Definition of apical descent in women with and without previous hysterectomy: A retrospective analysis

Phenotypes of Pelvic Organ Prolapse

IMPORTANCE

The Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) stages do not correlate with symptoms or characterize important prolapse subtypes.

OBJECTIVES

We hypothesize that clinically meaningful prolapse "phenotypes" utilizing POP-Q measurements can be defined. The primary aim was to define the phenotypes and their frequency. Secondary aims were to compare demographics, medical characteristics, and symptoms between phenotypes.

STUDY DESIGN

Patients who previously underwent prolapse surgery were retrospectively categorized into 1 of 8 phenotypes based on 2 principles: (1) prolapse exists when the anterior or posterior vaginal wall descend to the hymen or the apex descends half total vaginal length, and (2) prolapse may exist in anterior, posterior, and/or apical compartments. Demographics, medical characteristics, and Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20) responses were compared. Linear and logistic regression models were used for comparisons.

RESULTS

The AC (anterior-predominant and apical) phenotype was most common (231 of 501 patients, 46.1%) and served as the reference for comparisons. The no prolapse, P (isolated posterior), C (isolated apical), and PC (posterior-predominant and apical) phenotypes were younger. The A (isolated anterior) phenotype was older. P, PC, and APC (anterior and posterior and apical) phenotypes had greater body mass index. The P phenotype Colorectal-Anal Distress Inventory scores were higher. Similarly, the PC phenotype had higher scores for bowel splinting and rectal prolapse. Conversely, the C phenotype total PFDI-20 scores were lower (P = 0.01). Only the APC phenotype had no significant differences in any PFDI-20 question compared with the AC phenotype.

CONCLUSION

These phenotypes may allow for improved understanding, communication, and counseling about prolapse and prolapse treatment.

International urogynecological consultation chapter 4.1: definition of outcomes for pelvic organ prolapse surgery

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

This manuscript of Chapter 4 of the International Urogynecological Consultation (IUC) on Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) reviews the literature and makes recommendations on the definition of success in the surgical treatment of pelvic organ prolapse.

METHODS

An international group containing seven urogynecologists performed an exhaustive search of the literature using two PubMed searches and using PICO methodology. The first search was from 01/01/2012-06/12/2022. A second search from inception to 7/24/2022 was done to access older references. Publications were eliminated if not relevant to the clinical definition of surgical success for the treatment of POP. All abstracts were reviewed for inclusion and any disagreements were adjudicated by majority consensus of the writing group. The resulting list of articles were used to inform a comprehensive review and creation of the definition of success in the surgical treatment of POP.

OUTCOMES

The original search yielded 12,161 references of which 45 were used by the writing group. Ultimately, 68 references are included in the manuscript. For research purposes, surgical success should be primarily defined by the absence of bothersome patient bulge symptoms or retreatment for POP and a time frame of at least 12 months follow-up should be used. Secondary outcomes, including anatomic measures of POP and related pelvic floor symptoms, should not contribute to a definition of success or failure. For clinical practice, surgical success should primarily be defined as the absence of bothersome patient bulge symptoms. Surgeons may consider using PASS (patient acceptable symptom state) or patient goal attainment assessments, and patients should be followed for a minimum of at least one encounter at 6-12 weeks post-operatively. For surgeries involving mesh longer-term follow-up is recommended.

Anatomic Criterion for Clinically Relevant Apical Prolapse in Urogynecology Populations

IMPORTANCE

Despite recognition of the critical role of the apex in vaginal support, there is no consensus on the anatomic criteria for clinically relevant apical prolapse.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to define an optimal anatomic criterion for clinically relevant apical prolapse.

STUDY DESIGN

This retrospective cohort study included 3,690 patients who had visited a tertiary hospital for ambulatory urogynecologic care. Vaginal bulge symptom was defined as a response of "somewhat," "moderately," or "quite a bit" to Question 3 on the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated for a vaginal bulge symptom and apical support (Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification point C and C/total vaginal length [TVL]).

RESULTS

Both point C and the C-to-TVL ratio (C/TVL) had excellent performance for predicting vaginal bulge symptoms (area under the curve, 0.917 and 0.927, respectively). The optimal cutoffs were -3.0 for C and -0.50 for C/TVL. When we analyzed the data set according to the TVL, there was a significant difference in the cutoffs for C, whereas those for C/TVL had little difference. There was no difference in the cutoffs of C and C/TVL according to hysterectomy status.

CONCLUSIONS

The C/TVL is more appropriate than point C as a measure to define an anatomic criterion for clinically relevant apical prolapse. Descent of the vaginal apex beyond the halfway point of the vagina could be considered as an anatomic threshold for clinically relevant apical prolapse. This finding needs to be validated in nonurogynecology populations.

Is the Visual Analogue Scale inferior to the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory for assessing symptom bother of pelvic organ prolapse?

AIMS

Disease-specific validated questionnaires are used to quantify symptom severity, but they are time consuming to complete and evaluate. A Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) assessment of bother is simpler and faster. The aim of this study is to compare VAS with individual and composite pelvic floor disability index-short form 20 items in predicting significant pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of data was obtained at a tertiary urogynaecological clinic between February 2017 and August 2018. All women filled out the PFDI-20 and underwent a standardised physician-directed interview, POP-Q and translabial ultrasound. Women with symptoms of POP were asked to indicate the degree of bother using a VAS. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the performance of individual Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory (POPDI)-6 items, the six-item composite POPDI-6 score, and VAS in predicting significant POP on clinical and ultrasound examination.

RESULTS

The complete data sets of 231 women were analysed. Median VAS for POP was 2.9 (range 0-10). Median POPDI-6 individual and composite scores for items one to six were 2, 2, 2, 1, 2, 0 (all range 0-4) and 9 (range 0-22), respectively. The majority had significant prolapse on clinical examination (n = 195, 84%) and on ultrasound (n = 192, 83%). The composite POPDI-6 prolapse score provided areas under the curve of 0.68 and 0.64 for the prediction of clinical and sonographic POP, compared to 0.74 and 0.69, respectively, for VAS. The difference was not significant (P = 0.3 and 0.8, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The VAS score was not inferior to the POPDI-6 in predicting significant POP. It has the potential to simplify the assessment of symptom severity.

International Urogynecological Consultation: clinical definition of pelvic organ prolapse

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

This segment of Chapter 1 of the International Urogynecology Consultation (IUC) on pelvic organ prolapse (POP) reviews the literature on the clinical definition of POP with the intent of creating standard terminology.

METHODS

An international group containing nine urogynecologists and one university-based medical librarian performed a search of the literature using pre-specified search terms in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus. Publications were eliminated if not relevant to the clinical definition of POP, and those articles remaining were evaluated for quality using the Specialist Unit for Review Evidence (SURE). The resulting list of articles was used to inform a comprehensive review and creation of the clinical definition of POP.

RESULTS

The original search yielded 31,931 references, of which 167 were used by the writing group. Ultimately, 78 are referenced in the manuscript.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical definition of POP for this review of the literature is: "anatomical prolapse with descent of at least one of the vaginal walls to or beyond the vaginal hymen with maximal Valsalva effort WITH the presence either of bothersome characteristic symptoms, most commonly the sensation of vaginal bulge, or of functional or medical compromise due to prolapse without symptom bother."

Is vaginal flatus related to pelvic floor functional anatomy?

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Vaginal flatus is an embarrassing condition that can impair women's quality of life. The underlying pathophysiology is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the association between vaginal flatus and pelvic floor anatomy.

METHODS

Retrospective observational study on women seen in a tertiary urogynaecological service. All had undergone a standardised interview, clinical examination and four-dimensional transperineal ultrasound. Offline analysis of volume data was performed blinded against clinical data.

RESULTS

Datasets of 570 women were analysed. Five hundred twelve (90%) were vaginally parous. Vaginal flatus was reported by 190 (33%). Mean bother score was 4.2 (SD 3.4, range 0-10). One hundred eighty-five reported frequency of vaginal flatus: it occurred < once a month in 25 (14%), once a month in 70 (38%), once a week in 47 (25%), once daily in 28 (15%) and > once daily in 15 (8%). One hundred two women identified the following precipitating factors: intercourse in 72 (71%), postural change in 22 (22%) and physical activities in 9 (9%). Vaginal birth, central and posterior compartment prolapse, anal incontinence, higher levator resting tone and younger age were associated with vaginal flatus. The latter was moderately correlated with symptom bother (correlation coefficient - 0.21).

CONCLUSIONS

Vaginal flatus is a prevalent and bothersome condition affecting one-third of our study population. The condition is associated with pelvic floor functional anatomy. A higher resting tone may confer a higher resistance against which trapped air is expelled during physical activities. Younger age was moderately correlated with symptom bother.