Shuenn-Dhy Chang

Pessary test to predict postoperative urinary incontinence in women undergoing hysterectomy for prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to demonstrate that a positive pessary test could predict postsurgical stress urinary incontinence in women with severe pelvic organ prolapse and that performing tension-free vaginal taping (TVT) could effectively prevent its occurrence. METHODS: Among the 79 patients evaluated for severe pelvic organ prolapse without symptoms of stress urinary incontinence, all underwent meticulous urogynecologic evaluations and pessary testing. In group 1, 32 patients had positive pessary tests and underwent vaginal hysterectomy, anterior and posterior colporrhaphy, and TVT. In group 2, 47 patients (17 of whom had positive pessary tests and 30 of whom had negative pessary tests) underwent vaginal hysterectomy and anterior and posterior colporrhaphy alone. A comparison in terms of surgical outcome and clinical manifestations was made between these 2 groups of patients. RESULTS: After surgery, a small proportion of patients had de novo idiopathic detrusor overactivity (7.6%, n = 6), urinary tract infections (7.6%, n = 6), mild recurrent prolapse (5.1%, n = 4), and urinary retention (3.8%, n = 3). Eleven (64.7%) of 17 patients with positive pessary tests who did not undergo TVT had urine leakage after their hysterectomies in contrast with the 30 patients who had negative pessary test, none of whom developed symptomatic stress urinary incontinence after vaginal hysterectomy. Among the 32 patients with positive pessary tests who had TVT with their hysterectomies, 3 developed urine leakage later; the cure rate was 90.6%. CONCLUSION: Continent patients suffering from severe pelvic organ prolapse but with a positive pessary test are considered to be at high risk of developing postoperative symptomatic stress urinary incontinence. Among the patients in our medium-range study, TVT effectively prevented postsurgical urinary incontinence. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-1

A randomized controlled trial of antenatal pelvic floor exercises to prevent and treat urinary incontinence

Introduction and hypothesisThe aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of antenatal pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFME) in the prevention and treatment of urinary incontinence during pregnancy and postpartum period.MethodsThree hundred women were randomly assigned to the PFME group and control group. Urinary symptoms were measured by Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6), Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7 (IIQ-7), and question of self-reported urinary incontinence. Questionnaire scores of the PFME and the control groups were compared and analyzed.ResultsDuring late pregnancy and the postpartum period, the PFME group had significantly lower total UDI-6 and IIQ-7 scores; their self-report rate of urinary incontinence was also less than the control group. Additionally, we found whether in PFME or control, women who delivered vaginally were more likely to develop postpartum urinary leakage than women who delivered by cesarean section.ConclusionsPFME applied in pregnancy is effective in the treatment and prevention of urinary incontinence during pregnancy, and this effect may persist to postpartum period.

Surgical intervention for maternal ovarian torsion in pregnancy

OBJECTIVE Maternal ovarian torsion in pregnancy is a rare complication. This study was conducted to review the clinical manifestations, and to compare the outcome between laparoscopy and laparotomy in women undergoing surgery for ovarian torsion (OT) during pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using the International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, and Clinical Modification, we reviewed the clinical records of patients with OT during pregnancy between 1997 and 2008 at a university hospital. RESULTS Twenty pregnant women were identified with surgically proven OT, 10 in the first trimester, eight in the second, and two in the third. Thirteen (65%) cases were suspected before operation to be adnexal torsion. The most common symptom and sign were pelvic pain (95%) and an adnexal or pelvic mass (95%), followed by nausea and vomiting (65%), elevated white blood cell count >12×10(9)/L (45%), and fever (10%). Most patients in the first trimester (75%) and a minority in the second and third trimesters (37.5%) received management via laparoscopy. Patients undergoing laparoscopy treatment had smaller ovarian masses and a shorter postoperative hospital stay than those receiving laparotomy. None of these patients had significant complications during or after surgery. However, the outcomes of pregnancy varied: 12 (60%) term deliveries, three (15%) preterm deliveries at over 31 gestational weeks, one missed abortion and four elective abortions in the first trimester. CONCLUSION The diagnosis of OT during pregnancy is often missed due to nonspecific clinical features and uncommon objective findings. Detorsion only or detorsion plus ancillary procedures via laparoscopy is recommended to treat pregnant women suffering from OT, owing to the advantages of a shorter hospital stay and favorable surgical and pregnancy outcomes.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and TIMP-3) in women with uterine prolapse but without urinary incontinence

OBJECTIVE To investigate the activities of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and its inhibitors, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, -2 and -3 (TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and TIMP-3), in the pelvic support and nonsupport tissue of women with uterine prolapse but without urinary incontinence. STUDY DESIGN Paired samples of uterosacral ligament and cervical tissue were obtained from 11 postmenopausal and 8 premenopausal women with severe uterine prolapse. Nine premenopausal women without prolapse were selected as normal controls. Immunoreactivity of MMP-2 and TIMPs was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. Steady state of MMP-2 as well as TIMPs messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with quantitative expression determined by multiplex PCR. RESULTS A significantly higher expression of MMP-2 mRNA and lower expression of TIMP-2 mRNA were found in uterosacral ligament in uterine prolapse women compared to controls. In the cervical tissue, however, the MMP-2 and TIMPs mRNA expression was comparable between prolapse and control groups. With regard to menopausal status, there was no significant difference in MMP-2 and TIMPs mRNA expression between premenopausal and postmenopausal women with uterine prolapse. CONCLUSIONS An increase in MMP-2 mRNA and a decrease in TIMP-2 mRNA expression in uterosacral ligament are related to uterine prolapse in women without urinary incontinence.

Nuchal translucency thickness in fetuses with chromosomal translocation at 11-12 weeks of gestation

OBJECTIVE: To investigate differences in nuchal translucency thickness among fetuses in which either parent is a balanced chromosome translocation carrier. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted with 98 pregnant women in the first trimester. Each had been advised to undergo chorionic villous sampling for fetal karyotyping for the indication of parental balanced chromosomal translocation. Fetal nuchal translucency measurement was performed before chorionic villous sampling. Nuchal translucency thickness was compared among fetuses with 3 kinds of karyotypes: normal, balanced translocation, and unbalanced translocation. RESULTS: There were no differences in maternal age, gestational age, parity, and number of previous miscarriages among pregnancies with normal karyotype, balanced chromosomal translocation, and unbalanced chromosomal translocation. A significantly greater nuchal translucency thickness was shown in the unbalanced chromosomal translocation group (2.9 ± 1.2 mm) compared with both the balanced chromosomal translocation group (1.0 ± 0.6 mm; P < .001) and the normal karyotype group (1.0 ± 0.8 mm; P < .001). No statistically significant difference in nuchal translucency thickness was found between the balanced chromosomal translocation group and normal karyotype group (P = .991). Nuchal translucency thickness did not differ significantly between unbalanced chromosomal translocation dependent on paternal origin and that dependent on maternal origin (P = .611). CONCLUSION: In fetuses with unbalanced chromosomal translocation, nuchal translucency thickness tends to be greater, and thus nuchal translucency measurement might be considered part of the investigation for pregnancies marked by a parental balanced chromosomal translocation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2

Lower urinary tract symptoms in primiparous women before and during pregnancy

ObjectiveLower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), in particular urinary incontinence (UI), commonly develops during pregnancy or following delivery. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of the LUTS before and during pregnancy, and to demonstrate the relationships between various obstetric parameters and UI.MethodsFor this observational study, 1,501 consecutive primiparae who delivered at ≥36 gestational weeks were recruited in a tertiary hospital. A urogynecological questionnaire was used to assess the prevalence of LUTS before and during pregnancy. The relationships between various obstetric parameters and UI were analyzed.ResultsPrevalence of LUTS increased over the course of pregnancy. The most commonly reported LUTS symptoms, regardless of pregnancy trimester, were nocturia (51.1%) and frequency (40.3%), UI (37.5%), urgency (31.1%), incomplete bladder emptying (26.3%), straining (15.3%), and voiding difficulty (14.5%). Stress UI (SUI) (26.7%) was more common during pregnancy than mixed UI (6.1%) or urge UI (4.7%). Women with a prepregnancy BMI >30 were at increased risk of developing de novo SUI during pregnancy. Urge incontinence during pregnancy was associated with smoking.ConclusionsThe prevalence of LUTS generally increased with gestational age. UI during pregnancy was associated with prepregnancy BMI and smoking.

Urodynamic and clinical effects of transvaginal mesh repair for severe cystocele with and without urinary incontinence

To demonstrate the urodynamic and clinical effects of transvaginal polypropylene mesh repair (TVM) for severe cystocele with or without stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Clinical manifestations in women with isolated fallopian tubal torsion; a rare but important entity.

Background:  The diagnosis of adnexal torsion can be difficult to make, especially in isolated fallopian tube torsion (FTT). Only small series and several case reports on isolated FTT have been published in the literature.

Three‐dimensional power Doppler measurement of perfusion of the periurethral tissue in incontinent women – a preliminary report

Background. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that decreased periurethral vascularization and blood flow might lead to urinary incontinence. Three‐dimensional color histogram may better quantify the vasculature than traditional two‐dimensional Doppler ultrasound imaging.

Significance of bladder trabeculation in postmenopausal women with severe pelvic organ prolapse: clinical and urodynamic assessments.

Objective Bladder trabeculation (BT) is a secondary result of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO), which may result from severe pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and cause lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). This study was conducted to investigate the relationship among clinical manifestations, urodynamic findings, and BT in women with severe POP. Methods We reviewed the medical records of patients with stage 3 or stage 4 POP who underwent prolapse surgical operation in a tertiary hospital between 2005 and 2011. All patients received preoperative evaluations, including urodynamic studies, cystoscopy, and a structured urogynecological questionnaire. Demographics, LUTS, pelvic floor symptoms, and urodynamic findings were compared between women with BT and women without BT. Results Of the 308 women included, 54.9% had BT and 12.7% were diagnosed with BOO (maximal flow rate <12 mL/s; detrusor pressure at maximal flow >20 cm H2O). Mean age, prevalence of urgency, urge incontinence, voiding difficulty, detrusor overactivity, and postvoid residual greater than 100 mL were significantly higher in women with BT than in women without BT. In addition, severe BT had significantly higher prevalences of detrusor overactivity, BOO, lower maximal cystometric capacity, urge incontinence, and anterior vaginal prolapse. Logistic regression demonstrated that detrusor overactivity was the only variable associated with BT. Conclusions More than half of the women with severe POP have BT, which, when compared with women without BT, indicates higher incidences of LUTS, detrusor overactivity, and urinary retention. An objective evaluation of BT should become a prerequisite examination for women with severe POP who would undergo prolapse surgical operation.OBJECTIVE Bladder trabeculation (BT) is a secondary result of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO), which may result from severe pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and cause lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). This study was conducted to investigate the relationship among clinical manifestations, urodynamic findings, and BT in women with severe POP. METHODS We reviewed the medical records of patients with stage 3 or stage 4 POP who underwent prolapse surgical operation in a tertiary hospital between 2005 and 2011. All patients received preoperative evaluations, including urodynamic studies, cystoscopy, and a structured urogynecological questionnaire. Demographics, LUTS, pelvic floor symptoms, and urodynamic findings were compared between women with BT and women without BT. RESULTS Of the 308 women included, 54.9% had BT and 12.7% were diagnosed with BOO (maximal flow rate <12 mL/s; detrusor pressure at maximal flow >20 cm H2O). Mean age, prevalence of urgency, urge incontinence, voiding difficulty, detrusor overactivity, and postvoid residual greater than 100 mL were significantly higher in women with BT than in women without BT. In addition, severe BT had significantly higher prevalences of detrusor overactivity, BOO, lower maximal cystometric capacity, urge incontinence, and anterior vaginal prolapse. Logistic regression demonstrated that detrusor overactivity was the only variable associated with BT. CONCLUSIONS More than half of the women with severe POP have BT, which, when compared with women without BT, indicates higher incidences of LUTS, detrusor overactivity, and urinary retention. An objective evaluation of BT should become a prerequisite examination for women with severe POP who would undergo prolapse surgical operation.