The vexing problem of hidden incontinence

Concomitant trocar-guided transvaginal mesh surgery with a midurethral sling in treating advanced pelvic organ prolapse associated with stress or occult stress urinary incontinence

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of concomitant trocar-guided transvaginal mesh (TVM) surgery with a midurethral sling (MUS) for treating women with advanced pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) or occult SUI (OSUI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty-nine women with advanced POP and SUI or OSUI were retrospectively enrolled. The Total Prolift and Tension-free Vaginal Tape-Obturator Systems were used for trocar-guided TVM surgery and MUS. Patients received regular follow-up at 1 week, and 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively, and then annually thereafter. The endpoints were the success rate for POP, and perioperative and postoperative complications. Functional outcomes were the presence of voiding difficulty, persistent or de novo overactive bladder symptoms, postoperative SUI, and paresthesia.

RESULTS

The median follow-up period was 35 months (range, 12-50 months). Within the follow-up period, 84 patients (94.4%) were objectively cured, five patients (5.6%) had vaginal apical mesh exposure, 29 individuals (32.6%) had persistent or de novo overactive bladder symptoms, six individuals (22.5%) had de novo SUI (two were found by urodynamics), and nine individuals (10.1%) had voiding difficulties (two were found by urodynamics). In addition, the vaginal hysterectomy group had greater blood loss, longer operation times, and a higher mesh erosion rate compared to the uterine suspension group.

CONCLUSION

Concomitant trocar-guided TVM surgery and MUS with the use of total Prolift and Tension-free Vaginal Tape-Obturator offer good efficacy in treating women with advanced POP and SUI or OSUI. The vaginal hysterectomy group had more perioperative complications.

Changing trends of surgical approaches for uterine prolapse: an 11-year population-based nationwide descriptive study

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

The interest of uterus-preserving surgery has been growing. Based on a nationwide database, we examined surgical procedures for uterine prolapse in Taiwan during the study period of 1997-2007, a total of 11 years.

METHODS

The operations, either uterine suspension or hysterectomy, due to the diagnosis of uterine prolapse were indentified into the study. Data on several parameters were collected for analysis, i.e., the surgical type, patient factors (age and concomitant anti-incontinence surgery), surgeon factors (age and gender), and hospital factors (accreditation level and ownership). Data of this study were obtained from the inpatient expenditures by admission files of the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). The NHIRD was established by the National Health Research Institute with the aim of promoting research into current and emerging medical issues in Taiwan.

RESULTS

In total, 31,038 operations were identified for this study. There was a trend for increased use of uterine suspension with uterine preservation during the latter years, evidenced by joinpoint regression analyses. More women who were younger (<50 years) or had concomitant anti-incontinence surgery received uterine suspension. Younger surgeons (<50 years) and male surgeons tended to perform more uterine suspensions. As for hospital accreditation, more uterine suspension surgeries were performed in regional hospitals, followed by local hospitals and medical centers. As for hospital ownership, more uterine suspension surgeries were performed in private hospitals, followed by not-for-profit and government-owned hospitals.

CONCLUSIONS

There has been a considerable change in the surgical approach for uterine prolapse in Taiwan over the past 11 years. Patient age and concomitant anti-incontinence surgery, surgeon age and gender, and hospital accreditation and ownership may correlate with the choice of surgery for women with uterine prolapse.

The long-term effect of raloxifene on the genitourinary tract

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of long-term treatment with raloxifene on pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence.

METHODS

This was a case-control study in patients attending the Centre for Metabolic Bone Disease. Eighty-two women were included. The average age was 69 years (range 60-85 years). Thirty-nine women had taken raloxifene for an average of 55 +/- 25 months and 43 had taken bisphosphonates for an average of 41.96 +/- 15.93 months. The Prolapse Quality of Life (P-QOL), version 4 and Incontinence Impact questionnaire (IIQ-7) and Urogenital Distress Inventory, short form (UDI-6) were used to evaluate presence of pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence. Women symptomatic with prolapse were offered a pelvic examination to define the type and severity of the prolapse. Women giving a history of urinary incontinence were offered urodynamic evaluation to establish the cause of the incontinence. The main outcome measures were prevalence and severity of pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence and its impact on quality of life.

RESULTS

Over 50% of the women complained of incontinence in both groups, 51% (22) of women taking raloxifene and 53% (28) of the controls. Prolapse was present in two women in the raloxifene group (5%) and six women (11%) in the control group. Urge incontinence was similar in both prevalence (15 vs. 21 women) and severity between cases and controls. Stress incontinence, on the contrary, had a similar prevalence (20 vs. 19 women) but was more severe in the controls (p = 0.004). There was no difference in mean scores of IIQ-7 and P-QOL for quality of life between cases and controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Raloxifene taken long-term does not appear to adversely affect urinary incontinence or prolapse.

Is there any evidence to advocate SUI prevention in continent women undergoing prolapse repair? An overview

Postoperative SUI prevention at the time of prolapse surgery is still a challenging issue. Recent findings suggested that a systematic prophylactic Burch colposuspension could be performed in continent women undergoing a sacral colpopexy. The aim of this paper is to collect relevant literature in order to suggest a management strategy. A thorough PubMed research of all papers in the English language was conducted. Evidence-based medicine was analyzed and current unanswered questions were discussed. Despite evident limitations, it appears to be some benefit from preoperative screening with a stress test during prolapse reduction. In continent patient with a positive stress test, adding a preventive procedure could be fully justified. In regard to contradictory published data, when negative stress test, patient counseling is important and the ratio of risk-benefit should be rigorously discussed. Further randomized controlled studies are needed to support either a prophylactic or a second-step strategy.