Does obesity affect the vaginal hysterectomy outcomes?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of obesity on the perioperative outcomes in women who underwent vaginal hysterectomy. STUDY DESIGN: In this retrospective cohort study of all women who underwent vaginal hysterectomy for benign disorders at Temple University from January 1997 to December 2002, perioperative indices were compared between 149 obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2)) and 175 non-obese women (BMI < 30 kg/m(2)). RESULTS: The groups were similar with respect to age, parity, uterine weight, race, surgical indication, and previous pelvic surgery. Among medical conditions, hypertension and diabetes were significantly more common in obese women. Conversion to laparotomy occurred at similar rates in both obese (3.3%) and non-obese (5.7%) women. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding the operative time, length of hospital stay, transfusion rate, perioperative hemoglobin change, and perioperative complications (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Obesity does not affect the perioperative outcomes and surgical complications of vaginal hysterectomy.

Vaginal evisceration during pessary fitting and treatment with immediate colpocleisis.

BACKGROUND: Complications from pessaries are rare and occur predominantly as a result of neglect and loss to follow-up. We report a case of vaginal evisceration at the time of pessary insertion, which was repaired with concomitant colpocleisis. CASE: An 82-year-old woman with stage IV pelvic organ prolapse (POP) presented for a routine pessary fitting, which resulted in vaginal evisceration and displacement of the pessary into the abdomen. She was treated successfully with immediate colpocleisis after transvaginal removal of the pessary and repair of the rupture site. CONCLUSION: Pessary insertion can result in vaginal evisceration. Both POP and vaginal rupture can be successfully treated with removal of the pessary, closure of the vaginal defect, and LeFort colpocleisis all in one session.

A comparison of short-term outcomes between laparoscopic supracervical and total hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare perioperative outcome measures of laparoscopic supracervical (LSH) and total hysterectomies (TLH). STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective analysis of 1016 LSHs and TLHs at a tertiary medical center between November 1999 and August 2008 in a multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: Overall, the groups were similar. Most of the perioperative outcome measures did not differ statistically between the groups. However, the risk of serious complications was higher for TLH (5.8% vs 2.5%; odds ratio [OR], 2.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35-5.49). Specifically, urinary tract injury occurred more frequently in TLH (2.2% vs 0.5%; OR, 4.75; 95% CI, 1.21-18.56). Conversion to laparotomy was significantly more common in TLH (5.8% vs 4.1%; OR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.20-4.22). CONCLUSION: In this largest comparison, short-term morbidity of TLH and LSH is overall similar. TLH presents a clinically small, but statistically significant, increased risk of urinary tract injury and conversion to laparotomy.

Lidocaine jelly and plain aqueous gel for urethral straight catheterization and the Q-tip test: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the pain perception between lidocaine and plain aqueous gel during assessment of postvoid residual volume and the Q-tip test. METHODS: : Patients were randomly assigned to either to 2% lidocaine hydrochloride jelly or plain aqueous gel. The allocated gel was first used to lubricate a catheter that was inserted into the bladder to measure the postvoid residual volume. After removal of the catheter, a cotton swab, coated with the same allocated gel, was advanced to the urethrovesical junction until resistance was felt. The angle of the swab with the horizontal plane was measured at rest and with Valsalva maneuver. Relevant baseline characteristics and the Wong-Baker FACES pain scores (where 0 is for no pain and 5 for worst pain) were compared. RESULTS: After randomization, lidocaine and the plain aqueous gel arms consisted of 69 and 68 women, respectively. Baseline characteristics of the groups were similar. Significantly fewer women in the lidocaine group (62.3%) reported any pain than those allocated to plain aqueous gel (80.9%) (odds ratio 0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.18-0.85). The median pain score was significantly lower in the lidocaine group (1, range 0-5) compared with 2 (range 0-4), P<.001). CONCLUSION: When compared with plain aqueous gel, 2% lidocaine jelly significantly reduces pain perception during evaluation of postvoid residual volume and the Q-tip test. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I.

New-onset pelvic organ prolapse after Novasure endometrial ablation.

BACKGROUND: Endometrial ablation with bipolar radiofrequency energy (NovaSure) for dysfunctional uterine bleeding has gained wide acceptance due to its ease and efficacy. CASE: A 45-year-old, gravida three, para two, female developed symptomatic Stage 3 pelvic organ prolapse (POP) 1 month after endometrial ablation using NovaSure. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first published case of new-onset POP briefly after an endometrial ablation. It is not clear whether there is a causal association between the ablation procedure and de novo POP. Should there be any additional cases of de novo POP post endometrial ablation, further investigation would be warranted.

Can we use a catheter to do the q-tip test?

OBJECTIVE: To compare two commonly used modifications to the standard Q-tip test for urethral hypermobility: catheter alone and catheter with Q-tip. METHODS: All women referred for the evaluation of urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse were included in the study. A postvoid residual urine was collected on each patient and the angle of the urethra with the horizontal plane was measured at rest and with Valsalva with the Q-tip, catheter alone, and catheter with Q-tip. The test was considered positive if the angle of excursion was 30 degrees or more. RESULTS: In this group of 100 consecutive women with urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse, the mean change in the angle was significantly different from the standard Q-tip test (51 degrees) when catheter alone (35 degrees, P<.001) or catheter with Q-tip modifications were used (44 degrees, P<.001). This difference was due to a significant reduction in the resting and Valsalva maneuver angles with the catheter alone, and a significant decrease only in the Valsalva maneuver angle with the catheter with Q-tip method (P<.001). The percentage of positive tests for the standard Q-tip test (92%) was significantly different from the catheter only method (63%, P<.001), and from the catheter with Q-tip technique (83%, P=.021). The "best match" values of 10 degrees for the catheter alone, and 15 degrees for the catheter with Q-tip methods produce the best equivalent results at this time. CONCLUSION: The use of a catheter, instead of a Q-tip, in the evaluation of urethral hypermobility resulted in reduced angles of excursion from resting to Valsalva maneuver. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Is severe perineal damage increased in women with prior anal sphincter injury?

OBJECTIVE: There is conflicting data in the literature regarding the risk of obstetric anal sphincter laceration in patients with a prior laceration. This retrospective chart review seeks to examine the risk of recurrence of obstetric anal sphincter lacerations. METHODS: Patients who sustained anal sphincter laceration at delivery during a 13-year time period from January 1991 to December 2003 were identified from the medical records database at Temple University Hospital. All subsequent deliveries in this group of patients were extracted from the database. Chart review was performed on all subsequent deliveries with specific attention to demographic factors such as age, race, parity, etc., maternal weight, fetal weight, presence of maternal diabetes, and labor characteristics such as induction or augmentation of labor, instrumentation at delivery (vacuum or forceps), use of episiotomy, and degree of perineal laceration. RESULTS: There were 23 451 vaginal deliveries at Temple University Hospital between January 1, 1991 and December 31, 2003. Anal sphincter laceration was noted in 778 subjects. Subsequent deliveries among the group of patients with prior sphincter tears numbered 271. Six (2.4%) patients had recurrence of anal sphincter lacerations, and five of them were third degree lacerations. The rate of recurrent lacerations was not significantly different from the rate of initial lacerations (2.4% vs. 3.3%; odds ratio 0.72, 95% confidence interval 0.33-1.59; p = 0.4). Women who sustained recurrent lacerations were older, more obese (mean weight 92 kg vs. 82 kg), had larger babies (3506 g vs. 3227 g), and were more likely to have episiotomies (66.7% vs. 7%) or instrumental deliveries (33.3 vs. 6.5%). CONCLUSION: Prior anal sphincter laceration does not result in an increased rate of recurrence. Operative vaginal delivery particularly with episiotomy is a risk factor for both initial and recurrent laceration.

Gynecologists' attitudes toward hysterectomy: is the sex of the clinician a factor?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of gynecologists' sex on their clinical opinions of hysterectomy. STUDY DESIGN: A survey presenting a case of symptomatic uterine leiomyomas was randomly mailed to the fellows of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, who were asked to choose either hysterectomy or any uterus-sparing modality for the treatment of the presented case. The effects of gynecologists' sex, age, race, type and year of training, practice type, location and region on their clinical opinions were evaluated with univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Among the 500 potential respondents, 245 (49.0%) responses were complete for analysis. One hundred forty-seven (60.0%) were males, and 98 (40.0%) were females. Hysterectomy choice was not significantly influenced by the gynecologist's sex (77.6% vs. 87.1%; OR 0.51; 95% CI 0.26, 1.01). Univariate logistic regression analysis indicated that only younger age and being in an academic practice significantly decreased the hysterectomy choice among the participants. In the multivariate model, both age (OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.27, 2.19) and academic practice type (OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.14, 0.94) remained independently significant. CONCLUSION: When presented with a case involving symptomatic leiomyomas, gynecologists' sex did not significantly affect their opinion for or against hysterectomy. Only age and practice type were independently significant in this decision making.

Vaginal hysterectomy for the enlarged uterus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of uterine weight on the perioperative outcomes of vaginal hysterectomy for benign gynecological conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 312 consecutive women who underwent vaginal hysterectomies for benign gynecological conditions without major pelvic reconstruction at Temple University Hospital between March 1994 and August 1999 were reviewed. 88 women with uterine weights > or =250 g were compared with 224 women with uterine weights <250 g. The risk of perioperative complications, operative time, perioperative hemoglobin change, length of postoperative hospital stay, and readmission were evaluated between the groups. RESULTS: Groups were similar with respect to age, parity, history of previous pelvic surgery and concurrent adnexal removal. Operative time was significantly increased for women with uteri weighing > or =250 g. Women with uterine weight > or =250 g had a higher risk for postoperative febrile morbidity. The risks of all other major complications, perioperative change in hemoglobin concentration, length of stay, and readmission risk were not statistically different between the groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the increased postoperative febrile morbidity and prolonged operative time, women with uteri weighing > or =250 g who underwent vaginal hysterectomy were discharged from the hospital without any increase in other complications when compared to women with a smaller uterus.

Adenomyosis interferes with accurate ultrasonographic detection of uterine leiomyomas.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of pelvic ultrasonography, and the characteristics of women with inaccurate ultrasonographic diagnosis for uterine leiomyomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Preoperative pelvic ultrasonographic and postoperative pathologic findings of all women, who underwent hysterectomies for pelvic pain, menorrhagia and/or leiomyomas between December 1995 and July 2002, were evaluated. Three hundred thirty-three women, who had a transabdominal or transvaginal pelvic ultrasonography within 1 year prior to the hysterectomy, were included in the study. We assessed the accuracy of ultrasonography for uterine leiomyomas in this group, and defined the characteristics of women with inaccurate studies. RESULTS: Despite its high sensitivity (95.9%), ultrasonography had only 42.5% specificity for detecting leiomyomas. Its positive predictive and the negative predictive values were 92.4% and 58.6%, respectively. Adenomyosis was found in the majority of the women with false-positive (70.8%) and false-negative (83.3%) results. In both groups, previous pelvic surgery and high body mass index (BMI) were also common. CONCLUSION: Adenomyosis is the most common final diagnosis in women with inaccurate ultrasound reports for uterine leiomyomas.

Trends in the rate of shoulder dystocia over two decades.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the trend in the rate of shoulder dystocia over twenty-four years and identify the risk factors related to the occurrence of dystocia. METHODS: Data was obtained from Maryland State regarding all vaginal deliveries that occurred during six different time periods at five-year intervals since 1979. Trends in the rate of shoulder dystocia, episiotomy, forceps and vacuum delivery were examined. RESULTS: There were a total of 277 974 vaginal deliveries. The overall rate of shoulder dystocia was 1.29% (n = 3590). Induction of labor (adjusted OR 1.2, 1.1-1.3), presence of diabetes (gestational (OR 1.9, 1.7-2.3) or pre-gestational (OR 3.8, 2.7-5.4)), fetal macrosomia (OR 5.1, 4.1-6.3) use of episiotomy (OR 1.6, 1.5-1.8), forceps (OR 1.3, 1.0-1.8) or vacuum (OR 2.3, 2.0-3.9) at delivery were associated with a higher rate of shoulder dystocia. TREND: There was an increase in the rate of shoulder dystocia from 0.2% in 1979 to 2.11% in 2003. In addition there was a drop in the overall episiotomy rate from 73.67% to 23.94% and increase in the use of vacuum from 0.1% to 8.36%. CONCLUSION: The rate of shoulder dystocia has increased by 10 fold during the study period. The use of episiotomy either at spontaneous delivery or instrumental delivery does not appear to decrease the occurrence of shoulder dystocia.

Is prior uterine surgery a risk factor for adenomyosis?

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to assess whether prior uterine surgery is a risk factor for adenomyosis. METHODS: Medical records of women who had a hysterectomy for benign conditions between January of 1995 and June of 2002 were reviewed. Women with and without adenomyosis were compared with respect to history of prior uterine surgery, such as cesarean delivery, myomectomy, endometrial ablation, dilation and evacuation, and dilation and curettage. RESULTS: Of 873 completed records available, 412 patients (47.1%) had adenomyosis. Mean age and race distribution were similar between the 2 groups. The group with adenomyosis had significantly higher gravidity (P < .001) and parity (P = .004), but smaller uterine size (P < .001) and uterine weight (P < .001). Univariable analysis for each aforementioned specific surgical procedure did not indicate a significant difference between women with and without adenomyosis. However, history of any prior uterine surgery increased the risk of adenomyosis (48.8% and 41.0%, odds ratio 1.37, 95% confidence interval 1.05-1.79) on univariable analysis. This association remained significant when all of the factors were combined in a multivariable logistic regression model. CONCLUSION: In this study, we found a significantly increased risk of adenomyosis with prior uterine surgery. The absence of significant association with any specific surgical procedure is possibly the result of a smaller number of subjects in each individual group. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-3.

Narrow pubic arch and increased risk of failure for vaginal hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk factors involved in failed vaginal hysterectomies. METHODS: Data on all vaginal hysterectomies performed by a single gynecologic surgeon were collected prospectively. Patients requiring pelvic floor repair were excluded. Any procedure converted to the abdominal approach was classified as a failed vaginal hysterectomy and comprised the study group. For every woman who had a failed vaginal hysterectomy, the next 2 women who had successful vaginal hysterectomies immediately after the failed vaginal hysterectomy were taken as controls. Risk factors such as age, parity, body weight, surgical indication, uterine size, presence of leiomyomata in the anterior lower uterine segment, previous pelvic surgeries, abdominopelvic adhesions, location and length of cervix, narrow pubic arch, intraoperative complications such as bleeding requiring transfusion, visceral injury, nulliparity, and adnexal removal were compared between groups. RESULTS: We compared 25 failed vaginal hysterectomies with 50 controls whose procedures were completed successfully through the vagina. Among all the factors gynecologists can assess preoperatively, only the presence of a narrow pubic arch increased the risk of failure for vaginal hysterectomy (odds ratio [OR] 4.1; 95% confidence interval 1.32-12.69). Intraoperative bleeding with transfusion was also found as an independent cause for conversion to laparotomy (OR 7.37; 95% confidence interval 1.75-31.06). CONCLUSION: Women with a narrow pubic arch are not good candidates for vaginal hysterectomy. The most common unpredictable cause for conversion to laparotomy from the vaginal approach is intraoperative bleeding requiring transfusion. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2

Hysterectomy in obese women: a comparison of abdominal and vaginal routes.

OBJECTIVE: To compare perioperative outcome measures of abdominal and vaginal hysterectomies in obese women. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of all obese women (body mass index more than 30 kg/m(2)) who underwent abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy for benign gynecologic conditions in our institution between 1997 and 2002. Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomies and hysterectomies with concomitant major pelvic or abdominal surgery were excluded. The rate of operative and postoperative complications, length of hospitalization, operative time, and perioperative change of hemoglobin concentration were analyzed for abdominal hysterectomy and vaginal hysterectomy. RESULTS: The study group consisted of 369 obese women, of whom 189 (51.2%) underwent abdominal, and 180 (48.8%), vaginal hysterectomy. Patient characteristics were statistically comparable between the groups except for uterine weight, which was higher in the abdominal group, and parity, which was greater for women who underwent vaginal hysterectomy (P <.05). After controlling for all the significantly different variables, vaginal hysterectomy resulted in lower incidence of postoperative fever (odds ratio [OR] 0.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.12-0.39), ileus (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.06-0.75), urinary tract infection (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.06-0.75), shorter operative time (126.8 +/- 58.7 minutes compared with 109.7 +/- 68.5 minutes) and length of hospital stay (3.5 +/- 1.9 days compared with 1.9 +/- 1.1 days). Seven women (3.7%) who underwent abdominal hysterectomy developed wound infections during their hospital stay compared with none in the vaginal hysterectomy group. CONCLUSION: For obese women, vaginal hysterectomy is superior due to its lower incidence of postoperative fever, ileus, and urinary tract infection and shorter operative time and hospital stay. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2

A case of adenomyosis per se with a uterine weight of 475 g.

BACKGROUND: Adenomyosis alone usually does not cause significant uterine enlargement. CASE: A 49-year-old woman underwent vaginal hysterectomy and pelvic reconstructive surgery for pelvic organ prolapse. Incidentally, she was found to have adenomyosis with a 475-gram uterus without any other uterine histopathologic finding. To our knowledge, this is the largest uterus with adenomyosis alone ever reported. CONCLUSION: Extreme enlargement of the uterus is possible due to adenomyosis alone.

Total colpocleisis for severe pelvic organ prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the complications and efficacy of total colpoclesis for severe pelvic organ prolapse. STUDY DESIGN: In this descriptive study, we analyzed the complications and efficacy of total colpoclesis in 41 consecutive women with pelvic organ prolapse at Temple University Hospital between November 1994 and June 2001. RESULTS: The mean followup period was 28.7 months (range, 5-65). Vaginal hysterectomy was performed in 12 patients. All but 10 patients underwent concomitant modified paravaginal cystourethropexy. Modified perineorraphy was standard in every case. There was no recurrence of prolapse and a very low complication rate. The cure rate for urinary incontinence was 53.1% in 32 patients with preoperative urinary incontinence. CONCLUSION: Total colpocleisis combined with site-specific reconstructive surgery is an effective and safe treatment of severe pelvic organ prolapse in high-risk, elderly women.

Transvaginal uterine artery ligation in a woman with uterine leiomyomas. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Uterine artery embolization by interventional radiologic techniques is an effective and widely used modality in the management of uterine leiomyomas. Anatomically, uterine arteries can be approached transvaginally with an appropriate surgical technique. In this report, we describe a novel, minimally invasive vaginal technique that also occluded the uterine arteries successfully. CASE: A 45-year-old woman with symptomatic leiomyomas decided to undergo a vaginal hysterectomy. During the procedure, Doppler ultrasonography demonstrated the cessation of blood flow after dissection and ligation of uterine arteries bilaterally without cutting the uterosacral and cardinal ligaments. CONCLUSION: Transvaginal ligation of the uterine arteries is possible. If validated by further clinical investigation, this minimally invasive gynecologic technique could be useful in selected cases of uterine leiomyomas.

Collagen content of nonsupport tissue in pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVE: Reduction in the collagen content of the pelvic floor tissue of the patients with pelvic organ prolapse and/or stress urinary incontinence has been documented previously. However, this is less clear for nonsupport tissue. We aimed to compare the collagen content of the uterine cervix, a nonsupport tissue, of women who had pelvic organ prolapse with and without stress urinary incontinence against those without these problems. STUDY DESIGN: Cervical collagen content was compared between 14 women who had pelvic organ prolapse with and without stress urinary incontinence and 17 controls without these conditions. Specimens were obtained after surgery for benign gynecologic conditions. RESULTS: Groups were similar with respect to age, parity, body mass index, and tobacco use. Women who had pelvic organ prolapse with and without stress urinary incontinence possessed significantly less collagen compared with the controls (8.10%+/-3.43% vs 12.35%+/-4.72%, P=.0104). Furthermore age, parity, body mass index, or tobacco use had no significant relationship to collagen content. CONCLUSION: Cervical collagen content is significantly decreased in women who have pelvic organ prolapse with and without stress urinary incontinence regardless of age, parity, body mass index, or tobacco use.