Central Sensitisation Syndrome: A Frequent Finding in Women with Pelvic Floor Symptoms Without Evident Urogenital Prolapse

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Women with central sensitisation syndrome (CSS) experience poorer subjective post-operative outcomes even after successful pelvic floor reconstruction. This study tests the hypothesis that women with pelvic floor symptoms (PFS) without relevant pelvic organ prolapse (POP), are more likely to have CSS.

METHODS

A questionnaire was sent to women who participated in the POP-UP study in 2017. The POP-UP study evaluated POP in 247 women 16 years after laparoscopic or vaginal hysterectomy. POP-Q data and Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20) results were used and supplemented with CSS-specific questionnaires. A Central Sensitisation Inventory (CSI) score above 40 implicates CSS. Women were divided into groups based on POP beyond the hymen in relation to the PFDI-20 score. Outcomes of women with PFS and without POP (called 'group 1') were compared with the rest of the cohort (groups 2-4; women without PFS and/or with POP).

RESULTS

A total of 136 women were included in the analysis. A CSI score above 40 was present in 16 out of 42 women of group 1 (37%) versus 11 out of 93 women of groups 2-4 (12%), p < 0.0001. Passive coping was more prevalent in group 1 (p = 0.039), and more deviations in somatisation, depression, anxiety and distress were found in group 1 (p values of < 0.0001, 0.018, 0.003 and 0.002 respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that CSS might be more prevalent in women with PFS without relevant POP. More awareness of CSS and valid individual counselling may overcome unnecessary surgery for POP and help in setting realistic expectations.

Aortic root replacement in severe left ventricular dysfunction: The added value of beating-heart surgery

There are limits to the use of cardioplegic arrest during complex cardiac surgical procedures, especially in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction. In the current report, we graphically present the detailed surgical strategy and technique for beating-heart aortic root replacement with concomitant coronary bypass grafting, for patients otherwise deemed inoperable. With support of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), beating-heart bypass surgery is realized, after which the bypass grafts can selectively be connected to the CPB, preserving coronary flow. Then, on the beating and perfused heart, a complex procedure such as aortic root replacement can be performed, without jeopardizing postoperative cardiac function. However, several important caveats and remarks regarding the use of beating-heart surgery should be considered, including: coronary perfusion verification and maintenance, temperature management, and prevention of air embolisms. By use of this strategy, risks associated with cardioplegic arrest are minimized, while it circumvents the potential need for long-term postoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.