Sumana Koduri

Anterior or posterior sacrospinous vaginal vault suspension: long-term anatomic and functional evaluation

OBJECTIVE To compare vaginal anatomy and sexual function after the conventional posterior and anterior sacrospinous vault suspension. METHODS A retrospective repeated measures cohort study included all 168 consecutive sacrospinous vault suspension procedures between July 1990 and February 1997. The posterior suspension (n = 92) used a posterior vaginal incision and pararectal dissection. Anterior suspension (n = 76) involved an anterior rather than posterior vaginal incision, retropubic perforation, and dissection of a paravaginal‐paravesical rather than pararectal space to accommodate the vaginal vault. Two polytetrafluoroethylene (00) sutures anchored the anterior vaginal cuff (for the anterior sacrospinous suspension) or the posterior vaginal cuff (for the posterior sacrospinous suspension) to the ligament. Postoperative evaluation included an examination using the pelvic organ prolapse quantitative system, assessment of vaginal width and axis, and symptom questionnaire. RESULTS Total vaginal length and apical suspension were slightly greater after the anterior suspension, and recurrent anterior vaginal relaxation was less likely. No differences were found in maximal dilator size or apical narrowing between the two groups. New onset dyspareunia was reported by two subjects in the anterior vault suspension group, and two in the posterior vault suspension group. Three of these four cases of de novo dyspareunia were attributable to either severe atrophy or recurrent prolapse, and none to vaginal narrowing or shortening. CONCLUSION After anterior sacrospinous vault suspension, vaginal length and apical suspension were slightly increased, and recurrent anterior vaginal prolapse decreased compared with the posterior sacrospinous suspension technique. Upper vaginal caliber and sexual function appear well preserved using either technique.

Recent developments in pelvic organ prolapse.

Pelvic organ prolapse is a common worldwide problem. Recent advances in our understanding of its pathophysiology, along with progress made in the evaluation and treatment of pelvic support defects, are discussed. Although the pathophysiology of this condition is still not completely understood, genetic factors and environmental factors are involved. Understanding these factors better will help us to approach treatment of pelvic organ prolapse in a more logical manner. Multiple surgical techniques are available for pelvic relaxation, with a wide range of success rates ranging from 77 to 97% for various procedures. New techniques need to be studied further before being incorporated into routine practice. Better standardization of evaluation methods can help in such clinical studies.

Comparison of microtransducer and fiberoptic catheters for urodynamic studies

OBJECTIVE To assess the validity and reproducibility of a fiberoptic transducer urodynamic catheter for urethral closure pressure profiles and leak point pressure determination, using a microtransducer catheter as the standard. METHODS Ninety women without significant pelvic organ prolapse underwent urodynamic evaluations with both fiberoptic and microtransducer catheters. Maximal urethral closure pressures and “leak point pressures” were repeatedly measured by the two catheters and statistically compared. The order of catheter use was randomized. RESULTS Significantly lower mean maximal urethral closure pressures were recorded by the fiberoptic system than by the microtransducer system (28.9 cmH2O ± 17.3 versus 43.2 cmH2O ± 24.9, P < .001). The fiberoptic catheter predicted microtransducer values for maximum urethral closure pressure only within a range of 27 cmH2O. Mean “leak point pressure” recorded by the fiberoptic catheters (66.9 cmH2O ± 2.9) was not significantly different than that recorded by the microtransducer catheters (66.4 cmH2O ± 2.9, P = .97). CONCLUSION There is a significant difference between maximum urethral closure pressure values recorded by the microtransducer and fiberoptic catheter systems. No significant difference was found between the two systems in measurement of Valsalva “leak point pressure.”

The development of pelvic organ prolapse following isolated Burch retropubic urethropexy.

The purpose of our study was to examine the incidence of prolapse in a group of women who had had an isolated Tanagho modification of the Burch colposuspension performed without significant pelvic organ prolapse preoperatively. Sixty women were identified who underwent an isolated Burch procedure for genuine stress incontinence between 1991 and 1999. Thirty-four women returned for postoperative Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) staging evaluation. Overall, 6 (17.6%) had stage II anterior prolapse. Eleven (32.4%) had stage II posterior prolapse. Three (8.8%) had stage II uterine prolapse. None of these patients with identified support defects was symptomatic. Two patients had subsequently undergone vaginal hysterectomy. One had this performed for dysfunctional uterine bleeding 3 years after her Burch procedure. One patient developed symptomatic uterine prolapse and underwent a vaginal hysterectomy 5 months after her Burch procedure. The majority of patients undergoing an isolated Tanagho modification Burch procedure without preoperative prolapse do not appear to be placed at increased risk for subsequent operative intervention.

Transvaginal therapy of genuine stress incontinence

Two minimally invasive techniques for treatment of genuine stress incontinence, a transvaginal retropubic urethropexy and a transvaginal sling, using Coopers ligament as the anchoring structure, are reported along with the early results. These surgeries can be done easily in conjunction with vaginal reconstructive procedures. Twenty-seven women were operated on between October 1998 and September 1999. Seventeen women underwent the transvaginal retropubic urethropexy for genuine stress incontinence, whereas 10 women underwent the transvaginal sling for genuine stress incontinence with maximal urethral closure pressures less than 20 cm H(2)O. Postoperative urodynamics were done routinely at 4 months. Subjective follow-up was by routine postoperative visits or telephone survey. The mean follow-up of the retropubic urethropexy group was 6.5 months (range 1 to 12). Of these 17 women, 16 (94%) had no stress incontinence. Seven of 14 patients (50%) resolved their urge incontinence also. The mean follow-up of the transvaginal sling group was 2.8 months (range 1 to 4.5). Of the 10 patients in this group, 7 (70%) were cured of their stress incontinence. One patient in each group underwent only the anti-incontinence procedure without concomitant vaginal reconstructive procedures; both of these women were dry. Additional follow-up is required to see if these minimally invasive techniques produce successful results in the long term.

Factors influencing the long-term success of periurethral collagen therapy in the office

IntroductionGlutaraldehyde crosslinked bovine collagen has been used for periurethral bulking for the treatment of urodynamic stress incontinence since 1989 with variable success. A retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the factors involved in the long-term success of glutaraldehyde crosslinked bovine collagen used for periurethral bulking in the office.MethodsPatients were followed objectively with stress testing after receiving periurethral collagen injection in the office under local anesthesia. Repeat injections were done as necessary during their follow-up appointments. The “success” group was defined as those women who demonstrated negative stress tests for over 1 year following their first injection.ResultsNineteen of 184 women (10.3%) demonstrated negative stress tests for over 1 year following only one initial injection of glutaraldehyde crosslinked collagen. Their success lasted a mean of 829 days up to the time of follow-up.ConclusionPrior anti-incontinence surgery was the one factor analyzed that showed a trend toward this long lasting success. No other factors were predictive of negative stress tests for over 1 year. Prior anti-incontinence surgery seems to represent a factor involved in the long-term success of periurethral bulking in the office with glutaraldehyde crosslinked bovine collagen for the treatment of urodynamic stress incontinence.

IS IT SAFE TO REUSE A SYRINGE OF GLUTARALDEHYDE CROSS-LINKED COLLAGEN? A MICROBIOLOGICAL STUDY

PURPOSE We evaluated the safety of saving partially used syringes of glutaraldehyde cross-linked collagen for subsequent treatment sessions in an individual. MATERIALS AND METHODS After periurethral injection in an office setting 56 partially used syringes of glutaraldehyde cross-linked collagen were stored in a refrigerator for 1 to 61 weeks (mean 15). Collagen from all 56 syringes was then cultured qualitatively using a broth medium at 35C and semiquantitatively using a chocolate agar plate at 22 to 30C for 5 days each. RESULTS A qualitative broth culture was positive for coagulase negative staphylococcus but the results of semiquantitative chocolate agar culture of material from the same syringe were negative. All cultures of the other 55 syringes were negative. CONCLUSIONS The positive culture most likely resulted from contamination during periurethral injection or the culturing process. Minimal contamination from and the great potential cost savings of reusing glutaraldehyde cross-linked collagen for subsequent treatments in an individual indicate the need for an expanded study involving multiple centers.

Adverse effects of political sanctions on the health care system in Iran.

The United States has long leveraged economic sanctions as powerful instruments to achieve foreign policy objectives [1]. Economic sanctions have been described as a “cheaper form of coercion, less aggressive than war with fewer human costs, and more politically feasible” [1]. Sanctions may be implemented as tariffs on imported goods, quotas on how much can be imported or exported, embargoes that prevent all trade between countries, or non–tariff Barriers that include other non–tariff restrictions on imported items [2]. No matter what type of sanction is used, the end goal is the same: to force a change in behavior [2]. The United States particularly favors investment withdrawals, trade embargoes and foreign aid reductions to coerce foreign countries into compliance with its foreign policy objectives. However, many question the effectiveness of economic sanctions and, while policy–makers debate this, what is often understated is the hidden cost of US diplomacy: the cost to the citizens of the country in question, particularly on their health care sector. The goal of this viewpoint is to bring attention to the impact that economic sanctions can have on the health care system in the impacted nation.

The Safety of Reusing Injectable Collagen: A Multicenter Microbiological Study

Abstract: We have previously reported pilot data regarding the safety of saving partially used syringes of a glutaraldehyde cross-linked collagen for use in subsequent treatment sessions with the same individual. That single institution study involved 56 partially used syringes cultured for aerobic bacteria. Only one weakly positive culture was detected among these 56 samples, which prompted us to carry out this expanded study involving multiple centers and different injection techniques. Samples were collected from four centers. Following periurethral injection in an office setting, 166 partially used syringes of glutaraldehyde cross-linked collagen were refrigerated for between 1 and 104 weeks (average 58). Material from all 166 syringes was then cultured qualitatively and quantitatively for both aerobic and anaerobic organisms. Collagen from one syringe grew >100 000 colonies of Escherichia coli. All other cultures were negative. In the pilot study, one culture of 56 syringes was weakly positive for coagulase-negative staphylococcus. When the results from both studies were considered together, only two of 222 partially used syringes (0.9%) were contaminated. The background risk of local infection associated with periurethral collagen injection is approximately 0.29%. Using the statistical equation ‘number needed to harm’, we found that a clinician would have to reuse 111 syringes at a saving of

Dyspareunia is associated with chronic pain in premenopausal women with sickle cell disease

34,965 before he or she would cause a single local injection by so doing. Therefore, we feel that it may be cose-effective and safe to reinject material from a partially used syringe of glutaraldehyde cross-linked collagen during a subsequent treatment session on an individual.