. The effect this may have on patient satisfaction with pain control after hospital discharge is unknown. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to compare patient satisfaction with postoperative pain control between patients receiving a routine or reduced quantity opioid prescription after prolapse repair. Secondary objectives included a comparison of opioid-related side-effects, the number of opioid tablets used, and the number of excess tablets prescribed between these groups. STUDY DESIGN: This was a single-center, unmasked, 2-arm, randomized controlled noninferiority trial of women who underwent a prolapse repair with a planned overnight hospitalization. Patients were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 study arms: routine (28 tablets of oxycodone 5 mg) or reduced (5 tablets) prescription of opioid tablets. Patients were eligible if they were at least 18 years of age and undergoing a prolapse repair with an anticipated overnight hospital stay. Exclusion criteria included a history of chronic pain, preoperative opioid use, intolerance to study medication, or a score of ≥30 on the Pain Catastrophizing Scale. In addition to their opioid prescription, all patients received multimodal pain medications at discharge. Patients were asked to complete 6 weeks of diaries to record pain and medication use. The primary outcome (patient satisfaction) was collected as part of a postoperative survey completed at patients' routine postoperative visit 6 weeks after surgery. The sample size for noninferiority was calculated at 59 patients per group for a total of 118 patients. RESULTS: One hundred eighteen patients were assigned randomly; the primary outcome was available for 116. The majority of patients were white, postmenopausal, and nonsmokers; the mean age was 62±10.4 years. The most common surgery was a hysterectomy with native tissue repair (n=71; 60%). One hundred ten patients (93%) were satisfied with postoperative pain control. Statistical analysis constructed for noninferiority showed that the difference between the groups was <15% (93% vs 93%; P=.005). Subjects in the reduced arm reported requiring an additional opioid prescription more frequently than in the routine arm (15% vs 2%; P=.01). Patients in the routine arm used more opioid tablets than the reduced arm (median, 3 [interquartile range, 0-14] vs 1 [interquartile range, 0-3]), but overall opioid utilization was low. As such, patients in the routine arm had significantly more unused opioid tablets (median, 26 [interquartile range, 15-28] vs 4 [interquartile range, 2-5]). CONCLUSION: Patient satisfaction with pain control was noninferior in patients who received a reduced quantity of opioid tablets after prolapse repair compared with those who received a routine prescription. A large quantity of excess opioid tablets was seen in both groups. Surgeons should consider prescribing 5-10 opioid tablets after prolapse repair surgery and consider applying these findings to postoperative prescribing after other gynecologic procedures.