Tension-free vaginal tape procedure: an effective minimally invasive operation for the treatment of recurrent stress urinary incontinence?

The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) surgery in women with recurrent stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Fifty-one women with recurrent SUI were treated with TVT and followed prospectively for a minimum of 2 years according to a protocol. Twenty percent of the women had already undergone two previous continence procedures, whereas 80% had undergone only one. The mean follow-up period was 25.3 months. The objective cure rate was 89.6%, and the subjective cure rate 80.4%. No serious complications occurred. The majority of the patients were discharged in the afternoon of the operation day. No significant difference was observed between pre- and postoperative residual urine, maximal urethral closure pressure, and total and maximum voided urine volume values. However, the changes in urinary frequency, minimum voided volume, pad test results, and visual analog scale scores were highly significant. TVT appears to be a safe and suitable treatment for recurrent SUI.     

Surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse in women: laparoscopic or vaginal sacrocolpopexy?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and the efficacy of the laparoscopic and vaginal technique for the surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse, with systematic support of the three compartments and prosthetic reinforcements. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 154 patients presenting a stage 3 or 4 prolapse on one of the three compartments. Laparoscopic procedures were performed with subtotal hysterectomy, double synthetic prosthesis attached to promontory, and douglassectomy. Vaginal procedures were performed with vaginal hysterectomy, anterior colporrhaphy with a hammock using porcine skin collagen implant fixed by transobturator passages, unilateral sacral colpopexy and posterior colporrhaphy. Monitoring was performed at six months and then annually. RESULTS: The laparoscopic technique requires a more important operating time, but a shorter hospitalization. The discovery of three carcinoma reinforces the idea of the interest of uterine radical surgery in these patients. The tolerance of prostheses by laparoscopy is safe. The biological prostheses, introduced vaginally, offer the same advantages. The anatomical results in the medium term (30 months) seem more favorable to laparoscopy than transvaginal approach, as well as functional results but they still need to better evaluated. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The two techniques must coexist, ideally without competing with each other but rather complementarily, as the overall rate of recurrence, requiring additional procedure does not exceed 2%. It is therefore important that surgeons, who support prolapse, have a good comprehensive training of the laparoscopic and vaginal techniques.     

Postpartum stress urinary incontinence,is it related to vaginal delivery?

A postpartum stress urinary incontinence is highly prevalent in Chinese women. Both pregnancy and delivery can damage muscular, fascial, and neural mechanisms of urinary continence. Elective cesarean section (CS) is not completely protective against postpartum stress urinary incontinence.     

Correlation of symptoms with degree of pelvic organ support in a general population of women: what is pelvic organ prolapse?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse and the stage of support as determined by the pelvic organ prolapse quantification system. STUDY DESIGN: Four hundred ninety-seven women who were seen for annual gynecologic examinations were recruited. Subjects underwent a pelvic examination and their degree of pelvic support was described according to the pelvic organ prolapse quantification system. They also completed a seven-question questionnaire regarding common symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse. Trend analysis was accomplished with linear regression. RESULTS: Only 477 subjects correctly responded to the questionnaire. They were aged 18 to 82 years (mean age, 44 years). Forty-seven percent were white, 52% were African American, and 1% were of another racial group. The number of subjects with the various pelvic organ prolapse quantification stages were stage 0 (18 subjects), stage I (214 subjects), stage II (231 subjects), and stage III (14 subjects). No subject had stage IV prolapse. The average number of positive responses per subject for the symptoms was 0.27 for stage 0, 0.55 for stage I, 0.77 for stage II, and 2.1 for stage III. This trend did not attain statistical significance. The correlation of symptoms with the leading edge of the prolapse revealed that the average number of symptoms that were reported per subject increased from <1 to >1 when the leading edge of the prolapse extended beyond the hymenal remnants. This trend was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Women with pelvic organ prolapse with the leading edge of the prolapse beyond the hymenal remnants (some stage II and all stage III) have increased symptoms, which may help define symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse.     

Efficacy of tolterodine in women with detrusor overactivity and anterior vaginal wall prolapse: is it the same?

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of tolterodine in women with overactive bladder (OAB) and concomitant anterior vaginal prolapse. In this prospective study, 235 consecutive women with OAB symptoms and urodynamic diagnosis of detrusor overactivity who either had no prolapse or had pure anterior vaginal prolapse were included: 184 women (group 1) had no prolapse and 51 women (group 2) had anterior prolapse greater than and equal to stage IIa. Tolterodine 4 mg slow release once a day was prescribed. After 12 weeks, women were reassessed using a 3-point scale (no change, improvement and cured). A total of 158 (85.9%) women in group 1 and 31 (60.8%) women in group 2 reported improvement or cure ( P = 0.0002). Women with OAB and significant anterior vaginal prolapse should be informed of a reduced efficacy of antimuscarinics in treating their urinary symptoms.     

Pelvic floor muscle training in the prevention and treatment of urinary incontinence in women - what is the evidence?

Many women suffer from urinary incontinence (UI). During and after pregnancy, women are advised to perform pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) to prevent the development of UI. In established UI, PFMT is prescribed routinely as first-line treatment. Published studies are small, underpowered and of uneven methodological quality. Variations in study populations, intervention types and outcome measures make comparisons difficult. While further studies are needed, the available evidence suggests a lack of long-term efficacy of peripartum PFMT. In established UI, there seems to be a modest immediate response to PFMT. Based on the available evidence, we believe that a critical reappraisal of PFMT is needed, and judgments on the place of PFMT in current clinical practice should be reserved until further evidence, including cost-benefit analyses, has unequivocally demonstrated a clinically relevant efficacy.     

Optimal primary minimally invasive treatment for patients with stress urinary incontinence and symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse: Tension free slings with colporrhaphy,or Prolift with the tension free midurethral sling?

Objective

Comparison of procedures in patients with concomitant stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) was performed. Tension free vaginal tape (TVT) or transobturator tape (TOT) with colporrhaphy was compared with fixed mesh (Prolift™) applied with a tension free suburethral sling.

Study design

A total of 76 women with both SUI and POP were evaluated. TVT or TOT with colporrhaphy was performed in 39 patients and Prolift™ with the midurethral sling in 37 patients. Anatomy, symptoms and quality of life (QOL) were evaluated prior to, and at 1, 6 and 12 months after surgery.

Results

Continence was achieved in both groups equally (p = 0.57). The better anatomic outcome regarding the correction of POP was in the Prolift™ group but with a higher rate of additional procedures and complications. QOL was better in patients with grade III–IV POP corrected with Prolift™ (p = 0.05) and equal in both groups with grade I–II POP during the follow-up. Impairment of sexual life was present in both groups before surgery. After surgery, there was no improvement in sexual life regardless of correction of both anatomy and incontinence.

Conclusion

Both procedures are effective and safe. TVT or TOT performed with colporrhaphy looks a better primary choice for grade II POP and SUI. Results for grade III–IV POP and SUI are better with the Prolift™ with the sling. Sexual life could not be improved effectively with these types of surgery.     

Results of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure for treatment of female stress urinary ıncontinence: a 5-year follow-up study

Objective  We evaluated the long-term cure rates, surgical complications rates after treatment of urodynamically confirrmed primary genuine stress incontinence with tension-free vaginal tape (TVT). Methods  We performed a retrospective review of all patients undergoing the TVT procedure over a 5-year period to report intraoperative complication, postoperative complications and subjective cure rates. Results  TVT was performed on 600 patients under general anesthesia. Among these patients, 563 were followed up for least 5 years; the remaining 47 patients could not be followed up. The mean follow-up interval was 63.1 ± 3.1 (range 60–70) months. The mean age of the women was 51.7 ± 11.6 years and mean body mass index 31.7 ± 3.0 kg/m². Sixty-two percent (347) of women underwent the TVT procedure in conjunction with other vaginal surgery, and 38% (216) underwent TVT alone. The subjective analysis of the effect of surgery on the symptom of GSI was that, overall, 86.7% were completely cured, 6.0% were significantly improved and 7.3% found no change in the severity of her incontinence. No major nerve or vessel injury occurred, but 17 patients (3.0%) incurred bladder injury during the surgery. De novo voiding urgency occurred in 36 patients (6.4%). Thirty patients (5.3%) developed voiding problem, of which 19 patients had short-term voiding problem. Conclusion  The TVT procedure is a relatively safe and effective, minimally invasive surgical technique for the treatment of female urinary stress incontinence.     

The use of prophylactic antibiotics in the tension-free vaginal tape procedure: is it indicated?

The tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) surgical procedure is well established in the treatment of female urinary stress incontinence. The operation is based on a midurethral Prolene tape support. TVT is accepted as an easy-to-learn and safe minimally invasive surgical technique. Postoperative infections have been described following other surgical methods for correcting female urinary stress incontinence. Hence, prophylactic antibiotics are commonly also used in TVT to minimise this surgical complication. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the occurrence of infection in relation to TVT and the need for prophylactic antibiotics. Out of 524 patients undergoing TVT and followed for up to 68 months, only three suffered surgical field infections within the postoperative period. The three infective processes developed with a background of retropubic haematoma formation. The literature is reviewed, and the justification for prophylactic antibiotics in the TVT operation is discussed.     

Induction of labor in twin pregnancies with oral misoprostol versus vaginal dinoprostone – is it effective and safe?

Objective: To compare the effectiveness and safety of oral misoprostol versus vaginal dinoprostone for the induction of labor in twin pregnancies.

Methods: All twin pregnancies ≥?34 weeks 0 days that were induced with either misoprostol or dinoprostone in St. Hedwig Hospital between 2002 and 2013 were included in this retrospective study. Length of induction, mode of delivery, maternal and neonatal outcomes were compared between the two groups.

Results: After identifying 186 twin mothers matching the inclusion criteria, 154 women were induced with misoprostol (group A) and 32 with dinoprostone (group B). There were no differences in demographic data between the groups. Rates of successful vaginal delivery (53.9% versus 56.3%) and length of induction to delivery (30.2?h versus 26.9?h) were also similar. There were slightly higher rates of postpartum hemorrhage in group B (16.6% versus 10.8%), but without reaching statistical significance. Neonatal outcomes regarding umbilical artery pH <7.20 and one minute Apgar also were without significant differences.

Conclusions: Study data indicate that oral misoprostol and vaginal dinoprostone are similarly effective and safe for the induction of labor in twin gestations. Further trials with larger series are needed to confirm these results.     

Does electrical stimulation of the pelvic floor make any change in urodynamic parameters? When to expect a cure and improvement in women with stress urinary incontinence?

OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed at determining the effects of pelvic floor electrical stimulation assessed by the number of leakages per day recorded in a voiding diary over 90 days of treatment and urodynamic parameters. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective study was carried out with 34 patients presenting stress urinary incontinence who were treated and evaluated by voiding diaries and urodynamic tests. The primary outcome measure was the number of leakages during the 90 days of treatment. Urodynamic tests were performed before and after treatment. RESULTS: In our series, average and maximum flow rates and residual urine volume were within normal range in all subjects before and after treatment. Maximum urethral closure pressure and functional profile length on urethral pressure profiles did not change after treatment. In the cystometry, bladder capacities at the first (p < 0.0082) and maximum sensations (p < 0.01) improved significantly after treatment. During the 90 days of treatment, we observed a gradual drop in the number of leakages. This decrease began around day 22. It dropped in half around day 45, tending to zero close to day 90 of treatment (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The number of incontinent leakage dropped to half around the 8th week, and on average, there was a tendency of the patients to be cured after the 12th week of treatment. At urodynamic studies we observed a significant increase in bladder capacity at the first desire to void and in the maximum cystometric capacity.     

Induction of labor in grand multiparous women and previous cesarean section: is it safe?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcome of induced and spontaneous labor in grand multiparous women with one previous lower segment cesarean section, so that the safety of labor induction could be assessed. METHOD: In 56 women labor was induced and their outcomes were compared with those of 177 women with spontaneous labor. All women were multiparous and had had one previous cesarean section. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the incidences of 1- and 5-min Apgar scores, congenital malformation, cesarean section rates and uterine scar dehiscence or uterine rupture. There were 4 cases of intrauterine fetal death in the induction group, but no case of intrapartum or early neonatal death in the 2 groups. In the study group, 80.4% of the women delivered vaginally compared with 84.3% in the control group. CONCLUSION: In this moderate-sized study, we may conclude that when there is no absolute indication for repeating cesarean section, induction of labor may be a safe option in these high-risk women.     

Treatment of genital prolapse in young women: sacrohysteropexy or vaginal route?

Even if genital prolapse does particularly affect the elder woman, we often have to face a surgical demand with conservation of the uterus from a patient less than 50 years. Before making the decision of treating a non life-threatening symptom by a specific surgical technique, it is important to ask who should be operated and when. Then, the route of the surgery has to be chosen considering that the woman wants to preserve her fertility. In the past decade, some surgical acts, like the sacrohysteropexy, were known as having poorer results if the women got pregnant. Thus, if there was a persistent childbearing desire, more interventions allowing pregnancy (like the Manchester's or the Richardson's procedures) were preferred. Nowadays, the sacrohysteropexy is considered as the gold standard technique, but one question is coming out: could we substitute this traditional surgery by a vaginal repair with meshes? Despite the big diversity of the so-called "sacrohysteropexy", we think that it remains the first choice technique to cure a young woman. Vaginal meshes have too high a rate of morbidity (especially on sexual activity) to be considered as the best surgical treatment. But this question could probably find another answer in the future, when all the studies about the component of the meshes will be finished.