The role of combined pelvic floor stimulation and biofeedback in female urinary incontinence: early experience

A series of 109 female patients with urinary incontinence were treated by pelvic floor stimulation and biofeedback. Eighty-one patients received the full course of treatment and 28 patients dropped out. Among the 81 patients who completed the treatment, the improvement and cure rates (completely dry) shortly after treatment were 70.4% and 12.3%, respectively. The improvement and cure rates for more than one year after treatment were 47.6% and 14.3% respectively. Seven patients returned for further pelvic floor stimulation and biofeedback and only three patients underwent bladder neck suspension operations after completing treatment. Of the patients who dropped out, 53.6% had shown improvement with pelvic floor stimulation and biofeedback. Side effects were rare with three patients complaining of abdominal pain. These findings suggest that pelvic floor stimulation and biofeedback are useful, safe and conservative treatment modalities for female patients with urinary incontinence.     

Is there a role for concomitant pelvic floor repair in patients with sphincter defects in the treatment of fecal incontinence?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: More than half of all patients who undergo overlapping anal sphincter repair for fecal incontinence develop recurrent symptoms. Many have associated pelvic floor disorders that are not surgically addressed during sphincter repair. We evaluate the outcomes of combined overlapping anal sphincteroplasty and pelvic floor repair (PFR) vs. anterior sphincteroplasty alone in patients with concomitant sphincter and pelvic floor defects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed all patients with concomitant defects who underwent surgery between February 1998 and August 2001. Patients were assessed preoperatively by anorectal manometry, pudendal nerve terminal motor latency, and endoanal ultrasound. The degree of continence was assessed both preoperatively and postoperatively using the Cleveland Clinic Florida fecal incontinence score. Postoperative success was defined as a score of 相似文献   

Outcome of sphincteroplasty combined with surgery for urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse

PURPOSE: This is the first reported prospective study comparing outcome and cost in patients undergoing sphincteroplasty for anal incontinence vs. sphincteroplasty performed in combination with one or more procedures for urinary incontinence and/or pelvic organ prolapse. METHODS: We analyzed 44 patients with fecal incontinence who underwent anal sphincter repair alone (20 patients) or in combination with procedures for urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse (24 patients). Information regarding risk factors for fecal incontinence, the degree of incontinence, and the extent that incontinence limited social, physical, and sexual activity was prospectively obtained from questionnaires. Clinic chart reviews and follow-up telephone interviews provided additional data. A cohort of case-matched patients who underwent only urogynecologic procedures was compared retrospectively for operative time, hospital cost, length of stay, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: There were no major complications in any group. The functional outcomes, physical, social, and sexual activity were similar in all three groups. Twenty-two of 24 patients who underwent the combined procedures were glad that they had both procedures concomitantly. CONCLUSION: Combination pelvic floor surgery provides good outcomes and is cost effective. This approach should be offered to women with concurrent problems of fecal and urinary incontinence and/or pelvic organ prolapse.     

Prevalence and severity of urinary incontinence and pelvic genital prolapse in females with anal incontinence or rectal prolapse

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, severity, and associations between urinary incontinence and genital prolapse in females after surgery for fecal incontinence or rectal prolapse. METHODS: All patients who underwent surgery for fecal incontinence (Group I) or rectal prolapse (Group II) were compared with a control group of females (Group III) by 43 questions regarding demographic data, past medical and surgical history, and diagnosis and treatment of anal and urinary incontinence and genital and rectal prolapse. The type (stress, urge, and total) of urinary incontinence was determined and graded using an incontinence severity questionnaire (Individual Incontinence Impact Questionnaire). RESULTS: Overall response rate in the three groups of patients was 40.1 percent. The questionnaire was sent to 240 patients operated on for fecal incontinence or rectal prolapse, and 83 of them responded (34.5 percent). The patients were distributed into three groups: Group I consisted of 51 patients (mean age 56.7 +/- 14); Group II consisted of 32 patients (69.7 +/- 11); and Group III consisted of 40 patients (60.5 +/- 16). The prevalence of urinary incontinence in Group I was 27 (54 percent), in Group II was 21 (65.6 percent), and Group III was 12 patients (30 percent; P = 0.003). Genital prolapse was present in 9 (17.6 percent), 11 (34.3 percent), and 5 patients (12.5 percent), respectively (P = 0.03). The prevalence of coexistent urinary incontinence and genital prolapse in both study groups was 22.8 percent (19 patients). There were no statistically significant differences between Groups I and II relative to prevalence, type, and severity of urinary incontinence and genital prolapse, but there were significant differences between the two study groups and the control group. Of the patients in the study group, 67 percent had urinary incontinence before or at the time of surgery. CONCLUSION: There is a higher prevalence and severity of urinary incontinence and pelvic genital prolapse in females operated on for either fecal incontinence or rectal prolapse than in a control group. Therefore, female patients with fecal incontinence or rectal prolapse should be evaluated and treated by a multidisciplinary group of pelvic floor clinicians, including a gynecologist or urologist with special training in female pelvic floor dysfunction and a colorectal surgeon.     

Rectopexy to the promontory for the treatment of rectal prolapse

From 1953 to 1982, 257 patients with complete rectal prolapse were operated upon. To the procedure described by Orr, we have added mobilization of the rectum prior to its suspension and eliminated the pouch of Douglas, and nylon strips have been used for suspension in most patients. There were 57 male and 200 female patients. Ages ranged from 11 to 90 years. Sixty-one patients had already undergone surgery for rectal prolapse with another procedure and prolapse had recurred. The postoperative course was uneventful in 96 per cent of patients. Two patients, aged 79 to 83 years, died of cardiac failure. Follow-up of 115 patients ranged from five to 23 years. Recurrent rectal prolapse was observed in 4,3 per cent of the patients in whom nylon strips were used to suspend the rectum. In 136 patients anal incontinence was associated with rectal prolapse. Normal continence was restored in 84.1 per cent of 107 patients with rectopexy alone and in 64.2 per cent of 14 patients who underwent rectopexy and anal sphincter repair. It is concluded that rectopexy to the promotory with nylon strips after mobilization of the rectum is a safe and efficient procedure for the treatment of rectal prolapse. Read at the meeting of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Boston, Massachusetts, June 5 to 9, 1983.     

Abdominal rectopexy for complete rectal prolapse: preliminary results of a new technique

Purpose Although the technique for the surgical repair of rectal prolapse has advanced over the years, no ideal procedure has been found. We aim to test a new surgical procedure for abdominal rectopexy that uses the greater omentum to support the rectum below the rectopexy, to reconstruct the anorectal angle and dispense with the need for synthetic mesh, thus reducing the risk of infection.Methods A series of ten patients, all young and medically fit, underwent repair surgery for rectal prolapse with the new rectopexy technique. Some patients had concomitant sigmoidectomy. Preoperative and postoperative assessment included a clinical examination, anal manometry and defecography.Results Follow-up lasted a mean of 56.4 months. None of the patients had recurrent rectal prolapse or infection. Postoperative assessment at 24 months disclosed significant improvements in all the bowel and sphincter variables assessed. The 8 patients who had severe incontinence preoperatively had notably improved and 4 were fully continent, 3 moderately incontinent, and only 1 patient had persistently high levels of incontinence. In only 1 patient who initially had severe incontinence, continence completely regressed and severe constipation developed. Maximal basal pressure values increased significantly after surgery (p=0.0025), although they increased slightly less evidently in patients in whom marked incontinence persisted at postoperative follow-up. Maximal voluntary contraction pressure also increased significantly after surgery (p=0.0054), although the values changed less than those for basal pressure. During rest, squeeze and straining, and in all the patients who regained continence, even those who recovered it only partly, surgery substantially reduced the anorectal angle. The reduction during rest was statistically significant (p=0.0062).Conclusions The rectopexy technique we tested in patients with rectal prolapse avoids the need for synthetic mesh, and provides good results in terms of bowel and sphincter function, without infection or recurrence.     

Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging used in evaluation of female pelvic prolapse: experience from nine cases

Prolapse of pelvic organs in a female can be simple or complex. To make a definite diagnosis of pelvic prolapse preoperatively, dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) is an alternative to conventional fluoroscopic or sonographic examination, with the advantage of providing greater details, and thus helping the surgeon to have a good preoperative plan. Nine women suffering from pelvic prolapse with or without urinary stress incontinence underwent dynamic MR imaging examination (1.0T Magnex100/HP, Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan) before surgery. All patients were examined in the supine position. A single-shot ultra-high speed scan (FE/8/3.02-20 degrees, 128, 100%-100% 1 NEX 1 slice 10 mm L1.0 second) was used to obtain midline sagittal images, with the patients at rest and during pelvic strain. MR images were then obtained every 4 seconds. Each examination was analyzed, based on specific measurements, to determine the presence and extent of prolapse of pelvic organs. The pubococcygeal, levator hiatus width and muscular pelvic floor relaxation lines, and the angle of the levator plate were identified. Based on these measurements, multicompartment involvement in the pelvic prolapse was confirmed in five patients (5/9). Four patients (4/9) had single compartment involvement. Seven patients underwent surgery. All patients reported significant improvement in their symptoms and signs after surgical intervention. Two patients had an almost complete recovery. MR demonstrated simple or complex organ descent in all pelvic compartments, and may become a standard preoperative examination for pelvic floor abnormalities. The MR images facilitated comprehensive planning by the surgeon; thus, they can increase the success rate and help to accurately predict the outcome of the surgical intervention. The surgeons also expressed high postsurgical satisfaction with the information provided by dynamic MR.     

Lower urinary tract and bowel dysfunction after incontinence and prolapse interventions

The incidence of anti-incontinence procedures and surgery for prolapse repairs has increased significantly over the past decade. As more clinicians have embarked on performing these surgeries using new techniques and variations on traditional repairs, complications are starting to be recognized. We review the literature, focusing on postoperative lower urinary tract and bowel dysfunction following surgery for incontinence and pelvic prolapse. We performed a comprehensive review of the literature on interventions for urinary incontinence and pelvic prolapse using MEDLINE and resources cited in those peer-reviewed papers. Postoperative voiding dysfunction including symptomatic bladder outlet obstruction, de novo urgency and urge incontinence, and recurrent stress urinary incontinence appear to be the most common voiding issues after anti-incontinence surgery, with rates varying based on the type of sling used. Bowel dysfunction following prolapse surgery can occur after rectocele repair and sacrocolpopexy or other apical repair and may vary based on the surgical technique and graft reinforcement used. Success rates for incontinence and prolapse repairs remain stable. With the introduction of new techniques, it is important to consider potential postoperative bladder and bowel effects so that clinicians may counsel their patients appropriately prior to intervention.     

Long-term results of total pelvic floor repair for postobstetric fecal incontinence

PURPOSE: This study was designed to assess the long-term results of total pelvic floor repair for postobstetric neuropathic fecal incontinence. METHOD: Sixty-three of 75 women who had undergone total pelvic floor repair for postobstetric neuropathic fecal incontinence were traced and interviewed a median of 36 (18–78) months after surgery. Thirty-nine patients agreed to repeat anorectal physiology. RESULTS: Six patients required further surgery for persistent incontinence (colostomy, 4; graciloplasty, 2). For the remaining 57 patients, incontinence improved greatly in 28 (49 percent) patients, mildly in 13 (23 percent), and not at all in 16 (28 percent); daily incontinence was present in 41 patients (73 percent) before the operation but persisted in 13 (23 percent). Only eight (14 percent) patients were rendered completely continent; those with marked improvement were socially more active than those with little or no improvement. Resting and maximum squeeze pressures, anal canal sensation, rectal sensation, and pudendal nerve terminal motor latency did not predict outcome. Perineal descent, obesity, and a history of straining before the operation were all associated with a poor outcome. CONCLUSION: Total pelvic floor repair rarely renders patients with postobstetric neuropathic fecal incontinence completely continent but substantially improves continence and lifestyle in approximately one-half of them. The operation is less successful in obese patients and in those with a history of straining or perineal descent.Read at the meeting of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Seattle, Washington, June 9 to 14, 1996.     

Manometric evaluation of rectal prolapse and faecal incontinence.

Sixty-three patients with complete rectal prolapse and/or faecal incontinence have undergone anal manometry and the results have been compared with an equal number of age- and sex-matched controls. Maximal basal pressure (MBP) and maximum squeeze pressure (MSP) were measured before and at four months and a year after treatment. The anal pressures of normal subjects are presented. Patients with rectal prolapse alone had normal anal pressures, whereas patients with incontinence with or without prolapse had significantly lower basal and squeeze pressures than controls. Successful surgical treatment of prolapse or incontinence did not produce significant change in anal canal pressures, whereas the combination of pelvic floor exercises and a continence aid was associated with a significant rise in MSP.     

Prolift全盆底修补系统在老年女性全盆底重建术中的应用

目的通过对Prolift全盆底修补系统在老年女性盆腔器官脱垂治疗中的应用及近期疗效的评估,探讨治疗盆腔器官脱垂的手术方式。方法选取2009年1月至2010年12月间南京市妇幼保健院妇科收治的因盆腔器官脱垂行盆底修复重建手术的老年女性患者共43例。其中采用Prolift全盆底修补系统行全盆底重建手术24例（A组）,传统的阴道前后壁修补手术19例（B组）。比较2组患者的一般资料、围手术期和随访情况,并进行统计学分析。结果 2组患者的年龄、体质量、孕产次、阴道壁脱垂程度差异无显著性（P〉0.05）。2组患者的手术时间、术中出血量、尿管留置天数、术后残余尿和住院时间比较,差异无显著性（P〉0.05）。2组术后随访率均为100%。A、B组术后复发各为0和3例,A组复发率明显低于B组（P〈0.05）;A组发生性生活不适者3例,略高于B组的1例,但无显著性差异（P〉0.05）;A组补片侵蚀2例（8.33%）,2组均未发生直肠、输尿管等周围脏器及明显血管神经损伤。结论 Prolift用于阴道前后壁脱垂患者的全盆底重建手术,手术安全可行,近期疗效明显优于传统的阴道前后壁修补术。     

Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of the structural and functional results of postanal repair for neuropathic fecal incontinence

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether dynamic magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvic floor can discriminate between patients who improve after postanal repair for neurogenic fecal incontinence and those who remain symptomatic. METHODS: Pelvic floor measurements obtained during dynamic magnetic resonance imaging in eight females whose anal incontinence had improved after postanal repair were compared with those from nine females who remained symptomatic. All subjects also underwent standard anorectal physiology testing. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between groups with respect to any measurement of anterior or middle pelvic floor compartments. Additionally, there was no difference in posterior pelvic floor configuration when symptomatic patients were compared with those who had improved. However, dynamic magnetic resonance measurements revealed patients who remained symptomatic had significantly greater posterior pelvic floor weakness. Anorectal physiology was unable to differentiate between groups. CONCLUSIONS: There is no difference in static pelvic floor measurements when subjects remaining symptomatic after postanal repair are compared with those who have improved. In contrast, dynamic measurements may be able to predict failure in those who demonstrate excessive posterior pelvic floor mobility.     

Urinary incontinence in the aged, Part 2: Management strategies.

Treatments for urge incontinence associated with uninhibited bladder contractions include medications with anticholinergic and smooth muscle relaxant properties as well as habit training, bladder retraining, contingency therapy, and biofeedback. Pelvic floor (Kegel) exercises improve stress incontinence in 60 to 90% of female patients. For patients who fail to improve with pelvic floor exercises, a combination of an alpha-adrenergic agent and conjugated estrogen is recommended. Surgery is particularly effective in elderly women with significant pelvic prolapse. Management of overflow incontinence requires surgery or intermittent/chronic catheterization. Functional incontinence may be improved with correction of the underlying disorder and availability of a motivated caregiver.     

Surgical management of rectal prolapse

This article reviews the pathogenesis, clinical presentation and surgical management of rectal prolapse. Full-thickness prolapse of the rectum causes significant discomfort because of the sensation of the prolapse itself, the mucus that it secretes, and because it tends to stretch the anal sphincters and cause incontinence. Treatment of rectal prolapse is primarily surgical. Perineal surgical repairs are well tolerated, but are generally associated with higher recurrence rates. Abdominal repairs involve fixing the rectum to the sacrum by using either mesh or sutures, and tend to have the lowest recurrence rates. If significant preoperative constipation is present, a sigmoid resection can be performed at the time of rectopexy. For many patients, diarrhea and incontinence improve after surgery. Laparoscopic repair of rectal prolapse has similar morbidity and recurrence rates to open surgery, with attendant benefits of reduced length of hospital stay, postoperative pain and wound complications.     

Pelvic floor procedures produce no consistent changes in anatomy or physiology

PURPOSE: Postanal repair was designed to restore both anatomy and function of the anal canal in neurogenic fecal incontinence. In most series, the degree of continence is improved in fewer than 50 percent of patients. Adding anterior levatorplasty and sphincter plication (total pelvic floor repair) is claimed to improve functional results. We performed a randomized trial comparing postanal and total pelvic floor repair for neurogenic incontinence. METHOD: Twenty female patients were studied. All had Type D incontinence (Parks and Browning). Anal manometry, defecography, and grading of the degree of continence were repeated 12 weeks after surgery to assess changes in clinical, manometric, and radiologic parameters. Statistical analysis was done using Wilcoxon's signed-rank test and Wilcoxon's two-sample test. RESULTS: Continence improved in eight patients. Differences among clinical, manometric, and radiologic data were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Pelvic floor repair procedures produce no consistent changes in anatomy or physiology. Clinical improvement is caused by creation of a local stenosis or by the placebo effect rather than by improvement of muscle function.Presented at the annual meeting of the Dutch Society of Surgery, Veldhoven, The Netherlands, May 18 to 19, 1995.     

Abdominal colporectopexy with pelvic cul-de-sac closure

PURPOSE: Rectal prolapse and posthysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse often occur together and constitute a management problem. This article describes a combined colorectal and gynecologic approach to surgical management and reports the follow-up results of treatment. METHOD: Patients who presented with both rectal and gynecologic symptoms of prolapse subsequent to hysterectomy and were found on clinical examination to have overt and/or occult prolapse of both the rectum and the vaginal vault were considered suitable for a combined operative procedure. This consisted of an abdominal mesh rectopexy, abdominal closure of the pelvic cul-de-sac (enhanced by intravaginal endoscopic transillumination), and a colpopexy attaching forward extensions of the same mesh to the apex of the anatomically restored and reinforced vaginal vault. The operation was also accompanied by a colporrhaphy if prolapse of the lower one-third of the vagina was still evident on completion of the abdominal procedures. RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients underwent combined surgery. Sixty of these patients had a concurrent vaginal repair. The mean follow-up time was approximately five years. There were no perioperative deaths, and the morbidity rate was 9 percent. No injury occurred to the urinary tract, and no wound or pelvic infections were evident. There was no recurrence of either the rectal or vaginal vault prolapse. Improvement occurred in all major symptoms, especially in pelvic pain. CONCLUSIONS: The problem of coexisting rectal and posthysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse can be corrected by combined abdominal colporectopexy and closure of the pelvic cul-de-sac. For 89 patients this operation provided considerable relief of symptoms, with no evidence of recurrence of rectal or vaginal vault prolapse at follow-up.     

Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Urinary Incontinence in Women With Surgically Managed Rectal Prolapse: A Population-Based Case-Control Study

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of genital prolapse surgery and urinary incontinence in female patients operated on for rectal prolapse compared with a matched control group without rectal prolapse. Methods Fifty-two patients with a history of abdominal rectal prolapse surgery and 200 randomly selected age-matched and gender-matched control subjects without rectal prolapse received an extensive health care history survey. Results Response rate in the patient group was 48 of 52 (92 percent) and 165 of 200 (82 percent) in the control group. Rectal prolapse was associated with an increased risk of surgery for uterine prolapse (odds ratio = 3.1; 95 percent confidence interval = 1.4–6.9) and vaginal wall prolapse (odds ratio = 3.2; 95 percent confidence interval = 1.3–7.8). Mean age at hysterectomy because of uterine prolapse was 54.7 years in the patient group compared with 62.6 years in the control group (P < 0.01). Mean age at vaginal wall prolapse surgery was 60.2 years in the patient group compared with 66.6 years in the control group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the cohorts regarding prevalence or age at debut of urinary incontinence. Conclusion Our results indicate a strong association between rectal and genital prolapse surgery suggesting that diagnosis of rectal prolapse necessitating surgical intervention should prompt a multidisciplinary pelvic floor assessment. Read at the meeting of The European Association of ColoProctology, Barcelona, Spain, September 18 to 20, 2003.     

Frequency of anal incontinence and results of pelvic viscerography in 291 women with pelvic organ prolapse

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of anal incontinence in a population of 291 women with pelvic organ prolapse and evaluate the results of pelvic viscerogram in this situation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Each patient answered a standardized questionnaire on medical, obstetric and surgical past histories and answers were logged in a database. The viscerograms were performed by a single specialized radiologist. RESULTS: All patients but one were parous. The prevalence of anal incontinence was 26.1%. Stress urinary incontinence and urge urinary incontinence were significantly associated with anal incontinence. No obstetric or surgical risk factor for anal incontinence was demonstrated. Viscerography demonstrated rectoceles (n=86, 29.1%), enteroceles (n=77, 26.5%), cystoceles (n=174, 59.8%), and intra-anal rectal prolapse (n=106, 36.4%). A significant association was found between intra-anal rectal prolapse and anal incontinence. CONCLUSION: Anal incontinence is frequent in patients with pelvic organ prolapse, even more so in the presence of urinary incontinence, and should be investigated by pelvic viscerography. Pelvic floor dysfunction is frequently associated with enteroceles, rectoceles and rectal prolapse. Pelvic viscerograms should be systematically performed in the diagnostic work-up in patients with pelvic organ prolapse when surgical treatment is considered.     

Dynamic imaging of pelvic floor with transperineal sonography

Real-time transperineal sonography has enhanced the appreciation of morphology and dynamics of the pelvic floor. Standard images are obtained from longitudinal and axial planes by placing the transducer between the vagina and rectum. This fast, effective, noninvasive and inexpensive examination represents the preferred initial diagnostic imaging tool for women with pelvic floor dysfunctions, such as prolapse and incontinence. Received: 10 April 2001 / Accepted: 21 May 2001     

Results of treatment for rectal prolapse and fecal incontinence

Fifty-six patients were treated for rectal prolapse or incontinence. Rectal prolapse was present in 32 patients and was associated with fecal incontinence in 24 (75 per cent). Incontinence without prolapse was present in 24 patients, 12 of whom were less than 40 years old. Rectopexy was used for treatment of rectal prolapse. Surgical treatment of fecal incontinence was by post-anal repair; external sphincter reconstruction and surgery was advised only if control of diarrhea and electrical therapy had been of no benefit. Rectopexy was completely successful at controlling rectal prolapse in all cases, and only four of the 20 (20 per cent) patients with incontinence and prolapse remained incontinent after rectopexy alone. Incontinence was completely controlled by postanal repair in 58 per cent of patients and by external sphincter repair alone or in combination with postanal repair in 67 per cent. Using a combination of therapies 45 of 48 patients who were initially incontinent were improved (94 per cent), and 42 of the patients have complete control of defecation (87 per cent).