[Sexual outcome after pelvic organ prolapse surgery]

Vaginal posterior isthmic sling: A report of 53 cases

INTRODUCTION

Sacrospinofixation is used for fundic vaginal vault's prolapse or to prevent mid-level or posterior prolapse. It can lead to complications such as dyspareunia, chronic pain, and quality of life impairment. Anchoring a posterior isthmic sling to the two sacrospinous ligaments is an alternative to classic Richter's sacrospinofixation. Objective of this study is to report the first cases of vaginal posterior isthmic slings.

METHODS

This study is retrospective and unicentric. It includes women who had posterior isthmic sling at the time of a surgery with a mesh for anterior prolapse by vaginal way between 2010 and 2016 in the gynecologic department of a teaching hospital. Report of efficacy and tolerance was performed.

RESULTS

Between 2010 and 2016, 53 women were included with a posterior isthmic sling and a mesh for an anterior prolapse. POP-Q evolution during the follow-up in the posterior isthmic sling group assess of a good efficacy of the sling. Four women (7.5%) required second surgery in 28 months following initial surgery (only 1 for excision). Four women (7.5%) had a prolapse recurrence in a mean time of 30 months without recurrent surgery. Women's satisfaction level was high (8.0/10 [7,1-8,8]).

CONCLUSION

Efficacy and tolerance of the posterior isthmic sling seems good. It might then be an option for mid-level prolapses in case of vaginal surgery with mesh for anterior prolapse. A non-inferiority trial should be performed to be able to conclude on the place of this alternative to Richter's sacrospinofixation.

3-year results of transvaginal cystocele repair with transobturator four-arm mesh: A prospective study of 105 patients

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of transobturator four-arm mesh for treating cystoceles.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this prospective study, 105 patients had a cystocele corrected between January 2004 and December 2008. All patients had a symptomatic cystocele of stage ⩾2 according to the Baden-Walker halfway stratification. We used only the transobturator four-arm mesh kit (Surgimesh®, Aspide Medical, France). All surgical procedures were carried out by the same experienced surgeon. The patients' characteristics and surgical variables were recorded prospectively. The anatomical outcome, as measured by a physical examination and postoperative stratification of prolapse, and functional outcome, as assessed by a questionnaire derived from the French equivalents of the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory, Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire and the Pelvic Organ Prolapse-Urinary Incontinence-Sexual Questionnaire, were considered as the primary outcome measures. Peri- and postoperative complications constituted the secondary outcome measures.

RESULTS

At 36 months after surgery the anatomical success rate (stage 0 or 1) was 93%. On a functional level, all the scores of quality of life and sexuality were improved. The overall satisfaction score (visual analogue scale) was 71.4%. There were no perioperative adverse events. Mesh erosion was reported in 7.6% and mesh retraction in 5.7% of the patients.

CONCLUSIONS

If the guidelines and precautions are followed, vaginal prosthetic surgery for genitourinary prolapse has shown long-term benefits. It provides excellent results both anatomically and functionally. However, complications are not negligible and some are specific to prosthetic surgery.

Morbidity and functional mid-term outcomes using Prolift pelvic floor repair systems

INTRODUCTION

We assess midterm morbidity and functional outcomes using the Prolift (Gynecare/Ethicon, Somerville, NJ) system and identify potential related risk factors. The Prolift mesh system to treat genital prolapse was introduced in 2005. It was withdrawn from the market in early 2013 after rising doubts about safety.

METHODS

Over a 7-year period, we retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 112 consecutive patients who underwent the Prolift procedure since 2006. Intraoperative and postoperative complications, anatomical and functional outcomes were recorded.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 49.5 months (range: 16-85). The mean age was 64.7 ± 10.9 years (range: 40-86). Of the 112 patients, 74 patients had stage 3 (66.1%) and 8 patients had stage 4 (7.14%) vaginal prolapse. Prolift surgery was performed for pro-lapse recurrence for 26 patients (23.2%). Total mesh was used in 32 patients (29%), an isolated anterior mesh in 57 patients (51%) and an isolated posterior mesh in 23 patients (21%). Concomitant surgical procedures were performed for 44 patients (39.3%). Overall, 72% (18/25) of the complications were managed medically. We reported a failure rate of 8% (n = 9) occurring after a median follow-up of 9.5 months (range: 1-45). Among the 64 patients who had preoperative sexual activity (57.1%), de novo dyspareunia occurred in 9 patients (16.07%). We extracted predictive factors concerning failure, complications and sexuality.

CONCLUSION

Despite its market withdrawal, the Prolift system was associated with good midterm anatomic outcomes and few severe complications. Long-term follow-up data are still lacking, but surgeons and patients may be reassured.

Sexuality in German urogynecological patients and healthy controls: is there a difference with respect to the diagnosis?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate sexual function among German urogynecological patients compared to a control group without urogynecological symptoms, using the validated German version of the Australian pelvic floor questionnaire.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study including 313 women divided into five subgroups: women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI), overactive bladder (OAB), mixed incontinence (MI), pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and healthy controls. The self-administered questionnaire is divided into three domains: bladder, pelvic organ prolapse, and sexual function. It also includes severity, bothersomeness and condition-specific quality of life. Only completely filled out questionnaires were included. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used as a non-parametric test to calculate significances for ordinal data. A p-value <.05 was taken as significant.

RESULTS

16/59 (27.1%) women in the control group were not sexually active compared to 19/60 (31.7%) in the SUI group, 51/98 (52.0%) in the mixed-incontinence group, 19/43 (44.2%) in the OAB group, and 24/53 (45.3%) in the prolapse group. Coital incontinence was present significantly more often in women with SUI (15/41, 36.6%) or mixed incontinence (20/44, 45.5%) than among the controls (1/49, 2.1%). Hence, concerning sexuality, women with urogynecological symptoms were all significantly more affected than the healthy controls.

CONCLUSION

The German version of the Australian pelvic floor questionnaire is a feasible tool to evaluate not only symptoms of urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse but also sexual dysfunction. A substantial proportion of our urogynecological patients suffer immensely from problems with their sexuality, and it is therefore our responsibility as physicians to provide assistance and improve our education in this field.

[Sexual pain disorders in females and males]

INTRODUCTION

The occurrence of pain during sex is one of the most common complaints in gynecological and sexological practice but nonetheless one of the most difficult problems to deal with and treat effectively.

METHODS

A literature review was conducted on Medline considering the articles listed until January 2012 dealing with sexual pain in women and men.

RESULTS

The different descriptions of painful intercourse (dyspareunia, vestibulo-vulvodynies, vaginismus) are not separate entities but the result of the interaction of many factors including genital pain, emotional and behavioral responses to penetration, caresses, desire and excitement, in a context of possible organic pathology (infection, endometriosis, inflammatory or dermatological disease, morphological or pelvic abnormality, hormonal deficiency) sometimes associated with chronic pain phenomena self-sustained by neurogenic inflammation. The clinical expression of sexual pain is as variable as its causes are many. The etiological investigation is essential but should not omit the sexological context and the need for appropriate management. The neurogenic inflammation and hypersensitivity impose an algological approach associated to etiological and sexological treatment.

CONCLUSION

Chronic sexual pains, whether they are superficial or deep, can be the sign of organic or psycho-sexual (primary or secondary) disorders. The development of a "therapeutic program" helps patients, allows them to restore self-confidence and leads to the disappearance of the symptom in more than half cases.

[Prolapse surgery: vaginal mesh or sacropexy]

The systematic assessment of common therapy concepts for female genital prolapse has led to a better understanding of the functional and anatomical connections and given proof of the lasting effectiveness of traditional surgery. Besides the defined evidence-based therapy strategies in vaginal prolapse repair, vaginal meshes are being used with increasing frequency. The lack of reliable therapy recommendations for these methods sounds us a note of caution in their application and underlines the necessity of standardised performance in experienced departments.