Randomized Trial on Expectations and Pain Control Advancement in Surgery: The REPAIR Study.

IMPORTANCE: Following standardized preoperative education and adoption of shared decision making positively affects postoperative narcotic practices. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of patient-centered preoperative education and shared decision making on the quantities of postoperative narcotics prescribed and consumed after urogynecologic surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Women undergoing urogynecologic surgery were randomized to "standard" (standard preoperative education, standard narcotic quantities at discharge) or "patient-centered" (patient-informed preoperative education, choice of narcotic quantities at discharge) groups. At discharge, the "standard" group received 30 (major surgery) or 12 (minor surgery) pills of 5-mg oxycodone. The "patient-centered" group chose 0 to 30 (major surgery) or 0 to 12 (minor surgery) pills. Outcomes included postoperative narcotics consumed and unused. Other outcomes included patient satisfaction/preparedness, return to activity, and pain interference. An intention-to-treat analysis was performed. RESULTS: The study enrolled 174 women; 154 were randomized and completed the major outcomes of interest (78 in the standard group, 76 in the patient-centered group). Narcotic consumption did not differ between groups (standard group: median of 3.5 pills, interquartile range [IQR] of [0, 8.25]; patient centered: median of 2, IQR of [0, 9.75]; P = 0.627). The patient-centered group had fewer narcotics prescribed ( P < 0.001) and unused ( P < 0.001), and chose a median of 20 pills (IQR [10, 30]) after a major surgical procedure and 12 pills (IQR [6, 12]) after a minor surgical procedure, with fewer unused narcotics (median difference, 9 pills; 95% confidence interval, 5-13; P < 0.001). There were no differences between groups' return to function, pain interference, and preparedness or satisfaction ( P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patient-centered education did not decrease narcotic consumption. Shared decision making did decrease prescribed and unused narcotics. Shared decision making in narcotic prescribing is feasible and may improve postoperative prescribing practices.

Compliance With Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Patients Diagnosed With High-Tone Pelvic Floor Disorders.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to describe patient compliance with pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT) for high-tone pelvic floor disorders (HTPFD) and to compare patients who are compliant with prescribed therapy to those who are not. The secondary objective is to describe second-line treatments offered for HTPFD for returning patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of women with a HTPFD who were prescribed PFPT at a tertiary care referral center. Patients were excluded if they had a primary diagnosis of urinary incontinence, had undergone prior PFPT, or if PFPT was part of preoperative planning. Noncompliance with PFPT was defined as not being formally discharged from therapy by the treating therapist. RESULTS: Data on PFPT compliance were available for 662 patients (87.3%). A total of 128 patients (19.4%) were fully compliant. Noncompliant patients were more likely to smoke and to have mental health disease compared with compliant patients (18% vs 8.7%, P = 0.01, and 50.4% vs 37.5%, P = 0.009, respectively). A total of 285 patients (43.1%) returned to their prescribing provider. Noncompliant patients were less likely to return to their provider: 63.4% versus 29.7%, P = <0.0001. Of the patients who returned, 183 (64.2%) were offered second-line treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Only 1 in 5 patients referred to PFPT for management of a high-tone pelvic floor disorder is compliant with the recommended therapy. Patients who are noncompliant are less likely to return to their prescribing provider, and less than half of referred patients return. Sixty percent of patients who return are offered second-line treatment.

Perineorrhaphy Outcomes Related to Body Imagery: A Randomized Trial of Body Image Perception.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine if a perineorrhaphy at the time of apical pelvic organ prolapse surgery positively affects women's body image. METHODS: This is a randomized controlled trial of women undergoing apical suspension procedures in which women (GH ≥2 cm to ≤6 cm) received either perineorrhaphy or no perineorrhaphy. The primary aim compared body image between the groups postoperatively using the Body Image in Pelvic Organ Prolapse (BIPOP) questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included prolapse stage, pain, pelvic floor muscle strength, pelvic floor symptoms, and sexual function. Between- and within-group differences were compared using Fisher exact test for categorical variables and t tests for continuous variables. When continuous variables were not normally distributed, the Welch-Satterthwaite test was used. Within-group analyses were performed via paired t tests for select continuous variables. RESULTS: Forty-six women were enrolled; 45 (97.8%) completed the 6-week assessment and 38 (82.6%) completed the 3-month assessment. There were no differences in baseline characteristics. Although women within groups had an expected improvement in mean Body Image in Pelvic Organ Prolapse and subscale scores between baseline and 3 months (P < 0.05), there were no differences in the mean scores between groups. In addition, there were no differences between groups in any of the secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Performance of apical prolapse surgery improved women's body image, irrespective of performance of a perineorrhaphy. Other important outcomes, including pain, did not differ between women in the 2 groups. These findings demonstrate the need for further trials to investigate the utility of this procedure.

Home Biofeedback Versus Physical Therapy for Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess whether home biofeedback is noninferior to supervised pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT) for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women. METHODS: The study used a randomized controlled noninferiority trial to compare a home biofeedback device with PFPT. Women older than 18 years with SUI and no history of a prior incontinence surgery or PFPT were eligible. Forty-two participants were required to determine noninferiority for the primary outcome, improvement in quality of life as measured by the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form. The noninferiority margin was 4 points. Secondary outcomes included sexual function, overactive bladder symptoms, and patient impression of improvement. RESULTS: From June 2018 to October 2019, 54 women with SUI were recruited (27 biofeedback, 27 PFPT) and 43 (21 biofeedback, 22 PFPT) completed follow-up. The groups had comparable baseline characteristics. For the primary outcome of change in mean International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form scores (where lower scores indicate less incontinence), home biofeedback was found to be noninferior to PFPT with a mean decrease from baseline of -3.95 (95% confidence interval [CI] = -2.21 to -5.70) in the home biofeedback group versus -4.73 (95% CI = -3.21 to -6.25) and -3.95 (95% CI = -2.21 to -5.70) in the PFPT group (P = 0.009). The PFPT group showed more improvement in overactive bladder symptoms, but not in incontinence severity without difference in sexual function. CONCLUSIONS: Home biofeedback was noninferior to PFPT for the primary treatment of SUI in women at 3 months. These results support the use of personal biofeedback devices for the treatment of SUI.Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03443687.

Adverse Childhood Experiences in Women With Overactive Bladder or Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in women with overactive bladder (OAB) or interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) to age-matched controls. METHODS: This case-control study compared numbers and types of ACEs in women with OAB or IC/BPS compared with controls based on the Center for Disease Control's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System ACE Module. Participants completed demographic forms, condition-specific symptom questionnaires, and the ACE Module (11 questions summarizing traumatic exposures occurring before the age of 18 years). Cases and controls were compared using χ2 and t tests, significance level P < 0.05. RESULTS: Three hundred twenty-two women were enrolled from April 2018 to March 2019; OAB = 91 cases and 91 controls, IC/BPS = 70 cases and 70 controls. Overactive bladder group's mean age was 56 ± 13 years, and IC/BPS was 46 ± 13 years. Compared with controls, OAB and IC/BPS cases differed in race/ethnicity and education (P < 0.02), history of substance abuse (P ≤ 0.03), and median numbers of ACEs (OAB 3, controls 1; IC/BPS 4, controls 2, P < 0.01). Cases had increased odds of having 4 or more ACEs, a parameter known to be associated with poor health and longevity, and increased greater than 2-fold in OAB and greater than 7-fold in IC/BPS. Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome cases had notably increased odds of exposure to abuse (physical/emotional/sexual) and witnessed domestic violence (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Overactive bladder and IC/BPS cases reported increased ACE exposures; more than one-third of OAB and more than IC/BPS cases reported 4 or more ACES, a threshold associated with poor health outcomes. Recognition of increased childhood adversity in OAB and IC/BPS has important treatment and health implications.

A lasting impression: telemedicine in urogynecology during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Amidst the worldwide coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, a new medical landscape revolving around telemedicine has arisen. The purpose of this review is to describe and analyze current urogynecologic guidelines for optimizing usage of telemedicine when treating women with pelvic floor disorders. RECENT FINDINGS: Women managed by urogynecologists are on average older, and hence more likely to have comorbidities that make them susceptible to developing coronavirus disease 2019 with severe symptoms. Telemedicine is key in minimizing exposure without sacrificing treatments and quality of life. Recent studies published prior to the pandemic helped set the stage for successful components of virtual care. Nonsurgical options are crucial to beginning a treatment plan while elective surgeries are still restricted in many hospitals. Medication management and innovative technology, such as smart telephone applications, play a prominent role. The comprehensive literature review discussed here describes the degree of evidence supporting each management option, while also noting the limitations of telemedicine. SUMMARY: Telemedicine has opened a new door for the field of urogynecology allowing for continued safe, evidence-based care. The pandemic culture has tipped the balance away from surgery and toward nonsurgical treatments while attempting not to sacrifice outcomes or quality of care.

Peer-Centered Versus Standard Physician-Centered Video Counseling for Midurethral Sling Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: Peer counseling may improve upon provider counseling and enhance patient preparedness for midurethral sling (MUS) surgery. We aimed to compare the impact of peer-centered versus standard preoperative video counseling by assessing patient preparedness for MUS surgery. METHODS: Women undergoing MUS were randomized to view either a peer-centered (PEER) or standard physician preoperative counseling video (PHYS). The PEER video featured a woman who had undergone MUS surgery and included the standard risks and benefits as well as additional information identified in prior work as important to patients. The PHYS video featured a surgeon discussing risks and benefits. Patients viewed either video at their preoperative visit and completed the Patient Preparedness Questionnaire (PPQ), Surgical Decision Satisfaction, Decisional Regret Scale, and the Urogenital Distress Inventory Short Form. Patients then underwent standard in-person surgeon counseling. Sessions were timed and compared with historical timed sessions. Our primary outcome was between-group differences in 6-week postoperative PPQ scores. RESULTS: Patient Preparedness Questionnaire scores did not differ between groups (postoperative PPQ scores: median [interquartile range], 95 [84, 100] vs 92 [80, 100]; P=0.50). The PEER group reported higher decisional regret (15 [0, 28.75] vs 0 [0, 10], P=0.02) and less symptom improvement on Urogenital Distress Inventory Short Form change scores compared with the PHYS group (47.2 [37.2, 62.5] vs 36.1 [16.5, 50], P=0.03); secondary outcomes were not different between groups. In-person counseling times decreased after watching either video compared with the institution's historical standard (8:27 minutes [08:56, 17:14] vs 11:34 minutes [5:22, 13:07]; P < 0.005). CONCLUSION: Patient preparedness did not differ between groups. Decision regret did not differ between groups once adjusted for urinary symptoms.

Comparison of 30-day Complication Rates between Laparoscopic Myomectomy and Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy for the Treatment of Uterine Leiomyoma in Women Older Than Age 40.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether there are differences in complication rates between laparoscopic myomectomy (LM) and total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) for the treatment of uterine leiomyoma in perimenopausal women. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study using 1:2 propensity score matching (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. PATIENTS: Women between the ages of 40 and 60 years undergoing surgical laparoscopic surgery for uterine leiomyoma between the years 2010 and 2016. INTERVENTIONS: Women were stratified to either LM or TLH at a ratio of 1:2 using propensity score matching. Descriptive statistics were reported as means with standard deviations. Pairwise analysis using the Student t test and chi-square test was performed where appropriate. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the presence of a complication. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: After propensity score matching, there were 631 myomectomies and 1262 hysterectomies. The operating time was slightly longer for LM compared with TLH (166.8 ± 90.3 minutes vs 157.9 ± 70.9 minutes, p = .03). The overall complication rate was 6.3%. There were no differences in complications between the LM and TLH groups (5.9% vs 6.6%, p = .54). Urinary tract infections were more common in the TLH group (2.3% vs 0.6%, p = .01). There were no other differences in the rates of specific complications between the 2 groups. On logistic regression, wound class greater than 3 was most strongly associated with a risk of complications (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 8.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28-15.87). Other variables associated with an increased risk of complications were conversion to hysterectomy (aOR = 5.91; 95% CI, 1.7-9.63), total operating time (aOR = 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02-1.07), and length of stay over 1 day (aOR = 3.67; 95% CI, 2.31-5.8). CONCLUSION: LM is not associated with an increased risk of complications compared with TLH in women over the age of 40 years undergoing treatment for uterine leiomyomata.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse Stage and the Relationship to Genital Hiatus and Perineal Body Measurements.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe the relationship between genital hiatus (GH) and perineal body (PB) measurements with increasing pelvic organ prolapse (POP) stage in a large cohort of women referred to Urogynecology clinic for pelvic floor disorders. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of all new patients seen in an academic Urogynecology clinic between January 2007 and September 2011 was performed. Data were extracted from a standardized intake form. All patients underwent a Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POPQ) examination. Descriptive statistics compared the study population. Analysis of variance was used to compare GH and PB measurements by prolapse stage. Fisher least significant differences were used for post hoc comparisons of means between prolapse stages. Pearson correlations were used to evaluate the associations between GH and PB measurements and patient characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 1595 women with POPQ examinations comprised the study population. The mean age was 55.3 ± 14.8 years with a body mass index of 30.3 ± 7.6 kg/m, most women were parous (90%), 40% were Hispanic, and 33% had undergone prior hysterectomy for indications exclusive of POP. Women with any prior prolapse repair were excluded, 6.5% had a prior incontinence procedure. Perineal body measurements were slightly larger for stage 2 POP, but overall did not vary across other prolapse stages (all P > 0.05). In contrast, GH measurements increased through stage 3 POP, GH measurements decreased for stage 4 POP. CONCLUSIONS: Mean PB measurements did not demonstrate large changes over prolapse stage, whereas GH measurements increased through stage 3 POP. Genital hiatus serves as an important marker for underlying pelvic muscle damage.