Clinical application of the full-stack smart pelvic floor ultrasound to acquire and measure the minimal levator hiatus plane / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility of Full-stack Smart Pelvic Floor Ultrasound (FSPFU) software in the acquisition and measurement of the minimal levator hiatus (LH).Methods:Transperineal pelvic floor ultrasonography was performed in 119 women of 6-month postpartum from Nov.2020 to Jan.2021 of Shenzhen Second People′s Hospital. Mid-sagittal plane of pelvic floor was set as the initial plane, and the three-dimensional volume data was acquired. The dataset was stored in the machine. The offline volume data was manually adjusted to obtain the minimal LH images and measured by four physicians (two junior physicians as the D1 group and two senior physicians as the D2 group). For comparison, the results were also obtained using the fully automated method—the FSPFU software by a junior physician (the D3 group). The obtained parameters of minimal LH included area, circumference, anterioposterior diameter, transverse diameter, left and right levator-urethral gap distance. Analysis time was recorded for each group. The contours of minimal LH were outlined by three groups and the overlapping rate was calculated. The quality of the resulted images was evaluated and scored by another two senior physicians(A and B) independently.Results:The D3 group had a significant shorter analysis time compared with the other two groups, and the D1 group took a longer time than the D2 group, regardless of the cystocele severity (D1: 82.97 s, D2: 62.51 s, D3: 2.71 s, all P<0.05). The intergroup agreements and correlations of the minimum LH area were good (all ICC>0.85, rs>0.70, P<0.001) and the outlined contours were largely overlapped (>92%). There was no significant difference in image quality among the three groups(all P>0.05). Conclusions:FSPFU software can automatically obtain and measure the minimum LH in an efficient and accurate way, which can improve the effectiveness of the present pelvic floor examination. FSPFU software can be an useful tool in the diagnosis of pelvic floor dysfunctional diseases.

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.

Value of pelvic floor ultrasound in the perioperative evaluation of transvaginal modified patch repair and sacrospinous ligament fixation / 中华医学超声杂志（电子版）

Objective To investigate the value of evaluation of pelvic floor ultrasound in the transvaginal modified patch repair and sacrospinous ligament fixation in uterine prolapse patients. Methods Thirty-two patients with uterine prolapse were included in the retrospective study from March 2016 to January 2017 in Hangzhou maternity and child health care hospital. All patients were detected by pelvic floor ultrasound before operation and cured by vaginal patch bilateral sacral spine ligament fixation treatment after. Of them, 8 cases were complicated with cystocele and 3 cases with anorectal prolapse, and all the complications were treated at the same time. The observations of the change of position, shape and activity of the implant by transvaginal at rest, on maxium Valsalva and contraction, and the transperineal pelvic ultrasound were performed to evaluate the change of pelvic floor function and compare the distance from the lowest point of the bladder, uterus and the rectal ampulla to reference line (the horizontal line at the lower margin of the pubic bone), area of levator hiatus and the thickness of the puborectalis muscle before and after operation. Results The patches were observed 2D and 3D postoperatively by pelvic ultrasound. The U-shaped hyperecho could be clearly shown around the cervix and activity of patches were clearly shown. The observation of 32 cases of patients with pelvic viscera situation by the transperineal 2D and 4D pelvic ultrasound: the distance from the lowest point of the bladder, uterus and the rectal ampulla to reference line and the thickness of the puborectalis muscle enlarged after operation (0.65±1.85 vs 0.15±1.85, 2.80±1.10 vs -1.00±1.50, 0.60±1.90 vs-0.55±1.55,0.51±0.24 vs 0.37±0.19)onmaxium valsalva,the area of levator hiatus decreased after operation (20.15±7.20 vs 29.00±9.50).The differences were both statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Uterine prolapse were not found after operation. In the 8 cases with cystocele, 5 cases were cured and 3 cases were improved. And all the 3 cases of patients with anorectal prolapse were all cured. Conclusion Combined application of transvaginal and transperineal pelvic ultrasound can clearly show the suspension of the patch after the treatment of modified patch repair and Sacrospinous ligament fixation, which provide valuable imaging information in the evaluation of preoperative pelvic functionand postoperative therapeutic effect.

Application of pelvic ultrasound measurements in female stress urinary incontinence / 实用医学杂志

Objective To investigate the value of Pelvic Floor ultrasound in diagnosis of female Stress urinary incontinence (SUI).Methods Pelvic floor ultrasound were performed in a total of 200 cases of female.Among 55 patients with SUI by clinical were selected as the study group,145 without SUI as the control group.Bladder neck descent (BND),posterior urethrovesical angle (PUVA) in Valsalva state,urethral rotation angle (URA) and levator hiatus area (LHA) in Valsalva state were measured to assess the value in diagnosing SUI.Results There were significant difference in BND、PUVA&LHA in Valsalva state,URA between two groups (all P ＜ 0.01).AUC of 4 data combined is 0.98.Conclusion Measuring BND,PUVA&LHA in Valsalva state,URA by pelvic floor ultrasound have high diagnostic value in female SUI.

Real time three-dimensional ultrasound in assessment of pelvic floor organ movement and levator hiatus in postpartum women / 中国医学影像技术

Objective To observe and evaluate the location of the three compartments of the pelvic floor organ and levator hiatus area in the postpartum women by transperineal real time three-dimensional ultrasound.Methods Sixty eases of maternal with the matching age and body mass index (BMI;postpartum group) and 35 non-fertile women (control group)were selected.The distance between the lower edge and the reference line was measured by the transperineal ultrasound at rest and Valsalva movement in the lowest point of bladder,cervix and rectum.Meanwhile,the area of levator hiatus under Valsalva action was measured by real time 3-dimensional ultrasound.The differences were compared between two groups.Results In the postpartum group,the lowest point of the bladder and cervix was lower than the control group at rest and Valsalva movemen (both P＜0.05).Rectum location in the rest state difference between the two groups had no statistical significance (t=0.405,P =0.398).The area of the levator hiatus of the postpartum group was significantly larger than that of the control group at the rest and Valsalva movement (t=11.253,9.625,P＜0.001).Conclusion Transperineal real time 3-dimensional ultrasound can dynamically observe the position,movement of pelvic floor organ and the area of levator hiatusin of the female.To evaluate the pregnancy and childbirth have obvious effect on the pelvic floor support tissues.

Changes in radical line of pelvic floor levator hiatus in female with stress urinary incontience：a MRI study / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To investigate the dynamic changes in each radical line of pelvic floor levator hiatus in female with stress urinary incontinence(SUI). Methods A retrospective analysis of MR images was performed in 30 female patients with clinically diagnosed SUI and 30 asymptomatic female volunteers recruited as reference group. All of the subjects underwent pelvic MRI scanning both in static statusand Valsalva maneuver, respectively, Valsalva was performed by attempt to forcibly urinate while holding her breath, respectively. Area of pelvic diaphragm hiatus (LHA), ntero-posterior length (LHL) and tmixmum width (LHW) were measured in horizontal axis plane of the obtained images.H line distance was measured in the midsagittal plane. Independent sample t test was performed to compare the difference in LHA, LHL and LHW between two groups. Paired t test was used to compare difference in LHA, LHL and LHW between two groups in static status and Valsalva maneuver, respectively. Results In static status, the values in LHA, LHL, LHW and H line distance for SUI groups were(28.7±19.3) cm2, (7.1±2.2) cm, (4.7± 1.6 ) cm and (5.7±1.1) cm, respectively. The parameters for the reference group were(13.1±3.7)cm2, (5.3± 0.8) cm, (3.4 ± 0.5) cm and (5.7 ± 0.9) cm, respectively. The difference in LHA, LHL, LHW between two groups was statistically significant (t=4.33, 4.36, 4.23, and P 0.05. In Valsalva maneuver, LHA, LHL, LHW and H line distance were (40.0±26.0) cm2, (8.0±2.3) cm, (6.0±2.5) cm and (6.1± 1.5)cm for SUI group, and were (16.2±6.2) cm2,(5.5±1.0) cm, (3.6±0.8) cm and (6.0±1.0) cm for the reference group, respectively. The difference in LHA, LHL and LHW between two groups was statistically significant, (t=4.88, 5.36, 4.91 respectively, and P<0.01), whereas the differencein H value between two groups was no statistically significant (P< 0.05). For SUI group , the difference of LHA, LHL and LHW between static status and Valsalva maneuver had statistically significant with P<0.01. For reference group, the difference of LHA and LHL between static status and Valsalva maneuver had statistically significant(P<0.05). Conclusion Dynamic and static pelvic MRI can evaluate the morphology and variation of pelvic floor levator hiatus much intuitively and accurately. pelvic floor levator hiatus becomes enlarged in female with SUI.

Preliminary study of 3D ultrasound in visualization of levator hiatus in intrapartum women / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To visualize the pelvic floor structures by translabial three‐dimensional(3D) ultrasonography performed during labor and immediately after delivery, and to observe the morphological changes of levator hiatus in intrapartum women. Methods Totally 62 nulliparous women with singleton pregnancy and cephalic presentation in labor ward underwent intrapartum translabial 3D ultrasound examination before cervical dilatation, at 10 cm dilatation and immediately after delivery. Volume datasets were obtained at rest, biometric measurements and observation of the morphological changes of levator hiatus in different stages were determined in the axial plane. Comparative analyses of parameters in three stages were carried out. Results Translabial 3D ultrasound demonstrated the pelvic floor structures of intrapartum women well. All biometric measurements of the hiatus before cervical dilatation were the smallest and became the largest at 10 cm dilatation, showed statistically significant differences. The measurements after delivery got smaller immediately but still significantly larger than those before cervical dilatation ( P <0 0.01). Conclusions Translabial 3D ultrasound examination of the pelvic floor during labor and within the first 2h after delivery is feasible. It seems to be an effective tool to visualize pelvic floor structures in intrapartum women. Hiatal enlargement may be a common consequence of vaginal childbirth.