Retrospective Analysis of Clinical Features, Treatment and Outcome of Coital Injuries of the Female Genital Tract Consecutive to Consensual Sexual Intercourse in the Limbe Regional Hospital

Summary Paper of the Updated 2023 European Association of Urology Guidelines on Urological Trauma

CONTEXT

The European Association of Urology (EAU) Guidelines Panel for Urological Trauma has produced guidelines in order to assist medical professionals in the management of urological trauma in adults for the past 20 yr. It must be emphasised that clinical guidelines present the best evidence available to the experts, but following guideline recommendations will not necessarily result in the best outcome. Guidelines can never replace clinical expertise when making treatment decisions for individual patients regarding other parameters such as experience and available facilities. Guidelines are not mandates and do not purport to be a legal standard of care.

OBJECTIVE

To present a summary of the 2023 version of the EAU guidelines on the management of urological trauma.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A systematic literature search was conducted from 1966 to 2022, and articles with the highest certainty evidence were selected. It is important to note that due to its nature, genitourinary trauma literature still relies heavily on expert opinion and retrospective series.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Databases searched included Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Libraries, covering a time frame between May 1, 2021 and April 29, 2022. A total of 1236 unique records were identified, retrieved, and screened for relevance.

CONCLUSIONS

The guidelines provide an evidence-based approach for the management of urological trauma.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Trauma is a serious public health problem with significant social and economic costs. Urological trauma is common; traffic accidents, falls, intrapersonal violence, and iatrogenic injuries are the main causes. Developments in technology, continuous training of medical professionals, and improved care of polytrauma patients reduce morbidity and maximise the opportunity for quick recovery.

Vaginal injuries after consensual sexual intercourse - a survey among office-based gynecologists in Hamburg, Germany

Studies on the occurrence of injuries following consensual sexual intercourse (CSI) among patients treated by office-based gynecologists are lacking. This survey aimed to assess the presence and medical relevance of vaginal injuries after CSI in gynecological office-based practice, associated risk factors, and their significance for forensic medical assessment practice. All office-based gynecologists in Hamburg, Germany (n = 316), were asked to fill in a one-page questionnaire via a fax survey. The questionnaire covered various aspects such as having observed CSI-related injuries, injury severity, risk factors, and concomitant factors (bleeding, need for surgical care, hospitalization). Response rate was 43.2% (n = 115). Overall, 83.5% of office-based gynecologists reported having observed vaginal injuries after CSI at least once and 59.1% repeatedly. Regarding maximum injury severity, 52.1% observed mucosal erosions, 32.3% mucosa penetrating injuries, and 14.6% injuries penetrating the vagina. Having observed bleeding was reported by 56.3%, 28.1% had to perform surgical suture care, and hospital admission was initiated by 20.8%. Menopause (37.5%), use of objects (19.8%), alcohol, and/or drug use (16.7%) were reported as the most frequently observed associated risk factors. Vaginal injuries after CSI have been observed by the majority of office-based gynecologists in Hamburg involving a wide spectrum of severity, including the necessity of surgical care and hospital admission. Complementing published work in clinical and emergency medicine, these findings are highly relevant to the forensic evaluation of injuries in an allegation of sexual assault, as the severity of a vaginal injury in this setting does not necessarily support a conclusion on the issue of consent.

Vaginal laceration leading to air embolism during consensual sexual intercourse

Vaginal injuries with clinical complications apart from local bleeding following sexual intercourse are thought to be rare events that have recently fostered a discussion on the topic. We report a case of a vaginal laceration resulting in death caused by air embolism in a non-pregnant woman during consensual sexual intercourse with digital and penile penetration. Hysterectomy and a preexisting vaginal injury were additional risk factors present in this case. Besides case history and autopsy findings, histological examination of the vaginal lesion and postmortem computer tomography (PMCT) helped in diagnosing the cause of death and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.

Vaginal postcoital injuries requiring surgical intervention: a case series and literature review

This case series describes clinical features and management of women who required surgical repair of vaginal injuries following consensual intercourse in our institution during the last decade. As a secondary aim, we reviewed the literature on the topic. We searched our institution's database for procedures coded as "Suture of Vagina," excluding trauma not related to consensual sexual activity: between January 2008 and December 2017, 20 women underwent hemostatic suturing for vaginal injuries following intercourse. Mean age was 27.6 ± 12.5 (range, 16-63) years, 5 (25%) women were parous, 13 (65%) women used no contraception, and 1 (5%) used birth control pills. Three patients (15%) were postmenopausal. Eight injuries (40%) occurred following first-time intercourse, two (10%) occurred after intercourse with a new partner. Median time from bleeding onset to admission was 12 (range, 2-24) h. One patient (5%) was hemodynamically unstable and required treatment with packed cells. Median time from admission to surgery was 56 (range, 15-540) min. The laceration site was identified at the vaginal fornix in nine (45%) patients, at mid-vagina in four (20%), at the hymenal ring, or the posterior fourchette in six (30%). Tear of a longitudinal vaginal septum was identified in one patient (5%). To conclude, vaginal postcoital injuries are a rare occurrence, nevertheless they may involve significant blood loss and therefore require prompt evaluation and treatment. Once the patient is hemodynamically stable, psychosexual assessment and support should be offered to the patient and her partner.