The treatment of posterior compartment vaginal defects

Posterior compartment prolapse can be thought of as a relaxation or separation of the tissues of the rectovaginal septum and perineal body. This article reviews the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and surgical management of rectoceles and relaxed vaginal outlet. With proper treatment, a continued active lifestyle and improved quality of life usually can be restored; however, this result requires a thorough understanding of pelvic anatomy and pathophysiology and experience in performing the appropriate surgical procedures.     

Adoption of Robotic Sacrocolpopexy at an Academic Institution

Objectives:

To describe the introduction of robotic sacrocolpopexy (RSC) in a urogynecology fellowship program, including operative times and patient outcomes.

Methods:

Data were retrospectively extracted from all women who underwent RSC between May 1, 2009 and December 31, 2011 by a single urogynecologist with fellow and resident assistance. Patient demographics, operative times, intraoperative complications, length of hospital stay, and postoperative course were analyzed. Cases were grouped chronologically in blocks of 10 for analysis. Trend analysis of operative time was done with linear and negative binomial regression. Fisher''s exact test was used to compare complications among blocks.

Results:

Fifty-two patients (mean age 58.5 ± 8.4 years) underwent RSC. The majority (75%) had stage III prolapse. Forty-one patients (79%) had concomitant procedures, including supracervical hysterectomy (44%), bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (9.6%), midurethral sling (9.6%), and lysis of adhesions (40.4%). There was no trend toward decreased operative time with increased surgical experience (linear regression P = .453, negative binomial regression P = .998). Mean operative time was 301.1 ± 53.1 minutes (range 205–440). Overall complication rate was not associated with number of robotic cases performed (P = .771). Nine cases (17.3%) were converted to laparotomy. Five of these occurred in the first 15 cases. There were 2 bladder injuries (3.8%) and no bowel injuries.

Conclusions:

Although a learning curve was not demonstrated, the adoption of RSC into a urogynecology fellowship program yields similar rates of bladder/bowel injuries, postoperative complications, and operative times when compared with other published studies.     

Posterior compartment prolapse: a urogynecology perspective

Posterior compartment prolapse is often caused by a defect in the rectovaginal septum, also known as Denonvillier's fascia. Patients with symptomatic posterior compartment prolapse can present with bulge symptoms as well as defecatory dysfunction, including constipation, tenesmus, splinting, and fecal incontinence. The diagnosis can successfully be made on clinical examination. Treatment of posterior prolapse includes pessaries and surgery. Both traditional colporrhaphy and site-specific defect repair have excellent success rates. Complications from surgery can include sexual dysfunction, de novo dyspareunia, and defecatory dysfunction. Compared with native tissue repair, biological and synthetic grafting has not improved overall anatomic and subjective outcomes.     

Surgical management of posterior vaginal wall prolapse: an evidence-based literature review

The aim of this review is to summarize the available literature on gynecological management of posterior vaginal wall prolapse. A MEDLINE search and a hand search of conference proceedings of the International Continence Society and International Urogynecological Association was performed. Two randomized trials demonstrated that the transvaginal approach to rectocele is superior to the transanal repair in terms of recurrent prolapse. The traditional posterior colporrhaphy with levator ani plication was largely superceded by fascial repairs with similar anatomic success rates but favorable functional outcome. The midline fascial plication may offer a superior anatomic and functional outcome compared to the discrete site-specific fascial repair. Controlled studies are necessary to evaluate whether a sacrocolpopexy combined with posterior mesh interposition is an effective alternative to the transvaginal repair. There is currently no evidence to recommend the routine use of any graft and complications such as mesh erosion, infection, and rejection have to be considered.     

Robot-assisted Sacrocolpopexy for Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Comparative Studies

Context

Surgery represents the mainstay of treatment for pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Among different surgical procedures, abdominal sacrocolpopexy (SC) is the gold standard for apical or multicompartmental POP. Research has recently focused on the role of robot-assisted sacrocolpopexy (RASC).

Objective

To conduct a systematic review on the outcomes of RASC.

Evidence acquisition

PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases as well as ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for English-language literature on RASC. A total of 509 articles were screened; 50 (10%) were selected, and 27 (5%) were included. Studies were evaluated per the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system and the European Association of Urology guidelines.

Evidence synthesis

Overall, data on 1488 RASCs were collected from 27 studies, published from 2006 to 2013. Objective and subjective cures ranged from 84% to 100% and from 92% to 95%, respectively. Conversion rate to open surgery was <1% (range: 0–5%). Intraoperative, severe postoperative complications, and mesh erosion rates were 3% (range: 0–19%), 2% (range: 0–8%), and 2% (range: 0–8%), respectively. Surgical-related outcomes have improved with increased experience, with an estimated learning curve of about 10–20 procedures. Laparoscopic SC is less costly than RASC, although the latter has lower costs than abdominal SC.

Conclusions

RASC is a safe and feasible procedure for POP; it allows the execution of complex surgical steps via minimally invasive surgery without medium- and long-term anatomic detriments. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Patient summary

We looked at the outcomes of robotic sacrocolpopexy for prolapse. We found that the use of robotic technology is safe and effective for the treatment of prolapse in women.     

Anterior compartment prolapse repair with a hybrid biosynthetic mesh implant technique

The aim of the present study is to assess the safety and feasibility of a new technique for cystocele repair using a hybrid biosynthetic graft fixed by the transobturator approach. This is a retrospective study of 13 women diagnosed with symptomatic anterior compartment prolapse that were in stages II and IV, using Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification score and treated between 2003 and 2006. The surgical procedure was carried out through a vaginal approach, exposing the arcus tendineus and the posterior surface of the obturator foramen from the ischial spine to the inferior pubic ramus bone. The patients were followed-up after 3, 6 and 12 months. The anatomical cure rate was 85% (stage 0), although two patients had a recurrence 8 months after surgery. All patients would repeat the procedure, if necessary. No de novo dyspareunia was observed in these small series. The results suggest that this technique is safe and feasible and is a comprehensive surgical approach for anterior compartment prolapse, without postoperative morbidity.     

Correlation between posterior vaginal wall defects assessed by clinical examination and by defecography

To estimate the accuracy of clinical examination and the indications for defecography in patients with primary posterior wall prolapse. Fifty-nine patients with primary pelvic organ prolapse were evaluated with a questionnaire, clinical examination and defecography. Defecography was used as reference standard. There was no relation between bowel complaints and posterior wall prolapse evaluated by clinical examination (p = 0.33), nor between bowel complaints and rectocele (p = 0.19) or enterocele (p = 0.99) assessed by defecography. The diagnostic accuracy of clinical examination in diagnosing rectocele was 0.42, sensitivity was 1.0 and specificity was 0.23. The diagnostic accuracy of clinical examination in diagnosing enterocele was 0.73, with a sensitivity of 0.07 and a specificity of 0.95. Clinical examination is not accurate to assess anatomic defects of the posterior vaginal wall. Defecography is recommended as a helpful diagnostic tool in the work-up of patients with posterior vaginal wall prolapse if surgical repair is considered.     

Rectocutaneous fistula: a rare complication of the posterior intravaginal sling

The posterior intravaginal sling (IVS) is a device used to correct apical vaginal prolapse; there are limited data on associated complications. We present a case report of a rectocutaneous fistula forming after placement of a posterior IVS in a 59-year-old woman 2 months postoperatively. The sling was resected during sigmoidoscopy with scissors, and the colon laceration was closed. The buttock wound underwent delayed healing 2 weeks later. More data regarding complications associated with use of this device are needed before widespread use.     

A Review of the Current Status of Laparoscopic and Robot-assisted Sacrocolpopexy for Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Context

Abdominal sacrocolpopexy (ASC) represents the superior treatment for apical pelvic organ prolapse (POP) but is associated with increased length of stay, analgesic requirement, and cost compared with transvaginal procedures. Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LSC) and robot-assisted sacrocolpopexy (RSC) may offer shorter postoperative recovery while maintaining equivalent rates of cure.

Objective

This review evaluates the literature on LSC and RSC for clinical outcomes and complications.

Evidence acquisition

A PubMed search of the available literature from 1966 to 2013 on LSC and RSC with a follow-up of at least 12 mo was performed. A total of 256 articles were screened, 69 articles selected, and outcomes from 26 presented. A review, not meta-analysis, was conducted due to the quality of the articles.

Evidence synthesis

LSC has become a mature technique with results from 11 patient series encompassing 1221 patients with a mean follow-up of 26 mo. Mean operative time was 124 min (range: 55–185) with a 3% (range: 0–11%) conversion rate. Objective cure was achieved in 91% of patients, with similar satisfaction rates (92%). Six patient series encompassing 363 patients treated with RSC with a mean follow-up of 28 mo have been reported. Mean operative time was 202 min (range: 161–288) with a 1% (range: 0–4%) conversion rate. Objective cure rate was 94%, with a 95% subjective success rate. Overall, early outcomes and complication rates for both LSC and RSC appeared comparable with open ASC.

Conclusions

LSC and RSC provide excellent short- to medium-term reconstructive outcomes for patients with POP. RSC is more expensive than LSC. Further studies are required to better understand the clinical performance of RSC versus LSC and confirm long-term efficacy.

Patient summary

Laparoscopic and robot-assisted sacrocolpopexy represent attractive minimally invasive alternatives to abdominal sacrocolpopexy. They may offer reduced patient morbidity but are associated with higher costs.     

Physical activity in women planning sacrocolpopexy

This study describes preoperative physical activity in 314 stress-continent women with prolapse planning sacrocolpopexy. Seventy-six percent reported that they engaged in mild, 60% in moderate, and 26% in strenuous exercise (counts are not mutually exclusive). Activity frequencies did not generally differ by prolapse stage. Prolapse substantially interfered with exercise or recreation in 27% of women, household work or yard work in 19%, and work outside the home in 8%. Compared to women with less symptom distress, more women with greater symptom distress reported that prolapse interfered with household/yard work (43 vs 5%, p<0.0001), working outside the home (29 vs 8%, p<0.005), and recreation/exercise (51 vs 10%, p<0.0001). Prolapse stage was not associated with interference with household/yard work (p=0.28) or work outside home (p=0.89). Although prolapse stage is associated with interference with recreation (p=0.02), this association is not consistently positive : stage II, 42%; stage III, 22%; and stage IV, 32%.     

腹腔镜骶骨阴道固定术治疗重度子宫脱垂

目的：探讨腹腔镜骶骨阴道固定术治疗重度子宫脱垂的临床疗效。方法2011年1月～2013年4月对22例POP-Q分期Ⅲ、Ⅳ期的重度子宫或阴道穹隆脱垂患者行腹腔镜下“Y”形聚丙烯网片骶骨阴道固定术,合并阴道前、后壁膨出者分别于膀胱阴道间隙和直肠阴道间隙增加植入网片的长度,合并中度以上压力性尿失禁（ stress urinary incontinence ,SUI）者同期行经闭孔无张力尿道中段吊带术（transobturator tension-free vaginal tape, TVT-O）,采用POP-Q分期法和盆底功能障碍性疾病症状问卷-20（PFDI-20）、盆底疾病生活质量影响问卷短表-7（PFIQ-7）、盆腔器官脱垂/尿失禁性生活质量问卷-12（PISQ-12）分别评价解剖和功能疗效。结果22例均成功完成手术,1例因合并重度SUI同期行TVT-O,术中未发生膀胱、输尿管、直肠他大血管损伤。手术时间（134．3±36．6）min,术中出血量（77．3±37．8）ml,术后2～3 d拔尿管均能自主排尿,无尿潴留。22例术后随访（17．5±8．2）月,无手术失败及术后复发,无网片侵蚀、暴露;POP-Q分期Aa、Ba、C、Ap、Bp各指示点解剖位置中位数由术前1．5、3．0、2．0、-2．3、-1．5 cm分别恢复为术后-3．0、-3．0、-8．0、-3．0、-3．0 cm。 PFIQ-7、PFDI-20评分中位数由术前66．7、66．2分恢复为术后12．0、14．6分,PISQ-12评分由术前（69．4±10.3）分提高到（86．9±10．0）分（t＝12．351,P＝0．000）;UDI-6术前后无改善（Z＝-0．337,P＝0．736）。术后新发SUI 3例,急迫性尿失禁1例。术前6例尿失禁,术后2例症状减轻,4例症状加重,其中1例术后8个月行 TVT-O,3例功能锻炼并观察。患者主观满意度为95．4％（21/22）。结论腹腔镜骶骨阴道固定术是治疗重度子宫或穹隆脱垂的一种安全、有效的方法,但有诱发或加重尿失禁的风险。     

Rectocele in children: a case report

Rectocele is an abnormal protrusion of the anterior wall of the rectum into the vagina. When symptomatic, it will typically cause obstructed defecation. It is almost exclusively found in females with rare reports in males and never been described in the literature in children younger than 18 years of age so far. We are presenting 3 cases of rectocele with obstructed defecation in the pediatric population. These children presented with the complaints of constipation along with refractory straining. They were diagnosed by defecography. Two were treated surgically and one conservatively. Surgical intervention completely cured the problem with uneventful postoperative course. Further multicenter studies with the aid of radiologic studies on children with “hard to treat” constipation should be considered to better define that disorder in the pediatric age group. A more vigilant approach may have implications in the prevention of more severe rectal and uterovaginal prolapse in the future.     

Porcine dermis interposition graft for repair of high grade anterior compartment defects with or without concomitant pelvic organ prolapse procedures

PURPOSE: Recent literature suggests that graft interposition may decrease the incidence of cystocele recurrence. We describe our experience with porcine dermis interposition grafts for the repair of high grade cystoceles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all women who underwent surgical repair of high grade cystocele. Prolapse was graded with the Baden-Walker and Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantitation systems, and all patients were evaluated with multichannel videourodynamics. Concomitant stress urinary incontinence was corrected with a pubovaginal sling and vault prolapse was corrected with iliococcygeus vault suspension. Postoperatively patients were evaluated at 2 weeks, 2 months, 6 months and annually thereafter. RESULTS: A total of 70 patients underwent cystocele repair with a porcine dermis interposition graft. Concomitant procedures included a pubovaginal sling in 65 patients and vaginal vault suspension in 50. Mean followup was 24 months. There were no intraoperative complications. Of the patient 59 (91%) are currently dry. One patient had recurrent vault prolapse without cystocele (C -2), which was successfully repaired with abdominal sacral colpopexy. Six patients (8.6%) experienced recurrent grade II (Ba 0) cystocele but continued to be asymptomatic. Three others (4.3%) had recurrence of grade III (Ba +2) cystocele and elected not to undergo reoperation. Two of 6 de novo rectoceles (grade II, Ap and -1 and Bp 0) were repaired with site specific repairs. Superficial vaginal wound separation in 1 case was successfully treated conservatively. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of high grade cystocele interposition of porcine dermis represents a successful and safe treatment option. Cystocele recurrence is typically low grade and it frequently may not require additional surgery.     

The Current Status of Laparoscopic Sacrocolpopexy: A Review

Context

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common problem in women that causes morbidity and a decreased quality of life. Sacrocolpopexy can treat women with vaginal vault prolapse (VVP), multicompartmental POP, and/or a history of failed prolapse procedures. Abdominal sacrocolpopexy (ASC) is the gold standard for VVP and is superior to vaginal sacrocolpopexy, with fewer recurrent prolapses and less dyspareunia. Vaginal prolapse repairs, however, are often faster and offer patients a shorter recovery time. Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LSC) aims to bridge this gap and to provide the outcomes of ASC with decreased morbidity.

Objective

This review evaluates the recent literature on LSC as a therapy for POP.

Evidence acquisition

A PubMed search of the available English literature on LSC was performed. The reference lists of selected articles were reviewed, and additional on-topic articles were included. Some 50 articles were screened, 22 articles were selected, and the reported outcomes from 11 series are presented in this review.

Evidence synthesis

Laparoscopic experience with POP has advanced tremendously, and LSC results from >1000 patients in 11 series support this. Conversion rates and operative times have decreased with increased experience. Mean operative time was 158 min (range: 96–286 min) with a 2.7% conversion rate (range: 0–11%) and a 1.6% early reoperation rate (range: 0–3.9%). With a mean follow-up of 24.6 mo (range: 11.4–66 mo), there was, on average, a 94.4% satisfaction rate, a 6.2% prolapse reoperation rate, and a 2.7% mesh erosion rate. Several centers have demonstrated that excellent outcomes with LSC are reproducible in terms of operative parameters, durable results, minimal complications, and high levels of patient satisfaction.

Conclusions

LSC upholds the outcomes of the gold standard ASC with minimal morbidity. Longer prospective and randomized trials are needed to confirm these results.     

Overt rectal prolapse following repair of stage IV vaginal vault prolapse

Pelvic organ prolapse is an increasingly common problem as women are living longer. With the growing numbers of surgeries performed to correct this problem, further research is needed to understand the long-term success as well as possible complications of these procedures. One potential complication that needs further study is de novo rectal prolapse after repair of pelvic organ prolapse, specifically after colpocleisis. Defacography may be an important part of the preoperative workup in the patient with pelvic organ prolapse. Currently, there is a controversy as to whether internal, or occult, rectal prolapse on defacography should be repaired at the time of other pelvic reconstructive surgery. We report on a case of overt rectal prolapse after repair of Stage IV vaginal vault prolapse with a colpocleisis, levator ani plication, and a minimally invasive midurethral sling. We discuss the issues surrounding preoperative management of these patients and propose a theory explaining why prolapse in other areas of the pelvis may occur after reconstructive surgery.