[Indications for hospitalization of young girls and adolescent girls--clinical work-up in the selected cases]. / Wskazania ginekologiczne do hospitalizacji dziewczynek i mlodych kobiet--postepowanie w wybranych przypadkach klinicznych.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyze the clinical reasons for hospitalization due to gynecological causes of adolescent girls and young women. METHODS: We reviewed clinical data on reasons for hospitalization, treatment methods, and histopathological diagnosis in adolescent girls and young women hospitalized at the Second Department of Gynecology Medical University of Lublin, between January 2003 and December 2012. Methods of conservative or surgical treatment, as well as their clinical effectiveness, have been discussed. RESULTS: Over the analyzed period of time, we identified 334 patients at the age between 8 and 20 years, which accounted for 1.61% of all hospitalized women during that time. Rating these patients by age, we found the following: 1 patient < 9 years old, 2 patients aged 10-11 years, 38 patients aged 12-14 years, 128 patients aged 15-17 years and 165 patients aged 17-19 years old. The main clinical reasons for hospitalization of adolescents and young women due to gynecological causes were: ovarian cysts (138 cases; 41.3%), menstrual disorders (46 cases; 13.7%), pregnancy complications (35 cases; 10.5%), and congenital Müllerian anomalies (33 cases; 9.9%). The remaining patients (24.6%) were admitted due to suspicion of ovarian cyst (22 cases; 6.6%), cervical erosion (15 cases; 4.5%), juvenile metrorrhagia (15 cases; 4.5%), and vulvar diseases (8 cases; 2.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent girls and young women are rarely admitted to gynecological departments. Nevertheless, they present a clinical challenge. Proper diagnosis using advanced visualization methods, along with modern pharmacotherapy accounts for the final therapeutic success.

Does a midurethral sling inserted at the time of pelvic organ prolapse mesh surgery increase the rate of de novo OAB? A prospective longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES: Approximately 20% of women suffer from pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Furthermore, POP and overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms often coexist. Midurethral slings and mesh surgeries are both considered to be risk factors for de novo OAB symptoms. The aim of our study was to determine whether simultaneous midurethral sling insertion at the time of pelvic organ prolapse mesh surgery further increases the risk of de novo OAB. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 234 women who underwent surgery in our department between August 2007 and October 2009 (114 patients underwent surgery because of coexisting POP and SUI, and 120 underwent surgery because POP alone). The patients were evaluated at follow-up visits scheduled after 6-8 weeks and after 12 months. All women underwent surgery using the Gynecare Prolift Pelvic Floor Repair System, whereas in women with additional overt or occult SUI after restoration of the pelvic anatomy monofilament midurethral slings were simultaneously inserted. The chi-squared test was used to compare the study groups. RESULTS: De novo OAB symptoms were significantly more pronounced among women in the Prolift only surgery group (23.3%) compared to the Prolift with IVS04M group (10.5%; p = 0.0093). CONCLUSIONS: Midurethral sling insertion at the time of pelvic organ prolapse surgery significantly decreases the rate of postoperative de novo OAB symptoms. The lack of anatomical success of the mesh-based reconstructive surgery is a risk factor for the development of de novo OAB symptoms.

Self-perceived quality of life after pelvic organ prolapse reconstructive mesh surgery: prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the self-perceived quality of life in women with advanced pelvic organ prolapse before and after mesh surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Women with symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse (stage III-IV according to pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q)) were invited to participate in the study. All enrolled patients underwent prolapse surgery using the transvaginal mesh technique. Success was defined as ICS POP-Q stage 0 and I. The SF36v2 questionnaire was used as a subjective outcome measure. RESULTS: 113 patients were available for follow-up at 6-8 weeks and 16-18 months. Overall anatomic success rates were 87.6%. Statistically significant improvements in the self-perceived quality-of-life were found in 3 individual domains (general health (GH), vitality (V) and mental health (MH)) and in one summary domain (MCS) at 6-8 weeks post-op. In one individual and one summary domain (role - physical (RP) and physical component summary (PCS)) the scores were significantly lower. At the end of the study statistically significant improvement was observed in four out of eight individual domains (vitality (V), menthal health (MH), physical functioning (PF), social functioning (SF)) as well as in both summary scores (PCS and MCS). CONCLUSIONS: Reconstructive mesh surgery improved significantly various self-perceived quality of life dimensions. Therefore, women should expect significant improvement in their general quality of life after this type of operation. The assessment of urogenital well-being should be a routine attitude when counseling menopausal women.

Transvaginal Prolift(®) mesh surgery due to advanced pelvic organ prolapse does not impair female sexual function: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate sexual function among women with advanced pelvic organ prolapse (POP) before and after Prolift(®) vaginal reconstructive mesh surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Assessments were performed preoperatively and 12-18 months after the surgery, including physical examination using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) scale as well as the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. RESULTS: Fifty-nine sexually active patients who underwent vaginal reconstructive surgery due to advanced POP between June 2008 and January 2010 were included in the study. Analysis of the FSFI questionnaire showed no statistically significant differences after surgery, despite proper anatomical results. When comparing the group of women who underwent additional surgical restoration of the perineal body with patients without this procedure we also did not observe any differences in FSFI scores. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of advanced POP with the Prolift(®) system does not negatively influence sexual function, but patients should not expect a significant improvement after this type of operation. Additionally performed surgical restoration of perineal body does not reduce sexual function, either.

[Local estrogen therapy--clinical implications--2012 update]. / Lokalna terapia estrogenowa--implikacje kliniczne--2012 update.

With increasing longevity in Poland, women can now expect to live around 40% of their lives after menopause, and there is a growing desire for older women to preserve their vitality sexual function and quality of life. The most common urogenital symptoms associated with menopause are dryness, followed by irritation or itching, and discharge, with a substantial number of post-menopausal women also being affected by dysuria. These symptoms are the result of vaginal atrophy which is in turn caused by reduced transudation through the vaginal epithelium and reduced cervical gland secretions resulting from post-menopausal estrogen depletion. Vaginal atrophy generally occurs 4-5 years after the last menstrual period and progressively increases in prevalence in the subsequent years. Importantly vaginal atrophy is strongly associated with sexual dysfunction, and lower urinary tract symptoms, such as frequency urgency nocturia and dysuria, as well as incontinence and recurrent infection are reported more frequently in the presence of vaginal atrophy Those symptoms, apart from being bothersome for the patients also negatively impact their quality of life. Consequently before irreversible changes occur, early detection and treatment of vaginal atrophy should be implemented. Estrogen therapy is the most commonly prescribed treatment. Estrogens restore the cytology pH and vascularity of the vagina, resulting in symptom resolution for the majority of treated women. Because vaginal atrophy symptoms tend to occur later than vasomotor symptoms, many women do not necessarily require or wish to take systemic estrogen treatment if their symptoms are restricted to the urogenital tract. Vaginal estrogen products deliver estrogen locally to vaginal tissues with little or no systemic absorption and provide an effective alternative to systemic estrogen therapy for these women. Various vaginal estrogen preparations such as conjugated equine estrogens, estradiol and estriol vaginal creams, a sustained-release intra-vaginal estradiol ring and a low-dose estradiol and estriol tablets are useful therapeutic options in the treatment of this condition. Moreover; a low dose treatment with a minimised systemic absorption rate may be considered in women with a history of breast cancer and associated severe vulvovaginal atrophy. It should be mentioned that vaginal lubricants once applied on a regular basis may also be effective in alleviating the symptoms of vaginal atrophy and should be offered to women wishing to avoid the use of local vaginal estrogen preparations and in cases where local estrogen therapy is contraindicated. Vaginal dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), vaginal testosterone, and tissue selective estrogen complexes are new, emerging therapies; however more clinical studies are necessary to confirm their efficacy and safety in the treatment of postmenopausal vulvovaginal atrophy.

Tape fixation: an important surgical step to improve success rate of anti-incontinence surgery.

PURPOSE: Mid urethral slings are effective surgical treatment for stress urinary incontinence. However, 5% to 20% of patients still experience surgical failure with clinically significant recurrent or persistent stress urinary incontinence. Since a subset of these failures may be caused by improper tape position, we elucidated whether additional paraurethral fixation of a tape to prevent displacement during tensioning could improve the transobturator sling outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was done in 463 patients with stress urinary incontinence who were randomly allocated to treatment with a standard transobturator intravaginal monofilament sling procedure (232) or to an intravaginal transobturator monofilament sling with additional 2-point tape fixation (231). Another 2 absorbable sutures parallel to the urethra were added to fix the tape and prevent displacement during tape tensioning. Outcome was assessed by a cough test and a 1-hour pad test at 12 months. RESULTS: Clinical efficacy of the procedure with fixation was significantly higher with 195 women (95.12%) cured or improved compared to the 199 (88.73%) cured or improved with the standard sling (chi-square 5.71, p = 0.0169). There was no increase in intraoperative or postoperative complications. Also, among patients with intrinsic sphincter deficiency we noted a significantly better outcome in the fixation group than in the control group, that is 39 of 41 patients (95.1%) cured or improved vs 31 of 42 (73.8%) (chi-square 10.65, p = 0.0011). CONCLUSIONS: Tape fixation significantly increases the clinical efficacy of the transobturator sling, especially in patients with intrinsic sphincter deficiency.

Risk factors for adenomyosis in patients with symptomatic uterine leiomyomas.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential risk factors for adenomyosis in patients with symptomatic uterine leiomyomas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The medical charts and histopathology reports of 1499 women who underwent hysterectomy between 2003-2007 were retrospectively reviewed. The study group was composed of 135 patients with coexisting uterine leiomyoma and adenomyosis. The control group comprised 176 patients with uterine leiomyoma without adenomyosis. RESULTS: Among 233 patients with adenomyosis 135 (57.9%) had associated uterine fibroids. Women who delivered twice or more were at increased risk for adenomyosis in relation to nulliparuos women: RR (95% CI) 2.44 (1.04-5.72), p = 0.040. No relationship was found between adenomyosis and cesarean section rate, abortions, menorrhagia or dysmenorrhea. CONCLUSION: Results of our study indicate that multiparity is a risk factor for adenomyosis in women with symptomatic leiomyomas.

[Vesicovaginal fistulas--current therapeutical strategy]. / Przetoki pecherzowo-pochwowe--aktualna strategia postepowania.

OBJECTIVES: Clinical evaluation of Latzko operation in primary and recurrent vesicovaginal fistulas and an update on current therapeutical strategy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Evaluation of clinical efficacy has been performed in a group of 5 patients with confirmed vesicovaginal fistulas and in 1 woman with urethrovaginal fistula. Prior to the operation, four patients had undergone eight fistula operations in our department with unsuccessful outcome. RESULTS: Fistula closure by Latzko operation has been achieved in 5 patients, including one patient who had surgery treatment repeated 3 months after the primary fistula operation. In total, additional Martius flap has been introduced twice. In patient, where fistula has been operated after 45 days since primary TVM and IVSO4 surgery closure therapy failed. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment by vaginal approach offers great therapeutical efficacy in the primary and recurrent vesicovaginal fistulas, even in cases when previous abdominal surgical treatment had failed.

[Risk factors of pelvic organ prolapsed in women qualified to reconstructive surgery--the Polish multicenter study]. / Czynniki ryzyka defektów dna miednicy u kobiet zakwalifikowanych do operacji rekonstrukcyjnych--polskie badanie wieloosrodkowe.

AIM OF STUDY: To evaluate the prevalence rate of various pelvic floor disorders among patients treated in 8 academic centers in Poland due to pelvic organ prolapse (POP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 717 women scheduled for reconstructive surgery due to POP. Risk factors, functional abnormalities along with symptoms affecting quality of life, were assessed by means of disease specific questionnaire. The stage of the disease was assessed after gynecological examination using POP-Q score. RESULTS: The mean age of affected women with POP was 61,25 years (median 61), and mean BMI--27.62 (median--27.29). 80% of women were menopausal. Mean time of symptoms related to disease was 65,6 months; whereas the time relapsed from first doctor diagnosis of POP to hospital admission was 50.6 months. 97.4% affected women were multiparous. Only 1.21% women with POP were nulliparous. Family history of prolapse was found in 13.4% of patients, whereas familial positive history of urinary incontinence was 10%. Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) among the analyzed group were as follows: frequency--almost 50%, urgency 32.2%, feeling of improper voiding -29,6% and voiding difficulty -17.7%. Functional disorders of lower bowel were found in 43% of patients and the most prevalent symptom was constipation (31%), followed by empting difficulty (12%), dyschesia (9%), and urge stool empting (7.7%). Cardiovascular diseases were found among 43% of respondents, whereas pulmonary diseases with chronic coughing were present in 20% of the analyzed population. Subjective POP symptoms reported by women were as follows: feeling of heaviness in lower abdomen--378%, perineal pain--27.8%, lumbosacral pain-34.2%, and abdominal pain--28.4%. Female sexual disorders were reported by 9,8% women and dyspareunia was found in 7.6% of responders. POP was the main reason for sexual abstinence only in 1 out of 10 patients. More than 30% of patients from the study group underwent previously pelvic surgery due to various reasons. POP related quality of life measured by VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) was 61.4 points (median--60). The most common finding during gynecological examination was cystocele--96.5%, followed by rectoenterocele--92.7%, and central defect--79%. Mean POP quantification was stage III in POP-Q scale. LUTS symptoms (urinary incontinence, urgency and voiding difficulties) were present among 81% of patients whereas lower gastrointestinal disorders (constipation, fecal incontinence, dyschesia) were found in 43% of women affected by POP. CONCLUSIONS: Mean delay time from objective POP diagnosis until decision concerning surgical treatment was more than 5 years. The most common risk factors associated with POP were: multiparity with vaginal deliveries, obesity and aging. The most common defect found among patients with POP was cystocele, followed by rectoenterocele and central defect however most patients presented with advanced combined defects.

Clinical effectiveness of Strassman operation in the treatment of bicornuate uterus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of conventional metroplasty on the reproductive outcome of symmetric uterine anomalies and to determine the complications of this procedure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective clinical analysis of 13 consecutive women who underwent classical abdominal metroplasty according to Strassman technique in II Dept Obstet & Gynecol in Lublin from April 2001 till January 2008. RESULTS: The fetal survival rate increased from 0% before surgery to 80% after the operation. No intraoperative and postoperative complications were observed as well as no uterine rupture and other intrapartum complications were noticed. CONCLUSIONS: Conventional transabdominal metroplasty seems to be a safe and efficient procedure in women with symmetric uterine anomalies--class IV AFS. Even in the era of operative hysteroscopy, transabdominal metroplasty remains the only approach in cases of bicornuate uterus.

[Anatomical and functional effect of laparoscopic Vecchietti operation]. / Efekt anatomiczny i czynnosciowy laparoskopowej operacji sposobem Vecchiettiego.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate surgical: anatomical and functional effect of the laparoscopic Vecchietti procedure to treat women with vaginal agenesis. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 10 patients operated in the II-nd Department of Gynecology Medical University of Lublin, Poland. The length of vagina and macroscopic evaluation of it structure was assessed in each case. Sexually active women for more than 6 months answered the BISF-W questionnaire (Brief Index of Sexual Functioning for Women). The results were analyzed comparing health age-matched controls. RESULTS: The mean age of operated women was 22.8-4.5 year whereas in the control group 22.9 +/- 3.3 year. In two operated patients the small areas of granulation were found in the vagina: in one woman on the side wall of vagina in the other in the apex. The mean length of neo-vagina was 8 +/- 2.1 cm, whereas in the control group 10 +/- 1.0 cm. The difference was statistically significant (U Mann-Whitney test, p = 0.013). BISF-W scores were comparable in both groups. CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic Vecchietti operation allows to create shorter vagina in comparison to health women but the sexual life of this patients is as satisfying as the normal controls.

Total Prolift System surgery for treatment posthysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse--do we treat both anatomy and function?

OBJECTIVES: To assess clinical efficacy of Total Prolift System surgery kit in the treatment of post hysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Study group consisted of 27 women (mean age 60.3 +/- 10.3 years) who between February 2006 and September 2007 underwent vaginal cuff prolapse surgery with Total Prolift System. Nineteen patients had vaginal cuff prolapse POP-Q stage IV and 8 patients--POP-Q stage III with subjective feeling of prolapse. Seventeen patients were sexually active and among them twelve suffered from dyspareunia. Three patients had stress urinary incontinence and four OAB symptoms. Bladder emptying difficulty were present in seven and chronic constipation in four patients. RESULTS: Twenty one patients (77.8%) were available for follow up visits after 12 months. Only 3 out of 21 patients had recurrence of cystocoele but to a much less extent that (POP-Q stage II). This gives an efficacy of 85.7% in terms of anatomical restoration. SUI de novo occurred in two patients and OAB symptoms intensified in three women (in one case symptoms markedly decreased). Out of twenty one patients available on follow up visits thirteen (61.9%) were sexually active. Four women complained about dyspareunia, whereas women who complained for sexual dysfunction before operation were cured. Three patients were not completely satisfied with the effect of surgery due to occasional but severe pelvic pain causing difficulty with walking and moving. CONCLUSIONS: Gynecare Total Prolift System surgical kit enables simple and highly effective treatment of the vaginal vault prolapse, however there are some discrepancies between anatomical and functional results.