Prevalence of “complicated” stress urinary incontinence in female patients: can urodynamics provide more information in such patients?

European Urogynaecological Association Position Statement: The role of urodynamics in stress urinary incontinence evaluation and treatment decision

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is defined as a condition characterized by the involuntary leakage of urine during activities that increase intra-abdominal pressure which may decrease quality of life with a significant economic impact on health systems, necessitating the implementation of cost-effective management plans. Urodynamics (UDS) has been considered during the last decades as the gold standard for assessment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to their high reproducibility. At the same time, concerns about the systematic use of UDS before SUI surgery were raised due to a limited evidenced base to recommend their routine use. In uncomplicated female patients with SUI, UDS can offer further insights into LUTS, potentially assisting the physician in determining the appropriate therapeutic approach. However, it has not been shown that preoperative UDS can directly impact the surgical outcome for continence. Indeed, evidence supports the conclusion that pre-operative UDS in women with uncomplicated, clinically demonstrable, SUI does not improve the outcome of surgery for SUI. Nevertheless, asymptomatic detrusor overactivity (DO) identified by urodynamic testing or pre-existing voiding dysfunction are associated with an increased occurrence of postoperative overactive bladder (OAB) and voiding dysfunction, respectively. The EUGA Working Group concluded that the evidence does not support the systematic preoperative use of UDS for uncomplicated cases. However, in cases where mixed symptoms, voiding dysfunction, previous surgery, or concomitant prolapse are present, preoperative UDS are advised as they can be beneficial in anticipating postoperative outcomes. This aids in conducting comprehensive and thorough preoperative counseling. The Group recommend performing preoperative UDS considering the patient's specific clinical situation and the surgeon's judgment, with consideration given to the potential benefits, risks, and impact on treatment decisions and patient outcomes.

Comparison of success, complication and satisfaction rates of TOT and TVT-O surgical techniques

Background

Two different surgical techniques "inside-out" and "outside-in" have been described for transobturator tape procedure, one of the most preferred methods for the surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence in the last ten years. This study aimed to compare the success, complication, and patient satisfaction rates related to both techniques in patients who underwent transobturator tape procedure due to stress urinary incontinence in a 21-month period.

Patients and Method

A total of 71 patients including 46 patients who underwent transobturator tape operation with "outside-in" technique and 25 patients who underwent tension-free vaginal tape obturator operation with "inside-out" technique were involved in this study. Patients were evaluated in aspect of postoperative complications, pelvic examination results, stress test results, satisfaction, and quality of life scales.

Results

Patients operated with both techniques were similar in terms of age, body mass index 15, and menopausal status. Considering the complication rates, dyspareunia was found to be higher in the group using the inside-out technique (p = 0.002). Operation success rates were similar in the two surgical techniques both in subjective and objective evaluation. In addition, although there were differences between the two groups in terms of patient satisfaction rate and quality of life score, overall satisfaction rates were found to be high.

Conclusion

Transobturator tape operation is a procedure that provides high success rates in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence regardless of the used technique. Operation success rates, patient satisfaction rates, and postoperative quality of life scores were found to be almost similar in both surgical techniques.

Perineal ultrasound to assess the urethral spatial movement in stress urinary incontinence in women

BACKGROUND

Perineal ultrasound as a non-invasive method for the diagnosis of female stress urinary incontinence has attracted more and more attention. However, the criteria for stress urinary incontinence in women using perineal ultrasound have not been fully established. Our study aimed to evaluate characteristics of the urethral spatial movement with perineal ultrasonography.

METHODS

A total of 136 female patients with stress urinary incontinence and 44 controls were enrolled. Stress urinary incontinence was diagnosed using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form, medical history and physical examination, and severity was assessed using a 1 h pad test. We described the mobility of four equidistant points (A-D) located along the urethra length. The retrovesical and urethral rotation angles were measured using perineal ultrasonography at rest and during the maximal Valsalva maneuver.

RESULTS

Patients with stress urinary incontinence showed a more significant vertical movement at Points A, B and C than controls. The mean variations in the retrovesical angle were significantly larger in patients with stress urinary incontinence at rest and during the Valsalva maneuver than in controls (21.0 ± 16.5° vs. 14.7 ± 20.1°, respectively). The cut-off value for the retrovesical angle variation was 10.7° with 72% sensitivity and 54% specificity. There was a receiver-operating characteristic curve area of 0.73 and 0.72 for Points A and B, respectively. A cut-off of 10.8 mm, and 9.4 mm provided 71% sensitivity and 68% specificity and 67% sensitivity and 75% specificity, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The spatial movement of the bladder neck and proximal urethra, and variations in the retrovesical angle may be correlated with clinical symptoms and facilitate to the assessment of SUI.

FIGO recommendations: Use of midurethral slings for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence

BACKGROUND

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a global problem. It can significantly adversely impact a woman's quality of life. The use of synthetic mesh in vaginal surgery is controversial, especially when used for pelvic organ prolapse surgery. Although negative effects have been reported, the synthetic mesh midurethral sling (MUS) is considered to be safe and effective in the surgical treatment of SUI.

OBJECTIVES

To provide evidence-based data and recommendations for the obstetrician/gynecologist who treats women with SUI and performs or plans to perform MUS procedures.

METHODS

Academic searches of MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and Google Scholar articles published between 1987 and March 2020 were performed by a subgroup of the Urogynecology and Pelvic Floor Committee, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO).

SELECTION CRITERIA

The obtained scientific data were associated with a level of evidence according to the Oxford University Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine and GRADE Working Group system. In the absence of concrete scientific evidence, the recommendations were made via professional consensus.

RESULTS

The FIGO Urogynecology and Pelvic Floor Committee reviewed the literature and prepared this evidence-based recommendations document for the use of MUS for women with SUI.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the extensive literature, there is a lack of consensus in the optimal surgical treatment of SUI. These recommendations provide a direction for surgeons to make appropriate decisions regarding management of SUI. The MUS is considered safe and effective in the treatment of SUI, based on many high-quality scientific publications and professional society recommendations. Comprehensive long-term data and systemic reviews are still needed, and these data will become increasingly important as women live longer. These recommendations will be continuously updated through future literature reviews.

Prevalence of "uncomplicated" and "complicated" stress urinary incontinence in Argentinian women: Assessing the role of the urodynamic study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the percentage of Argentinian patients with "uncomplicated" and "complicated" stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in whom preoperative urodynamics study (UDS) was performed. The secondary objective of the study was to evaluate differences between clinical observation and urodynamics in both groups of women.

METHODS

A retrospective study of women with IOE derivatives for UDS prior to surgical treatment is performed. The analyzed patients were classified in complicated and not complicated according to the criteria of the study VALUE. The prevalence of different urodynamics observations was assessed in patients with complicated and uncomplicated SUI.

RESULTS

We studied 792 patients with SUI derivatives for UDS. Of the patients studied, 313 (39.5%) were considered as uncomplicated SUI and 479 (60.5%) as complicated SUI. The Urodynamics observation was considered different from the clinical data in 415/792 (52.4%), although in greater proportion in SUI complicated (59.9% vs. 40.9%, p < 0.001). There was a higher incidence of voiding dysfunction in patients with complicated SUI (32.4% vs. 14.7%, p < 0,001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with uncomplicated SUI represent 39% of patients studied with SUI. The differences between clinical evaluation and urodynamics are higher in patients with complicated SUI contributing new information in 60% of the cases.

Comparison of translabial ultrasonographic and urodynamic data of female patients with urinary incontinence: Importance of translabial ultrasonography in the diagnosis of incontinence

OBJECTIVE

To explore the diagnostic importance of translabial ultrasonographic data in incontinence, for comparison with urodynamic data.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was performed between January and May 2017 on 64 patients aged between 40 and 65 years with complaints of mixed type incontinence. The patients were separated into two groups according to their urodynamic data. Translabial ultrasonography was performed in both groups.

RESULTS

Mean age of the patients was 51.19±7.01 years, and mean body mass index was 26.69±2.02 kg/m². The patients were separated into two groups as those with (n=33) or without (n=31) stress urinary incontinence based on urodynamic findings (despite the presence of mixed urinary incontinence complaints, stress urinary incontinence and detrusor overactivity associated with incontinence could not be detected in the urodynamic study). Average x descend, y descend and bladder neck mobilization values detected with translabial ultrasonography were found to be statistically significantly higher in the urodynamic stress incontinence group. There was an opposite-directional, 37.6% and statistically significant relation between maximum cystometric capacity and x descend parameters. Y descend values and bladder neck mobilization of females with negative Q-tip test were found to be statistically significantly lower than females with positive Q-tip test.

CONCLUSION

As a complementary examination tool in the evaluation of urinary incontinence translabial ultrasonography may become one of the main diagnostic evaluation tools in the future.

The role of urodynamics in the management of female stress urinary incontinence

AIM

The role of urodynamic study (UDS) in the management of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is one of the most controversial and debated topic in urogynecology. Here, we aimed to systematically assess the most relevant available evidence on urodynamics' value in the management of women with stress urinary incontinence.

METHODS

A systematic review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statement was performed in May 2018. Only randomized clinical trials, prospective studies, or retrospective studies articles evaluating the use of urodynamic studies in women with stress urinary incontinence were included.

RESULTS

After screening a total of 3055 records, 39 studies published from 1996 to 2018 were included.

CONCLUSIONS

In an uncomplicated population of women with SUI, it is not demonstrated that preoperative urodynamic evaluation can improve the outcome of continence surgery; however, UDS provides additional information regarding lower urinary tract function that could guide the physician to make the right therapeutic choice. UDS should be considered mandatory before surgery in complicated patients, but its use should also be evaluated in index patients when the results may help counseling and management of these women.

Urodynamics Useless in Female Stress Urinary Incontinence? Time for Some Sense-A European Expert Consensus

BACKGROUND

Routine use of urodynamics (UDS) for the assessment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) appears to be in decline across Europe. The reasons for this trend appear multifactorial, but the implications are of significant concern.

OBJECTIVES

To achieve an expert consensus viewpoint on the value of UDS in female SUI and current barriers to its use.

METHODOLOGY

A multidisciplinary group of UDS experts from six European countries was convened, and a modified version of the Delphi method was utilised to reach a consensus viewpoint structured around five key questions.

RESULTS

Consensus was achieved on all five questions. The group was unanimous that the decline in routine use of UDS is unjustified and misguided, driven by restrictions in funding and accelerated by the publication-and subsequent influence-of two trials that had major limitations.

LIMITATIONS

The authors comprised a selected group of UDS experts and the analysis is not a formal systematic review.

CONCLUSIONS

Extensive experience and observational studies have demonstrated the value of UDS for the assessment of female SUI and the dangers of empiric management. This evidence base should not be eclipsed by the findings of two randomised controlled trials that had numerous shortcomings.

PATIENT SUMMARY

A group of experts were worried that, even though the cause of incontinence varies, doctors seem to be skipping a diagnostic test called urodynamics (UDS) in some patients and just providing treatment-even surgery-without knowing exactly what is wrong. These experts analysed the situation in detail and reached agreement that UDS testing should not be skipped.

Urodynamics useless before surgery for female stress urinary incontinence: Are you sure? Results from a multicenter single nation database

AIMS

The role of urodynamics (UDS) before surgery for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) remains a debated issue in female urology as well as in urogynaecology and it has been recently questioned on the basis of data coming from selected population of patients defined as "uncomplicated." The aim of this study was to investigate the percentage of "uncomplicated" patients undergoing urodynamic evaluations in six referral Italian centers. The secondary aim was to assess the prevalence of women, for whom the urodynamic evaluation could add new information to the pre-urodynamic picture and in how many cases these findings had a significant impact on patient management.

METHODS

The data of women who underwent urodynamic evaluation prior to surgery for stress urinary incontinence between 2008 and 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the definition of the Value of Urodynamic Evaluation (ValUE) trial criteria, patients presenting with SUI were classified as "uncomplicated" or "complicated." Urodynamic observations were then compared with pre-urodynamic data.

RESULTS

Overall, 2,053 female patients were considered. Only 740/2,053 (36.0%) patients were defined "uncomplicated" according to the definition used in the ValUE trial. The urodynamic observations were not consistent with the pre-urodynamic diagnosis in 1,276 out of 2,053 patients (62.2%). Voiding dysfunctions were urodynamically diagnosed in 394 patients (19.2%). Planned surgery was cancelled or modified in 304 patients (19.2%), due to urodynamic findings.

CONCLUSIONS

"Uncomplicated" patients represent a minority among female SUI patients evaluated before surgery. In "complicated" patients, the role of urodynamic has not been challenged yet and UDS seems still mandatory. Neurourol. Urodynam. 35:809-812, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.