Role of vaginal mesh hysteropexy for the management of advanced uterovaginal prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of vaginal mesh hysteropexy in the management of advanced genital organ prolapse as assessed by subjective and objective parameters. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series of 77 women followed for at least 1 year after vaginal mesh hysteropexy performed for stage III or greater uterovaginal prolapse. The primary outcome was Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP- Q) stage < II and no subjective bothersome bulge and no further interventions for prolapse. Secondary outcomes assessed were complications such as intraoperative bleeding, injuries, and postoperative complications such as mesh exposure, mesh retraction, dyspareunia, urinary incontinence, and voiding dysfunction. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 13.7 +/- 4.1 months. Our composite success score was 85.7%. The anatomic (POP-Q) success score was 90.9%. Most failures (all but 1) were stage II with cervix as leading edge. Incidence of de novo dyspareunia was 3.7% and vaginal mesh erosion was 6.5%. Most patients 68/77 (88.3%) were discharged home voiding normally. CONCLUSION: Vaginal mesh hysteropexy offers good success; however, comparative studies are required to validate its true role.

Retrospective Analysis of Sexual Function After Transvaginal Mesh Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Despite ample research regarding the impact of reconstructive surgery on anatomic/functional outcomes of pelvic organ prolapse (POP), including incidence of dyspareunia, evidence regarding sexual outcomes is equivocal. AIM: To assess changes in sexual function in women followed up for at least 12 months after transvaginal mesh surgery for POP. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of women who underwent surgery for POP using different mesh products between 2008 and 2019. Baseline demographics were compiled along with intraoperative and postoperative information. The Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire short form (PISQ-12) was used to assess sexual function. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Women sexually active before and after surgery were assessed to determine changes in overall and question-specific PISQ-12 responses and potential factors to explain sexual function after surgery. RESULTS: 622 women underwent surgery using mesh at our center. 360 (58%) attended at least one visit at a median of 12 months (IQR 11-23 months), with 113 (31%) sexually active at baseline and 247 (69%) sexually inactive. 97 had complete PISQ-12 responses before and after surgery. There was an overall improvement in the median PISQ-12 scores of 2 points (P < .001); improvements persisted when scores were stratified by various factors. Specific improvements were noted in climax (P = .046) and orgasm intensity (P = .002), fear (P < .001) or actual incontinence during intercourse (P = .004), avoidance of intercourse due to prolapse (P < .001), and negative emotions (P < .001). There was a slight positive effect of the baseline PISQ-12 score on the postoperative PISQ-12 score (regression coefficient 0.24, 95% CI: 0.09-0.39), and a stronger negative effect of having a concomitant anal sphincteroplasty (-4.84, 95% CI: -8.42 to -1.25). Preoperative prolapse stage was not associated with postoperative sexual outcomes. There was a weak negative association between the postoperative PISQ-12 and Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory-6 (POPDI-6) scores [rs(95) = -0.27, P = .008] and a moderate negative association between postoperative PISQ-12 and total Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory short form [rs(94) = -0.42, P < .001]. CONCLUSION: Transvaginal mesh surgery appears to positively impact sexual function, and improvements were independent of mesh or baseline prolapse severity. Khandwala S, Cruff J, Williams C. Retrospective Analysis of Sexual Function After Transvaginal Mesh Surgery. Sex Med 2021;9:100281.

Potential effects of postmenopausal labial agglutination on the urinary system.

Labial agglutination (LA) can affect prepubertal or postmenopausal women. LA commonly affects prepubertal girls, but the rate at which LA affects postmenopausal women is unknown, with only a few documented case reports. Symptoms of LA include vulvovaginal pain, dysuria, dyspareunia, and urinary incontinence/urinary symptoms. First-line treatment includes low dose estrogen cream and high dose topical steroid cream. If the creams fail, surgical lysis can be performed. The commonality between these age groups is chronic inflammation and low estrogen. It is important to keep in mind, especially in postmenopausal women, that LA can lead to urinary symptom side effects.

Urethral carcinoma: A compilation of case studies and research findings.

There are three major recognized histological types for primary urethral carcinoma (PUC). These include transitional cell carcinoma (55%), squamous cell carcinoma (21.5%), and adenocarcinoma (16.4%). However, primary urethral carcinoma still only accounts for approximately less than 1% of all bladder cancers. Current management includes surgery alone or surgery with adjunctive radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Current research suggests that in those cases managed with only surgery, the five-year disease-free survival is only 20-30%; as additional treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy is new recommendation, there is no published statistical data to suggest outcomes, only current clinical observation.