A grading model for stress urinary incontinence

The Prognostic Value of the Surface Electromyographic Assessment of Pelvic Floor Muscles in Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence

Background: The use of surface electromyography (sEMG) measurements to evaluate the bioelectrical activity of the pelvic floor muscle (PFM) during therapeutic intervention is now well established. This study investigates the diagnostic possibilities of sEMG in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The aim of this study was to carry out objective assessments of the bioelectrical activity of the PFM in women after menopause and determine the prognostic value of sEMG for assessing the PFM in patients with SUI. Methods: This was a prospective, observational study that evaluated the bioelectrical activity of the PFM in postmenopausal women with or without SUI (SUI group, n = 89 vs. non-SUI group, n = 62). The study was carried out between January 2013 and December 2018 at the Clinic of Urology (Wroclaw, Poland). The protocol for all sEMG measurements of PFM activity consisted of following elements: “baseline”, “quick flicks”, “contractions”, “static hold”, and “rest tone”; we then compared these results between groups. To determine the optimal cutoff level for sEMG activation of the PFM to detect the occurrence of SUI, we performed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis (with Youden’s index). Results: Significantly lower results were obtained for all PFM measurements in women with SUI. The optimum diagnostic cutoff for “baseline” was 3.7 μV (area under curve (AUC), 0.63), “quick flicks” was 9.15 μV (AUC, 0.84), “contractions” was 11.33 μV (AUC, 0.80), “static hold” was 9.94 μV (AUC, 0.84), and “rest” was 3.89 μV (AUC, 0.63). Conclusions: Measuring sEMG activity in the PFM may be a useful diagnostic tool to confirm the absence of SUI. We can expect that the sEMG activity of subjects with SUI will be lower than that of healthy people. In order to determine appropriate reference values for assessing sEMG activity data in the PFM, it is now necessary to conduct multicenter studies.

A study of transobturator tape in stress urinary incontinence

BACKGROUND

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is commonly encountered in gynecological practice. Nowadays, midurethral sling surgeries in the form of transobturator tape (TOT) surgery are recommended in its treatment.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To assess the outcome and patient satisfaction of TOT surgery in the treatment of SUI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective study was undertaken for patients of SUI who underwent TOT surgery by the outside in method and followed up for 5 years. The patients were assessed clinically and by the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) preoperatively and at postoperative day 3, discharge and 3 months follow-up.

RESULTS

Successful surgical treatment with TOT was seen in all patients at the time of discharge. There was no recurrence of SUI seen up to 1 year, but at 5-year follow-up two patients had a recurrence of SUI on examination though they did not complain of SUI. Urinary retention, tape extrusion, and groin stitch infection were the commonly seen complications following surgery. On subjective assessment, 61 patients were completely satisfied at day 3, and all patients were completely satisfied at discharge and 3 months follow-up as per the PGI-I score.

CONCLUSION

TOT gives an excellent outcome in the treatment of SUI.

Opening vesical pressure: a new test to discriminate urethral sphincter deficiency?

Urethral sphincter deficiency (USD) is not standardised. Opening vesical pressure could reflect the pressure exerted to overcome urethral resistance during void; thus, we evaluated if it could discriminate USD. Women with urinary symptoms were prospectively assessed with a questionnaire and urodynamics and divided into three groups: urodynamic stress incontinence with USD (group 1), urodynamic stress incontinence related to urethral hypermobility without USD (group 2) and normal urodynamic (group 3). USD was defined as the concomitant presence of severe urodynamic stress incontinence, VLPP <60 cm H2O, MUCP <20 cm H2O and urethral mobility <30 degrees . A total of 145 women were enrolled: 56 in group 1, 50 in group 2 and 39 in group 3. The three groups did not differ for demographics, obstetric and surgical history. The median values for opening vesical pressures were 17.5 (15.6-22.2 95%CI), 30 (27.0-37.3 95%CI) and 30 (30.6-44.2 95% CI) for the groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. A p value <0.0001 was found when comparing group 1 either with group 2 or 3. Opening vesical pressure is a promising parameter to detect USD.

Tension-free vaginal tape for the treatment of urodynamic stress incontinence with intrinsic sphincteric deficiency

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure in women with urodynamic stress incontinence diagnosed as having intrinsic sphincteric deficiency (ISD). The combination of a maximal urethral closure pressure < 20 cm H2O and a Valsalva leak point pressure < 60 cm H2O was considered as diagnostic of ISD. Subjects with detrusor overactivity on preoperative urodynamics were excluded. A total of 35 patients with both low closure pressure and leak point pressure were enrolled. Bladder perforation occurred in three (8.6%) cases. Postoperative urinary voiding difficulties occurred in nine (25.7%) women. Two patients underwent surgical detension of the tape, with complete resolution of urinary retention and no relapse of incontinence. Women with postoperative voiding dysfunction had a significantly lower detrusorial pressure at the peak flow on preoperative urodynamics compared to those who voided efficiently after TVT. The mean (range) follow-up time was 12.5 months (3-36). The objective cure rate for stress incontinence was 91.4%. Two of the three (66%) patients in whom the TVT procedure failed had a fixed urethra. De novo urge incontinence was found in five (14.3%) patients.

Impact of tension-free vaginal tape on sexual function: results of a prospective study

The purpose of this study was to prospectively assess the impact of a TVT insertion for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) on coital incontinence and overall sexual life. Sexually active women with pure SUI and without concomitant pelvic organ prolapse scheduled for TVT procedure completed a sexual function questionnaire at baseline and 6 months after surgery. Fifty-three patients were enrolled. Preoperatively 23 (43.4%) women experienced urine leakage during intercourse, 21 (91%) during penetration and 2 (9%) on orgasm. The objective cure rate for SUI was 98%. Coital incontinence was cured in 20 of 23 patients (87%). Thirty-three (62.2%) women reported no change in sexual function after surgery and 18 (34%) reported an improvement. Of the latter, 17 (94%) were of those cured from coital incontinence. No significant difference in the incidence of dyspareunia was found postoperatively. Two patients (3.8%) reported intercourse to be worse following surgery, one because of a vaginal erosion and one cited de novo anorgasmia as the main reason.

Influence of the type of anesthesia and hydrodissection on the complication rate after tension-free vaginal tape procedure

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the success rate of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) performed under spinal and general anesthesia and to assess the efficacy of hydrodissection of the space of Retzius in reducing intraoperative and postoperative complications.

STUDY DESIGN

A total of 149 patients, were enrolled. Of these, 53 patients underwent the TVT placement (alone or in combination with other pelvic surgery) under general anesthesia and 96 under spinal anesthesia. TVT placement was performed as originally described, apart from the hydrodissection of the space of Retzius, that was performed only in 82 cases. In the remaining 67 patients the TVT needles were introduced directly without hydrodissection. Postoperatively, the patients were scheduled for evaluation at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Cure was defined as no postoperative stress incontinence.

RESULTS

Overall, the incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications was 3.3% and 14.7%, respectively. No statistical difference was found in the intraoperative (1.9% versus 4.2%, P = 0.65) and postoperative complications (11.3% versus 16.7%) rates between the general and spinal anesthesia groups. No difference was found in the cure rate between groups (96.2% versus 95.8%). Similarly, no difference was found in the rate of intraoperative (3.7% versus 3.0%) and postoperative (15.9% versus 13.4%) complications between patients who had hydrodissection and those who did not. When the analysis was restricted to patients who underwent the TVT placement without concomitant surgery (n = 88), there was no difference in the incidence of intraoperative (2.1% versus 5.0%, P = 0.59) and postoperative complications (14.6% versus 15.0%, P = 1.0) between patients who had hydrodissection and those who did not.

CONCLUSIONS

Efficacy and safety of the TVT procedure are not affected by the type of anesthesia (general or loco-regional). Hydrodissection of the space of Retzius during TVT placement does not reduce the risks of intraoperative complications.

Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz urethropexy and Burch colposuspension for stress urinary incontinence in women with low pressure and hypermobility of the urethra: early results of a prospective randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to compare the effects of Burch colposuspension and Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz urethropexy with videourethroscopic control in the correction of stress urinary incontinence in patients with low pressure and hypermobility of the urethra.

STUDY DESIGN

Thirty women were randomly assigned to undergo 1 of the 2 surgical procedures from November 1993 to May 1996 (15 Burch colposuspensions and 15 Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz urethropexies) and were evaluated subjectively and objectively for stress urinary incontinence at 2 and 12 months. Data obtained were analyzed with the Student t test, the Fisher exact test, and the Wilcoxon signed rank test.

RESULTS

At 1 year of follow-up 15 women in the Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz urethropexy group (100%) and 10 women in the Burch colposuspension group (66%) were subjectively considered cured (P =.02, 2-tailed Fisher exact test), and stress test results were negative in 14 women (93%) and 8 women (53%), respectively (P =.017, 2-tailed Fisher exact test). The resumption of spontaneous voiding was attained after 6.5 +/- 3.3 days in the Burch colposuspension group and in 20.5 +/- 13.4 days in the Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz urethropexy group (P <.001, 2-tailed Wilcoxon rank sum test).

CONCLUSION

The high cure rate and low associated morbidity mark the Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz procedure with videourethroscopic control as more effective than Burch colposuspension in repairing stress urinary incontinence associated with low pressure and hypermobility of the urethra.

The triangular vaginal patch sling for stress urinary incontinence and hypermobile urethra

OBJECTIVE

We describe an alternative sling procedure that permits concomitant correction of urethral hypermobility and urinary incontinence through a single surgical exposure.

STUDY DESIGN

Fifteen women with severe urinary stress incontinence and urethral hypermobility underwent a sling procedure by creation of a simple triangular patch from the anterior vaginal wall.

RESULTS

The mean operative time for the vaginal sling procedure was 38 minutes (range 29 to 65 minutes) in addition to other operations. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 7.7 days (range 5 to 13 days) and all patients were routinely discharged with an indwelling Foley catheter. Spontaneous micturition occurred in 12 patients after a mean period of 25 days (range 13 to 36 days). In three cases long-term catheterization was necessary. By subjective and objective evaluations, all the patients were cured of their stress incontinence.

CONCLUSION

The triangular vaginal patch with the single sutures on each side provides an alternative approach for bladder neck stabilization that may permit a more anatomic suspension of a hypermobile urethra.

Transabdominal repair of cystocele by wedge colpectomy during combined abdominal-vaginal surgery

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of transabdominal wedge colpectomy as surgical treatment for cystocele. One hundred and sixty-three women with either first or second-degree cystocele (Beecham classification), rectocele and concomitant stress urinary incontinence or benign pelvic masses were submitted for a combined operation. Transabdominal repair of the cystocele was performed by wedge colpectomy employing two different absorbable sutures, Vicryl and PDS. The choice of suture was not random but depended on the period at which surgery was performed. Data obtained were analyzed with Student's t-test and Fisher's exact test. The cystocele cure rate was 90.2% (110 out of 122) at 3-year follow-up and was significantly associated with the preoperative degree, being 95.5% and 76.5% in first and in second degree, respectively (P = 0.003). At 1-year follow-up the cure rate was significantly associated with the type of the suture employed (P = 0.01). At 2-year follow-up rectocele cure rate was 97.2% and vaginal vault prolapse appeared in 3.5% of cases. Stress urinary incontinence relapsed in 10% of patients after Burch colposuspension. After the operation 94.1% of the women declared normal coitus. In the present series wedge colpectomy was found to be effective in repairing first-degree cystocele, whereas a high incidence of relapse was observed when second-degree cystocele was present preoperatively. The suture material employed influenced the cure rate.