Assessment of women with defecatory dysfunction and manual splinting using dynamic pelvic floor magnetic resonance imaging

Is there any association between symptoms and findings on imaging in pelvic floor defaecatory dysfunction? A prospective study

AIM

To compare features on imaging (integrated total pelvic floor ultrasound (transperineal, transvaginal) and defaecation proctography) with bowel, bladder and vaginal symptoms in pelvic floor defaecatory dysfunction.

METHOD

A prospective observational case series of 216 symptomatic women who underwent symptom severity scoring (bowel, bladder and vaginal), integrated total pelvic floor ultrasound and defaecation proctography. Anatomical (rectocele, intussusception, enterocele, cystocele) and functional (co-ordination, evacuation) features were examined.

RESULTS

Irrespective of imaging modality, patients with a rectocele had higher International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire - Vaginal Symptoms (ICIQ-VS) scores than patients without. On integrated total pelvic floor ultrasound, ICIQ-VS quality of life scores were higher in those with a rectocele. There was a higher International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire - Bowel Symptoms (ICIQ-BS) bowel pattern score in those with a rectocele, and a lower ICIQ-BS bowel pattern and sexual impact score in those with intussusception. Poor co-ordination was associated with increased ICIQ-BS bowel control scores and obstructed defaecation symptom scores. On defaecation proctography, ICIQ-VS symptom scores were lower in patients with poor co-ordination.

CONCLUSION

Patients with a rectocele on either imaging modality may have qualitative vaginal symptoms on assessment. In patients with bowel symptoms but no vaginal symptoms, it is not possible to predict which anatomical abnormalities will be present on imaging.

Statistical shape modeling of the pelvic floor to evaluate women with obstructed defecation symptoms

Obstructed defecation (OD) is common and may be related to compromised pelvic floor integrity. Magnetic resonance (MR) defecography and statistical shape modeling were used to define pelvic floor shape variations, hypothesizing that State (rest vs peak evacuation) and Group (control vs case) would significantly influence shape. 16 women underwent MR defecography (9 cases vs 7 controls). Midsagittal, 2D pelvic floors were segmented and aligned by corresponding points. Principal component scores were compared using a Two-Way Mixed MANOVA. Three modes described differences between State (p < 0.001) and Group (p = 0.023). The pelvic floor shape differed significantly between women with and without OD and during evacuation.

Integrated total pelvic floor ultrasound in pelvic floor defaecatory dysfunction

AIM

Imaging for pelvic floor defaecatory dysfunction includes defaecation proctography. Integrated total pelvic floor ultrasound (transvaginal, transperineal, endoanal) may be an alternative. This study assesses ultrasound accuracy for the detection of rectocele, intussusception, enterocele and dyssynergy compared with defaecation proctography, and determines if ultrasound can predict symptoms and findings on proctography. Treatment is examined.

METHOD

Images of 323 women who underwent integrated total pelvic floor ultrasound and defaecation proctography between 2011 and 2014 were blindly reviewed. The size and grade of rectocele, enterocele, intussusception and dyssynergy were noted on both, using proctography as the gold standard. Barium trapping in a rectocele or a functionally significant enterocele was noted on proctography. Demographics and Obstructive Defaecation Symptom scores were collated.

RESULTS

The positive predictive value of ultrasound was 73% for rectocele, 79% for intussusception and 91% for enterocele. The negative predictive value for dyssynergy was 99%. Agreement was moderate for rectocele and intussusception, good for enterocele and fair for dyssynergy. The majority of rectoceles that required surgery (59/61) and caused barium trapping (85/89) were detected on ultrasound. A rectocele seen on both transvaginal and transperineal scanning was more likely to require surgery than if seen with only one mode (P = 0.0001). If there was intussusception on ultrasound the patient was more likely to have surgery (P = 0.03). An enterocele visualized on ultrasound was likely to be functionally significant on proctography (P = 0.02). There was, however, no association between findings on imaging and symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Integrated total pelvic floor ultrasound provides a useful screening tool for women with defaecatory dysfunction such that defaecatory imaging can avoided in some.

Accuracy of integrated total pelvic floor ultrasound compared to defaecatory MRI in females with pelvic floor defaecatory dysfunction

OBJECTIVE

Defaecatory MRI allows multicompartmental assessment of defaecatory dysfunction but is often inaccessible. Integrated total pelvic floor ultrasound (transperineal, transvaginal, endoanal) may provide a cheap, portable alternative. The accuracy of total pelvic floor ultrasound for anatomical abnormalities when compared with defaecatory MRI was assessed.

METHODS

The dynamic images from 68 females who had undergone integrated total pelvic floor ultrasound and defaecatory MRI between 2009 and 2015 were blindly reviewed. The following were recorded: rectocoele, enterocoele, intussusception and cystocoele.

RESULTS

There were 26 rectocoeles on MRI (49 rectocoeles on ultrasound), 24 rectocoeles with intussusception on MRI (19 rectocoeles on ultrasound), 23 enterocoeles on MRI (24 enterocoeles on ultrasound) and 49 cystocoeles on MRI (35 cystocoeles on ultrasound). Sensitivity and specificity of total pelvic floor ultrasound were 81% and 33% for rectocoele, 60% and 91% for intussusception, 65% and 80% for enterocoele and 65% and 84% for cystocoele when compared with defaecatory MRI. This gave a negative-predictive value and positive-predictive value of 74% and 43% for rectocoele, 80% and 79% for intussusception, 82% and 63% for enterocoele and 48% and 91% for cystocoele.

CONCLUSION

Integrated total pelvic floor ultrasound may serve as a screening tool for pelvic floor defaecatory dysfunction; when normal, defaecatory MRI can be avoided, as rectocoele, intussusception and enterocoele are unlikely to be present. Advances in knowledge: This is the first study to compare integrated total pelvic floor ultrasound with defaecatory MRI. The results support the use of integrated total pelvic floor ultrasound as a screening tool for defaecatory dysfunction.