Defining an at-risk population for obstetric anal sphincter laceration.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to calculate the number of cesarean deliveries needed to prevent 1 case of obstetric anal sphincter laceration associated with operative vaginal delivery in an at-risk cohort. STUDY DESIGN: An institutional, computerized database was used to analyze women with obstructed labor who could have been managed by either operative vaginal or cesarean delivery from September 2006 to March 2008. Women with 1 or more of the following diagnoses comprised the cohort: cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD), arrest of descent, maternal exhaustion, and fetal distress. RESULTS: Fifty (23.9%) out of a total of 209 women managed by operative vaginal delivery experienced an anal sphincter laceration compared to none of 254 women in the cesarean delivery group (P < .0001). The ARR therefore was 23.9% (95% confidence interval, 18.1-29.7) and the NNT was 4.2 (95% confidence interval, 3.4-5.5). CONCLUSION: Five cesarean deliveries are needed to prevent 1 anal sphincter laceration associated with operative vaginal delivery in this cohort.

Rectal mesh erosion after robotic sacrocolpopexy.

We report an unusual case of rectal mesh erosion presenting 16 months after robotic sacrocolpopexy. The patient initially underwent a robotic sacrocolpopexy, lysis of adhesions, midurethral sling, and posterior colporrhaphy for symptomatic grade 2 pelvic organ prolapse and urodynamic stress incontinence. Her postoperative recovery was uneventful. Sixteen months later, an anterior 2 × 2-cm rectal mesh erosion was noted on the colonoscopy performed when she presented with hematochezia.

Pelvic organ prolapse quantification use in the literature.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POPQ) system should be simplified based on its use in the peer-reviewed literature. METHODS: The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and International Urogynecology Journal were used for this study. All articles relating to pelvic organ prolapse published in these journals from January 2005 to December 2010 were reviewed for their use of the POPQ system. The POPQ points described in the Materials and/or Results sections of these articles were recorded. RESULTS: Two hundred eighty-three articles using the POPQ system were identified. One hundred thirty-two (47%) articles used the POPQ system but only to determine the stage of prolapse. Specific points were not mentioned. One hundred two (36%) articles evaluated specific POPQ points (Aa, Ba, Ap, Bp, C, D). Forty-nine (17%) articles evaluated points Gh, Pb, and Tvl. CONCLUSIONS: The POPQ system, based on its use in the peer-reviewed literature, may need revisions. An abbreviated version of the system may be considered, allowing for more widespread use.

Decreased rate of obstetrical anal sphincter laceration is associated with change in obstetric practice.

A study was conducted to describe the rate of obstetrical anal sphincter laceration in a large cohort of women and to identify the characteristics associated with this complication. Data from all vaginal deliveries occurring between January 1996 and December 2004 at one institution were used to compare women with and without anal sphincter lacerations. Among 16,667 vaginal deliveries, 1,703 (10.2%) anal sphincter lacerations occurred. Regression models suggested that episiotomy (OR 1.36; 95% CI 1.16, 1.58), vacuum delivery (OR 3.19; 95% CI 2.69, 3.79), and forceps delivery (OR 2.79; 95% CI 1.94, 4.02) were each associated with the increased risk of anal sphincter laceration. Year of delivery was associated with a decreased risk of anal sphincter laceration (OR 0.94; 95% CI 0.92, 0.96) with the rate of laceration decreasing from 11.2% to 7.9% during the study period. Episiotomy and operative vaginal delivery are significant, modifiable risk factors. Changes in obstetric practice may have contributed to the dramatic reduction in anal sphincter laceration during the study period.