Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy as the mainstay management for significant apical pelvic organ prolapse (LAP) study

Ability of clock drawing errors on Mini-Cog test to predict development of delirium after major urological cancer surgery

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the clock drawing test (CDT) on postoperative delirium and compare the abilities of the mini-cognitive (Mini-Cog) test and the CDT for predicting postoperative delirium after major urological cancer surgery.

Materials and methods

In this single-center retrospective observational study, we collected the medical records of patients who underwent major urologic cancer surgery and preoperative cognitive screening based on the Mini-Cog test consisting of the CDT and the 3-word recall task at our department in 2020-2021 (n = 387). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify the clinical risk factors for postoperative delirium. We also compared the ability of the CDT alone and the Mini-Cog test consisting of the CDT and 3-word recall task to predict postoperative delirium.

Results

A total of 117 patients (30%) had abnormal CDT results. Postoperative delirium occurred in 29 patients (7%). On multivariate analysis, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status ≥3 (odds ratio [OR], 5.0; p = 0.01), abnormal CDT (OR, 4.8; p < 0.001), preoperative benzodiazepine use (OR, 4.9; p < 0.001), and operative time ≥237 minutes (OR, 3.0; p = 0.01) were independent risk factors for postoperative delirium. The area under the curve for predicting postoperative delirium was 0.709 for CDT alone and 0.743 for the Mini-Cog test. No significant intergroup difference was observed (p = 0.43).

Conclusions

The CDT served as a formal but simple tool with adequate predictive power to identify the risk of postoperative delirium among patients undergoing major urological cancer surgery. Effective screening using the CDT might help provide optimal urological care for older patients.

Sacrocolpopexy: The Way I Do It

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Sacrocolpopexy (SCP) is an established surgical procedure for apical vaginal vault prolapse. There remains significant variation amongst surgeons in both the surgical steps and concomitant surgeries utilised when undertaking an SCP.

METHODS

This review article is aimed at summarising the evidence and providing a detailed update of SCP in modern practice, reviewing contemporary evidence behind its indications, efficacy, outcomes, surgical steps, and complications.

RESULTS

Sacrocolpopexy remains the gold standard for post-hysterectomy apical prolapse based on good long-term outcomes, patient satisfaction and low complication rates. SCP with concomitant total hysterectomy is not recommended owing to high rates of mesh exposure. The laparoscopic approach remains the preferred option in terms of low morbidity, quicker recovery and lower cost than alternative access options. For optimal outcomes an SCP should be performed with monofilament mesh, using absorbable sutures and with a paravaginal repair for cystocele.

CONCLUSIONS

Although SCP has become increasingly utilised for apical prolapse, its established efficacy regarding anatomical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and complications is in the context of post-hysterectomy prolapse. SCP with concomitant total hysterectomy has higher rates of mesh exposure. The efficacy and safety of SCP with sub-total hysterectomy or hysteropexy have not been clearly established and require further assessment through well-designed, rigorous randomised controlled trials.

Pilsner Modification of Mesh Sacrohysterocolpopexy (PiMMS): An Initial Report on Safety and Efficacy

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

It is reported that up to 60% of women would prefer to spare their uterus during pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repair surgery. A reliable hysteropexy technique is therefore crucial. We aimed to describe the safety profile and initial core patient-reported and clinical outcomes of the Pilsner modification of laparoscopic mesh sacrohysterocolpopexy (PiMMS) in comparison with the laparoscopic sacrohysterocolpopexy technique (standard laparoscopic sacrohysterocolpopexy [sLSH]) previously used in our unit.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study conducted in a single tertiary referral urogynecological center. All patients who underwent laparoscopic mesh sacrohysterocolpopexy between 1 January 2015, and 31 January 2022 were included in the study. Follow-up clinical, patient-reported, and imaging outcomes at the 12-month follow-up time point are presented.

RESULTS

A total of 87 patients were included. Of these, 49 (56.3%) and 38 (43.7%) underwent sLSH and PiMMS respectively. Low numbers of perioperative complications were found in both groups with no mesh-related complications reported following PiMMS up to 12 months postoperatively. There were no apical compartment failures in either group. There were 8 (17.0%) vs 1 (2.7%) anterior compartment failures (Ba ≤ -1) in the sLSH and PiMMS groups respectively (p = 0.07) at 12 months. At the 1-year follow-up, 42 (89.4%) patients reported a Patient Global Impression of Improvement score of ≤ 2 in the sLSH groups compared with 35 (94.6%) patients following PiMMS.

CONCLUSIONS

The PiMMS technique seems to have comparable safety profile and patient-reported outcomes with the sLSH technique. However, there is a trend toward reduced anterior compartment failures with this modification. The findings of this preliminary report need to be re-evaluated in a well-powered prospective study.

A Comprehensive Evaluation of Sexual Life in Women After Laparoscopic Sacrocolpopexy using PISQ-IR

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Although laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy is a recommended procedure for sexually active women, its full impact on sexual life remains underexplored. This study is aimed at comprehensively assessing changes in the quality of sexual life and the prevalence of dyspareunia in women 1 year after laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy.

METHODS

This prospective observational study enrolled women undergoing laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy for pelvic organ prolapse stage≥ 2. Included were women with a completed Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire, IUGA Revised (PISQ-IR) questionnaire before and at 1 year after surgery. Individual domains of the PISQ-IR were compared separately. Dyspareunia, single summary PISQ-IR and PISQ-12 scores were additionally compared in sexually active women. Statistical analyses included paired signed rank, Wilcoxon, Median, Chi-squared, and Fisher tests (p < 0.05).

RESULTS

Between February 2015 and December 2019, a total of 333 women were included. Mean age was 61.0 ± 11.2 and 141 (42%) reported being sexually active at baseline. At 12 months postoperatively, sexual activity was preserved in 110 (78%) of these women and an additional 26 women (14%) became sexually active. Both single-summary PISQ-IR (3.4 vs 3.6, p < 0.01) and PISQ-12 (36.0 vs 38.1, p < 0.01) scores increased significantly. The only variable that was associated with deteriorated scores postoperatively was a higher BMI. Individual domain analyses revealed significant improvement in condition-specific and condition-impact domains, except for the desire domain, which deteriorated. Prevalence of dyspareunia decreased post-surgery from 21.8% to 16.4%, p < 0.05. Newly sexually active women were older, had shorter vaginal length preoperatively, but lower PISQ-IR scores postoperatively than sexually inactive women pre- and postoperatively. Women ceasing sexual activity were older and had lower preoperative PISQ-IR scores than sexually active women pre- and postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the overall rate of sexually active women and sexual desire declined 12 months after sacrocolpopexy, overall sexual function scores improved and the prevalence of dyspareunia decreased.

Predictive value of the G8 and the IADL-modified G8 screening tools for postoperative delirium following major urological cancer surgery

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the Geriatric-8 (G8) and the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL)-modified G8 are associated with the occurrence of postoperative delirium after major urological cancer surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed a total of 415 consecutive patients who underwent major urologic cancer surgery and were screened preoperatively using the G8 and the IADL-modified G8 at our institution between January 2020 and July 2021. For both the G8 and the IADL-modified G8, a cut-off value of 14 was used. All patients underwent perioperative management according to the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocol formulated at our institution. Delirium was diagnosed using the Confusion Assessment Method. The relationship between these screening tests and clinical variables was examined. Predictive accuracy was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). To determine the risk factors for the occurrence of postoperative delirium, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Of the 415 patients, 160 (39%) were assigned to the low G8 (score ≤ 14) group and 166 (40%) to the low IADL-modified G8 (score ≤ 14) group. The median age of the patients was 72 years. Postoperative delirium occurred in 31 patients (7%). The AUC values for predicting postoperative delirium were 0.69 for the G8 and 0.71 for the IADL-modified G8. Multivariate analysis for the G8 showed that G8 ≤ 14 (odds ratio [OR] = 2.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2-6.0; P = 0.02), preoperative use of benzodiazepine (OR = 3.8; 95% CI = 1.6-8.6; P = 0.002), and operative time ≥ 237 min (OR = 3.3; 95% CI = 1.5-7.1; P = 0.003) were independent risk factors for postoperative delirium. Similarly, for the IADL-modified G8, IADL-modified G8 ≤ 14 (OR = 2.6; 95% CI = 1.1-5.8; P = 0.02), preoperative use of benzodiazepine (OR = 3.9; 95% CI = 1.7-8.8; P = 0.001), and operative time ≥ 237 min (OR = 3.3; 95% CI = 1.5-7.2; P = 0.003) were independent risk factors for postoperative delirium.

DISCUSSION

The G8 and the IADL-modified G8 screening may allow for better identification of patients at risk of postoperative delirium.

The Mini-Cog: A simple screening tool for cognitive impairment useful in predicting the risk of delirium after major urological cancer surgery

AIM

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the mini-cognitive assessment instrument (Mini-Cog) on postoperative delirium after major urological cancer surgery.

METHODS

In this single-center retrospective observational study, medical records were collected for patients who underwent major urologic cancer surgery at our department between 2020 and 2021, and underwent preoperative cognitive screening based on the Mini-Cog test (n = 331). The probable cognitive impairment is defined as a Mini-Cog score of <3. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to identify the risk factors for postoperative delirium.

RESULTS

Patients with probable cognitive impairment were 60 (18%). Postoperative delirium occurred in 26 patients (8%). Using multivariate analysis, the Mini-Cog score of <3 (odds ratio [OR] = 12.7; P < 0.001), decline of instrumental activities of daily living (OR = 3.0; P = 0.04) and preoperative benzodiazepine use (OR = 8.3; P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for postoperative delirium. For predicting postoperative delirium, Mini-Cog score with a cutoff value of <3 granting sensitivity of 69.2%, specificity of 86.2%, positive predictive value of 30.0% and negative predictive value of 97.1%.

CONCLUSIONS

The Mini-Cog test is a simple screening tool with only two components (a delayed, three-word recall task and a clock drawing test): it is useful in identifying potential cases of cognitive decline and patients at risk for postoperative delirium along with other information routinely collected preoperatively. Effective screening using the Mini-Cog test opens the possibility to provide optimal urologic care for older patients Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 319-324.

Pelvic organ prolapse and uterine preservation: a cohort study (POP-UP study)

Background

Abdominal and laparoscopic sacro-colpopexy (LSC) is considered the standard surgical option for the management of a symptomatic apical pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Women who have their uterus, and for whom an LSC is indicated, can have a laparoscopic sacro-hysteropexy (LSH), a laparoscopic supra-cervical hysterectomy and laparoscopic sacro-cervicopexy (LSCH + LSC) or a total laparoscopic hysterectomy and laparoscopic sacro-colpopexy (TLH + LSC). The main aim of this study was to compare clinical and patient reported outcomes of uterine sparing versus concomitant hysterectomy LSC procedures.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of clinical, imaging and patient reported outcomes at baseline, 3 and 12 months after LSH versus either LSCH + LSC or TLH + LSC between January 2015 and January 2019 in a tertiary referral urogynecology center in Pilsen, the Czech Republic.

Results

In total, 294 women were included in this analysis (LSH n = 43, LSCH + LSC n = 208 and TLH + LSC n = 43). There were no differences in the incidence of perioperative injuries and complications. There were no statistically significant differences between the concomitant hysterectomy and the uterine sparing groups in any of the operative, clinical or patient reported outcomes except for a significantly lower anterior compartment failure rate (p = 0.017) and higher optimal mesh placement rate at 12 months in women who had concomitant hysterectomy procedures (p = 0.006).

Conclusion

LSH seems to be associated with higher incidence of anterior compartment failures and suboptimal mesh placement based on postoperative imaging techniques compared to LSC with concomitant hysterectomy.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12905-021-01208-5.

Is robotic-assisted sacrocolpo(hystero)pexy safe and effective in women over 65 years of age?

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

The objective was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of robotic-assisted sacrocolpo(hystero)pexy in elderly patients with symptomatic apical pelvic organ prolapse and to compare the outcomes of open abdominal and robotic-assisted sacrocolpo(hystero)pexy in geriatric patients.

METHODS

Elderly patients (≥65 years of age) who underwent open abdominal or robotic-assisted sacrocolpo(hystero)pexy for treatment of symptomatic grade 3 and 4 apical pelvic organ prolapse between November 2015 and May 2019 were evaluated retrospectively. The success rates of the procedures, the surgical outcomes, and the perioperative adverse events of both groups were compared. Perioperative adverse events were categorized according to the Clavien-Dindo classification.

RESULTS

Forty-four patients underwent open abdominal sacrocolpo(hystero)pexy and 30 patients underwent robotic-assisted sacrocolpo(hystero)pexy. The mean age in the open abdominal sacrocolpo(hystero)pexy group was 68.4 ± 3.4 years and in the robotic-assisted sacrocolpo(hystero)pexy group it was 69.7 ± 4.1 years. The success rates in the open abdominal sacrocolpo(hystero)pexy and robotic-assisted sacrocolpo(hystero)pexy groups were 59% and 57% at median follow-up time of 28 months and 24 months respectively. Although the mean dosage of the analgesic (10.1 mg/24 h) and the mean length of hospital stay (2.1 days) were significantly lower and shorter for the robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexy group, the mean duration of operation was considerably longer (141.2 min). The rate of grade 2 or higher complications for open abdominal sacrocolpopexy was 16% (7 out of 44) and for robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexy it was 17% (5 out of 30).

CONCLUSIONS

Anatomical outcomes and adverse events are similar in elderly patients undergoing open sacrocolpo(hystero)pexy and robotic-assisted sacrocolpo(hystero)pexy.

Pelvic organ prolapse and uterine preservation: a survey of female gynecologists (POP-UP survey)

Background

The aim of this study was to explore the personal views of female gynecologists regarding the management of POP with a particular focus on the issue of uterine sparing surgery.

Methods

A questionnaire based survey of practicing female gynecologists in the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Slovakia.

Results

A total of 140 female gynecologists from 81 units responded to our questionnaire. The majority of respondents stated they would rely on a urogynecologist to aid them with their choice of POP management options. The most preferred options for POP management were sacrocolpopexy and physiotherapy. Almost 2/3 of respondents opted for a hysterectomy together with POP surgery, if they were menopausal, even if the anatomical outcome was similar to uterine sparing POP surgery. Moreover, 81.4% of respondents, who initially opted for a uterine sparing procedure, changed their mind if the anatomical success of POP surgery with concomitant hysterectomy was superior. Discussing uterine cancer risk in relation to other organs had a less significant impact on their choices.

Conclusions

The majority of female gynecologists in our study opted for hysterectomy if they were postmenopausal at the time of POP surgery. However, variation in information provision had an impact on their choice.