EFFECTS OF ISOLATED POSTERIOR VAGINAL WALL PROLAPSE ON LOWER URINARY TRACT SYMPTOMS.

AIM: To investigate the effects of isolated posterior vaginal compartment prolapse to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). MATERIALS-METHODS: Patients who were admitted with any kind of LUTS and diagnosed with posterior compartment defects were retrospectively analyzed at urogynecology units of 2 different tertiary referral centers. Patients were included in the analysis if they had isolated posterior vaginal compartment defects with no clinically significant anterior and apical compartment defects. The control group consisted of patients with no pelvic organ prolapse (POP). All pelvic examinations were performed by the same 2 specialists. The responses to a detailed LUTS questionnaire in the unit were assessed. RESULTS: Of the 340 women with posterior POP, 280 were excluded from the analysis due to combined anterior and/or apical POP with posterior POP and stage 4 POP. When we compared the symptoms between the control group and the remaining 60 patients with isolated posterior POP, there was a statistically significant difference in urge, frequency, nocturia, abnormal emptying, vaginal winding, difficult stool passage (p = 0.031, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.022, p = 0.041, and p = 0.039, respectively). CONCLUSION: Women with posterior POP should be carefully examined not only for anorectal or bulging symptoms but also for LUTS.

Does apical prolapse in addition to early stage anterior prolapse have any effect on lower urinary tract symptoms?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether apical prolapse in addition to early-stage anterior prolapse has any effect on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). METHODS: Patients with early-stage pelvic organ prolapse (POP) were retrospectively analyzed at the urogynecology unit of a tertiary referral center. Cases with posterior POP were excluded, and the remaining women were distributed across four main groups: (1) no determinable anterior and/or apical POP (control); (2) isolated anterior POP; (3) anterior + apical POP; and (4) isolated apical POP. Each LUTS symptom in these groups was recorded. Women with isolated anterior POP and women with anterior + apical POP were then compared to define the additional effects of apical prolapse on LUTS. In order to asses; symptoms of urgency, urinary incontinence, stress urinary incontinence, frequency, abnormal emptying, hesitancy, interrupted stream, nocturia, post-micturition dribble, and dysuria were noted and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7), and domains of Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI-6) were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Of the 225 patients, 66 were excluded from the analysis due to accompanying posterior compartment defect. There was no statistically significant difference for age, systemic disease history, or smoking status between the groups (p > 0.05). However, history of traumatic vaginal delivery was significantly lower in the control group than in the other groups (p = 0.039). The prevalence of hesitancy and interrupted stream were found to be significantly higher in the anterior + apical POP group than in the isolated POP group (p<0.05). Obstructive subscale of the Urinary Distress Inventory was higher both in the isolated anterior POP and anterior + apical POP groups than the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The current study demonstrates that even minimal loss of apical support accompanying anterior prolapse exacerbates LUTS.

An alternative technique in surgical correction of anterior compartment prolapse; Iliococcygeal fixation of the pubocervical fascia by native tissue repair.

AIM: To present 'bilateral iliococcygeal fixation of the pubocervical fascia' as an alternative vaginal surgical technique for anterior compartment repair with native tissue and the surgical outcomes of 30 cases. MATERIALS-METHODS: The consecutive 30 cases who admitted to urogynecology clinic with anterior vaginal prolapse/cystocele and underwent anterior compartment repair by bilateral iliococcgeal fixation of the pubocervical fascia by native tissue were included to the study. All cases attended to the postoperative follow-up visits at the sixth and the twelfth months. RESULTS: There were no major or minor intraoperative complications. Overall, in 28 (93.3 %) patients surgical success was achieved at the postoperative 12th month when it was defined as the maximum descent of the anterior segment was proximal to the hymen. During the study period, none of the patients requested or admitted for re-treatment for anterior compartment prolapse. Subjective cure that was assessed by the absence of bulge symptoms was achieved in 29 cases (96.7 %) at first year follow-up. Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) were found to be significantly lower at the first-year postoperative visit compared to pre-operative evaluation. A clinically significant improvement in the quality of life parameters were also noted (mean PFIQ-7 scores = 8.5, 5.6 and 50.8, respectively). CONCLUSION: Bilateral iliococcygeal fixation of the pubocervical fascia seems to be effective in surgical correction of anterior vaginal prolapse according to our post-operative follow-up results. It is an easy to learn procedure with low complication rates and associated with high patient satisfaction.

A biomechanically based concept for a stronger obstetric anal sphincter repair.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: This study emanates from the ISPP OASIS and fecal incontinence study group at the 2018 annual meeting of the International Society for Pelviperineology (ISPP) in Bucharest, Romania. The aim was to analyze the biomechanical factors leading to the breakdown of anal sphincter repair and to suggest a more robust technique for external anal sphincter (EAS) repair. METHODS: Our starting point was what happens to the EAS wound repair site during defecation following EAS repair, with special reference to the process of wound healing. RESULTS: We concluded that a graft no more than 1 × 1.5 cm sutured across the EAS tear line would mechanically support the tear line, vastly reduce the internal centrifugal forces acting on it during defecation, thereby giving the wound time to heal. Three different grafts were discussed, autologous, biological, and mesh. Also analyzed were the effects on EAS muscle contractility of overly tight repair and overly loose sphincter repair, the latter occasioned by the tearing out of sutures and repair by secondary intention. CONCLUSIONS: We have analyzed causes of sphincter repair failure, introduced a graft method, preferably autologous, for the prevention thereof and supported ultrasound assessment, rather than the absence of fecal incontinence as the criterion for success of EAS repair. Although based on well-established biomechanical principles, our proposal at this stage remains unproven. Our hope is that these concepts will be challenged, clarified, and tested, preferably in a randomized controlled trial.

The importance of uterosacral ligament anatomy in overactive bladder: A preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether uterosacral ligament (USL) thickness measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was associated with overactive bladder (OAB) in otherwise healthy women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised 27 women with OAB and 27 healthy women (control group) who were followed up at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of a tertiary referral center. All subjects were evaluated using pelvic MRI to determine the transverse USL thickness. These measurements were compared between the two groups. p values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The mean age of women in the OAB and control groups were 43.88±9.36 years and 39.92±5.36 years, respectively. The mean body mass index in the OAB group was 29.77±4.82 kg/m2 and 27.49±3.44 kg/m2 in the control group. In the comparison of Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification system stages between the groups, no statistically significant relationship was determined. In the OAB group, the mean right USL thickness was 2.04±0.34 mm, and the mean left USL was 2.04±0.52 mm. In the control group, the mean right USL thickness was 2.17±0.47 mm, and the mean left USL was 2.09±0.51 mm. There were no statistically significant differences in terms of USL thickness between the OAB and control groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: No previous studies have been identified in the literature that have investigated the relationship between USL thicknesses and urinary incontinence. In the present study, no significant relationship could be demonstrated between right and left USL thicknesses of the OAB and control groups. This was a preliminary study, and further research with larger sample sizes is required to reach a final conclusion.

Effects of Surgical Anatomical Correction of Pelvic Anterior Compartment Defect on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of surgical anatomical correction on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients with a pelvic anterior compartment defect (PACD). METHODS: This prospective study was carried out on 30 women who had stage II-IV PACD. The women were questioned regarding LUTS symptoms such as urgency, urge incontinence, frequency, hesitancy, abnormal emptying, nocturia and dysuria pre and postoperatively. After a 7-month follow up, the comparison of LUTS symptoms with respect to their healing, existence or de novo appearance was performed using the McNemar and Bowner and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. RESULTS: For the repair of ACD, 15, 8 and 7 women were operated on using site-specific surgery, transvaginal mesh placement and anterior colporrhaphy, respectively. Surgery has significantly improved the LUTS: urgency (100 vs 26.7%, urge incontinence (70 vs 16.7%), frequency (76.7 vs 13.3%), abnormal emptying (56.7 vs 10%), hesitancy (30 vs 6.7%), nocturia (83.3 vs 60%) and dysuria (30 vs 6.7%). The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The correctional surgery on anterior compartment defects not only maintains the anatomy but also significantly heals the LUTS.

Comparison of the Efficiency of Posterior Intravaginal Sling (PIVS) Procedure in Older and Younger Groups.

INTRODUCTION: Vaginal vault prolapsus is a challenging problem for the patients and physicians. There may be differences between young and elderly patients in terms of efficiency and safety of surgical procedures. AIM: The aim of our study was to compare the efficiency of the Posterior Intravaginal Sling (PIVS) procedure in older versus younger patient groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 patients who underwent the PIVS procedure were chosen. Twenty of these patients were younger than 60 years of age (Group I) while the other 20 patients were 60 years of age or older (Group II). Preoperative Pelvic Organ Prolapsed Quantification (POP-Q) reference points were compared with postoperative data at the first year following surgery. Student's t-test was used to analyse continuous variables and the χ(2) test was used to analyse categorical data. The Mann-Whitney test was used for data that were not normally distributed. RESULTS: Anatomical cure rates were 90 percent in both groups (p=1.00). There were significantly greater improvements in POP-Q points in group I than group II. CONCLUSION: It could be concluded that PIVS as minimally invasive procedure for vaginal vault prolapsed and is effective in all age groups.

Anatomical and functional assessment of anterior colporrhaphy versus polypropylene mesh surgery in cystocele treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the anatomical and functional results of traditional anterior colporrhaphy and polypropylene mesh surgery in cystocele treatment. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study conducted in the Urogynecology Clinic of Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Maternity and Women's Health Teaching and Research Hospital between June 2006 and February 2007. Forty patients with stage II and III cystocele according to the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification system were allocated by a computer programme to conventional or mesh surgery. Twenty patients each underwent anterior colporrhaphy (group I) or polypropylene mesh (Sofradim(®), Parieten) surgery (group II). Both groups were followed for 12 months. RESULTS: At the end of the 12th month, anatomical cure rates were 15/20 (75%) and 19/20 (95%) in groups I and II, respectively, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p<0.05). De novo stress urinary incontinence developed in one patient in group I. Mesh erosion developed postoperatively in three cases (15%). CONCLUSION: In terms of anatomical cure rates, polypropylene mesh surgery was the more successful treatment option when compared with anterior colporrhaphy at the end of 1 year follow-up.

Short-term results of posterior intravaginal slingplasty in grade 4 uterine prolapse.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term efficacy and complication rates of posterior intravaginal slingplasty (IVS) procedures. METHODS: Thirty-four patients who had advanced (grade 4) uterine prolapse were recruited. All patients underwent vaginal hysterectomy and the cuff was suspended with a posterior IVS operation. The mean follow-up duration was 12 months (range 3-20 months). RESULTS: Thirty-three patients (97.1%) had satisfactory level I support defined objectively as stage 0 or I for point C as described in the pelvic organ prolapse quantification system. There were no rectal, vesical, ureteric, or vascular injuries in this series. During the postoperative period no complications, including tape erosion, were seen. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior IVS is a minimally invasive procedure for grade 4 genital prolapse with a high success rate.

Misoprostol for cervical ripening and labor induction in pregnancies with oligohydramnios.

The efficacy and safety of misoprostol for cervical ripening and labor induction in patients with oligohydramnios was investigated. 57 pregnancies with oligohydramnios and 58 cases with a normal amniotic fluid volume (controls) were enrolled in this prospective trial. All patients received 50 microg of intravaginal misoprostol every 5 h. Primary outcomes were: cesarean section rate; induction to delivery time; oxytocin augmentation; uterine hyperstimulation; meconium passage; fetal heart rate (FHR) changes; fetal distress requiring delivery, and Apgar scores. There were no differences in the mean time to delivery, cesarean section rate, oxytocin augmentation or Apgar scores. The mean induction to delivery time in oligohydramnios and control groups were, 11 h 43 min and 11 h 18 min, respectively (p > 0.05). FHR changes were observed in 26.3% of oligohydramnios group and 32.7% of control group (p > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the cesarean section rate and the uterine hyperstimulation between the 2 groups. These data suggest that misoprostol can be used as an effective agent for cervical ripening and labor induction in pregnancies with oligohydramnios without increasing the risk for perinatal outcome, compared to those with normal amniotic fluid volumes.