Progresses of pelvic floor ultrasound in assessing levator ani muscle injury in postpartum women / 中国医学影像技术

The levator ani muscle is the most important component of the pelvic floor support system, and levator ani muscle injury (LAMI) is a leading cause of female pelvic floor dysfunction (FPFD). Early diagnosis of changes of levator ani muscle structure and function in postpartum women is vital in preventing the occurrence of FPFD. Progresses of pelvic floor ultrasound in assessment of levator ani muscle injury in postpartum women were reviewed in this article.

Association between Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings of the Pelvic Floor and de novo Stress Urinary Incontinence after Vaginal Delivery

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate the contributions of levator ani muscle (LAM) injury, vesical neck movement, urethral length and mobility, and urethral sphincter dysfunction observed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) towards stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after vaginal delivery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty primiparous women after 6 months of delivery (15 with SUI and 35 without) and 35 nulliparous as continent controls underwent MRI at rest and Valsalva maneuver. A published levator ani scoring system was used to characterize morphological changes of LAM. The severity of the injury was divided into three categories as none, minor, and major. A series of common parameters including levator plate angle, iliococcygeal angle, and levator hiatus were used to describe the functional conditions of LAM. Urethral mobility was defined based on the rotation of the urethra between Valsalva and rest status. Vesical neck movement was evaluated by its distance to the pubococcygeal line. Urethral sphincter dysfunction was defined as the widening of the proximal urethra and/or funneling at the urethrovesical junction during Valsalva. RESULTS: Primiparous incontinent (PI) women had additional major levator ani defects (33.3% vs. 17.1%) while less minor defects (0.7% vs. 31.4%) than primiparous continent (PC) women. Vesical neck downward movement in PI women was more obvious than PC women (28.5 mm vs. 24.2 mm, p = 0.006). Urethral mobility was more active in primiparous women than in nulliparous continent controls (57.4 vs. 52.4), whereas no difference was observed on urethral mobility in the primiparous group (p = 0.25). Urethral sphincter dysfunction and funneling were present in 80% of PI women versus 22.9% in PC women (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The MRI findings revealed that de novo SUI was associated with major LAM injury, vesical neck downward movement as well as urethral sphincter dysfunction. Vesical neck funneling on sagittal images can be treated as a valuable predictor for SUI. The intervention for the PI should focus on the elevation of vesical neck, rehabilitation of LAM as well as recovery of the urethral sphincter muscle.

Transperineal three-dimensional ultrasound in evaluation on impact of different delivery modes on levator ani muscle elasticity in early postpartum women / 中国医学影像技术

Objective To evaluate the impact of different delivery ways on levator ani muscle elasticity in early postpartum women with transperineal three-dimensional ultrasound.Methods Totally 60 postpartum women (30 in spontaneous transvaginal delivery group and 30 in selective cesarean delivery group) and 30 non-fertile women (control group) were enrolled.All subjects underwent transperineal three-dimensional ultrasound.The images were acquired at rest,Valsalva and maximal levator ani muscle contraction,respectively,and then the area (A),circumference (C) of levator hiatus and the length (L) of levator ani muscle were measured.The difference values of A,C,L (△A,△C,△L)were calculated between contraction and rest,and the strain rate (ε) was calculated at contraction.The difference of A,C,L (△A',△C',△L') were calculated between Valsalva and rest,and strain rate (ε') was calculated at Valsalva.Results The △A,△C,△L,ε in spontaneous transviginal delivery group and selective cesarean delivery group were smaller than those in control group (all P＜0.05),and △A',△C',△L',ε'in spontaneous transviginal delivery group and selective cesarean delivery group were larger than those in control group (all P＜0.05),while there was no statistical difference between spontaneous transviginal delivery group and selective cesarean delivery group of △A,△C,△L,ε,△A',△C',△L'nor ε'(all P＞0.05).Conclusion The levator ani muscle elasticity decreases in the early postpartum women,and selective cesarean delivery has limited role in protection of levator ani muscle.

Analysis of the Effects of Different Delivery Methods on the Levator Ani Muscle of the Pelvic Floor by Transperineal Three - dimensional Ultrasound and TUI Imaging / 现代医院

Objective To investigate the effect of different delivery methods on the levator ani muscle of the pelvic floor by transperineal three-dimensional ultrasound and TUI imaging. Methods 200 cases of pregnant women from August2014 to August 2016 in our hospital were divided into selective cesarean section group (n = 85) and vaginal delivery group (n= 115). The vaginal group, according to the intraoperative lateral segmentation, was further divided into vaginal lateral incision group (n = 65) and vaginal delivery without lateral incision group (n = 50). At the same time, select 80 cases of nulliparous women (volunteers) as control group, relevant indicators by three-dimensional imaging and TUI imaging technique. Results The vaginal delivery without lateral incision group, lateral incision group vaginal delivery and cesarean section group levator hiatus diameter, anteroposterior diameter, perimeter and area were significantly higher than the control group(P＜0.05), and vaginal delivery side cut was significantly higher than the other three groups (P＜0.05), vaginal delivery in two sub-group and cesarean section group of levator ani muscle thickness were significantly lower than the control group(P＜0.05), vaginal delivery in two sub groups were significantly lower than that in the cesarean section group (P＜0. 05); vaginal delivery group of levator ani muscle injury rate was significantly higher than that in the cesarean section group (P＜0. 05); There was no significant difference in the rate of levator ani muscle injury in vaginal delivery group (P＞0.05). Conclusion Compared with cesarean section, vaginal delivery is more obvious in changing the morphology and integrity of levator ani muscle, and vaginal delivery is more obvious than that of vaginal incision.

Determining "abnormal" levator hiatus distensibility using three-dimensional transperineal ultrasound in Chinese women / 医学前沿

The dimension of the levator hiatus is a possible predictor of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). This retrospective study investigated 360 women who went to urogynecological clinic for pelvic floor discomfort. Levator hiatus dimensions were obtained by three-dimensional transperineal ultrasound and results were compared between women with and without significantly objective prolapse (International Continence Society POP quantification, grade 2 or higher). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to determine valid screening index for detecting abnormal levator hiatus distensibility. Women with significantly objective prolapse had significantly higher levator hiatus dimensions than those without (all P < 0.001). ROC curve analyses confirmed that hiatal area (HA) of 19.5 cm during Valsalva maneuver can be used as single-screening index for abnormal levator hiatus distensibility with sensitivity of 0.80 and specificity of 0.70. In this study, we used a two-step method and achieved higher sensibility (0.80 vs. 0.87) without reducing specificity (0.70 vs. 0.71) compared with a single-screening index method. As a result, we suggest that HA ⩾ 19.5 cm during Valsalva maneuver is an indicator of abnormal levator hiatus distensibility in Chinese women and that the two-step method has higher sensitivity in detecting abnormal distensibility.

Progresses of ultrasound in evaluation of pelvic organ prolapse / 中国介入影像与治疗学

Ultrasonography can clearly show pelvic anatomic structures,as well as the location and length of mesh after pelvic floor reconstructive operation.The consistency of ultrasonic diagnosis of severe pelvic organ prolapse with pelvic organ prolapse quantitation is good.Furthermore,ultrasonography can provide imaging basis for evaluating the safety and efficacy of pelvic floor reconstruction.The progresses of ultrasound in diagnosis of severe pelvic organ prolapse and postoperative evaluation of pelvic floor reconstruction were reviewed in this article.

Feasibility study of MR T2-mapping for evaluating birth-related levator ani muscle injury / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To investigate MR T2-mapping in evaluating birth-related levator ani muscle injury.Methods 25 primiparas at 6 weeks after first vaginal delivery as primiparous group and 12 nulliparous volunteers as control group were prospectively studied. All the subjects underwent pelvic MRI including T2-mapping,mDIXON-T2 WI sequences.Levator ani muscle were divided into two subgroups:levator ani muscle injury group and non-injury group according to if there were edema,avulsion,or rupture in each levator ani muscle subdivisions[puborectal muscle(PRM);iliococcygeal muscle(ICM)],which were showed on mDIXON-T2 WI images.Two radiologists evaluated T2 values of PRM,ICM and observed artificial color images respectively.The consistency between two observers for T2 values of PRM,ICM were evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC ),the difference of T2 values in each levator ani muscle subdivisions among control group,non-injury group and muscle injury group were analyzed using ANOVA .Results There were 26 PRM injury cases and 24 non-injury cases in primiparous group on mDIXON-T2 WI images,and no ICM injured cases in our study.Inter-rater reliability for T2 values between two observers were good(ICC >0.75).T2 values in PRM injury group,non-injury group and control group were(62.78±1.23)ms,(49.75±3.17)ms,(49.96±4.37)ms respectively and the difference was significant. There were significant difference between PRM injury group and non-injury group,control group respectively(P =0.000,P =0.000). The T2 values of ICM in PRM injury group,non-injury group and control group were(70.80±6.50)ms,(62.41±7.32)ms,(62.78±6.91)ms and there were significant difference(P =0.000),meanwhile the difference between PRM injury group and non-injury group,control group were significant respectively(P =0.000,P =0.000).The color gradation of PRM in PRM injury group were mixed with blue, green,and yellow,and tone were lightened on T2-mapping artificial color images;ICM color gradation were uneven with green and yellow, a d tone were higher than those of control group and non-injurygroup.Conclusion T2-mapping can quantitatively assess birth-related levator ani muscle injury and T2-mapping artificial color images show the range and degree of levator ani muscle injury visually.It is hopeful to find micro lesions that T2 WI images are difficult to find.

Feasibility study of MR T2-mapping for evaluating birth-related levator ani muscle injury / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To investigate MR T2-mapping in evaluating birth-related levator ani muscle injury.Methods 25 primiparas at 6 weeks after first vaginal delivery as primiparous group and 12 nulliparous volunteers as control group were prospectively studied. All the subjects underwent pelvic MRI including T2-mapping,mDIXON-T2 WI sequences.Levator ani muscle were divided into two subgroups:levator ani muscle injury group and non-injury group according to if there were edema,avulsion,or rupture in each levator ani muscle subdivisions[puborectal muscle(PRM);iliococcygeal muscle(ICM)],which were showed on mDIXON-T2 WI images.Two radiologists evaluated T2 values of PRM,ICM and observed artificial color images respectively.The consistency between two observers for T2 values of PRM,ICM were evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC ),the difference of T2 values in each levator ani muscle subdivisions among control group,non-injury group and muscle injury group were analyzed using ANOVA .Results There were 26 PRM injury cases and 24 non-injury cases in primiparous group on mDIXON-T2 WI images,and no ICM injured cases in our study.Inter-rater reliability for T2 values between two observers were good(ICC >0.75).T2 values in PRM injury group,non-injury group and control group were(62.78±1.23)ms,(49.75±3.17)ms,(49.96±4.37)ms respectively and the difference was significant. There were significant difference between PRM injury group and non-injury group,control group respectively(P =0.000,P =0.000). The T2 values of ICM in PRM injury group,non-injury group and control group were(70.80±6.50)ms,(62.41±7.32)ms,(62.78±6.91)ms and there were significant difference(P =0.000),meanwhile the difference between PRM injury group and non-injury group,control group were significant respectively(P =0.000,P =0.000).The color gradation of PRM in PRM injury group were mixed with blue, green,and yellow,and tone were lightened on T2-mapping artificial color images;ICM color gradation were uneven with green and yellow, a d tone were higher than those of control group and non-injurygroup.Conclusion T2-mapping can quantitatively assess birth-related levator ani muscle injury and T2-mapping artificial color images show the range and degree of levator ani muscle injury visually.It is hopeful to find micro lesions that T2 WI images are difficult to find.

Static and dynamic MRI evaluation before and after operation of pelvic organ prolapse / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To explore the value of static and dynamic MRI before and after operation of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Methods 29 patients with POP (POP group)and 12 normal women (control group)underwent static and dynamic MRI.The morphologic changes of pelvic floor were observed on MR images.The measurements of bladder,uterus,Douglas pouch to pubococcygeal line (B-PCL,U-PCL,D-PCL),the puborectal hiatus line (H-line),muscular pelvic floor descent (M-line),the levator hiatus size (LHS),the levator plate angle (LPA),the iliococcygeus angle (ICA)and the urethral inclination angle (UA)were recorded on dynamic MR images.Results 19 cystoceles,28 uterine prolapses,4 rectoceles and 14 hernias of Douglas pouch were detected with MRI.29 cases of pelvic floor relaxation,27 cases of levator ani muscle defect and 24 cases of pubocervical fascial defect were found.The values of B-PCL,U-PCL, D-PCL,H-line,M-line,LHS,LPA,ICA and UA of POP group were larger than control group (P<0.01).The positions of pelvic organ returned to normal in 9 cases of 21 postoperative cases,while 12 cases remained prolapses.There was no displacement of mesh in 8 cases of mesh implant.The values of B-PCL,U-PCL,D-PCL,UA after operation were smaller than those before operation (P<0.05).Conclusion Static and dynamic MRI can evaluate morphological and functional changes of pelvic floor before and after operation of POP comprehensively,and may reveal those invisible pelvic floor dysfunction and postoperative remnant defects.

Observation of levator ani muscle contractility in postpartum women by ultrasound / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To evaluate the changes of levator ani muscle contractility in different postpartum periods by observing the contractility of postpartum women's levator ani muscle.Methods Forty-six postpartum women and 43 nulliparous women were included in the object.All of those went through translabial pelvic floor ultrasound examinations.Images of their levator hiatus would be recorded at the conditions of rest and contraction.The hiatal length (L)and the area (A)of levator hiatus were measured,then the differences were obtained between rest and contraction conditions,recording as ΔL andΔA.Relevant data were analyzed.Results There was no obvious statistical difference of L and A between the groups (P >0.05).The ΔL and ΔA of the 6-8 weeks were the minimum in this objective(P 0.05).Conclusions After delivery,the contractility of levator ani muscle became weaker,but could recovery effectively after about half a year.

Effects of levator ani muscle exposure in abdominal perineal resection for rectal cancer / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of levator ani muscle exposure in abdominal periueal resection for rectal cancer.Methods The clinical data of 109 patients with rectal cancer who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2001 to January 2008 were retrospectively analyzed.There were 55 patients received traditional procedure (conventional method group) and 54 patients received modified procedure with levator ani muscle exposure (levator ani muscle exposure group).The mesorectum was sharply dissected according to the total mesorectal excision principle.It is essential to remove the rectum along with the mesorectum up to the level of the levators.Preoperative bowel preparation,anesthesia,body position,abdominal incision,perineal incision and suture of the 2 groups were the same as Miles procedure.In the conventional method group,the superficial dissection was carried out with electrocautery or ultracision harmonic scalpel.The presacral space was entered by dividing the rectococcygeus muscle,commencing at the level of the tip of the coccygeus.The levators were then divided near the pelvic wall attachments and next procedures were performed without levator ani muscle exposure.In levator ani muscle exposure group,once the ischiorectal fat was cleared by electrocautery,the planes of levator ani muscle were identified and exposed after dividing the rectococcygeus muscle and next procedures were performed.The patients in stage Ⅰ only needed to follow-up; the patients in stage Ⅱ had to receive chemotherapy with following situation:poor differentiation,T4 stage,blood vessel or lymphatic invasion,number of lymph nodcs detected ＜ 12.Patients in stage Ⅲ or Ⅳ needed adjuvant chemotherapy.The follow-up evaluation included blood routine examination,hepatic and renal function examination,chest radiography,hepatobiliary ultrasonographic evaluation and determination of CEA levels (once every 3 months in the first year after operation,and once every 6 months after one year).Abdominal CT scan and colonoscopy should be employed every year.All the patients were followed up till December of 2012.All data were analyzed using the chi-square test or t test.The survival curve was drawn using the Kaplan-Meier method,and the prognosis was analyzed using the Log-rank test.Results The operation time were (60 ± 15)minutes and (30 ± 10) minutes in the conventional method group and the levator ani muscle exposure group,with significant difference between the 2 groups (t =3.936,P ＜ 0.05).The intraoperative blood loss were (300 ± 60) mL and (30±20) mL in the conventional method group and the levator ani muscle exposure group,with significant difference between the 2 groups (t =5.687,P ＜ 0.05).Three patients were with rectal injury,1 with urethral injury,1 with vaginal injury,and 10 with incision infection in the conventional method group.There were 9 patients with incision infection in the levator ani muscle exposure group.The course of chemotherapy was under 12 in 30 patients,and above 6 in 41 patients.The median time of follow-up of the patients was 56 months (range,15-95 months).Of the 109 patients,10 missed the follow-up,15 patients had local recurrence,30 had distal metastasis,and 35 patients died.The 1-,3-,5-year cumulative survival rates were 93.4％,76.0％ and 65.6％.The 5-year survival rates were 65.2％ and 66.3％ for patients in the conventional method group and the levator ani muscle exposure group,with no significant difference between the 2 groups (x2=4.210,P ＞0.05).Conclusion Levator ani muscle exposure method provides clearer vision of operational field,shorter operation time,less blood loss and less injury to the rectum or urinary tract (vagina).

The assessment of levator ani muscle contractility in postpartum women by three-dimensional ultrasound / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To assess the contractility of levator ani muscle in postpartum female using pelvic floor three-dimensional ultrasound and to provide an effective imaging basis for the change of levator ani muscle contractility in postpartum female.Methods Totally 75 postpartum women (55 underwent spontaneous vaginal delivery and 20 underwent selective cesarean delivery) and 40 nulliparas were examined by pelvic floor three-dimensional ultrasound.The images were obtained at rest and at maximal levator ani muscle contraction.The sagittal hiatal length (L) on the two-dimensional sagittal images,the area of levator hiatus (A) and the circumference of levator hiatus (C) were measured on the three-dimensional images,and the difference value between rest and contraction were calculated to get the △L,△A,△C.Then the △L,△A,△C between different groups were compared.Results The △L,△A,△C in spontaneous vaginal delivery group and selective cesarean delivery group were smaller than those in nulliparas group (P ＜0.05),and there was no statistical difference between spontaneous vaginal delivery and selective cesarean delivery group (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Three-dimensional ultrasound can effectively assess the the contractility of levator ani muscle,the levator ani muscle contractility of postpartum female was poorer than nulliparas,and between spontaneous vaginal delivery and selective cesarean delivery women there is no obvious difference.

Female Longitudinal Anal Muscles or Conjoint Longitudinal Coats Extend into the Subcutaneous Tissue along the Vaginal Vestibule: A Histological Study Using Human Fetuses

PURPOSE: It is still unclear whether the longitudinal anal muscles or conjoint longitudinal coats (CLCs) are attached to the vagina, although such an attachment, if present, would appear to make an important contribution to the integrated supportive system of the female pelvic floor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry for smooth muscle actin, we examined semiserial frontal sections of 1) eleven female late-stage fetuses at 28-37 weeks of gestation, 2) two female middle-stage fetus (2 specimens at 13 weeks), and, 3) six male fetuses at 12 and 37 weeks as a comparison of the morphology. RESULTS: In late-stage female fetuses, the CLCs consistently (11/11) extended into the subcutaneous tissue along the vaginal vestibule on the anterior side of the external anal sphincter. Lateral to the CLCs, the external anal sphincter also extended anteriorly toward the vaginal side walls. The anterior part of the CLCs originated from the perimysium of the levator ani muscle without any contribution of the rectal longitudinal muscle layer. However, in 2 female middle-stage fetuses, smooth muscles along the vestibulum extended superiorly toward the levetor ani sling. In male fetuses, the CLCs were separated from another subcutaneous smooth muscle along the scrotal raphe (posterior parts of the dartos layer) by fatty tissue. CONCLUSION: In terms of topographical anatomy, the female anterior CLCs are likely to correspond to the lateral extension of the perineal body (a bulky subcutaneous smooth muscle mass present in adult women), supporting the vaginal vestibule by transmission of force from the levator ani.

A preliminary application of levator-urethra gap in evaluating levtor avulsion in postpartum women / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To study the change of levator urethra gap(LUG) in postpartum female using pelvic floor three-dimensional ultrasonography.Methods Totally 80 postpartum women and 30 nulliparas were examined by three-dimensional pelvic floor ultrasonography.The images were obtained at maximal pelvic floor muscle contraction,and then the morphology of puborectalis muscle on tomographic ultrasound imaging were observed and the right LUG and left LUG were measured.Results The puborectalis was intact in all nulliparas and 69 postpartum women.The puborectalis avulsion was find in 11 postpartum women.The LUG of postpartum group was greater than that of nullipara group (P ＜0.05).In postpartum group,the LUG of puborectalis avulsion was greater than that of intact puborectalis(P ＜0.05).There was no difference between the right LUG and left LUG in nullipara group and in the postpartum women with intact puborectalis (P ＞ 0.05).ConcIusions LUG is a good imaging parameter to evaluate the levator avulsion in postpartum women.

Diagnostic value of MRI in females with stress urinary incontinence / 中华泌尿外科杂志

ObjectiveTo discuss the diagnostic value of MRI in female patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI).Methods All SUI patients underwent pelvic MRI examination.The 16 patients mean age was 58 years (range,48 -66 years),disease course was 6 years (range,2 -15 years).All patients underwent transobturator tension-free tape (TOT) procedures.The 28 volunteers with no pelvic diseases were set as control,Mean age was 45 years (range,30 -55 years).Results28 Volunteers' urethral support ligaments appeared as low signal intensity broad linear structures in both T1 WI and T2WI images.Display rate:periurethral ligament was 89％ (25 cases) ; paraurethral ligament was 75％ (21 cases),unilateral 25％ (7 cases) ; pubourethral ligament,in each distal 100％ (near,28 cases),10％(medium,3 cases),7％ (distal,2 cases); suburethral ligament was 100％(28 cases). Levator ani muscle in T1WI,T2WI showed Moderate- intensity signal and the display rate was 100％.16 SUI patients showed varyious degrees of laxity and rupture of urethral supporting ligaments which occurred in one group (4 cases) or multi-group (12 cases) ligaments.The ligament laxity showed that periurethral ligament 14 cases,paraurethral ligament 2 cases and proximal pubourethral ligament 10 cases.The ligament rupture was seen in periurethral ligament 2 cases,paraurethral ligament 5 cases,pubourethral ligament 6 cases and suburethral ligament 7 cases.16 patients showed a relaxation of the levator ani muscle changes,including 4 cases with cervical and vaginal wall prolapsed.Conclusions MRI could clearly show the weak of support structures around the urethra in female SUI patients,and showed the cervical and vaginal prolapsed.Therefore,MRI may provide imaging evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Levator Ani Muscle Posterior Midline Incision Method for Diffrentiation of Anal Fistulas Involving Ischioretal and Pelvirectal Spaces

The difference between anal fistulas involving the ischioretal space and pelvirectal space is that in the former the involvement of the anal fistula is low the levator ani muscle whereas in the latter it is above the levator ani muscle. The levator ani muscle posterior midline incision method, which is introduced here, is thought not to injure the anal sphincter; thus, it does not affect the anal function. The method also allow the surgeon to assess readily and accurately whether or not the fistula has invaded the pelvirectal space.