剪切波弹性成像评价绝经后盆腔器官脱垂患者肛提肌弹性

目的 观察剪切波弹性成像(SWE)评估无肛提肌损伤的绝经后盆腔器官脱垂(POP)患者肛提肌弹性的价值。方法 将40名定量POP(POP-Q)结果为0~Ⅲ度的绝经后女性分为POP 0组、POP Ⅰ组、POP Ⅱ组及POP Ⅲ组,行盆底超声检查排除肛提肌损伤,应用SWE测量静息状态下双侧肛提肌的杨氏模量,计算双侧平均值;比较组间基本资料及肛提肌杨氏模量差异,采用Pearson相关性分析评价左、右侧肛提肌及其平均杨氏模量与POP-Q分度的关系。结果 组间年龄、身高、体质量及体质量指数差异均无统计学意义(P均＞0.05);POP 0组至POP Ⅲ组左、右侧肛提肌及其平均杨氏模量逐渐增加,两两比较差异均有统计学意义(P均＜0.05)。相关性分析显示,左、右侧肛提肌及其平均杨氏模量均与POP-Q分度呈正相关(r=0.814、0.799、0.809,P均＜0.01)。结论 SWE可用于评估无肛提肌损伤绝经后POP患者静息状态下肛提肌弹性功能。     

Levator ani trigger point injections: An underutilized treatment for chronic pelvic pain

AIMS: We conducted this study to examine the role of trigger point injections in females with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) of at least 6 months duration and specific levator ani trigger points. METHODS: This prospective study included 18 consecutive female patients with CPP and specific palpable levator ani trigger points. Pain was evaluated before and after trigger point injection on a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Patient global satisfaction (PGS) and cure rates (PGC) were also measured by a VAS on a scale of 0-100%. The trigger points were identified manually by intravaginal palpation of the levator ani bilaterally. A mixture of 10 cc of 0.25% bupivacaine, 10 cc of 2% lidocaine and 1 cc (40 mg) of triamcinolone was used for injection of 5 cc per trigger point. A 5.5' Iowa trumpet pudendal needle guide was used for injection. All but one injection were performed in the office setting without sedation. Pelvic floor muscle exercises were taught for use after injection. Success was defined as a decrease in pain as measured by a VAS of 50% or more, as well as PGS and PGC scores of 60% or greater. There was a mean follow up of 3 months after trigger point injection. RESULTS: Thirteen of 18 women improved with the first trigger point injection resulting in a comprehensive success rate of 72%. Six (33%) of 18 women were completely pain free. CONCLUSION: In the management of CPP, a non-surgical office-based therapy such as trigger point injections can be effective in selected patients.     

Morphologic study on levator ani muscle in patients with pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence

The objective of this study was to determine the morphologic changes of the levator ani muscle of patients with pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence. Histological and histochemical analyses of the biopsy specimens of the levator ani muscle obtained from patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI), pelvic organ prolapse (POP), and a control group were performed. The striated muscle-positive biopsy rate was 26.7% in the SUI group, 15.8% in the POP group, whereas it was 100% in the control group. The diameters of types I and II fibers decreased significantly with age and menopausal time in the control group. Splitting or fragmentation of fibers with red granules, which are called ragged-red fibers, were found in the SUI group. The diameters of levator ani muscle fibers in the control group were significantly larger than those in the SUI group (p=0.034<0.05). The degenerative change in histology and decrease in relative number of levator ani muscle might be associated with women suffering from SUI.     

Myogenic changes of the levator ani muscle in premenopausal women: The impact of vaginal delivery and age

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of parity and age on histomorphology of the pelvic floor muscles in female cadavers of reproductive age and to find out whether there is evidence of myogenic or neurogenic muscle injury. In a cross-sectional study 45 premenopausal unfixed and fresh female cadavers were studied. Four groups were defined: nulliparous and parous women under the age of 40 and over 40 years of age. The pelvic floor was biopsied at six standardized locations. For evaluation of the quantitative parameters and fiber type identification, actomyosin ATPase at pH 9.4 was used. For histomorphological evaluation, sections were stained with hematoxylin/eosin, van Gieson, and Gomori trichrome. The circumference of type I fibers is significantly larger in nulliparous women younger than 40 years compared to nulliparae older than 40 years. Comparing these groups, the form factor of type II fibers also increases significantly, presenting a more circular cell form. Compared to nulliparae, vaginal delivery led to a significant difference regarding the presence of centrally located nuclei, fibrosis, and variation in fiber diameter. In nulliparous women, these significant changes were also found with increasing age. In women with a history of vaginal delivery, no further increase in these characteristics could be detected with increasing age. Comparing the three different biopsy sites, all three changes were more pronounced in the ventral part. There was no evidence of grouped fiber atrophy, small angulated fibers, or type grouping in any of the biopsy specimens. Aging and vaginal childbirth lead to histomorphological changes of the pelvic floor muscle that are consistent with changes of myogenic origin. Evidence of neurogenic damage could not be demonstrated. Neurourol. Urodynam. 17:197–205, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Levator function in nulliparous women

 Pelvic floor muscle exercises are one of the main conservative options for the treatment of female urinary incontinence. Despite this widespread use, there is very little information on `normal' pelvic floor function. In a prospective observational study the authors intended to define the spectrum of normality for pelvic floor function in women, assessing 206 nulliparous women recruited early in their first ongoing pregnancy. Levator function was evaluated using translabial ultrasound: cranioventral displacement of the bladder neck was utilized to quantify levator activity. The presence of a reflex contraction of the external perineal muscles and levator on coughing was registered, as was the strongest of at least three contractions. Only 41 of 206 womjen (20%) had ever been taught pelvic floor exercises by a health professional, and this had been exclusively verbal. Teaching had no influence on levator strength. Spontaneous contractions on request were obtained in 172 women (85%). Advice was necessary in 96 women (47%) in order to obtain an optimal contraction. Reflex muscle activation on coughing was documented in 118 women (57%) and was associated with a stronger contraction (P<0.001). Reported use of the levator muscle on intercourse was strongly associated with increased levator activity (P<0.001). Motivational factors mentioned were boyfriends, mothers, other female relatives and, most commonly, articles in popular magazines, e.g. Cosmospolitan and Cleo. Received: 11 March 2002 / Accepted: 2 July 2002 Acknowledgements The author was supported by a RANZCOG Mayne Nickless Research Fellowship for the duration of this study.     

Compliance of the bladder neck supporting structures: importance of activity pattern of levator ani muscle and content of elastic fibers of endopelvic fascia

AIMS: Firm bladder neck support during cough, suggested to be needed for effective abdominal pressure transmission to the urethra, might depend on activity of the levator ani muscle and elasticity of endopelvic fascia. METHODS: The study group of 32 patients with stress urinary incontinence and hypermobile bladder neck, but without genitourinary prolapse, were compared with the control group of 28 continent women with stable bladder neck. The height of the bladder neck (HBN) and compliance of the bladder neck support (C) were assessed, the latter by the quotient of the bladder neck mobility during cough and the change in abdominal pressure. By using wire electrodes, the integrated full-wave rectified electromyographic (EMGave) signal of the levator ani muscle was recorded simultaneously with urethral and bladder pressures. The pressure transmission ratio (PTR), time interval between the onset of muscle activation and bladder pressure increment (DeltaT), and area under the EMGave curve during cough (EMGcough) were calculated. From bioptic samples of endopelvic fascia connecting the vaginal wall and levator ani muscle, elastic fiber content was assessed by point counting method. Mann-Whitney test was used to compare all the variables. Correlations between the parameters were evaluated by using the Spearman correlation coefficient. RESULTS: In the study group, HBN was significantly lower (P < 0.001), C was significantly greater (P < 0.001), and PTR was significantly lower (P < 0.001). In the study group, the muscular activation started later (median, DeltaT(l), -0.147 second; DeltaT(r), -0.150 second), and in the control group, it preceded (DeltaT(l), 0.025 second; P < 0.001; DeltaT(r), 0.050 second; P < 0.001) the bladder pressure increment. EMGcough on the left side was significantly greater in the study group (P < 0.046). Elastic fiber content showed no difference between the groups. The analysis of all patients revealed negative correlations between C and PTR (r = -0.546; P < 0.001) and between C and DeltaT(l) (r = -0.316; P < 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Firm bladder neck support enables effective pressure transmission. Timely activation of the levator ani seems to be an important feature.     

Interrater reliability and physical examination of the pubovisceral portion of the levator ani muscle, validity comparisons using MR imaging

AIMS: Defects in the pubovisceral portion of the levator ani muscle are seen with MR imaging. This study aims to determine interrater reliability of physical examination in detecting these defects, and to validate findings from physical examination using comparisons with MR images. METHODS: Two examiners palpated the pubovisceral muscles of 29 women to assess for defects in this muscle. Each examiner was blinded to the others findings. MR scans were acquired on a further 24 women after structured clinical examination by one examiner. These images were read to determine pubovisceral muscle defects, blinded to patient identifiers. Agreement between raters and between MR imaging and clinical examination were calculated. RESULTS: The two examiners had positive agreement (presence of a defect) of 72.7% and negative agreement (absence of a defect) of 83.3%. The positive agreement between physical examination and MR imaging was 27.3% and the negative agreement 86.5%. CONCLUSION: The structured physical examination to detect defects in the pubovisceral portion of the levator ani muscle can be learned as shown by good interrater agreement. However, examination alone underestimates these defects compared with MR imaging.     

Interrater reliability of assessing levator ani muscle defects with magnetic resonance images

The objective of this study is to determine interrater reliability of assessing pubovisceral levator ani muscle defects with magnetic resonance images. Normal pubovisceral muscle was assigned a grade of 0; PVM defects were graded as mild = 1 (less than half missing), moderate = 2 (more than half missing), and severe = 3 (total or near total loss). Among six pairs of examiners, percent agreement and weighted kappa coefficients were calculated to determine agreement between pairs of examiners and among all examiners (i.e., “overall”). For unilateral scoring, exact agreement was found in 83.7%, and differences of one, two, and three grades were found in 14.7, 1.5, and 0.1%, respectively. For bilateral scoring, exact agreement and differences of one, two and three grades were found in 75.4, 15.9, 6.9, and 1.6%, respectively. Thus, exact agreement or a one-point difference was reached in 91.3% of cases. When defect status was categorized as none/normal, minor, and major, the overall weighted kappa coefficient was 0.86 (95% CI 0.83, 0.89). There was variation among examiner pairs with unilateral (p = 0.002) and bilateral (p = 0.02) scoring, but not when defect status was categorized as none/normal, minor, and major (p = 0.59). There was agreement to within one point in 91% of cases when six examiner pairs scored levator ani defects on a seven-point scale. Examiner pairs discriminated injury similarly when defect status was categorized as normal/none, minor, or major.     

超声评估盆腔器官脱垂的进展

超声可清晰显示盆底解剖结构、盆底重建术后网片位置及长度,且诊断重度盆腔器官脱垂与盆腔器官脱垂定量分度标准的一致性较好,可为评价盆底重建术的安全性及有效性提供影像学基础。本文对超声在盆腔器官脱垂诊断及盆底重建术术后疗效评价中的应用进展进行综述。     

Pelvic architectural distortion is associated with pelvic organ prolapse

The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an association between architectural distortion seen on magnetic resonance (MR) scans (lateral “spill” of the vagina and posterior extension of the space of Retzius) and pelvic organ prolapse. Secondary analysis of MR imaging scans from a case-control study of women with prolapse (maximum point ≥+1cm; N = 144) and normal controls (maximum point ≤−1cm; N = 126) was done. Two independent investigators, blinded to prolapse status and previously established levator-defect scores, determined the presence of architectural distortion on axial MR scans. Women were categorized into three groups based on levator defects and architectural distortion. Among the three groups, women with levator defects and architectural distortion have the highest proportion of prolapse (78%; p < 0.001). Among women with levator defects, those with prolapse had an odds ratio of 2.2 for the presence of architectural distortion (95% CI = 1.1–4.6). Pelvic organ prolapse is associated with the presence of visible architectural distortion on MR scans. This work has been presented in abstract form at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons, April 11th–14th 2007, Orlando, FL, USA.