Defecatory Dysfunction.

Normal defecation is a complex and coordinated physiologic process that involves the rectum, anus, anal sphincter complex, and pelvic floor muscles. Any alteration of this process can be considered defecatory dysfunction, a term that covers a broad range of disorders, including slow-transit constipation, functional constipation, and functional or anatomic outlet obstruction. Evaluation should include history, physical, and consideration of additional testing such as colonoscopy, colonic transit studies, defecography, and/or anorectal manometry. Depending on the etiology, management options can include conservative measures such as dietary or lifestyle modifications, medications, pelvic floor physical therapy, or surgical repair.

Cystoscopic findings: a video tutorial.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Cystoscopy is frequently performed by gynecologists to ensure ureteral patency and to prevent bladder injury when performing concomitant gynecological procedures. Generally, there are no additional findings on cystoscopy; however, when abnormalities arise, they may require either observation or intervention. Our aim was to create a visual library of benign, malignant, and foreign-body pathological conditions incidentally encountered on cystoscopy. METHOD: Cystoscopic findings were videotaped at the time of routine surgical care. Regarding Institutional Review Board approval, individual consent was waived as the videos were de-identified and collected for educational purposes. RESULTS: Benign pathological conditions: squamous metaplasia, duplicated ureteral orifice, ureterocele, Hutch diverticulum, bladder trabeculation, urachal cyst, interstitial cystitis with and without Hunner's lesion, endometriosis in the bladder, port-wine stain due to Klippel-Trénaunay-Weber syndrome, nephrogenic (mesonephric) metaplasia, and cystitis glandularis (intestinal metaplasia). Malignant pathological conditions: papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential (PUNLMP), carcinoma in situ (CIS), high-grade urothelial carcinoma, and urachal cancer. Foreign-body pathological conditions: edema from ureteral stents and stone-encrusted mesh. CONCLUSION: This video is intended to educate the audience on some incidental bladder findings seen on female cystoscopy. Many pathological conditions can be biopsied or treated immediately during the procedure; hence, early urology consultation is encouraged for most abnormalities.

Symptom resolution after operative management of complications from transvaginal mesh.

OBJECTIVE: Complications from transvaginal mesh placed for prolapse often require operative management. The aim of this study is to describe the outcomes of vaginal mesh removal. METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients having surgery by the urogynecology group in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at our institution for a complication of transvaginal mesh placed for prolapse was performed. Demographics, presenting symptoms, surgical procedures, and postoperative symptoms were abstracted. Comparative statistics were performed using the χ or Fisher's exact test with significance at P<.05. RESULTS: Between January 2008 and April 2012, 90 patients had surgery for complications related to vaginal mesh and 84 had follow-up data. The most common presenting signs and symptoms were: mesh exposure, 62% (n=56); pain, 64% (n=58); and dyspareunia, 48% (n=43). During operative management, mesh erosion was encountered unexpectedly in a second area of the vagina in 5% (n=4), in the bladder in 1% (n=1), and in the bowel in 2% (n=2). After vaginal mesh removal, 51% (n=43) had resolution of all presenting symptoms. Mesh exposure was treated successfully in 95% of patients, whereas pain was only successfully treated in 51% of patients. CONCLUSION: Removal of vaginal mesh is helpful in relieving symptoms of presentation. Patients can be reassured that exposed mesh can almost always be successfully managed surgically, but pain and dyspareunia are only resolved completely in half of patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Apical descent in the office and the operating room: the effect of prolapse size.

OBJECTIVES: The support of the uterine cervix with Valsalva or cough assessed in the clinic and the support of the uterine cervix with traction in the operating room often differs. The objectives of this study were to test the null hypothesis that the difference between preoperative and intraoperative values of pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) point C is not related to prolapse size and to determine if other factors exist that predict this difference. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of women who had a vaginal hysterectomy in the Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery division between 2005 and 2011 and had preoperative and intraoperative POP-Q point C recorded. A difference of 5 cm was established by a panel of urogynecologists as clinically significant. Student t tests and χ analyses were used and a logistic regression performed. RESULTS: There were 206 subjects included. The mean difference in point C between the 2 clinical settings was 3.5 cm. A difference of 5 cm or greater was present in 33%. The mean difference in point C was larger for women with lesser stages of prolapse (stage 1, 5.8 cm; stage 2, 3.0 cm; stage 3/4, 1.4 cm; P<0.001). A difference of 5 cm or greater in point C was more often present in women with lesser stages of prolapse: 70.3% of women with stage 1 prolapse, 9.3% of women with stage 2 prolapse, and 8.5% of women with stage 3 prolapse (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We reject our null hypothesis. A difference of 5 cm or greater between POP-Q point C in the clinic and the POP-Q point C in the operating room occurred more frequently in women with lesser stages of prolapse.

Interdisciplinary simulation-based training to improve delivery room communication.

INTRODUCTION: Poor communication among obstetric and pediatric professionals is associated with adverse perinatal events leading to severe disability and neonatal mortality. This study evaluated the effectiveness of an interdisciplinary simulation-based training (SBT) program to improve delivery room communication between obstetric and pediatric teams. METHODS: Obstetric and pediatric teams participated in an SBT annually during 3 academic years, 2008-2011 (Y1-Y3), in a prospective, observational study. Eligible participants (n = 228) included attendings, fellows, house staff, midlevel providers, and nurses involved in delivery room care. Simulations were videotaped and evaluated using a validated 20-item checklist of best communication practices. Checklist scores were compared across years with the Kruskal-Wallis test. Providers were also surveyed annually regarding communication during actual deliveries using a standardized questionnaire. Ratings were analyzed using two-way analysis of covariance. RESULTS: At least 60% of eligible providers participated in 1 or more SBT sessions and completed surveys annually. Checklist scores on communication during SBT improved from Y1 (median, 6; interquartile range, 4) to Y3 (median, 11; interquartile range, 6) (P < 0.001). Survey results showed the perception of improvement over time in interteam communication during actual deliveries by obstetric (P < 0.005) and pediatric (P < 0.0001) providers. The obstetric team also perceived improved provider communication with the family (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Communication during SBT as well as the perception of communication during actual deliveries improved across the study period. The potential of a checklist to standardize delivery room communication and improve patient outcomes merits further investigation.

Expectant management of cystotomy at the time of midurethral sling placement: a retrospective case series.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Cystotomy is one of the most common complications of retropubic midurethral sling placement. Some centers manage cystotomy with prolonged catheter drainage, and there are few published studies evaluating this practice. The purpose of this study is to review postoperative outcomes of patients who experienced cystotomy at the time of sling placement and did not undergo prolonged catheter drainage. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of all patients undergoing midurethral sling placement complicated by a cystotomy at the University of Rochester between 2004 and 2009. Outpatient and inpatient records were reviewed and data collected include demographics, intraoperative details, voiding trial results, postoperative complications, and voiding function. Descriptive statistics were performed. RESULTS: Between 2004 and 2009, 30 subjects experienced a cystotomy of the 374 subjects that had a midurethral sling placed, all by a suprapubic approach. There were 25 patients who underwent a voiding trial on the day of surgery and 20 (80 %) were discharged home without prolonged drainage. Five subjects (20 %) had urinary retention and were discharged with an indwelling catheter. All five successfully voided within 4 days of discharge. No subject required subsequent catheterization for any reason and at the 6-week postoperative evaluation all subjects denied voiding dysfunction or irritative bladder symptoms. No subject required additional intervention and postoperative complications were rare. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the majority of subjects experiencing a cystotomy during midurethral sling placement were successfully discharged home the day of surgery without catheter drainage. The results suggest that prolonged catheter drainage after a cystotomy during midurethral sling placement may be unnecessary.

Vaginal approach to vesicovaginal fistula and vaginal vault prolapse preserving sexual function by Latzko repair and sacrospinous suspension.

The combination of vesicovaginal fistula and complete vaginal vault prolapse is rare. The only published treatment recommendations concern partial colpocleisis, an option that precludes intercourse. In this case report, we describe successful repair of this problem with a Latzko fistula repair and a concomitant Michigan 4-wall sacrospinous ligament suspension: instead of curing the fistula, correcting the prolapse, and preserving sexual function.