Relationship between intra-abdominal pressure and vaginal wall movements during Valsalva in women with and without pelvic organ prolapse: technique development and early observations

Objectives

To develop and test a method for measuring the relationship between the rise in intra-abdominal pressure and sagittal plane movements of the anterior and posterior vaginal walls during Valsalva in a pilot sample of women with and without prolapse.

Methods

Mid-sagittal MRI images were obtained during Valsalva while changes in intra-abdominal pressure were measured via a bladder catheter in 5 women with cystocele, 5 women with rectocele, and 5 controls. The regional compliance of the anterior and posterior vagina wall support systems were estimated from the ratio of displacement (mm) of equidistant points along the anterior and posterior vaginal walls to intra-abdominal pressure rise (mmHg).

Results

The compliance of both anterior and posterior vaginal wall support systems varied along different regions of vaginal wall for all three groups, with the highest compliance found near the vaginal apex and the lowest near the introitus. Women with cystocele had more compliant anterior and posterior vaginal wall support systems than women with rectocele. The movement direction differs between cystocele and rectocele. In cystocele, the anterior vaginal wall moves mostly toward the vaginal orifice in the upper vagina, but in a ventral direction in the lower vagina. In rectocele, the direction of the posterior vaginal wall movement is generally toward the vaginal orifice.

Conclusions

Movement of the vaginal wall and compliance of its support is quantifiable and was found to vary along the length of the vagina. Compliance was greatest in the upper vagina of all groups. Women with cystocele demonstrated the most compliant vaginal wall support.     

The propeller flap concept used in vaginal wall reconstruction

Most posterior vaginal wall defects are due to abdominoperineal resection for colorectal carcinoma involving the posterior vaginal wall or resection of local malignancies. The rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap, the modified Singapore flap and the gracilis myocutaneous flap remain workhorse solutions for this type of vaginal reconstruction. The introduction of the perforator concept has introduced new therapeutic options using the gluteal donor site region. Recently, perforator-based gluteal flaps have been described as a reliable solution for reconstruction of posterior vaginal wall defects, with low donor site morbidity. Here, we present a new technique to optimise results and minimise morbidity to the patient.     

腹腔镜下阴道残端腹壁悬吊术联合阴道前后壁修补术治疗重度子宫脱垂的疗效观察

目的:探讨腹腔镜下阴道残端腹壁悬吊术联合阴道前后壁修补术治疗重度子宫脱垂的临床效果.方法:回顾分析2017年12月至2019年12月63例重度子宫脱垂(Ⅲ度)患者的手术资料,其中30例行阴道前后壁修补术(A组),33例行腹腔镜下阴道残端腹壁悬吊术联合阴道前后壁修补术(B组).对比分析两组手术指标、不同时点阴道残端水平、...     

Perineal and posterior vaginal wall reconstruction with a superior gluteal artery dual perforator‐pedicled propeller flap

Gluteal artery perforator flaps are a good option to reconstruct perineal and posterior vaginal wall defects after abdominoperineal resection. The bulkiness of the folded flap may compromise the results by obliterating the introitus and vaginal cavity. In this report, we present a case of the use of a superior gluteal artery dual perforator‐pedicled propeller flap to reconstruct the posterior vaginal wall and perineum in a 60‐year‐old female who had an abdominoperineal resection of a locally progressive anal squamous cell carcinoma. Two perforators were completely skeletonized through gluteus maximus muscle fibers. The vascularization of the skin flap was based on the first perforator, whereas the aponeurotic flap was vascularized by the second perforator. The vaginal defect was reconstructed with a gluteus maximus aponeurotic flap, and the perineal reconstruction was based on a superior gluteal artery perforator skin flap. No postoperative infection or necrosis occurred. Skin healing was completed in 3 weeks. Vaginal opening was controlled using lubricant and graduated vaginal dilators during 6 weeks. The patient began sexual intercourse 2 months postoperatively. No revision was needed. Perineal and posterior vaginal wall defects may be reconstructed with a gluteal artery perforator flap. The thickness of the flap allows a complete filling of the full perineal cavity. The gluteus maximus aponeurosis may be suitable for the reconstruction of the posterior vaginal wall. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 35:64–67, 2015.     

阴式子宫切除加阴道前后壁修补术治疗子宫脱垂20例临床分析

目的探讨阴式子宫切除联合阴道前后壁修补术治疗子宫脱垂的效果。方法对2011-01-2013-06间20例宫脱垂合并阴道前后壁膨出患者行阴式子宫切除联合阴道前后壁修补术。结果平均手术时间(78±17)min,平均术中失血量(77±23)mL,术后住院时间(8.2±1.0)d。20例患者术后症状全部消失,无并发症发生。结论阴式子宫切除联合阴道前后壁修补术是治疗子宫脱垂的安全、有效手段。     

Inflammatory reaction following bovine pericardium graft augmentation for posterior vaginal wall defect repair

Graft augmentation for repair of recurrent pelvic organ prolapse is commonly used in reconstructive pelvic surgery. The reported complications are mainly late onset. We report a case of early-onset inflammatory reaction following bovine pericardium graft augmentation for posterior vaginal wall defect repair. A 49-year-old presented with a recurrent and symptomatic posterior vaginal wall defect. She underwent an uneventful site-specific repair and bovine graft augmentation. Her early postoperative course was complicated by inflammatory response to the graft presenting as intense pelvic floor spasm and urinary retention. The condition was managed conservatively and resolved subsequently. One year later, the patient continues to be asymptomatic. Transient intense pelvic floor spasm and urinary retention can be the result of inflammatory reaction following graft augmentation with bovine pericardium for posterior vaginal wall defect repair.     

Management of patients with rectocele

The main objective of this article is to review the management of patients with posterior vaginal wall prolapse. The posterior vaginal wall is inconsistent both in terms of correlating patient symptoms to objective findings and correlating correction of anatomic defects to symptom relief. Therefore, the management of patients with pelvic organ prolapse is challenging and emphasizes the need for surgeons to clearly communicate expectations of surgical repair. Despite these limitations, surgical repair of pelvic organ prolapse in properly selected patients can provide symptomatic relief and improvement in their quality of life and functional status. Review of the literature suggests that traditional posterior colporrhaphy without levatorplasty has superior objective outcomes compared with site-specific posterior repair (grade B), there is a higher dyspareunia rate reported when levatorplasty is employed (grade C), the transvaginal approach is superior to the transanal approach (grade A), there is no benefit of mesh overlay or augmentation of a suture repair (grade B), and while modified abdominal sacrocolpopexy results have been reported, data on how these results would compare with traditional transvaginal repair are lacking. Further studies are needed to optimize the care of patients with posterior vaginal wall prolapse.     

Tension-free vaginal mesh repair for recurrence of pelvic organ prolapse after vaginal mesh procedures: a case report

A 61-year-old woman presented with the chief complaint of a vaginal bulge for 2 years. She had undergone two operations for pelvic organ prolapse. The initial procedure was the Manchester procedure and posterior colporrhaphy, and the second was a vaginal repair with mesh for recurrent rectocele 3 years after the initial surgery. She noticed the vaginal bulge shortly after the second surgery. A gynecological examination revealed a stage III rectocele associated with a 2 cm, firm mass at the posterior vaginal wall. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging showed a 2 × 3 cm high-intensity mass located between the vaginal wall and rectum. The recurrent rectocele might have been caused by incomplete support from the mesh, which was not fixed in the vaginal wall, resulting in formation of a mass. The patient underwent complete mesh removal and tension-free vaginal mesh-posterior surgery for the rectocele. The excised mesh had shrunk from a 7 × 5 cm rectangle mesh preoperatively into a firm 2 × 2 × 3 cm mass. No recurrence has been seen for 18 months postoperatively.     

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.     

A case of a large rectovaginal mass presenting as posterior vaginal wall prolapse

A 66-year-old female presented with symptoms suggestive of pelvic organ prolapse, history of fibroid uterus, and rectal pressure. Pelvic examination revealed a large pelvic mass filling the posterior cul-de-sac, occupying the rectovaginal septum, and compressing the rectum. There was a stage II pelvic organ prolapse of the posterior vaginal wall with distal vaginal wall extending to the hymen during valsalva. A CT scan confirmed the large pelvic mass distinct from the uterus measuring 9.4 × 9.8 × 6.2 cm. Colorectal workup revealed adenocarcinoma of colon on screening colonoscopy with biopsies. Patient underwent total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, colon resection, and abdominal resection of the pelvic mass in the rectovaginal septum and inferior to the uterus. The patient did not require any concomitant pelvic reconstruction and the posterior vaginal wall prolapse resolved after resecting the pelvic mass.     

Review of synthetic mesh-related complications in pelvic floor reconstructive surgery

There is significant risk of re-operation after pelvic reconstructive surgery. In an attempt to improve outcome, synthetic materials are increasingly being used to augment pelvic organ prolapse repair despite lack of strong evidence to support their routine use. The use of synthetic mesh to correct apical, anterior and posterior vaginal wall prolapse is not without complications. This review aims to evaluate the long-term complications of synthetic mesh in pelvic reconstructive surgery.     

SIS graft for anterior vaginal wall prolapse repair—a case-controlled study

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect on quality of life and prolapse severity of traditional anterior repair compared to anterior repair with a small intestine submucosa (SIS) graft. This report was designed as a case-control study. The sample of this study consisted of 14 women who underwent traditional anterior repair and 14 women who underwent anterior repair with SIS graft (SG) at a London teaching hospital. All women were assessed preoperatively and at 6 and 24 months postoperatively using a validated prolapse quality of life questionnaire and pelvic organ quantification system (POP-Q). Quality-of-life outcomes included the following: (1) General health perception, (2) Prolapse impact, (3) Role limitations, (4) Physical limitations, (5) Social limitations, (6) Personal relationships, (7) Emotions, (8) Sleep/Energy, and (9) Severity measures. The pelvic organ quantification measurement measured nine specific points relating to the anterior and posterior wall of the vagina, vaginal apex, genital hiatus (GH) and perineal body (PB). At 6-month follow-up, the SG repair group showed significant improvement in all quality-of-life parameters measured. In comparison to traditional repair, it was significantly better in improving role limitations, physical limitations and emotions. Both operations significantly improved prolapse quality-of-life severity measures. SG repair improved all POP-Q measurements significantly, except total vaginal length (TVL), whereas traditional repair improved some measurements (AA, midline point of anterior vaginal wall 3 cm proximal to the external urethral meatus; BA, most distal dependant position of the anterior vaginal wall from the vaginal vault or anterior fornix to AA; C, most distal/dependant edge of cervix or vault; AP, point on midline posterior vaginal wall 3 cm proximal to hymenal ring; BP, most distal/dependant point on the posterior vaginal wall from vault or posterior fornix to AP) but not others (location of posterior fornix (D), TVL, GH and PB). At 2-year follow-up, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of quality-of-life outcomes or prolapse severity measurements. Surgery for vaginal prolapse results in marked improvement in quality of life and prolapse severity. The greater improvement seen initially in the SG anterior group was not seen at 2-year follow-up.     

Rectocele repair: when and how?

Pelvic organ prolapse repair poses a unique challenge to the reconstructive pelvic surgeon. Traditional levator plication has been promoted for the past century and has recently been shown to create unsatisfactory functional results, among them dyspareunia. In an attempt to improve both functional and quality-of-life outcomes, new methods for posterior vaginal wall defect repair have been developed and are now undergoing critical evaluation. We present a review of posterior vaginal wall repair with a focus on new anatomic concepts and site-specific rectocele repair.     

Histological features of the rectovaginal septum in elderly women and a proposal for posterior vaginal defect repair

To get support from morphological findings to develop a novel surgical procedure for posterior vaginal defect repair, we histologically examined the rectum–vagina interface tissues obtained from 20 elderly female cadavers. The rectovaginal septum (RVS) was defined here as an elastic fiber-rich plate (EFRP) along the posterior vaginal wall. It lined the posterior surface of the vein-rich zone of the vaginal wall and extended between the bilateral paracolpiums. The septum was more evident in the lower half of the interface than in the upper half. The RVS was often thin and interrupted. Since the RVS was not so clearly demonstrated in the upper vagina histologically, augmentation using some implant is considered to be necessary for the enterocele and high rectocele. Since the thickness and tightness of the RVS vary with the case in the lower vagina, surgical procedures for low rectocele repair should be individualized, including implant-augmentation.     

阴道后壁环肌紧缩术治疗产后阴道松弛症

目的：探讨一种有效治疗产后阴道松弛症的手术方法。方法：对阴道后壁撕裂松弛的肌肉由内向外采用水平褥式紧缩缝合法,缩小阴道直径;由深至浅,采用纵向紧缩缝合法,缩小阴道口并延长会阴体。结果：将此法用于56例产后阴道松弛症患者,手术全部成功。术后随访6～12个月,患者无不适感,术后效果满意。结论：阴道后壁环肌紧缩术治疗产后阴道松弛症,既达到解剖上的缩窄,同时也达到功能的康复,效果确切。     

腹腔镜下经腹膜外阴道旁修补术治疗阴道前壁脱垂9例报告

目的探讨腹腔镜经腹膜外阴道旁修补术治疗阴道旁缺陷所致的阴道前壁脱垂的可行性及疗效。方法2010年7月～2011年10月行腹腔镜经腹膜外阴道旁修补术治疗阴道旁缺陷所致的阴道前壁脱垂9例（Ⅲ度4例,Ⅱ度1例,Ⅰ度4例;4例合并阴道后壁脱垂Ⅰ度）,腹腔镜下腹膜外暴露双侧盆侧壁盆筋膜腱弓（白线）及坐骨棘,阴道穹隆角缝合于同侧坐骨棘,将阴道侧壁缝合于同侧白线。需行子宫全切及阴道壁修补术的患者同时行相应手术,但行阴道壁修补时不去除阴道壁。结果同时行阴式全子宫切除及阴道前后壁修补术4例,阴式全子宫切除1例,阴道前壁修补1例。手术时间75～310 min,平均177 min。除1例术中出血500 ml外,其余患者出血量中位数60 ml（5～280 ml）。术中均无并发症发生。3例术后出现臀部及下肢痛,除1例下肢痛持续2个月外,其余患者持续5～7 d后缓解。术后住院2～11 d,平均6 d。9例术后随访6～15个月,平均8个月,7例主观治愈及客观治愈。1例术后6个月感觉阴道肿物脱出,妇科检查为子宫脱垂Ⅰ度、阴道前壁脱垂Ⅰ度;1例术后1年感觉阴道肿物脱出,妇科检查为阴道前壁脱垂Ⅰ度。所有患者术后阴道深度均〉7 cm。结论腹腔镜经腹膜外阴道旁修补术治疗阴道旁缺陷所致的阴道前壁脱垂安全、可行,能保留阴道的原有深度,近期疗效好。     

The surgical anatomy of rectocele and anterior rectal wall intussusception

The aim of the study was to analyse the dynamic anatomical supports of the posterior vaginal wall from the perspective of rectocele and rectal intussusception repair. Two groups of patients were studied. Group 1 (n = 24) with genuine stress incontinence but no major vault prolapse had vagino/proctomyograms and transperineal ultrasound examinations. Group 2 with vaginal vault prolapse, clinical rectoceles and obstructive defecation symptoms (n = 19 had single-contrast defecating proctography before and after posterior-sling surgery. The posterior vaginal wall is suspended between perineal body, which underlies half its length, and uterosacral ligaments, which also support the anterior wall of rectum. Muscle forces stretch the vagina and rectum against the perineal body and uterosacral ligaments, creating shape and strength, like a suspension bridge. Postoperative proctogram studies indicated that anterior rectal wall intussusception has the same etiology as rectocele, deficient recto-vaginal ligamentous support. Repair to uterosacral ligaments and perineal body should be considered with large rectoceles, anterior rectal wall intussusception and obstructive defecation disorders.     

Follow-up after polypropylene mesh repair of anterior and posterior compartments in patients with recurrent prolapse

To retrospectively analyze the outcome of surgery in women followed up for 1 year after vaginal repair with the Apogee® (support of posterior vaginal wall) or Perigee® (support of anterior vaginal wall) system. A total of 120 patients with recurrent cystocele and/or rectocele or with combined vaginal vault prolapse were treated by either posterior or anterior mesh interposition depending on the defect. Follow-up after 1 year (±31 days) comprised a vaginal examination with prolapse grading using the POP-Q system, measurement of vaginal length, evaluation of the vaginal mucosa, and exploration for mesh erosions. Postoperatively, 112 (93%) women were free of vaginal prolapse, whereas 8 (7%) had level 2 defects. Erosions occurred significantly more often (p?=?0.042) in patients treated with the Perigee system. Our results suggest that the Apogee® and Perigee® repair systems (monofilament polypropylene mesh) yield excellent short-term results after 1 year.     

The partial gluteus maximus musculocutaneous turnover flap. An alternative concept for simultaneous reconstruction of combined defects of the posterior perineum/sacrum and the posterior vaginal wall.

Three cases with posterior perineo-sacral defects are presented. One is a 57-year-old white female following amputation of her rectum for carcinoma, radiation and chemotherapy with a significant residual sacral/perineal defect and loss of the posterior vaginal wall. The two other patients had radical pelvic exenteration after recurrent rectum carcinoma. A new myocutaneous turnover flap as a modification of the conventional gluteus maximus flap was designed to solve the particular reconstructive problems. The flap is based on branches of the inferior gluteal artery. The posterior cutaneous femoral nerve and the motor branches of the inferior gluteal nerve not leading into the muscle portion of the flap are left intact. The skin island can be used for vaginal reconstruction or can be de-epithelialised to fill perineal cavities. This new flap eventually enabled the successful reconstruction of the posterior vaginal wall and appropriate sacral/perineal soft tissue coverage in the first case. In the other patients the flap was used to achieve closure of the deep through-and-through defect acutely in one case, and after a 3-week interval in the other.     

阴道前后壁修补术联合阴式子宫全切术治疗中重度子宫脱垂的疗效

目的探究阴道前后壁修补术联合阴式子宫全切术治疗中重度子宫脱垂的疗效及其对性功能的影响。 方法选择芜湖市第五人民医院妇产科自2014年8月至2018年8月收治的中重度子宫脱垂患者60例,随机分为观察组与对照组,每组各30例。观察组行阴式全子宫切除术加阴道前后壁修补术治疗,对照组行单纯阴道前后壁修补术治疗,对比2组围手术期临床指标、术后并发症发生率及复发情况,采用盆腔器官脱垂/尿失禁性功能问卷（PISQ-12）对比2组术前、术后随访6个月的性功能变化情况。 结果观察组平均手术时间、肛门排气时间、住院天数明显短于对照组,观察组术中出血量少于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;观察组术后并发症发生率与对照组差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）;观察组的治愈率为90.00%,好转率为10.00%,高于对照组的80.00%、3.33%,观察组无复发者,对照组复发率为16.67%,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）;术后随访6个月后观察组PISQ-12评分为（35.12±3.37）分,低于对照组（38.83±5.62）分,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。 结论阴式全子宫切除术联合阴道前后壁修补术治疗中重度子宫脱垂的临床效果较理想,与单纯阴式子宫切除术相比可显著缩短手术时间较短,减少术中出血,提高手术疗效,降低术后复发率,但在改善术后性功能方面并不具有优势。