Concomitant pelvic organ prolapse surgery with TVT procedure

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of concomitant pelvic reconstructive surgery with tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure to treat pelvic organ prolapse women with urodynamic stress incontinence (USI) or occult USI. Seventy-five women with pelvic organ prolapse and diagnosed as USI or occult USI were enrolled in this study. All patients with USI or occult USI underwent TVT treatment under general anesthesia, combined with transvaginal total hysterectomy (VTH), anterior–posterior colporrhaphy (APC), and/or right sacrospinous ligament suspension (SSS) reconstructive surgeries. The subjective assessment was evaluated by using a visual analog scale (VAS) score and a urinary symptomatic questionnaire. The objective assessment was carried out with a 1-h pad test, cough stress test, and urodynamic examination. Of the 75 patients, 35 patients with grade III uterine prolapse underwent VTH and APC, 30 patients with grade IV uterine prolapse underwent VTH, SSS, and APC, and the other 10 patients who had previous hysterectomy with total vaginal vault prolapse underwent SSS and APC. The mean follow-up interval was 25 months (12–42 months). The mean hospitalization was 5.9 days and the mean catheterization time was 3.8 days. The subjective success rate for the treatment of urine incontinence was 88%, and the objective complete cure rate was 84%. The rate of postoperative complications with persistent urinary urgency, de novo detrusor overactivity, dysfunctional voiding, and tape erosion were 50, 8, 12, and 1.3%, respectively. There were no bladder perforations during the TVT procedure and no perioperative complications requiring conversion to laparotomy. Pelvic organ prolapse women with USI or occult USI can be treated by reconstructive surgeries combined with a TVT procedure to treat and prevent postoperative USI.     

女性盆底器官脱垂伴尿失禁患者的尿动力学特征

目的 探讨女性盆底器官脱垂伴尿失禁患者膀胱储尿期和排尿期的尿动力学参数变化. 方法对182例女性尿失禁和盆底器官脱垂患者进行尿动力学检查,其中尿失禁140例,尿失禁伴盆底器官脱垂42例.在统一标准下行尿动力学检查测定膀胱灌注量、排尿量、膀胱顺应性、最大尿流率、最大尿流率逼尿肌压、最小尿流率逼尿肌压、尿道阻力因子(URA)、膀胱梗阻指数(OBI)以及归-化逼尿肌收缩力,评价女性尿失禁患者盆底器官脱垂对膀胱储尿功能和排尿功能的影响. 结果 尿失禁组与尿失禁伴盆底器官脱垂组患者尿失禁病程[(58.1±75.4)与(41.9±55.4)个月]、膀胱灌注量[(295.3±95.8)与(276.5±80.8)ml]、膀胱顺应性[(77.7±122.1)与(51.5±61.9)ml/cm H2O]、最大尿流率[(15.8±12.5)与(14.7±13.9)ml/s]、最小尿流率逼尿肌压[(3.2±5.8)与(2.8±5.5)ml/cm H2O]、归-化逼尿肌收缩力[(7.5±12.8)与(8.2±13.8)cm H2O]相比差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);而年龄[(58.7±12.2)与(67.1±8.3)岁]、排尿量[(269.2±145.2)与(248.9±135.1)ml]、最大尿流率逼尿肌压[(20.4±16.2)与(25.7±21.3)cm H2O]、URA[(11.3±9.5与(14.8±12.6)cm H2O]、OBI[(15.6±14.5)与(21.7±20.1)cm H2O]2组相比差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论高龄女性尿失禁患者更可能伴有盆底器官脱垂,而盆底器官脱垂对膀胱储尿功能无影响,但可影响排尿期相关参数,增加膀胱出口阻力和膀胱残余尿量.     

Lifetime risk of surgical management for pelvic organ prolapse or urinary incontinence

The objective of our study was to estimate the age-specific incidence and lifetime risk of surgically managed pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and urinary incontinence (UI). Women aged 20 and older who underwent primary surgical management of POP or UI in 1993 were identified from the database of a health maintenance organization using ICD-9 codes and confirmed through chart abstraction. From a population of 147,719 women, 135 were identified who underwent prolapse surgery only, 82 incontinence only, and 34 surgery for both conditions. From the age-specific incidence, we estimated the lifetime risk of undergoing an operation by age 80 to be 11.8%. Our findings agree with a previous estimate that ∼11% of women will undergo surgery for POP or UI by age 80. POP and UI appear to be common problems, undoubtedly affecting an even larger proportion of the women than suggested by this high cumulative incidence of surgery.     

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.     

A 5-year prospective follow-up study of vaginal surgery for pelvic organ prolapse

The objective of this study was to evaluate anatomic, functional, short- and long-term outcome of vaginal surgery for pelvic organ prolapse. This was a prospective observational study of 185 consecutive women planned for vaginal prolapse reconstructive surgery. Stage of prolapse, urinary incontinence (UI), bowel and mechanical symptoms were assessed preoperatively and at 1, 3 and 5 years postoperatively. The mean follow-up time was 53 months. The anatomic recurrence rate was 41.1% but less than half of them were symptomatic. Anterior compartment was most prone for recurrence and the majority of the recurrences took place within the first year. UI remained at the same level at 1-year follow-up. De novo urge occurred in 22.6% and de novo stress incontinence in 6.0%. An improvement was seen in difficulty in emptying bowel 1 year after surgery (54%). Patients were primarily cured from mechanical symptoms. Re-operation rate was 9.7%; if additional operation for incontinence was included, it was13.5%.     

The impact of pelvic organ prolapse on sexual function in women with urinary incontinence

The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) on sexual function in women with urinary incontinence (UI). In this retrospective, case-cohort study, we reviewed the medical records of all women evaluated for UI between March and November 2003. All patients completed the short forms of the Urogenital Distress Inventory, Incontinence Impact Questionnaire, and Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire. Women with stage two or greater POP, as determined by the pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POPQ) system, were compared to women with stage 0 or 1 POP. Sixty-nine women with POP and 47 women without POP were included. Patient demographics did not differ between the two groups. Women with POP were significantly more likely to report absence of libido (53% versus 30%, P=0.02), lack of sexual excitement during intercourse (46% versus 27%, P=0.05), and that they rarely experienced orgasm during intercourse (49% versus 30%, P=0.05). In conclusion, women with POP in addition to UI are more likely to report decreased libido, decreased sexual excitement, and difficulty achieving orgasm during intercourse when compared to women with UI alone.     

阴道封闭术对老年盆腔器官脱垂患者生活质量改善的效果观察

目的:了解阴道封闭术对老年盆腔器官脱垂(POP)患者相关症状和生活质量的影响.方法:在2005年10月-2010年2月期间,采用盆底困扰量表简表(PFDI-20)及生活质量问卷盆底影响问卷简表(PFIQ-7),对解放军总医院第一附属医院妇产科60例因POP-Q Ⅲ～Ⅳ期重度POP实施阴道封闭手术患者,分别于术前、术后2...     

超声评估盆腔脏器脱垂患者盆底结构的研究进展

目的盆腔器官脱垂(POP)显著影响女性生活质量。本文对比三维超声新技术与其他成像技术,对经二维、三维超声成像技术获取的信息及超声观察POP患者的盆底结构的研究进展进行综述。     

Resolution of elevated postvoid residual volumes after correction of severe pelvic organ prolapse

We hypothesized that elevated postvoid residual volume (PVRV) would resolve postoperatively in women with severe pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and investigated risk factors that might hamper its resolution. Retrospectively, we enrolled 57 patients undergoing surgery for severe POP. All patients had preoperative PVRV >/= 100 ml documented by ultrasound and catheterization. Presurgical voiding difficulty, urodynamic and cystoscopic data, and surgical outcome were analyzed. The incidence of postsurgical elevated PVRV was 15.8% and 3.5% was symptomatic. Patients with postsurgical elevated PVRV had larger preoperative residual volume than those with normal postsurgical PVRV (P = 0.037). By multivariable analysis, concomitant anti-incontinence surgery was the single independent predictor of postsurgical elevated PVRV (odds ratio = 5.38, P = 0.031). A majority of patients with severe POP had their elevated PVRV resolved postoperatively. Although concomitant anti-incontinence surgery increased the risk of developing elevated PVRV after repair, most remained asymptomatic.     

Prevalence of symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse in a Swedish population

Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in a Swedish urban female population. The cross-sectional study design included 8,000 randomly selected female residents in Stockholm, 30–79-year old. A postal questionnaire enquired about symptomatic POP, using a validated set of five questions, and about urinary incontinence and demographic data. Of 5,489 women providing adequate information, 454 (8.3%, 95% confidence interval 7.3–9.1%) were classified as having symptomatic POP. The prevalence rose with increasing age but leveled off after age 60. In a logistic regression model that disentangled the independent effects, parity emerged as a considerably stronger risk factor than age. There was a ten-fold gradient in prevalence odds of POP with parity, the steepest slope (four-fold) being between nulliparous and primiparous women. The prevalence of frequent stress urinary incontinence was 8.9% and that of frequent urge incontinence 5.9%. Out of the 454 women with prolapse, 37.4% had either or both types of incontinence.     

Sexual function in women after surgery for pelvic organ prolapse

Our objective was to evaluate the effect of surgical repair of pelvic organ prolapse on female sexual function. Sixty seven women with pelvic organ prolapse were recruited in the study. Degree of pelvic organ prolapse was assessed using pelvic organ prolapse quantitation (POPQ) staging system. Female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaire was used to assess sexual function of the cases preoperatively and 12–16 weeks after the operation. Mean age of the cases was 36.03 ± 5.38 years. The total mean FSFI score increased from 15.9 ± 10.7 to 21.9 ± 11.1 (P < 0.05). Domain scores of desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and satisfaction were increased significantly (P < 0.05). The mean score for the pain-free intercourse decreased significantly. Results demonstrated that sexual function was improved postoperatively. Using various instruments to assess female sexual function and differences in demographic and cultural characteristics of study groups might be the reasons of discrepancy between the reports.     

Optimizing pelvic organ prolapse research

For many years, researchers on this field have suffered from the lack of an efficient method for describing pelvic organ prolapse. Struggling to solve this problem, the International Continence Society has proposed a pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) system [Bump RC, Mattiasson A, Bo K, Brubaker LP, DeLancey JO, Klarskov P, Shull B, Smith ARB, Am J Obstet Gynecol, 175(1):1956-1962, 1996], which was validated as a precise and reproducible technique for describing pelvic organ position. However, even though very precise at describing pelvic organ position, our critic to this system is its limited ability to quantify the prolapse itself, since it still classifies prolapse into four grades, almost the same way as Baden and Walker did in 1972. As a result, the same grade can include a wide prolapse intensity range. The objective of this paper is to propose a method that makes POP research more efficient by directly measuring prolapse as a continuous variable that requires lesser number of subjects in order to achieve statistical significance.     

Sexual function in women before and after transvaginal mesh repair for pelvic organ prolapse

The aim of the study was to assess sexual function in women before and after surgery with transvaginal mesh for pelvic organ prolapse. Women were invited to complete a sexual function questionnaire including the Lemack and the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaires (PISQ-12) before undergoing surgery and 1 year after surgery. Eighty-three complete pre and postoperative questionnaires were analyzed. Mean age was 65.1 years. Forty-six were sexually inactive and 37 were sexually active women. Two sexually active women completed the preoperative PISQ-12 questionnaire retrospectively after surgery. There were no significant differences after surgery in the answers to the Lemack questionnaire and PISQ-12 scores. These results suggest that nonabsorbable transvaginal mesh repair of genital prolapse does not impair sexual function 1 year after surgery. Nevertheless, patients should not necessarily expect a significant improvement in sexual function outcome following transvaginal mesh repair for genital prolapse.     

Making sense of urodynamic studies for women with urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse: a urogynecology perspective

The support for routine urodynamic testing in the management of women with urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse is eroding. The reasons for this change largely reflect the growing evidence that urodynamic testing in this context renders little additional information over basic office assessment. The clinical features of urodynamic testing and its diagnostic and prognostic precision and accuracy are all problematic. As our understanding of female lower urinary tract dysfunction improves, the inadequacy of urodynamic testing to meaningfully improve patient and clinician decision making has become more apparent.     

Incidence of stress urinary incontinence following vaginal repair of pelvic organ prolapse in objectively continent women

Objective To estimate the incidence of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) following vaginal repair of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in preoperatively continent women and to evaluate the impact of the problem. Methods Women were eligible if they had undergone vaginal repairs for any degree or type of POP with no anti‐incontinence procedure between July 1, 2004 and June 30, 2006, and had been continent preoperatively, as defined by a negative cough stress test with or without reduction of prolapse. Demographic, preoperative, operative, and postoperative data were retrieved from hospital charts. The incidence of postoperative SUI (POSUI) and its quality of life (QoL) impact were assessed by mailed questionnaire. The POSUI endpoint was defined by the report of SUI symptoms on the mailed questionnaire and/or affirmation of postoperative treatment for SUI. Results Forty‐two out of 100 respondents reported POSUI within the 2‐year average follow‐up period. Twelve of 37 symptomatic women (32%) were moderately or greatly bothered by their symptoms. The QoL impact score was generally low but was statistically greater in women with POSUI compared to those with no POSUI (13 vs. 3, P = 0.0006). Conclusion The risk of POSUI following vaginal repairs of POP may be higher than previously reported and approximately one‐third of women are bothered by these symptoms. These findings deserve further investigation. Neurourol. Urodynam. 30:390–394, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Acute pelvic organ prolapse in an 11-month-old infant

There exist several reports of pelvic organ prolapse in high-risk neonates, but acute pelvic organ prolapse in a healthy infant has never been reported. In the current case, the parents first noted their 11-month-old infant with a mass protruding from the vagina after playing in a baby walker. Third-degree uterine prolapse was subsequently diagnosed after careful physical examination and pelvic ultrasonography. Under general anesthesia, the uterus was replaced after emptying the bladder. No sequelae were noted during 6 months of follow-up.An erratum to this article can be found at     

Symptomatic and quality of life outcomes after site-specific fascial reattachment for pelvic organ prolapse repair

The aim of this study was to assess symptomatic and quality of life outcome scores following site specific fascial reattachment surgery for pelvic organ prolapse using the validated Prolapse Quality of Life (P-QOL) questionnaires. One hundred and ninety two women underwent surgery for pelvic organ prolapse; ninety four underwent anterior repair (thirty four of them had vaginal hysterectomy), and ninety eight had posterior repair. Patients filled P-QOL questionnaires 24 hours prior to surgery and a postal P-QOL questionnaire six months post operatively. Pre and post operative questionnaires were paired. Quality of life and symptoms scores were calculated using Wilcoxon signed rank test. One hundred and one women returned their questionnaires and were suitable to include in the study. Forty nine underwent anterior repair (fifteen had vaginal hysterectomy) and 52 underwent posterior repair. Quality of life scores showed significant improvement in the anterior and posterior repair groups with the exception of general health in the anterior repair group and general health and prolapse impact in the posterior repair group. Anterior repair significantly improved urinary voiding and storage symptoms. Posterior repair group showed significant improvement in defecatory symptoms. Both groups showed improvement in sexual function and general prolapse symptoms. Prolapse repair with site specific fascial reattachment results in significant improvement in quality of life scores six months after surgery. Anterior repair improves urinary voiding and storage symptoms and posterior repair improves defecatory dysfunction and urinary voiding. Sexual function improves following prolapse repair with site specific fascial reattachment. Presentation information: British Society of Urogynaecology Annual Scientific Meeting, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London, UK. November 17th 2006.     

The development of pelvic organ prolapse following isolated Burch retropubic urethropexy

The purpose of our study was to examine the incidence of prolapse in a group of women who had had an isolated Tanagho modification of the Burch colposuspension performed without significant pelvic organ prolapse preoperatively. Sixty women were identified who underwent an isolated Burch procedure for genuine stress incontinence between 1991 and 1999. Thirty-four women returned for postoperative Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) staging evaluation. Overall, 6 (17.6%) had stage II anterior prolapse. Eleven (32.4%) had stage II posterior prolapse. Three (8.8%) had stage II uterine prolapse. None of these patients with identified support defects was symptomatic. Two patients had subsequently undergone vaginal hysterectomy. One had this performed for dysfunctional uterine bleeding 3 years after her Burch procedure. One patient developed symptomatic uterine prolapse and underwent a vaginal hysterectomy 5 months after her Burch procedure. The majority of patients undergoing an isolated Tanagho modification Burch procedure without preoperative prolapse do not appear to be placed at increased risk for subsequent operative intervention.