Minimally invasive atlanto-odontoid joint injection for involvement in rheumatoid arthritis. A case report and technical note.

SUMMARY: This report shows that CT fluoroscopy guided anterior approach injections can be effectively utilized for inflammatory conditions affecting the atlanto-odontoid joint, and that steroid injections thus injected can provide pain relief lasting six months in properly selected patients. Patients with underlying rheumatoid arthritis demonstrating significant aggravation of neck pain with side to side (rotational) neck movements and refractory to medical therapy may be good candidates for the procedure.

The effect of patient position on leak-point pressure measurements in women with genuine stress incontinence.

The aim of this study was to determine the quantitative and qualitative effects of patient position on coughing and Valsalva leak-point pressure in women with genunie stress incontinence. Thirty-seven patients with genuine stress incontinence and 4 with mixed incontinence underwent multichannel urodynamics using a standardized protocol. Leak-point pressures were performed using 8 Fr microtip catheters placed in the bladder and vagina at a bladder volume of 250 ml in the supine, semirecumbent and standing positions. Urethral pressure profilometry was performed in the semirecumbent position at a bladder volume of 250 ml. The mean (range) age, and median (range) gravidity, parity, body mass index (BMI), and mean (range) Q-tip deflection angle were 61 years (36-80), 3 (1-8), 3 (1-6), 26 (22-30) and 55.8 degrees (25 degrees-80 degrees), respectively. The mean (+/- standard deviation) Valsalva leak-point pressures in the supine, semirecumbent and standing positions were 82 +/- 23, 73 +/- 24 and 63 +/- 22 cmH2O, respectively (P<0.001). The mean (+/- standard deviation) cough leak-point pressures also decreased as the patients were moved from the supine (98 +/- 29 cmH2O) to the semirecumbent (88 +/- 24 cmH2O) and standing positions (77 +/- 24 cmH2O) (P<0.001). The correlation between leak-point pressure and maximum urethral closure pressure was statistically significant and was dependent upon patient position and the provocative maneuver used.

Risk of recurrent stress incontinence in women undergoing the combined modified pereyra procedure and transvaginal sacrospinous ligament vault suspension.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the risk of recurrent stress urinary incontinence in women undergoing the combined modified Pereyra procedure and sacrospinous ligament vault suspension. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 62 patients who underwent the modified Pereyra procedure at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center between October 1, 1993 and July 10, 1999 for stress urinary incontinence was performed. RESULTS: The study group consisted of 62 patients treated for stress incontinence; 34 (55%) of the 62 patients underwent the modified Pereyra procedure for stress incontinence, and 28 (45%) underwent the combined modified Pereyra procedure and sacrospinous ligament vault suspension for stress incontinence and coexistent uterine and/or vaginal vault prolapse. Patients undergoing the modified Pereyra procedure without vaginal vault suspension had higher subjective (91% versus 64%, P = 0.01) and objective (88% versus 61%, P = 0.02) cure rates of stress urinary incontinence compared with the patients undergoing the combined modified Pereyra procedure and sacrospinous ligament vault suspension. The mean follow-up period for the patients undergoing the modified Pereyra procedure (23 +/- 14.4 months) was similar to that of the patients undergoing the combined modified Pereyra procedure and sacrospinous ligament vault suspension (26 +/- 9.4 months) (P = 0.3). Compared with the objectively cured patients, patients with objective failure demonstrated postoperative bladder neck hypermobility and a higher rate of recurrent grade 2 or greater anterior vaginal prolapse. Eleven patients had postoperative detrusor instability, and 2 patients who underwent sacrospinous ligament vault suspension developed recurrent grade 3 apical vault prolapse. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing the combined modified Pereyra procedure and sacrospinous ligament vault suspension have high rates of recurrent stress urinary incontinence.

Resolution of motor urge incontinence after surgical repair of pelvic organ prolapse.

PURPOSE: We determined the resolution rate of urge incontinence in women with uterine and/or vaginal vault prolapse plus coexistent motor urge incontinence after the surgical repair of prolapse as well as predictors of postoperative urge incontinence status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 38 women with grade 2 or greater uterine and/or vaginal vault prolapse plus coexistent motor urge incontinence who were evaluated and treated at our institution between July 1, 1996 and December 31, 1999. RESULTS: Urge incontinence resolved in 24 of the 38 women (63%) and persisted in 14 (37%) after the surgical repair of uterine and/or vaginal vault prolapse. Patient age, vaginal parity, body mass index, menopausal status, bladder compliance and the number who underwent previous pelvic surgery were similar in the 2 groups. Uninhibited detrusor contractions less than 25 cm. water during cystometry (p = 0.01) and bladder trabeculation (p = 0.03) were each an independent predictor of urge incontinence resolution after repair. CONCLUSIONS: In most women with grade 2 or greater uterovaginal and coexistent motor urge incontinence urge incontinence resolved after the surgical repair of prolapse.

Survey of voiding dysfunction and urinary retention after anti-incontinence procedures.

OBJECTIVE: To describe trends in the management of prolonged voiding dysfunction and urinary retention after anti-incontinence procedures. METHODS: Physician members of the American Urogynecologic Society were queried by means of a two-page questionnaire regarding the management of prolonged voiding dysfunction and urinary retention after anti-incontinence procedures. RESULTS: A total of 344 (42%) of 825 questionnaires were completed and returned. Of the 344 respondents, 61% identified themselves as urogynecologists, 50% worked in a university-affiliated practice, and 26% had been in practice for 11-20 years. Respondents rarely encountered prolonged urinary retention after anti-incontinence procedures. Among the respondents, 30% allowed 3-6 months for resumption of spontaneous voiding before performing surgical revision, and 90% performed multichannel urodynamic studies before surgical revision. However, 66% performed surgical revision transabdominally when urinary retention occurred after retropubic urethropexy, and 61-81% of respondents performed surgical revision transvaginally when urinary retention followed needle suspension, pubovaginal sling, or tension-free vaginal tape procedures. A total of 90-96% did not perform an anti-incontinence procedure concomitantly with surgical revision. The majority of respondents reported spontaneous voiding in greater than 80% of patients, and recurrent stress urinary incontinence in less than 10% of patients after surgical revision. CONCLUSION: Although certain trends in the management of prolonged urinary retention after anti-incontinence procedures were identified, there was no clear consensus on the method of surgical revision used, nor the management of recurrent stress urinary incontinence after surgical revision. Randomized clinical trials are required to determine the optimal management of prolonged urinary retention after anti-incontinence procedures.

Transvaginal bladder neck suspension to Cooper's ligament: a review of the literature.

The aim of this paper was to review the surgical technique and clinical experience of transvaginal bladder neck suspension to Cooper's ligament. A computerized MEDLINE search identified five English-language articles published between January 1990 and December 1998. The success rate obtained with this procedure is comparable to that obtained with the traditional Burch procedure and ranges between 86.4% and 100%. Postoperative de novo detrusor instability occurs infrequently, with an incidence ranging between 0% and 20%. Complications occur infrequently and postoperative voiding dysfunction is rare. Limited postoperative urodynamic data are available. Transvaginal suspension of the bladder neck to Cooper's ligament combines the technique of a needle suspension with the anatomic effect of the Burch procedure.

Lumbosacral spine and pelvic inlet changes associated with pelvic organ prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between advanced pelvic organ prolapse and changes in lumbar lordosis and/or pelvic inlet orientation. METHODS: Lateral lumbosacral spine/pelvic x-rays were taken of women with grade 2 or greater uterovaginal prolapse and women with grade 1 or less prolapse standing in their usual upright posture. The angles of lumbar lordosis and the pelvic inlet were measured by a radiologist who was masked to the pelvic examination findings. RESULTS: Twenty women with prolapse were matched with 20 women without significant prolapse. There were no significant differences in the mean (+/- standard deviation [SDI) age (55.3 +/- 9.0 years compared with 53.4 +/- 9.5 years), body mass index (BMI) (28.9 +/- 5.6 compared with 28.4 +/- 5.2), gravidity (5.6 +/- 3.5 compared with 5.0 +/- 2.7), and vaginal parity (4.65 +/- 3.3 compared with 4.5 +/- 2.9) between the prolapse and nonprolapse groups, respectively. All participants were vaginally parous. The mean lumbar lordotic angle in women with pelvic organ prolapse (32.0 degrees +/- 9.8 degrees) was significantly lower than that of controls (42.4 degrees +/- 10.9 degrees) (P < .003). The mean angle of the pelvic inlet in women with pelvic organ prolapse (37.5 degrees +/- 7.0 degrees) was significantly larger than that of controls (29.5 degrees +/- 7.3 degrees) (P < .001). The differences in the mean angles of lumbar lordosis and the pelvic inlet, between the case and control groups, remained significant after multivariable logistic regression was performed. CONCLUSION: Women with advanced uterovaginal prolapse have less lumbar lordosis and a pelvic inlet that is oriented less vertically than women without prolapse.

Sonographic diagnosis of paravaginal defects: a standardization of technique.

The qualitative and quantitative effects of bladder and vaginal balloon volumes on the sonographic diagnosis of paravaginal defects were evaluated. Transabdominal ultrasound measurements were performed on patients with stage 4 prolapse and coexisting paravaginal defects (study group) as well as on nulliparous patients without prolapse or paravaginal defects (control group). Paravaginal defects were measured, first without a water-filled condom in the vagina, and then sequentially with a 30, 60 and 90 ml water-filled balloon in the vagina at bladder volumes of 150 and 300 ml. Paravaginal defects were detected on transabdominal ultrasound in both groups. In both the study and the control groups the size of the paravaginal defect was directly related to the size of the balloon placed in the vagina (P<0.0001). There were no significant differences in the size of the paravaginal defects measured at a bladder volume of 150 ml compared to those measured at 300 ml. We conclude that transabdominal ultrasound is not useful in detecting paravaginal defects.

The Burch procedure: a comprehensive review.

The purpose of this review is to provide the obstetrician/gynecologist with a comprehensive review of the open Burch procedure including operative technique and modifications, complications, and success rates. A computerized search of English-language articles was performed on the MEDLINE database. Additional sources were identified through cross-referencing. All identified articles were reviewed with particular attention to operative technique, complication, and success rates. Each reference was reviewed; operative technique and modifications are cited, and all complications are reported here. Overall success rates by length of follow-up are tabulated. Several comparative studies are cited. The Burch procedure via laparotomy has undergone minimal modification since its initial description in 1961. Complications including voiding dysfunction, detrusor instability, and urinary tract infection occur in up to 41 percent of patients, but more serious sequelae such as urinary tract injury, hemorrhage, or venous thromboembolism are rare. Long-term success rates of the Burch procedure range from 61 to 100 percent, which are as good or better than any other incontinence procedure.

An in-line suturing device to simplify sacrospinous vaginal vault suspension.

A disposable suturing instrument is used in our surgical method for sacrospinous vault suspension to facilitate suture placement and retrieval. The pararectal space is dissected and the suturing device is placed just medial to the lateral third of the sacrospinous ligament-coccygeus muscle complex. Depression of the device's firing button advances a standard needle in a controlled circular path through the sacrospinous ligament-coccygeus muscle complex. The needle is retrieved with a straight-needle holder at a consistent location, 3 mm from the shaft of the instrument. A second suture is placed 0.5-1 cm medial to the first suture. If the holding strength for either suture is considered inadequate, the device is reloaded with the same suture and subsequent bites are taken. The procedure is completed using standard methods. In ten women treated for vaginal vault eversion, lateral dissection was completed in less than 10 minutes, and passage of two sutures through the sacrospinous ligament was accomplished in less than 2 minutes. There were no complications. One patient described mild buttock pain that resolved in 1 week. At 4-6 months' follow-up, vaginal examination with maximal straining demonstrated direct apposition of the vaginal wall to the sacrospinous ligament.

The prevalence of urinary incontinence or prolapse among white and Hispanic women.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to study the distribution of symptoms and disorders of urinary incontinence or prolapse among white and Hispanic women. STUDY DESIGN: Data were collected for all new patients referred to the urogynecology clinic over a 2-year period. One hundred twenty-one Hispanic and 50 white women consecutively referred to the urogynecology clinic as new patients over 2 years were included in the study. All patients underwent a detailed history and physical examination and multichannel urodynamic studies. Differences between the two groups were analyzed for significant differences by use of demographic data, presenting symptoms, urodynamic profiles, and final diagnosis or disorder. RESULTS: The symptoms of stress, urge, or mixed incontinence and prolapse were noted in 26%, 18%, 30%, and 14% of white women, respectively, compared with 41%, 9%, 21%, and 26% of Hispanic women (p=0.019). The diagnosis of genuine stress incontinence, motor urge incontinence, mixed incontinence, and pelvic organ prolapse without incontinence was made, respectively, in 16%, 44%, 6%, and 18% of white women versus 30%, 27%, 5%, and 18% of Hispanic women (p=0.33). The nondiagnostic rate after a complete evaluation for both groups was 10%. Hispanic women were of significantly higher gravidity (5.6 vs 3.8, p=0.001) and parity (4.7 vs 3.0, p=0.0006) than white women but were of comparable age. Medical problems and medications were too infrequent to allow meaningful comparison. White women were much more likely to have undergone a hysterectomy (36% vs 11.5%, p=0.0004, 95% confidence interval 1.8 to 10.3). CONCLUSION: Although the distribution of presenting symptoms of incontinence differs between Hispanic and white women, the final diagnosis after a complete urogynecologic evaluation was similar. Therefore presenting complaints in patients of different ethnic groups appears to be a poor predictor of the type of incontinence. Hispanic women were of higher gravidity and parity than white women were, but white women were more likely to have undergone a hysterectomy. Because the power of this study was limited by the 50 white women, larger prospective and longitudinal studies are needed to determine the significance of possible difference in etiologic factors.

Modification of the Miya hook in vaginal colpopexy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a modification of the Miya hook in performing vaginal sacrospinous ligament fixation. STUDY DESIGN: The modification was performed in over 50 patients. It involves placing the needle through the ligament unloaded; then the hook is back-threaded with the appropriate suture. The hook is then withdrawn, bringing the suture with it. RESULTS: There were no complications as a result of this modification. The technique was faster, used fewer instruments and obviated fraying of the suture. It could also be adapted when retrieving the suture when the classic technique proved difficult. CONCLUSION: The ease of this modification should promote the use of this instrument in performing vaginal sacrospinous ligament fixation.

Artificial urinary sphincter for recurrent/severe stress incontinence in women. Urogynecologic perspective.

Eight American Medical Systems 800 artificial urinary sphincters were implanted in seven women with severe and/or recurrent stress urinary incontinence. The surgical approach to urethral cuff implantation consisted of both abdominal and combined abdominal and vaginal approaches. Indications, preoperative evaluations, surgical technique and complications are discussed. Postoperative follow-up for 6-24 months showed all the patients to be completely continent subjectively and objectively. The artificial urinary sphincter is a viable option in these difficult cases of urinary incontinence.

Nonfluorescent erythrasma of the vulva.

BACKGROUND: Erythrasma is an uncommon vulvar infection, best diagnosed by its fluorescence under the Wood lamp. This report shows that despite a negative Wood lamp examination, the diagnosis can be made histologically. CASE: A 42-year-old woman was referred to our clinic with a persistent candidal infection. Evaluation included a Wood lamp examination, wet mount, and potassium hydroxide test of the affected skin, all of which were negative. A biopsy of the area demonstrated rods and filamentous organisms in the keratotic layer consistent with a Corynebacterium minutissimum infection. The patient was diagnosed as having erythrasma, and she responded to oral erythromycin. CONCLUSION: Persistent vulvar diseases may be caused by erythrasma despite a negative Wood lamp examination. The diagnosis can be made by biopsy of the lesion.

Modified suburethral sling procedure for treatment of recurrent or severe stress urinary incontinence.

The most suitable material used to perform suburethral sling procedures for recurrent or severe stress urinary incontinence remains controversial. A comparison was made between two commonly used materials, synthetic Gore-Tex (expanded reinforced polytetrafluoroethylene) and autologous fascia lata. Both groups showed improved urethral pressure profiles postoperatively, but there was no difference in the magnitude of change between groups. The objective cure rate at six months for the Gore-Tex group was 100.0 versus 87.5 percent for the fascia lata group (p = 0.155). While there was no statistical difference between the incidence of de novo detrusor instability or length of postoperative bladder drainage (p = 0.104 and p = 0.978, respectively), there was a trend toward more postoperative complications of urinary obstruction in the Gore-Tex group.

Antibiotic prophylaxis following lower urinary tract instrumentation.

The value of routine antibiotic prophylaxis was assessed in 362 women undergoing lower urinary tract instrumentation. A three-day course of a once-a-day dose of 1 g of cefadroxil was compared with a three-day course of 100 mg of nitrofurantoin three times a day, in a randomized investigator blinded placebo controlled study. Both study drugs were significantly more effective in preventing postinstrumentation urinary tract infections than placebo (p less than 0.003). Differences in efficacy between the two test drugs were not significant; however, side effects in the nitrofurantoin group were more frequent and severe than those in the cefadroxil group. Cefadroxil also offered the advantage of a once-daily dosing schedule.

Prevalence of abnormal urodynamic test results in continent women with severe genitourinary prolapse.

Twenty-two clinically continent women with severe genitourinary prolapse were evaluated urodynamically to determine the prevalence of urodynamic abnormalities that could lead to potential urinary incontinence. Urodynamic testing found an occult incontinence disorder in 13 women (59%), of whom four had urine loss during cough pressure profiles after pessary placement, four had uninhibited detrusor contractions during retrograde medium-fill water cystometry, and five had both stress urinary incontinence and an unstable bladder. Therefore, nine of the 22 patients (41%) had uninhibited detrusor contractions during urodynamic testing. However, uroflowmetry did not reveal voiding dysfunction in this group, although peak flow rates appeared to be lower in the subgroup of women manifesting uninhibited detrusor contractions. Associated symptoms of frequency, nocturia, and urgency occurred in 41% of the women in this study; four of nine (44%) who had normal urodynamic test results, five of 13 (38%) who had abnormal test results, and five of nine (56%) who had an unstable bladder. Therefore, associated symptoms could not be used to determine which women would have abnormal urodynamic test results. These preliminary results suggest that women with genitourinary prolapse may be at risk for an occult incontinence disorder that is masked by the prolapse and that could manifest after corrective surgery for prolapse. Urodynamic testing is suggested for women with genitourinary prolapse who present with or without symptoms of incontinence, so that more data can be obtained to determine the importance of abnormal test results.