Robert Freeman

An International Urogynecological Association (IUGA)/International Continence Society (ICS) joint report on the terminology for female pelvic floor dysfunction.

Next to existing terminology of the lower urinary tract, due to its increasing complexity, the terminology for pelvic floor dysfunction in women may be better updated by a female‐specific approach and clinically based consensus report.

An International Urogynecological Association (IUGA) International Continence Society (ICS) Joint Report on the Terminology for Female Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Introduction and hypothesisNext to existing terminology of the lower urinary tract, due to its increasing complexity, the terminology for pelvic floor dysfunction in women may be better updated by a female-specific approach and clinically based consensus report.MethodsThis report combines the input of members of the Standardization and Terminology Committees of two International Organizations, the International Urogynecological Association (IUGA) and the International Continence Society (ICS), assisted at intervals by many external referees. Appropriate core clinical categories and a subclassification were developed to give an alphanumeric coding to each definition. An extensive process of 15 rounds of internal and external review was developed to exhaustively examine each definition, with decision-making by collective opinion (consensus).ResultsA terminology report for female pelvic floor dysfunction, encompassing over 250 separate definitions, has been developed. It is clinically based with the six most common diagnoses defined. Clarity and user-friendliness have been key aims to make it interpretable by practitioners and trainees in all the different specialty groups involved in female pelvic floor dysfunction. Female-specific imaging (ultrasound, radiology, and MRI) has been a major addition while appropriate figures have been included to supplement and help clarify the text. Ongoing review is not only anticipated but will be required to keep the document updated and as widely acceptable as possible.ConclusionsA consensus-based terminology report for female pelvic floor dysfunction has been produced aimed at being a significant aid to clinical practice and a stimulus for research.

An International Urogynecological Association (IUGA) / International Continence Society (ICS) joint terminology and classification of the complications related directly to the insertion of prostheses (meshes, implants, tapes) & grafts in female pelvic floor surgery

Introduction and hypothesisA terminology and standardized classification has yet to be developed for those complications arising directly from the insertion of synthetic (prostheses) and biological (grafts) materials in female pelvic floor surgery.MethodsThis report on the above terminology and classification combines the input of members of the Standardization and Terminology Committees of two International Organizations, the International Urogynecological Association (IUGA) and the International Continence Society (ICS) and a Joint IUGA/ICS Working Group on Complications Terminology, assisted at intervals by many expert external referees. An extensive process of 11 rounds of internal and external review took place with exhaustive examination of each aspect of the terminology and classification. Decision-making was by collective opinion (consensus).ResultsA terminology and classification of complications related directly to the insertion of prostheses and grafts in female pelvic floor surgery has been developed, with the classification based on category (C), time (T) and site (S) classes and divisions, that should encompass all conceivable scenarios for describing insertion complications and healing abnormalities. The CTS code for each complication, involving three (or four) letters and three numerals, is likely to be very suitable for any surgical audit or registry, particularly one that is procedure-specific. Users of the classification have been assisted by case examples, colour charts and online aids (www.icsoffice.org/complication).ConclusionsA consensus-based terminology and classification report for prosthess and grafts complications in female pelvic floor surgery has been produced, aimed at being a significant aid to clinical practice and research.

Prevention of postpartum stress incontinence in primigravidae with increased bladder neck mobility: a randomised controlled trial of antenatal pelvic floor exercises

To test whether supervised pelvic floor exercises antenatally will reduce the incidence of postpartum stress incontinence in at‐risk primigravidae with bladder neck mobility, ultrasonically proven.

The effect of cannabis on urge incontinence in patients with multiple sclerosis: a multicentre, randomised placebo-controlled trial (CAMS-LUTS)

Objective: To test whether cannabinoids reduce urge incontinence episodes without affecting voiding in patients with multiple sclerosis. This was part of the multicentre trial of the Cannabinoids in Multiple Sclerosis (CAMS) study. Subjects and methods: The CAMS study randomised 630 patients to receive oral administration of cannabis extract, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or matched placebo. For this substudy subjects completed incontinence diaries. Results: All three groups showed a significant reduction, p<0.01, in adjusted episode rate (i.e. correcting for baseline imbalance) from baseline to the end of treatment: cannabis extract, 38%; THC, 33%; and placebo, 18%. Both active treatments showed significant effects over placebo (cannabis extract, p=0.005; THC, p=0.039). Conclusion: The findings are suggestive of a clinical effect of cannabis on incontinence episodes in patients with MS. This is in contrast to the negative finding of the CAMS study, where no difference was seen in the primary outcome of spasticity.

An International Urogynecological Association (IUGA)/International Continence Society (ICS) joint terminology and classification of the complications related directly to the insertion of prostheses (meshes, implants, tapes) and grafts in female pelvic floor surgery.

A terminology and standardized classification has yet to be developed for those complications arising directly from the insertion of synthetic (prostheses) and biological (grafts) materials in female pelvic floor surgery.

Is antenatal bladder neck mobility a risk factor for postpartum stress incontinence

Objective To assess the contribution of constitutional factors, as demonstrated by antenatal bladder neck mobility, in the development of postpartum urinary stress incontinence.

Efficacy of desmopressin (Minirin) in the treatment of nocturia: a double-blind placebo-controlled study in women

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of oral desmopressin in the treatment of nocturia in women. STUDY DESIGN Women aged 18 years or older with nocturia (>or=2 voids per night with a nocturia index score >1) received desmopressin (0.1 mg, 0.2 mg, or 0.4 mg) during a 3-week dose-titration period. After a 1-week washout period, patients who responded in this period received desmopressin or placebo in a double-blind fashion for 3 weeks. RESULTS In double-blind phase, 144 patients were randomly assigned to groups (desmopressin, n=72; placebo, n=72). For desmopressin, 33 (46%) patients had a 50% or greater reduction in nocturnal voids against baseline levels compared with 5 (7%) patients receiving placebo (P<.0001). The mean number of nocturnal voids, duration of sleep until the first nocturnal void, nocturnal diuresis, and ratios of nocturnal per 24 hours and nocturnal per daytime urine volumes changed significantly in favor of desmopressin versus placebo (P<.0001). In the dose-titration phase headache (22%), nausea (8%), and hyponatremia (6%) were reported. Two deaths occurred, although neither could be directly associated with the study drug. CONCLUSION Oral desmopressin is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for nocturia in women.

An International Urogynecological Association (IUGA)/International Continence Society (ICS) joint report on the terminology for reporting outcomes of surgical procedures for pelvic organ prolapse

Introduction and hypothesisStandardized terminology has yet to be developed for reporting the outcomes for surgery for pelvic organ prolapse (POP).MethodsThis report combines the input of the Terminology and Standardization Committees of the International Urogynecological Association (IUGA) and the International Continence Society (ICS) and a joint Working Group on this topic, as well as expert external referees. The aim was to present a standardized terminology for the definitions of surgery and propose a structure for reporting the outcomes of surgical procedures for POP. An extensive drafting and review process was undertaken, as well as open review on both IUGA and ICS websites.ResultsA terminology report was developed outlining the recommended structure for reporting outcomes of surgical trials involving POP. This document does not define success and failure. The report includes patient-reported, subjective and objective outcomes to enable researchers to report on their results and compare them with other studies.ConclusionsA consensus-based method for standardizing terminology for reporting outcome measures of POP surgery was developed to aid clinicians working in this area of research.

Is the pelvic organ prolapse quantification system (POPQ) being used? A survey of members of the International Continence Society (ICS) and the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS)

The authors performed a web-based questionnaire survey of 667 members of the ICS and AUGS to determine the current use of the pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POPQ) system by members of the professional societies which have advocated its use. Three hundred and eighty (57%) gynecologists responded. This international survey shows that only 40.2% of ICS and AUGS members who responded routinely use the POPQ system in their clinical practice and provides information on the most common reasons for not using it. The results highlight some of the concerns regarding the complex nature of the system and its acceptance and use by specialists worldwide. It also suggests the need for a simplified version of the classification system that is user-friendly and can be adopted by all practitioners.