Serious complications and recurrences after retropubic vs transobturator midurethral sling procedures for 2682 patients in the VIGI-MESH register

BACKGROUND

Midurethral slings are the gold standard for treating stress urinary incontinence, but their complications may raise concerns. Complications may differ by the approach used to place them.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare serious complications and reoperations for recurrence after midurethral sling procedures when using the retropubic vs the transobturator route for female stress urinary incontinence.

STUDY DESIGN

This analysis was of patients included in the French, multicenter VIGI-MESH register since February 2017 who received a midurethral sling for female stress urinary incontinence either by the retropubic or the transobturator route and excluded patients with single-incision slings. Follow-up continued until October 2021. Serious complications (Clavien-Dindo classification ≥ grade III) attributable to the midurethral sling and reoperations for recurrence were compared using Cox proportional hazard models including any associated surgery (hysterectomy or prolapse) and a frailty term to consider the center effect. Baseline differences were balanced by propensity score weighting. Analyses using the propensity score and Cox models were adjusted for baseline differences, center effect, and associated surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 1830 participants received a retropubic sling and 852 received a transobturator sling in 27 French centers that were placed by 167 surgeons. The cumulative 2-year estimate of serious complications was 5.8% (95% confidence interval, 4.8-7.0) in the retropubic group and 2.9% (95% confidence interval, 1.9-4.3) in the transobturator group, that is, after adjustment, half of the retropubic group was affected (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.41; 95% confidence interval, 0.3-0.6). The cumulative 2-year estimate of reoperation for recurrence of stress urinary incontinence was 2.7% (95% confidence interval, 2.0-3.6) in the retropubic group and 2.8% (95% confidence interval, 1.7-4.2) in the transobturator group with risk for revision for recurrence being higher in the transobturator group after adjustment (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.9); this surplus risk disappeared after exclusion of the patients with a previous surgery for stress urinary incontinence.

CONCLUSION

The transobturator route for midurethral sling placement is associated with a lower risk for serious complications but a higher risk for surgical reoperation for recurrence than the retropubic route. Despite the large number of surgeons involved, these risks were low. The data are therefore reassuring.

Influence of prenatal urinary incontinence and mode of delivery in postnatal urinary incontinence: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

It is likely that the pathophysiology of urinary incontinence (UI) differs between women who are incontinent before the first delivery and those whose incontinence occurs after. In this systematic review, we aimed to assess the association between the mode of delivery and the risk of postpartum UI in primiparous women with and without prenatal UI.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, Cochrane, Web of Science, Embase and CINHAL databases. Prospective studies including primiparous women during their pregnancy with a comparison of the rate of postpartum UI in women who underwent cesarean delivery or vaginal delivery according to continence status before delivery were included. The Risk Ratio (RR) was calculated with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) using the total number of events and patients extracted from the individual studies. A subgroup comparison analysed the potential influence of women's prenatal continence status. Heterogeneity was estimated using I² statistics.

RESULTS

The risk of postpartum UI was significantly higher after vaginal delivery than after cesarean section (RR 1.80, 95% CI 1.48- 2.18). According to the subgroup test, the postpartum UI risk following a vaginal delivery, compared to cesarean section, was significantly higher in the subgroup of continent women during pregnancy (RR 2.57, 95% CI 2.17-3.04) than in the subgroup of incontinent pregnant women (1.56, 95% CI 1.27-1.92).

CONCLUSIONS

The effect of a cesarean section in preventing postpartum UI appears controversial, particularly in women with prenatal UI.

Association of Preoperative Enzian Score with Postoperative Fertility in Patients with Deep Pelvic Endometriosis

INTRODUCTION

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease with a negative impact on fertility. The Enzian classification provides a precise description of deep pelvic endometriotic lesions, especially in the retroperitoneal area, from preoperative pelvic MRI scans. However, it is not known if it is correlated with postoperative fertility.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine if there is an association between the preoperative Enzian score and postoperative fertility after deep pelvic endometriosis surgery.

DESIGN

We conducted a descriptive, retrospective study using information from the ENDOREN database.

SETTING

This was a retrospective study at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Rennes University Hospital (France) from January 2013 to May 2019 PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: We used information from the ENDOREN database that included all women who underwent surgery for deep endometriosis and wish to conceive. This surgery was intended in a view to achieve a complete removal of endometriosis.

MEASUREMENTS

The Enzian score was calculated from preoperative MRI scans, and total, spontaneous, and after In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) live births and pregnancies outcomes were collected from the patients'computerized medical records. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Sixty-eight patients were included. The live-birth rate was 35% (24/68). According to the Enzian classification, 25 patients (35%) were classified in compartment A, 64 patients (94%) in compartment B, and 27 (40%) in compartment C. In multivariate analysis, positive predictor of live birth was single Enzian B score (OR=4.7[1.21; 18.81], p=0.03), negative predictors were uterine adenomyosis and a history of endometriosis surgery. In multivariate analysis, positive predictor of spontaneous live birth was EFI score ≥7 (OR =22.434; CI [1.138; 442.190]). In multivariate analysis, positive predictor was Enzian A score (OR=15.9[2.2; 114.7], p=0.006), and negative predictors was uterine adenomyosis and Enzian B score (OR=0.01[0; 0.495], p=0.02) for live birth after IVF.

CONCLUSION

The present retrospective study cannot strongly conclude about fertility and correlation with Enzian score because the groups are too small. However, it seems that when solely the compartment B is involved by endometriosis, complete full removal of endometriosis leads to better post-operative live births results. Other studies must be done to determine if Enzian classification based on preoperative pelvic MRI could be clinical value in the decision-making strategy for managing infertile patients with deep pelvic endometriosis.

A core outcome set development for a French national prospective study about the effect of mediolateral episiotomy on obstetric anal sphincter injury during operative vaginal delivery (INSTRUMODA)

BACKGROUND

We aimed at developing a core outcome and variables of interest set to investigate the effects of mediolateral episiotomy on Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury (OASI) during and after operative delivery in nulliparous women in a large-scale one-year observational French study including 15,000 women (INSTRUMODA).

METHODS

A list of outcomes and variables of interest was suggested to obstetricians participating in the INSTRUMODA study using online questionnaires divided into 7 categories: the woman's history and course of pregnancy, course of labor, modalities of operative delivery, episiotomy characteristics, immediate maternal morbidity, one-year maternal morbidity, immediate neonatal morbidity. We used a three-round DELPHI method to reach a consensus. In the first round, outcomes and variables considered as essential by 70% or more of obstetricians were included in the corpus whereas they were excluded when 70% rated them as "not important". In the second round, non-consensual outcomes and variables were reassessed and excluded or definitively included if considered as "not important" or essential by 50% or more of the obstetricians. During the first round, obstetricians were invited to suggest new outcomes and/or variables that were then assessed in the second and third round. We used the same method to develop a core outcome and variables of interest set in a population of women in the community recruited via an association of patients. At the end of the procedure the core outcome and variables of interest sets were merged to provide the final core outcome set for the INSTRUMODA study.

RESULTS

Fifty-three obstetricians and 16 women filled out questionnaires. After the 3 rounds of Delphi procedure in each population, 74 outcomes and variables were consensually reported by obstetricians and 92 by women in the community. By mixing these two consensual corpora we reported a final consensual list of 114 variables of interest and outcomes for both obstetricians and women.

CONCLUSION

We established a core outcome and variables of interest set among obstetricians and women in the community to investigate the association between mediolateral episiotomy and OASI during operative delivery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The INSTRUMODA study was registered on https://clinicaltrials.gov on June 25, 2020 ( NCT04446780 ).

Outpatient laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy: Feasibility and patient satisfaction

OBJECTIVE

Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy is the standard surgery to correct apical pelvic organ prolapse. It is currently mainly practiced in the context of a conventional hospitalization, but more and more practitioners are developing it as an outpatient procedure. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of outpatient laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy and patient satisfaction.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study comparing outpatients with inpatients who had undergone laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy. The main outcome was the rate of unscheduled visits and the number of early readmissions (i.e., <1 month). Secondary outcomes were complication rates and patient satisfaction.

RESULTS

Eighty-four patients were included with 42 women in each group. The rate of unscheduled consultations was 16.7 % (n = 7/42) in the outpatient group and 21 % (n = 9/42) in the inpatient group. 2.4 % (n = 1/42) of outpatients and 4.8 % (n = 2/42) of inpatients were re-hospitalized within a month after surgery. The complication rate was not significantly different between the groups. In the outpatient group, 88.2 % of patients were satisfied compared with 97.5 % in the inpatient group (p = 0.17) CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy can be considered a safe and satisfactory option.

[Benefits of pelvic floor education in perineal re-education in women]

AIM

Evaluate the impact of pelvic floor education on the symptoms of female patients referred for pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT).

METHODS

Forty female patients suffering from pelvic floor disorders and referred to independent practice for PFME between February and May 2019 answered a survey on symptoms and quality of life before PFME, after four sessions of pelvic floor education and at the end of PFME. The ICIQ-SF, USP, Contilife, PDFI 20, Kess, and Wexner scores were used to evaluate the results. The protocol consisted in four initial sessions of pelvic floor education including information on each field of perineology ; the fifth session was dedicated to visual feedback using a mirror ; the following five sessions were tailored according to the care objectives established based on the initial assessment.

RESULTS

The scores were significantly improved after the four initial sessions of pelvic floor education. The improvement was significant at the end of the re-education program. The PFDI-20 score dropped from 66,9 to 20,9 (P=0,002), the ICIQ-SF score from 8,4 to 1,5 (P<10^-3), the Wexner score from 7,4 to 5,1 (P<10^-3) and the Kess score from 14,2 to 8,7 (P=0,05).

CONCLUSION

The results showed that female patients undergoing perineal re-education including pelvic floor education sessions show a significant improvement in their symptoms already immediately after the pelvic floor education sessions.

[Perineal prevention and protection in obstetrics: CNGOF Clinical Practice Guidelines (short version)]

INTRODUCTION

The objective of these clinical practice guidelines was to analyse all of the interventions during pregnancy and childbirth that might prevent obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) and postnatal pelvic floor symptoms.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

These guidelines were developed in accordance with the methods prescribed by the French Health Authority (HAS).

RESULTS

A prenatal clinical examination of the perineum is recommended for women with a history of Crohn's disease, OASIS, genital mutilation, or perianal lesions (professional consensus). Just after delivery, a perineal examination is recommended to check for OASIS (Grade B); if there is doubt about the diagnosis, a second opinion should be requested (GradeC). In case of OASIS, the injuries (including their severity) and the technique for their repair should be described in detail (GradeC). Perineal massage during pregnancy must be encouraged among women who want it (Grade B). No intervention conducted before the start of the active phase of the second stage of labour has been shown to be effective in reducing the risk of perineal injury. The crowning of the baby's head should be manually controlled and the posterior perineum manually supported to reduce the risk of OASIS (GradeC). The performance of an episiotomy during normal deliveries is not recommended to reduce the risk of OASIS (Grade A). In instrumental deliveries, episiotomy may be indicated to avoid OASIS (GradeC). When an episiotomy is performed, a mediolateral incision is recommended (Grade B). The indication for episiotomy should be explained to the woman, and she should consent before its performance. Advising women to have a caesarean delivery for primary prevention of postnatal urinary or anal incontinence is not recommended (Grade B). During pregnancy and again in the labour room, obstetrics professionals should focus on the woman's expectations and inform her about the modes of delivery.

[Preoperative functional explorations of genital prolapse (urodynamics, dynamic MRI)]

The evaluation of genital prolapse is essentially clinical; however imaging tests such as dynamic MRI or urodynamic explorations may be useful in complex cases, especially before surgical management. Dynamic MRI allows morphological and dynamic analysis of pelvic floor and levator ani function. It can also detect post-obstetric injuries, although the long-term significance of these injuries remains to be discovered. Quantification of the severity of prolapse is possible with MRI; however, the correlation of these measures with clinical examination seems poor. Its interest lies mainly in the qualitative assessment of the three stages of prolapse and the detection of elytroceles, which can be difficult to clinical examination. Urodynamics provides useful information on vesico-sphincteric function, but none of these parameters seems to be decisive in the management of prolapse.

[Relationship between perineal characteristics and symptoms and pelvic girdle pain: A literature review]

INTRODUCTION

Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is characterized by the presence of pain in the posterior pelvic area, distally and laterally to the fifth lumbar vertebra, and/or at the pubic symphysis. PGP is a very common pain condition in women, especially during pregnancy and postpartum. After delivery, pain prevalence decreases to 7 % in the first three months. The current literature describes an association between pelvic girdle pain and different perineal characteristics and symptoms.

OBJECTIVES

A better understanding of perineal structures influence on PGP could assist towards the management of this condition. The aim of this review is to describe the peer-reviewed literature about perineal function in patients with PGP.

METHODS

A bibliographic search on PubMed was conducted. The key words used were: pelvic girdle pain, pregnacy-related low back pain, lumbopelvic pain, posterior pelvic pain, peripartum pelvic pain, pelvic girdle relaxation, pelvic joint instability, peripartum pelvic pain, sacroiliac joint pain, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, sacroiliac-joint related pelvic pain and pelvic floor. Two hundred and twenty-one (221) articles were identified. Out of them, a total of nine articles were selected. The level of evidence was determined using Oxford's scale.

RESULTS

Patients with PGP showed increased activity of the pelvic floor muscles (P=0.05) (LE3), decreased urogenital hiatus area (PGP 12.4 cm²±2.7, control 13.7 cm²±2.8, P=0.015) (LE3), shorter endurance time (PGP 17.8 s; control 54.0 s, P=0.00) (LE3), significantly later onset time during affected side leg elevation (PGP 25ms, control -129ms, P=0.01) (LE3), levator ani and obturator internus tenderness (PGP 25/26; control 5/25, P<0.001) (LE3) and a higher prevalence of vesico-sphincteric disorders compared to asymptomatic subjects (LE3).

CONCLUSION

This review confirms that subjects suffering PGP present particular perineal characteristics regarding morphology and biomechanics. It would be interesting to develop clinical research concerning pelvic floor release effect in PGP.

[Cervical pregnancy: a rare case of reimplantation after abortion. A case report]

Cervical pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy defined by the implantation of the blastocyst in the cervical canal. Most of the cervical pregnancies have been reported in patients with a history of vacuum curettage or caesarean section. The authors report a case of cervical pregnancy occurred after a failure of medical abortion. A literature review discusses the possibility of a cervical secondary implantation and describes the management of such pregnancies.