Faut-il réaliser une hystérectomie lors de la cure de prolapsus?

[Assessment before surgical treatment for pelvic organ prolapse: Clinical practice guidelines]

INTRODUCTION

The issue addressed in this chapter of recommendations is: What is the clinical and para-clinical assessment to achieve in women with genital prolapse and for whom surgical treatment has been decided. What are the clinical elements of the examination that must be taken into account as a risk factor of failure or relapse after surgery, in order to anticipate and evaluate possible surgical difficulties, and to move towards a preferred surgical technique?

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This work is based on a systematic review of the literature (PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, Cochrane Database of Systemactic Reviews, EMBASE) for meta-analyzes, randomized trials, registries, literature reviews, controlled studies and major not controlled studies, published on the subject. Its implementation has followed the methodology of the HAS on the recommendations for clinical practice, with a scientific argument (with the level of evidence, NP) and a recommendation grade (A, B, C, and professional agreement [AP]).

RESULTS

It suits first of all to describe prolapse, by clinical examination, helped, if needed, by a supplement of imagery if clinical examination data are insufficient or in case of discrepancy between the functional signs and clinical anomalies found, or in case of doubt in associated pathology. It suits to look relapse risk factors (high grade prolapse) and postoperative complications risk factors (risk factors for prothetic exposure, surgical approach difficulties, pelvic pain syndrome with hypersensitivity) to inform the patient and guide the therapeutic choice. Urinary functional disorders associated with prolapse (urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, dysuria, urinary tract infection, upper urinary tract impact) will be search and evaluated by interview and clinical examination and by a flowmeter with measurement of the post voiding residue, a urinalysis, and renal-bladder ultrasound. In the presence of voiding disorders, it is appropriate to do their clinical and urodynamic evaluation. In the absence of any spontaneous or hidden urinary sign, there is so far no reason to recommend systematically urodynamic assessment. Anorectal symptoms associated with prolapse (irritable bowel syndrome, obstruction of defecation, fecal incontinence) should be search and evaluated. Before prolapse surgery, it is essential not to ignore gynecologic pathology.

CONCLUSION

Before proposing a surgical cure of genital prolapse of women, it suits to achieve a clinical and paraclinical assessment to describe prolapse (anatomical structures involved, grade), to look for recurrence, difficulties approach and postoperative complications risk factors, and to appreciate the impact or the symptoms associated with prolapse (urinary, anorectal, gynecological, pelvic-perineal pain) to guide their evaluation and their treatment. © 2016 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.

Polypropylene mesh as an alternative option for uterine preservation in pelvic reconstruction in patients with uterine prolapse

AIM

  The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of polypropylene mesh for uterine preservation during pelvic reconstruction in patients with severe uterine prolapse.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 67 women with severe uterine prolapse (pelvic organ prolapse quantification stage III/IV) who received transvaginal mesh reconstruction with uterine preservation. Surgery combined with a transobturator membrane sling procedure (tension-free vaginal tape-transobturator route) was performed in 54 patients. Among them, 18 had urodynamic stress incontinence, 30 had occult stress urinary incontinence, and six had mixed urinary incontinence. Objective assessments were carried out with the pelvic organ prolapse quantification staging system, urodynamic examination, and 1-h pad test. Evaluation of urinary and prolapse symptoms comprised the subjective assessment.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up interval was 19.6 months (12-40 months). The objective cure rate for the treatment of uterine prolapse was 89.5%, and the objective cure rate for the treatment of urinary incontinence was more than 90%.

CONCLUSIONS

Uterine preservation in pelvic reconstruction is technically feasible and the subjective and objective assessments imply that uterine preservation in pelvic reconstruction is an alternative option for indicated patients.

[Informing a patient about surgical treatment for pelvic organ prolapse]

Inform consent is a major objective in the relation patient-physician. Patient's information becomes doubt when it is insufficient. To answer to medical persons asking about patient's information, pretreatment clinical and paraclinical assessment will be discussed. Reflexion delay, surgical alternative therapy and pre-operatory examination will be exposed. Several critical situations, such as associated hysterectomy, patient's comorbidity (tobacco, obesity) or synthetic mesh reinforcement have to be well-known to inform patient about failures and outcomes.

[How to manage multicompartment pelvic organe prolapse?]

Repair of pelvic organ prolapse by vaginal route may use native tissues or meshes, which have been in extensive use over the last decades. Traditional surgery, and particularly sacrospinous fixation, has been proven to be effective with long term follow-up with well-known specific risks that could be avoided by skilled surgeons on condition that he observes basic vaginal surgery rules. This surgery is still recommended as first choice in patients over 70 years old with high-grade prolapse. Nevertheless recurrence rate after high-grade cystocele repair using native tissues as been reported between 30 and 50% depending on the technique used. Mesh repair and particularly the use of mesh kits is a valid option in case of prolapse with cystocele behind the hymen, specifically in case of paravaginal defect. Meshes use is licit in patients with prolapse recurrence as well. In contrast, spread use of transvaginal meshes in young patients with grade 3 or 4 prolapse whom tissues have a poor quality, has to be considered very carefully because of the lack of knowledge about long term results and sexual outcome.

[Sexual outcome after pelvic organ prolapse surgery]

Sexual well-being is an important parameter of women's health and quality of live. Sexual disorders may occur in women with pelvic organ prolapse and/or stress urinary incontinence and also after pelvic reconstructive surgery. Sexual dysfunction after POP or SUI surgery has been poorly documented but new condition specific questionnaires have been developed to help us to better evaluate such consequences. This paper reports updated data and highlights more specifically consequences of surgery with mesh reinforcement which is, currently, an important issue particularly when performing by vaginal approach.

[Sexual outcome after pelvic reconstructive surgery]

Sexual well-being is an important parameter of women's health and quality of live. Sexual disorders may occur in women with pelvic organ prolapse and/or stress urinary incontinence and also after pelvic reconstructive surgery. Sexual dysfunction after POP or SUI surgery has been poorly documented but new condition specific questionnaires have been developed to help us to better evaluate such consequences. This paper reports available data and highlights more specifically consequences of surgery with mesh reinforcement which is, currently, an important issue particularly when performing by vaginal approach.