Eddie H.M. Sze

Transvaginal repair of vault prolapse: A review

Objective To provide a critical assessment of the published literature on transvaginal reconstructive techniques used to suspend a prolapsed vaginal vault. Data Source A Medline data base search and a bibliographic review of the relevant articles were conducted to identify all English-language articles on repair of vaginal vault prolapse. Methods of Study Selection Our literature search identified 34 articles published in peer-review journals and one article reported in another format, describing five different techniques. Tabulation, Integration and Results The size of each study population, modifications of the original surgical technique, complications, and results were tabulated and summarized for each surgical approach. Only sacrospinous ligament vaginal vault suspension and endopelvic fascia vaginal vault fixation had a sufficient number of cases to allow an informative evaluation of their effectiveness in managing vaginal vault prolapse. Of the 1229 patients who had undergone sacrospinous ligament suspension, 1062 were available for varying periods of follow-up; 193 (18%) of these developed recurrent pelvic relaxation—including 32 vaginal vault eversions, 81 anterior vaginal wall defects, 24 posterior vaginal wall prolapses, and 56 support defects at unspecified or multiple sites. Of the 367 patients who had undergone endopelvic fascia vaginal vault fixation, 322 were available for follow-up ranging from 1 to 12 years; 34 (11%) of these patients developed recurrent pelvic relaxation including nine vaginal vault prolapses, two anterior vaginal wall defects, 11 posterior vaginal wall relaxations, and 12 support defects at unspecified or multiple sites. Conclusion Published experience suggests that sacrospinous ligament suspension and endopelvic fascia fixation are effective in managing vaginal vault prolapse. Because of study limitations—including an absence of standardized outcome evaluation, relatively short follow-up periods, a substantial number of patients lost to follow-up, concomitant surgical procedures, and failure to assess visceral and sexual functions–the true efficacy of these two procedures remains inconclusive.

Endometrial ablation : A series of 568 patients treated over an 11-year period

OBJECTIVE Our purpose was to retrospectively review the intraoperative and long-term outcomes of 568 patients with abnormal uterine bleeding who were treated by endometrial ablation over an 11-year period. STUDY DESIGN From 1893 to 1994, 401 endometrial ablations were performed with the neodymium-yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser and another 167 patients were treated by electrosurgery. The majority of the patients were treated for irregular, heavy menses. Fifty-seven had ablation because of abnormal bleeding associated with a serious medical disorder, 12 with a bleeding diathesis, and 50 with morbid obesity. All patients had preoperative endometrial sampling that demonstrated benign histology. Nineteen patients had submucous myomas that were resected at the time of hysteroscopic ablation. All patients received preoperative and postoperative suppression. The minimum follow-up period was 1 year. RESULTS The average operative time was 32.5 minutes. The mean hospital stay was 8 hours. Four patients who received 32% dextran 70 in dextrose (Hyskon) as the distending medium had pulmonary edema postoperatively. One case of endometritis was also detected. No uterine perforations were observed. Amenorrhea developed in 58% of the patients, 34% reported light or normal menstrual flow, and 8% did not respond (continued heavy flow). CONCLUSION This study represents one of the largest published series of endometrial ablation, with a mean follow-up of 4.5 years. It demonstrates that hysteroscopic endometrial ablation is a reliable, safe alternative to hysterectomy for the surgical management of abnormal uterine bleeding.

Incidence of recurrent cystocele after anterior colporrhaphy with and without concomitant transvaginal needle suspension

OBJECTIVE Our purpose was to compare the recurrent cystocele rate after anterior colporrhaphy versus anterior colporrhaphy performed in conjunction with transvaginal needle bladder neck suspension. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective chart review of all patients undergoing anterior colporrhaphy with and without needle bladder neck suspension over a 3-year period was conducted. Preoperatively all patients had symptomatic anterior vaginal wall relaxation. Patients undergoing concomitant needle suspension procedures had genuine stress incontinence. Twenty-seven patients underwent anterior colporrhaphy alone, and 40 patients underwent anterior colporrhaphy with needle suspension. Demographic data including age, parity, menopausal status, and use of estrogen replacement was collected for each group. The recurrence rate of anterior vaginal wall relaxation was determined for each group by reviewing standardized postoperative office notes. RESULTS There was no significant difference in the duration of follow-up between the two groups (13.2 months in the anterior repair group vs 13 months in the anterior repair-needle suspension group). However, a significant difference in recurrent cystocele rates was found between the two groups (7% [2/ 27] in the anterior repair group compared with 33% [13/40] in the anterior repair-needle suspension group, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION The incidence of recurrent cystocele is significantly higher after anterior colporrhaphy with concomitant needle bladder neck suspension compared with anterior colporrhaphy alone. This difference may be related to the vaginal retropubic dissection at the time of transvaginal needle bladder neck suspension resulting in an iatrogenic paravaginal defect or denervation of the anterior vaginal wall.

A Retrospective Comparison of Abdominal Sacrocolpopexy with Burch Colposuspension versus Sacrospinous Fixation with Transvaginal Needle Suspension for the Management of Vaginal Vault Prolapse and Coexisting Stress Incontinence

Abstract: The objective of this study was to compare the surgical outcome of abdominal sacrocolpopexy and Burch colposuspension with sacrospinous fixation and transvaginal needle suspension in the management of vaginal vault prolapse and coexisting stress incontinence. One hundred and seventeen women with vaginal vault prolapse and coexisting stress incontinence were surgically managed over a 7-year period. The first 61 consecutive women who underwent sacrospinous fixation and transvaginal needle suspension comprised the vaginal group, and the following 56 consecutive women who underwent abdominal sacrocolpopexy and Burch colposuspension comprised the abdominal group. Office records were reviewed to assess the presence of recurrent prolapse and urinary incontinence during postoperative follow-up. Objective follow-up was available for 101 women. Mean duration of follow-up was 24.0 ± 15 months for the vaginal group, and 23.1 ± 12.6 months for the abdominal group. The incidence of recurrent prolapse to or beyond the hymen (33% vs. 19%, P = 0.0505) and lower urinary tract symptoms (26% vs. 13%, P = 0.0506) were significantly higher in the vaginal group than in the abdominal group. Our data suggest that the combined abdominal approach has a lower incidence of recurrent prolapse and lower urinary tract symptoms than the combined vaginal approach in managing vaginal vault prolapse and coexisting stress incontinence.

Urinary oxalate excretion and its role in vulvar pain syndrome

OBJECTIVE This study was undertaken to determine the urinary oxalate excretion patterns in patients with vulvodynia compared with controls and to evaluate antioxalate therapy in women with vulvar pain syndrome (vulvodynia). STUDY DESIGN A total of 130 consecutive patients with vulvar pain syndrome and 23 volunteers without symptoms collected urine specimens for 24 hours; each voiding was saved in individual labeled containers and refrigerated. The specimens were analyzed individually for oxalate and calculated according to 24-hour concentration, volume, and peak oxalate by hour. A total of 59 patients were treated with low-oxalate diets and calcium citrate for 3 months and evaluated for objective relief of vulvar pain. RESULTS The 24-hour excretion of oxalate was almost identical in controls and vulvodynia patients. The total 24-hour excretion was directly proportional to the volume of urine excreted (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found in peak oxalate excretion (95% confidence intervals). The number of voidings was higher in the vulvodynia cohort (p < 0.02). The 59 women with elevated oxalate concentrations (> 1 mg/40 dl) were treated with an antioxalate regimen. Fourteen (24%) demonstrated an objective response, but only 6 (10%) could have pain-free sexual intercourse. CONCLUSIONS Urinary oxalates may be nonspecific irritants that aggravate vulvodynia; however, the role of oxalates as instigators is doubtful.

Open compared with laparoscopic approach to Burch colposuspension: a cost analysis.

Objective: To compare postoperative course and hospital charges of an open versus laparoscopic approach to Burch colposuspension for the treatment of genuine stress urinary incontinence. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed to identify all patients undergoing open or laparoscopic Burch colposuspension by the same surgeon over a 2-year period. Patients undergoing additional surgical procedures at the time of colposuspension were excluded from the study. Twenty-one patients underwent open Burch colposuspension and 17 patients underwent laparoscopic colposuspension. Demographic data including age, parity, height, and weight were collected for each group. Both groups also were compared with regard to operative time, operating room charges, estimated blood loss, intraoperative complications, change in postoperative hematocrit, time required to resume normal voiding, length of hospital stay, and total hospital charges. Results: The laparoscopic colposuspension group had significantly longer operative times (110 versus 66 minutes, P < .01) and increased operating room charges (

Computed tomography comparison of bony pelvis dimensions between women with and without genital prolapse

3479 versus

Sacrospinous ligament fixation with transvaginal needle suspension for advanced pelvic organ prolapse and stress incontinence

2138, P < .001). There was no statistical difference in estimated blood loss or change in postoperative hematocrit between the two groups. No major intraoperative complications occurred in either group. Mean length of hospital stay was 1.3 days for the laparoscopic group and 2.1 days for the open group (P < .005). However, total hospital charges for the laparoscopic group were significantly higher (

Voiding after Burch colposuspension and effects of concomitant pelvic surgery: correlation with preoperative voiding mechanism.

4960 versus

Vaginal configuration on MRI after abdominal sacrocolpopexy and sacrospinous ligament suspension.

4079, P < .01). Conclusion: Laparoscopic colposuspension has been described as a minimally invasive, cost-effective technique for the surgical correction of stress urinary incontinence. Although the laparoscopic approach was found to be associated with a reduction in length of hospital stay, it had significantly higher total hospital charges than the traditional open approach because of expenses associated with increased operative time and use of laparoscopic equipment.