Serious complications and recurrences after retropubic vs transobturator midurethral sling procedures for 2682 patients in the VIGI-MESH register.

BACKGROUND: Midurethral slings are the gold standard for treating stress urinary incontinence, but their complications may raise concerns. Complications may differ by the approach used to place them. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare serious complications and reoperations for recurrence after midurethral sling procedures when using the retropubic vs the transobturator route for female stress urinary incontinence. STUDY DESIGN: This analysis was of patients included in the French, multicenter VIGI-MESH register since February 2017 who received a midurethral sling for female stress urinary incontinence either by the retropubic or the transobturator route and excluded patients with single-incision slings. Follow-up continued until October 2021. Serious complications (Clavien-Dindo classification ≥ grade III) attributable to the midurethral sling and reoperations for recurrence were compared using Cox proportional hazard models including any associated surgery (hysterectomy or prolapse) and a frailty term to consider the center effect. Baseline differences were balanced by propensity score weighting. Analyses using the propensity score and Cox models were adjusted for baseline differences, center effect, and associated surgery. RESULTS: A total of 1830 participants received a retropubic sling and 852 received a transobturator sling in 27 French centers that were placed by 167 surgeons. The cumulative 2-year estimate of serious complications was 5.8% (95% confidence interval, 4.8-7.0) in the retropubic group and 2.9% (95% confidence interval, 1.9-4.3) in the transobturator group, that is, after adjustment, half of the retropubic group was affected (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.41; 95% confidence interval, 0.3-0.6). The cumulative 2-year estimate of reoperation for recurrence of stress urinary incontinence was 2.7% (95% confidence interval, 2.0-3.6) in the retropubic group and 2.8% (95% confidence interval, 1.7-4.2) in the transobturator group with risk for revision for recurrence being higher in the transobturator group after adjustment (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.9); this surplus risk disappeared after exclusion of the patients with a previous surgery for stress urinary incontinence. CONCLUSION: The transobturator route for midurethral sling placement is associated with a lower risk for serious complications but a higher risk for surgical reoperation for recurrence than the retropubic route. Despite the large number of surgeons involved, these risks were low. The data are therefore reassuring.

Perceived health status after mid-urethral sling revision in 287 women from the VIGI-MESH registry: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the health status and recovery of women after mid-urethral sling (MUS) revision in response to complications. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study using a questionnaire sent to women from a registry. SETTING: Twenty-two French surgical centres. POPULATION: A total of 287 women from the VIGI-MESH registry responded, having undergone MUS revision for complications. METHODS: Our sample of women were compared against a representative set of French women taken from the Eurostat database. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify clinical predictors for successful MUS revision. A qualitative analysis was carried out on free-text comments. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Health status, defined by the Minimum European Health Module, and recovery, assessed by Patient Global Impression of Improvement. RESULTS: The response rate was 76% (287/378), with 49% of the women (141/287, 95% CI 43%-55%) reporting good health status, which was 8 points lower than that expected from the comparator French set (57%, 95% CI 55%-58%). Overall, 53% (147/275, 95% CI 47%-59%) of the women reported feeling much better after MUS revision. Just over one-third (35%, 95/275, 95% CI 29%-40%) of respondents reported poor health with little or no improvement. Multivariate analysis showed that being operated on for pain at revision was associated with worse self-perceived health than being operated on for exposure (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.14-0.95); women with pre-existing comorbidity reported a poorer health status following MUS revision (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.13-0.38). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that half of the women recovered good health status after MUS revision, whereas a proportion appeared to be seriously affected by an MUS complication despite the revision.

Moderate or intensive management of the active phase of second-stage labor and risk of urinary and anal incontinence: results of the PASST randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Incontinence occurs frequently in the postpartum period. Several theoretical pathophysiological models may underlie the hypothesis that different types of management of the active phase of the second stage of labor have different effects on pelvic floor muscles and thus perhaps affect urinary and anal continence. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of "moderate pushing" on the occurrence of urinary or anal incontinence compared with "intensive pushing," and to determine the factors associated with incontinence at 6 months postpartum. STUDY DESIGN: This was a planned analysis of secondary objectives of the PASST (Phase Active du Second STade) trial, a multicenter randomized controlled trial. PASST included nulliparous women with singleton term pregnancies and epidural analgesia, who were randomly assigned at 8 cm of dilatation to either the intervention group that used "moderate" pushing (pushing only twice during each contraction, resting regularly for 1 contraction in 5 without pushing, and no time limit on pushing) or the control group following the usual management of "intensive" pushing (pushing 3 times during each contraction, with no contractions without pushing, with an obstetrician called to discuss operative delivery after 30 minutes of pushing). Data about continence were collected with validated self-assessment questionnaires at 6 months postpartum. Urinary incontinence was defined by an ICIQ-UI SF (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form) score ≥1 and anal incontinence by a Wexner score ≥2. A separate analysis was also performed among the more severely affected women (ICIQ-UI SF ≥6 and Wexner ≥5). Factors associated with incontinence were assessed with univariate and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: Among 1618 women initially randomized, 890 (55%) returned the complete questionnaire at 6 months. The rate of urinary incontinence was 36.6% in the "moderate" pushing group vs 38.5% in the "intensive" pushing group (relative risk, 0.95; 95% confidence interval, 0.80-1.13), whereas the rate of anal incontinence was 32.2% vs 34.6% (relative risk, 0.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.77-1.12). None of the obstetrical factors studied related to the second stage of labor influenced the occurrence of urinary or anal incontinence, except operative vaginal delivery, which increased the risk of anal incontinence (adjusted odds ratio, 1.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-2.15). CONCLUSION: The results of the PASST trial indicate that neither moderate nor intensive pushing efforts affect the risk of urinary or anal incontinence at 6 months postpartum among women who gave birth under epidural analgesia.

Pelvic floor disorders and sexuality in women with ovarian cancer: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Pelvic floor disorders (PFD) are common conditions impacting quality of life and sexuality may worsen after ovarian cancer therapies. Our objective was to describe the prevalence of PFD and sexuality in women with ovarian cancer (OC). METHODS: We reviewed articles indexed in the MEDLINE database until June 2020 and selected articles assessing UI, POP, FI and sexual dysfunction in a population of women with OC. RESULTS: Of 360 articles, 18 were included: four assessed UI, two assessed POP, three FI, and 13 sexual dysfunction. PFD findings were highly heterogeneous due to the definitions used and the populations studied. The prevalence of any type of UI in patients with OC before treatment is around 50%, and about 17% report feeling a bulge in their vagina. These rates are similar to those reported in women without cancer. Similarly, the main post-treatment UI scores were not significantly different from women without cancer. Fecal incontinence has been less studied in women with OC but reported as affecting 4% of patients preoperatively and 16% postoperatively. About half of the women are sexually active after surgical treatment with high reported rates of dyspareunia (40-80%) and vaginal dryness (60-80%). Compared with healthy women, some authors found that OC patients had greater problems with loss of desire and poorer sexual function scores; other authors did not find a significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: While PFD seem to be common in women after treatment for OC, the rates are not higher than in the general population. Overall, there is a higher prevalence of UI and sexual dysfunction compared with bowel dysfunction. More prospective studies are needed to explore the impact of gynecologic cancers and their treatments on pelvic floor function and pelvic health-related quality of life.

A core outcome set development for a French national prospective study about the effect of mediolateral episiotomy on obstetric anal sphincter injury during operative vaginal delivery (INSTRUMODA).

BACKGROUND: We aimed at developing a core outcome and variables of interest set to investigate the effects of mediolateral episiotomy on Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury (OASI) during and after operative delivery in nulliparous women in a large-scale one-year observational French study including 15,000 women (INSTRUMODA). METHODS: A list of outcomes and variables of interest was suggested to obstetricians participating in the INSTRUMODA study using online questionnaires divided into 7 categories: the woman's history and course of pregnancy, course of labor, modalities of operative delivery, episiotomy characteristics, immediate maternal morbidity, one-year maternal morbidity, immediate neonatal morbidity. We used a three-round DELPHI method to reach a consensus. In the first round, outcomes and variables considered as essential by 70% or more of obstetricians were included in the corpus whereas they were excluded when 70% rated them as "not important". In the second round, non-consensual outcomes and variables were reassessed and excluded or definitively included if considered as "not important" or essential by 50% or more of the obstetricians. During the first round, obstetricians were invited to suggest new outcomes and/or variables that were then assessed in the second and third round. We used the same method to develop a core outcome and variables of interest set in a population of women in the community recruited via an association of patients. At the end of the procedure the core outcome and variables of interest sets were merged to provide the final core outcome set for the INSTRUMODA study. RESULTS: Fifty-three obstetricians and 16 women filled out questionnaires. After the 3 rounds of Delphi procedure in each population, 74 outcomes and variables were consensually reported by obstetricians and 92 by women in the community. By mixing these two consensual corpora we reported a final consensual list of 114 variables of interest and outcomes for both obstetricians and women. CONCLUSION: We established a core outcome and variables of interest set among obstetricians and women in the community to investigate the association between mediolateral episiotomy and OASI during operative delivery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The INSTRUMODA study was registered on https://clinicaltrials.gov on June 25, 2020 ( NCT04446780 ).

Valsalva urethral profile (VUP): A urodynamic measure to assess stress urinary incontinence in women.

AIMS: We aimed to assess the value of the Valsalva urethral profile (VUP) in case of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS: Six hundred and ninety-four women without pelvic organ prolapse were included in this prospective monocentric study. SUI was diagnosed from symptoms using the International Continence Society definition, and severity using two validated questionnaires (USP and ICIQ-SF). The urodynamic parameters studied were maximal urethral closure pressure (MUCP) and functional length (FL). Both were performed at rest, during a Valsalva maneuver (v-MUCP and v-FL) and again at rest. Correlation analyses and ROC curves were used to assess the value of the clinical and urodynamic measurements. RESULTS: In our population, based on the questionnaires, 172 (24.8%) women were diagnosed with pure SUI on symptoms, 71 (10.2%) with urgency urinary incontinence and 392 (56.5%) with mixed urinary incontinence; 59 (8.5%) women were continent. The v-MUCP was the most correlated parameter to the severity of SUI (ρ: -0.63) and the most predictive of SUI risk, with a threshold value of 35 cm H2 O (Se = 0.82, Sp = 0.86). The v-FL was significantly shortened in case of SUI. CONCLUSIONS: The v-MUCP and v-FL are global measurements of urethral resistance during stress. With a threshold value of 35 cm H2 O, the v-MUCP was the most discriminating parameter for the diagnosis of SUI, with a good reliability.

Medium-term outcomes of laparoscopic sacropexy on symptoms and quality of life. Predictive factors for postoperative dissatisfaction.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: We aimed to evaluate the medium-term results of laparoscopic sacropexy (LSP) with validated self-administered questionnaires of symptoms and quality of life and to identify pre-, intra-, and postoperative predictors of postoperative dissatisfaction. METHODS: The study included 152 women who had LSP for stage 2 or higher pelvic organ prolapse (POP). The study population comprised women who had completed the preoperative symptom questionnaire (including the PFDI-20 and ICIQ-SF). Postoperative questionnaires included those questionnaires as well as the PFIQ-7 and EQ-5D questionnaires, PISQ-12 sexual function questionnaire, and PGI-I questionnaire (to assess patient satisfaction). RESULTS: In all, 92 women (60.5%) responded in the postoperative period; 75 (81.5%) had anterior and posterior mesh and 17 (18.5%) anterior mesh alone. Moreover, 14 women (15.2%) had a concomitant suburethral sling and 18 (19.6%) a concomitant subtotal hysterectomy. The mean follow-up time was 50.5 (± 20.3) months (4.2 years). PFDI-20 scores had improved significantly at 4 years (median: 47.4 before surgery vs. 34.4 afterwards, p = 0.002), and patient satisfaction was quite clear (PGI-I score = 1.8 ± 1.1). Nine women (9.8%) described recurring vaginal bulge symptoms, and 12 patients were reoperated during follow-up. Recurrence [odds ratio (OR) 8.11, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.28-28.9] and postoperative constipation (OR = 3.47, 95% CI 1.02-11.8) were strongly associated with poorer postoperative satisfaction, as was concomitant UI surgery (OR = 12.5, 95% CI 2.32-67.0). CONCLUSIONS: LSP improved women's symptoms and quality of life. Postoperative constipation, sensation of prolapse recurrence, and concomitant UI surgery were strongly associated with postoperative dissatisfaction.

Perineal ultrasound for the measurement of urethral mobility: a study of inter- and intra-observer reliability.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Ultrasound measurement of urethral mobility is an attractive approach to directly visualize bladder neck descent (BND) during stress. BND assessed by transperineal ultrasound appears to be associated with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) severity. This study evaluated the inter- and intra-observer reliability of ultrasound BND measurement and its correlation with clinical examination. METHODS: We included 50 women from the multicenter randomized 3PN study ("Prenatal Perineal Prevention"). BND was measured by two operators either during pregnancy (at 20 weeks of gestation) or 2 months after delivery. Two measurements were taken by each operator. Intra-class coefficient correlations were used for analysis. Urethral mobility was clinically assessed by measuring the point Aa of the POP-Q classification during maximum strain (Valsalva maneuver) with an empty bladder. RESULTS: Ultrasound analysis showed high intra-observer reliability in the overall population: intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) = 0.75 (0.59-0.85) and 0.73 (0.55-0.84) for each operator. Intra-observer agreements were considered moderate to high in the post- and antepartum groups. Inter-observer agreements were moderate in the antepartum period [ICC = 0.58 (0.26-0.78) for the first measurement and 0.68 (0.42-0.84) for the second] but low in the postpartum period [ICC = 0.15 (0.10-0.41) and 0.21 (0.10-0.58)]. Correlations between ultrasound and clinical measurements were considered low to moderate (Spearman coefficient, rho = 0.34 and 0.50 for post- and antepartum periods, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Inter-observer reliability of ultrasound urethral mobility measurements by the transperineal route is moderate antepartum and low postpartum. The correlation with point Aa is low to moderate.

Is prenatal urethral descent a risk factor for urinary incontinence during pregnancy and the postpartum period?

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Obstetric trauma during childbirth is considered a major risk factor for postpartum urinary incontinence (UI), particularly stress urinary incontinence. Our aim was to investigate the relation between postpartum UI, mode of delivery, and urethral descent, and to define a group of women who are particularly at risk of postnatal UI. METHODS: A total of 186 women were included their first pregnancy. Validated questionnaires about urinary symptoms during pregnancy, 2 and 12 months after delivery, were administered. Urethral descent was assessed clinically and by ultrasound at inclusion. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors for UI during pregnancy, at 2 months and 1 year after first delivery. RESULTS: The prevalence of UI was 38.6, 46.5, 35.6, and 34.4 % at inclusion, late pregnancy, 2 months postpartum, and 1 year postpartum respectively. No significant association was found between UI at late pregnancy and urethral descent assessed clinically or by ultrasound. The only risk factor for UI at 2 months postpartum was UI at inclusion (OR 6.27 [95 % CI 2.70-14.6]). The risk factors for UI at 1 year postpartum were UI at inclusion (6.14 [2.22-16.9]), body mass index (BMI), and urethral descent at inclusion, assessed clinically (7.21 [2.20-23.7]) or by ultrasound. The mode of delivery was not associated with urethral descent. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal urethral descent and UI during pregnancy are risk factors for UI at 1 year postpartum. These results indicate that postnatal UI is more strongly influenced by susceptibility factors existing before first delivery than by the mode of delivery.

Urinary incontinence 4 and 12 years after first delivery: risk factors associated with prevalence, incidence, remission, and persistence in a cohort of 236 women.

AIMS: Our aim was to study risk factors associated with prevalence, incidence, and remission of UI 4 and 12 years after first delivery. METHODS: Seven hundred seventy-four nulliparous women who gave birth in 1996 in two French maternity units at term received a questionnaire about their urinary symptoms in 2000 and again in 2008. Two hundred thirty-six women returned a questionnaire about UI 4 and 12 years after first delivery. Four groups of women were built: (A) women continent 4 and 12 years after first delivery; (B) women continent at 4 and incontinent at 12 years; (C) women incontinent at 4 and continent at 12 years; and (D) women incontinent at 4 and 12 years. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to determine risk factors of UI prevalence (groups B + D vs. A + C), incidence (B vs. A), remission (C vs. D), and onset of UI (D vs. B) RESULTS: Factors associated with UI 12 years after first pregnancy were: BMI (OR = 1.17 [95%CI: 1.04-1.32], by 1 kg/m(2) ) and increasing BMI (1.43 [1.19-1.73]), first child's weight (1.08 [1.001-1.16], by 100 g) and UI during first pregnancy (3.77 [1.83-7.76]). Factors associated with UI incidence were age at first delivery (0.86 [0.75-0.98]) and high BMI (1.24 [1.05-1.45]). Increasing BMI, UI during first pregnancy, and heavy first child reduce the likelihood of UI remission (0.37 [0.20-0.68], 0.11 [0.02-0.63], and 0.73[0.59-0.91], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: UI during first pregnancy could be indicative of individual susceptibility to UI. Obesity appears to be a modifiable factor for remission of UI in women.

Impact of educational workshops to increase awareness of pelvic floor dysfunction and integrate preventive lifestyle habits.

OBJECTIVES: Our objectives were to evaluate the impact of group pelvic floor education workshops on participants' knowledge, their satisfaction, and the modification of their urinary and digestive behaviors, and to compare health care providers' (HCP) knowledge with that of the general population. METHODS: For this prospective observational study, group pelvic floor education workshops were proposed between May 2021 and June 2022 in a web-conference format. Each workshop covered pelvic floor anatomy and physiology, urinary and digestive physiology as well as risk factors of PFD and preventive measures. At the start and the end of the workshops, participants completed a questionnaire on their knowledge and their beliefs about the pelvic floor. Questions about their satisfaction were asked at the end of the workshops. A 2-month questionnaire assessed changes in urinary and digestive habits and whether participants had talked about the workshop around them. RESULTS: A total of 856, with an average age 40.1 years, participated and completed the questionnaires before and after the workshops; 694 responded at 2 months. The education workshops significantly improved knowledge about the pelvic floor in the "HCP" and "non-HCP" groups. At 2 months, 591 participants (85.2%) 85.2% had talked about the workshop content; 557 (80.3%) reported having changed, or planned to change, their urinary behaviors and 495 (71.3%) their defecatory behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic floor education workshops can increase level of knowledge and thus limit risky behaviors for the pelvic floor. The high rate of participation and the satisfaction of the participants shows the interest for the theme.

Value of pelvic examination in women with pelvic organ prolapse: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Recent recommendations from the French High Authority of Health on pelvic organ prolapse (POP) management underline the value of a pelvic examination. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper was to analyze the literature and identify the best evidence available regarding pelvic examination for women presenting prolapse-associated symptoms in terms of diagnosis and predictability of treatment success. SEARCH STRATEGY: The databases were queried similarly using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and non-MeSH terms broadly related to pelvic examination and POP management. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included studies assessing the diagnostic contribution of pelvic examination (correlation with symptoms) and its value for assessing the risk of pessary failure or recurrence after reconstructive surgery. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We assessed peer-reviewed articles on PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane database up to May 2023. The methodological quality of all the included studies was assessed using the ROBINS-E or RoB2 tools. MAIN RESULTS: In all, 67 studies were retained for the review. Prolapse-associated symptoms are poorly correlated with POP diagnosis. The symptom that is best correlated with the POP stage is the presence of a vaginal bulge (moderate to good correlation). The factors most strongly associated with the risk of recurrence after surgery or pessary failure are clinical: essentially a higher POP stage before surgery, levator ani muscle avulsion, and vaginal and genital measurements. CONCLUSIONS: In women complaining of prolapse-associated symptoms, a pelvic examination (vaginal speculum and digital vaginal examination) can confirm the presence of POP and identify risk factors for treatment failure or recurrence after surgical management or pessary placement. A higher stage of POP and levator ani muscle avulsion-discernible on pelvic examination-are major risk factors for POP recurrence or treatment failure. These features must be taken into account in the treatment choice and discussed with the patient.

A new approach to assessing the obstetrician's posture and movement during an instrumental forceps delivery.

INTRODUCTION: The number of deliveries by forceps decreases significantly in favour of the vacuum. Now, when the use of forceps is necessary, physicians less experimented with this procedure are likely to induce serious and preventable perineal or foetal injuries. Training therefore becomes essential. However, there are no clear recommendations on the technique to perform a delivery by forceps, namely the body posture and gesture to adopt. Our goal is then to provide a protocol that can help to determine if there is an optimal technique to perform a delivery by forceps. METHOD: We will include voluntary participants whose level of experience and type of practice differ. We will propose to record their postures and gestures using an optoelectronic motion analysis system during a forceps delivery simulated on a mannequin. We will also measure the traction force produced by the subject on the forceps using force platforms and technical markers placed on the forceps. We will then perform a principal component analysis to look for similar motion patterns. EXPECTED RESULTS: We plan to analyse about fifty participants (25 seniors and 25 juniors). Our hypothesis is that the realism of the simulation will be deemed satisfactory by the participants, that the experimental conditions will not modify their gestures, and that the degree of experience will result in different techniques. CONCLUSION: A better knowledge on the posture and gesture to adopt to realise a forceps delivery should improve the safety of women and new-borns. The results of this study could also be a valuable contribution for the training of obstetricians.

Identification of Key Factors Influencing the Choice of the Type of Vaginal Pessary for Women Presenting with Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Semi-Directive Interviews and Development of an Algorithm.

(1) Background: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) can be managed using a vaginal pessary. However, the decision-making process whereby health professionals choose the right pessary is unclear. The objective of this study was to focus on the experience of experts in pessary use and to propose an algorithm. (2) Methods: A prospective study, based on face-to-face semi-directive interviews and group discussions, was conducted on a multidisciplinary panel of professional experts specialized in pessary prescriptions. A consensual algorithm was established, and its accuracy was assessed by expert and non-expert panels. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies (COREQ) were used. (3) Results: 17 semi-directive interviews were conducted. The parameters involved in the decision-making process regarding the choice of vaginal pessaries were: desire for self-management (65%), associated urinary stress incontinence (47%), POP type (41%), and POP stage (29%). The algorithm was developed step by step (4 iterations) using the Delphi technique. Most of the expert panel (76%) rated the relevance of the algorithm as 7 or more out of 10 on a visual analog scale according to their own experience (reference activity). Finally, most (81%) of the non-expert panel (n = 230) rated the usefulness of this algorithm as 7 or more out of 10 on a visual analog scale. (4) Conclusions: This study provides an expert panel-based algorithm that may help in the prescription of pessaries for POP.

Do Surgeons Anticipate Women's Hopes and Fears Associated with Prolapse Repair? A Qualitative Analysis in the PROSPERE Trial.

Women's preoperative perceptions of pelvic-floor disorders may differ from those of their physicians. Our objective was to specify women's hopes and fears before cystocele repair, and to compare them to those that surgeons anticipate. We performed a secondary qualitative analysis of data from the PROSPERE trial. Among the 265 women included, 98% reported at least one hope and 86% one fear before surgery. Sixteen surgeons also completed the free expectations-questionnaire as a typical patient would. Women's hopes covered seven themes, and women's fears eleven. Women's hopes were concerning prolapse repair (60%), improvement of urinary function (39%), capacity for physical activities (28%), sexual function (27%), well-being (25%), and end of pain or heaviness (19%). Women's fears were concerning prolapse relapse (38%), perioperative concerns (28%), urinary disorders (26%), pain (19%), sexual problems (10%), and physical impairment (6%). Surgeons anticipated typical hopes and fears which were very similar to those the majority of women reported. However, only 60% of the women reported prolapse repair as an expectation. Women's expectations appear reasonable and consistent with the scientific literature on the improvement and the risk of relapse or complication related to cystocele repair. Our analysis encourages surgeons to consider individual woman's expectations before pelvic-floor repair.

Management of female pelvic organ prolapse-Summary of the 2021 HAS guidelines.

When a patient presents with symptoms suggestive of pelvic organ prolapse (POP), clinical evaluation should include an assessment of symptoms, their impact on daily life and rule out other pelvic pathologies. The prolapse should be described compartment by compartment, indicating the extent of the externalization for each. The diagnosis of POP is clinical. Additional exams may be requested to explore the symptoms associated or not explained by the observed prolapse. Pelvic floor muscle training and pessaries are non-surgical conservative treatment options recommended as first-line therapy for pelvic organ prolapse. They can be offered in combination and be associated with the management of modifiable risk factors for prolapse. If the conservative therapeutic options do not meet the patient's expectations, surgery should be proposed if the symptoms are disabling, related to pelvic organ prolapse, detected on clinical examination and significant (stage 2 or more of the POP-Q classification). Surgical routes for POP repair can be abdominal with mesh placement, or vaginal with autologous tissue. Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy is recommended for cases of apical and anterior prolapse. Autologous vaginal surgery (including colpocleisis) is a recommended option for elderly and fragile patients. For cases of isolated rectocele, the posterior vaginal route with autologous tissue should be preferentially performed over the transanal route. The decision to place a mesh must be made in consultation with a multidisciplinary team. After the surgery, the patient should be reassessed by the surgeon, even in the absence of symptoms or complications, and in the long term by a primary care or specialist doctor.

[Pelvic exam in gynecology and obstetrics: Guidelines for clinical practice]. / Examen pelvien en gynécologie et obstétrique : recommandations pour la pratique clinique.

OBJECTIVE: To provide guidelines for the pelvic clinical exam in gynecology and obstetrics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A multidisciplinary experts consensus committee of 45 experts was formed, including representatives of patients' associations and users of the health system. The entire guidelines process was conducted independently of any funding. The authors were advised to follow the rules of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE®) system to guide assessment of quality of evidence. The potential drawbacks of making strong recommendations in the presence of low-quality evidence were emphasized. METHODS: The committee studied 40 questions within 4 fields for symptomatic or asymptomatic women (emergency conditions, gynecological consultation, gynecological diseases, obstetrics, and pregnancy). Each question was formulated in a PICO (Patients, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) format and the evidence profiles were produced. The literature review and recommendations were made according to the GRADE® methodology. RESULTS: The experts' synthesis work and the application of the GRADE method resulted in 27 recommendations. Among the formalized recommendations, 17 present a strong agreement, 7 a weak agreement and 3 an expert consensus agreement. Thirteen questions resulted in an absence of recommendation due to lack of evidence in the literature. CONCLUSIONS: The need to perform clinical examination in gynecological and obstetrics patients was specified in 27 pre-defined situations based on scientific evidence. More research is required to investigate the benefit in other cases.

How Women Perceive Severity of Complications after Pelvic Floor Repair?

BACKGROUND: The Clavien-Dindo classification, used to describe postoperative complications, does not take into account patient perception of severity. Our main objective was to assess women's perception of postoperative pelvic floor repair complications and compare it to the classification of Clavien-Dindo. METHODS: Women and surgeons participating in the VIGI-MESH registry concerning pelvic floor repair surgery were invited to quote their perception of complication severity through a survey based on 30 clinical vignettes. For each vignette, four grades of severity were proposed: "not serious", "a little serious", "serious", "very serious". RESULTS: Among the 1146 registered women, we received 529 responses (46.2%) and 70 of the 141 surgeons (49.6%) returned a completed questionnaire. A total of 25 of the 30 vignettes were considered classifiable according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. The women's classification was concordant with Clavien-Dindo for 52.0% (13/25) of the classifiable vignettes. The women's and surgeons' responses were discordant for 20 of the 30 clinical vignettes (66.7%). Loss of autonomy (self-catheterization, long-term medication use) or occurrence of sequelae (organ damage or severe persistent pain) were perceived by women as more serious than Clavien-Dindo classification or than surgeons' perceptions. CONCLUSIONS: Women's perception of pelvic floor repair surgery seems different from the Clavien-Dindo classification. Lack of repair and long-term disability seem to be two major factors in favor of perception of the surgical complication as serious.

Impact of uterine fibroid surgery on lower urinary tract symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: Uterine fibroids are often associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), the exact prevalence of which has been underexplored. Our main objective was to evaluate the effect of surgical treatment of fibroids on LUTS. Our secondary objectives were to assess the prevalence of LUTS in women undergoing fibroid surgery and to analyze the relationship between the characteristics of fibroids and the severity of symptoms. METHODS: This was a prospective study of women conducted between 2019 and 2021. The main endpoint was the change in the total UDI-6, IIQ7, ICIQ-SF and CONTILIFE scores preoperatively and 6 weeks postoperatively. RESULTS: Of the 55 included women, 63.6% had frequency and 60% had urgency. Six weeks postoperatively, urinary symptoms had significantly improved for all scores. The presence of an anterior fibroid was significantly associated with higher urinary symptom scores for the UDI-6 (p = 0.007) and ICIQ-SF scores (p = 0.04). The size of the uterus or dominant fibroid was not significantly associated with the severity of urinary symptoms. CONCLUSION: Fibroids are often associated with symptoms of overactive bladder. An anterior location of the fibroid appears to be associated with greater severity scores. Surgical treatment appears to reduce urinary symptoms 6 weeks postoperatively.

How Satisfied Are Women 6 Months after a Pessary Fitting for Pelvic Organ Prolapse?

BACKGROUND: The non-surgical solution for Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) typically consists of a pessary fitting. We aimed to assess patient satisfaction and symptom improvement 6 months after a pessary fitting and to identify risk factors associated with pessary failure. METHODS: Six months after a pessary fitting, patient satisfaction was assessed by the PGII score; symptoms and quality of life were assessed using validated questionnaires (PFDI-20, ICIQ-SF, PISQ-12, USP, and PFIQ-7). RESULTS: Of the 190 patients included in the study (mean age of 66.7 years), 141 (74%) and 113 (59%) completed the follow-up questionnaires at 1 and 6 months, respectively. Nearly all the women were menopausal (94.6%) and 45.2% declared being sexually active at inclusion. The satisfaction rate was 84.3% and 87.4% at 1 and 6 months, respectively. The global symptom score PFDI-20 had significantly improved at 6 months. A high body mass index (RR = 1.06, CI95%: [1.02-1.09]), as well as high PFDI-20 (1.05 [1.01-1.09]), PFIQ7 (1.04 [1.01, 1.08]), and PISQ12 scores at inclusion (0.75 [0.60, 0.93]), as well as higher GH and GH/TVL measurements (1.49 [1.25-1.78] and 1.39 [1.23-1.57], respectively) were associated with pessary failure. CONCLUSIONS: Pessary seems to be an effective treatment for POP with high patient satisfaction. Higher BMI, higher symptom scores, and greater genital hiatus measurements before insertion are risk factors for failure at 6 months.