Transperineal anal sphincter complex evaluation after obstetric anal sphincter injuries: With or without tomographic ultrasound imaging technique?

OBJECTIVES: "Significant" obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) have been defined as visible defects of at least 30° in at least 4/6 slices using tomographic ultrasound imaging (TUI) with transperineal ultrasound (TPUS). The objective of this study was to assess if TUI is mandatory for the evaluation of OASIS. METHODS: Patients with a history of OASIS were evaluated by performing 3D-endoanal ultrasound (EAUS) and 3D-TPUS with and without TUI. Any damage to the internal (IAS) or external (EAS) anal sphincters was recorded and scored using the Starck's and the Norderval's systems. Intraobserver and inter-techniques correlations were calculated. RESULTS: From September 2012 to May 2015, 63 women, mean age 32.5 ± 4.6 years, with OASIS (3a: 26 pts., 41.3 %; 3b: 26 pts., 41.3 %; 3c: 6 pts., 9.5 %, 4: 4 pts., 6.3 %, "button hole" tear: 1 pt., 1.6 %). Inter-technique and intraobserver correlations were excellent (TUI: k = 0.9; sweeping technique: k = 0.85; EAUS: k = 0.9) in determining OASIS. Using the Starck's Score, excellent correlation was found for both TPUS modalities (TUI: k = 0.86; sweeping technique: k = 0.89). However, for the different individual parameters, the correlation was moderate for EAS depth (TUI: k = 0.44; sweeping technique: k = 0.5) and good for IAS depth (TUI: k = 0.7; sweeping technique: k = 0.78). Similar results were found using the Norderval's classification. CONCLUSIONS: OASIS can be assessed by TPUS without TUI technique, dragging the rendered box and following the anal canal from the anal verge to the anorectal junction in the longitudinal plane and describing findings.

Impact of episiotomy on the urogenital hiatus using transperineal ultrasound.

AIMS: To analyze whether episiotomy affects the urogenital hiatal area and the difference in the hiatus at rest and during contraction, as an indirect measurement of the contractile capacity of the levator ani muscle. METHODS: We performed an observational, comparative, retrospective study of primiparous women who had normal vaginal deliveries. The urogenital hiatal area was compared in women with and without episiotomy. All women underwent transperineal ultrasound scanning after delivery, and all the images were analyzed offline by the principal investigator who was blinded to all clinical data. The urogenital hiatal area was measured at rest and during both Valsalva and contraction manoeuvres. The difference in the hiatus at rest and during contraction was also calculated. These scanning variables were compared between the study groups. RESULTS: In total, 194 women were analysed (101 with, and 93 without, episiotomy). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding the area of the hiatus at rest (P = 0.583), on Valsalva (P = 0.158), and on contraction (P = 0.468), or in the difference in the hiatus at rest and during contraction (P = 0.095). CONCLUSIONS: In normal vaginal delivery, neither the area of the urogenital hiatus nor its difference at rest and during contraction, as measured by ultrasound, were modified by performing an episiotomy.

Circuito asistencial de la paciente con síndrome de vejiga hiperactiva / Care circuit of the patient with overactive bladder syndrome

Objetivo: determinar diferencias asistenciales en las pacientes con síndrome de vejiga hiperactiva en diferentes regiones de España e identificar ámbitos de mejora. Material y métodos: 106 especialistas en ginecología participaron en 12 sesiones regionales dirigidas mediante una metodología de brainstorming estructurado y se agregaron los datos obtenidos. Resultados: el rol de los médicos de atención primaria en la sospecha de la patología, y el de los especialistas en ginecología en el diagnóstico y tratamiento se destacó como relevante en la mayoría de sesiones. Se identificaron diferencias en la accesibilidad a Unidades de Suelo Pélvico y en la disponibilidad de personal de enfermería especializado, entre otros. Se propuso la formación y la generación de nueva evidencia para estandarizar el circuito asistencial. Conclusiones: el circuito asistencial de las pacientes varía entre las distintas regiones de España. La formación del personal asistencial y la creación de nueva evidencia sobre su tratamiento pueden ayudar a mejorarlo (AU)

Objective: To describe differences in the care of patients with overactive bladder among the different regions in Spain, as well as to identify fields of improvement. Methods: 106 gynecologists participate in 12 regional meetings run by a structured brainstorming methodology. Data were obtained and shown together. Results: The role of general practitioners in clinical suspicion and the role of gynecologists in diagnoses and treatment were reported as relevant in most of the meetings. Among others, differences in accessibility to units specialized in pelvic floor disorders and in the availability of specialized nurses were identified along the meetings. Training to health professionals in pelvic floor disorders and the creation of new evidence were identified as measures to standardize the healthcare of patients with overactive bladder. Conclusions: The healthcare journey of patients with overactive bladder differs from one to another region in Spain. Training and new evidence may help improve such healthcare (AU)

Three-dimensional translabial ultrasound assessment of urethral supports and the urethral sphincter complex in stress urinary incontinence.

AIMS: The pathophysiological mechanism of incontinence is multifactorial. We evaluated the role of 3D-4D ultrasound in the assessment of the fascial supports of the urethra and the urethral sphincter complex (USC) for diagnosing stress urinary incontinence. METHODS: Observational case-control study in women with and without stress urinary incontinence attending a urogynecology service and a general gynecology service. All women were interviewed, examined, and classified according to the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) and underwent a 3D-4D translabial ultrasound. Fascial supports of the urethra were assessed by tomographic ultrasound and were considered to be intact or absent if it was possible to identify them at eight levels on each side, urethral mobility was assessed on maximal Valsalva in sagittal section and the length and volume of the USC at rest and on maximal Valsalva were determined using the Virtual Organ Computer-aided Analysis (VOCAL) program. Variables were compared between continent and incontinent women. RESULTS: A total of 173 women were examined, 78 continent and 95 incontinent. There was a significant difference in urethral mobility between continent and incontinent women (12.82 mm vs. 21.85 mm, P < 0.001), but there was no significant difference in the percentage of supports affected (43.27% vs. 35.94%, P < 0.070). The length of the USC at rest was significantly shorter (P < 0.001) ​​in incontinent patients. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound evaluation of urethral supports does not discriminate between continent and incontinent women. However, the length of the USC at rest was shorter and urethral mobility was higher in incontinent women. Neurourol. Urodynam. 9999:XX-XX, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Can we identify changes in fascial paravaginal supports after childbirth?

BACKGROUND: Defects of anterior vaginal wall fascia are generally assumed to be factors in the aetiology of cystocele. However, to date, there is very little information on diagnosis by imaging. AIM: To document the appearance of vaginal fornices before and after childbirth using 4D ultrasound volume data sets as an aid in diagnosing paravaginal defects of the anterior vaginal wall. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed by re-analysing data sets obtained in a previously published study involving ante- and postpartum pelvic floor assessment by ultrasound. Two hundred and two nulliparous women had been seen at a mean gestation of 37.2 weeks at two tertiary hospitals. One hundred and sixty-three returned 3 months postpartum. All the participants underwent an interview and 4D translabial ultrasound at both antepartum and postpartum appointments. The integrity of vaginal fornices and levator ani was assessed by tomographic ultrasound. RESULTS: Vaginal fornices were assessed in both ante- and postnatal volumes, and loss of forniceal tenting was found in 85 patients (52%). On average, seven slices were affected (range, 1-16). On multivariate analysis, controlling for potential confounders, including partial/complete avulsion, loss of forniceal tenting remained independently associated with increased cystocele descent (P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Vaginal childbirth is associated with loss of tenting of the vaginal fornices, independent of levator trauma, and also with impaired anterior vaginal wall support. This evidence suggests the existence of paravaginal defects and may imply a role for such defects in the causation of anterior vaginal wall prolapse.

Tridimensional sonographic anatomical changes on pelvic floor muscle according to the type of delivery.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of avulsion and postnatal hiatal dimensions with delivery mode. These anatomical changes on pelvic floor muscle may be assessed by 3-4D ultrasonography. METHODS: This is a prospective observational study that included 164 women: 20 nulliparous, 20 primigravid, and 124 postpartum women (62 at 1 month, 62 at 9 months postpartum). We performed an introital 3-4D ultrasonography to assess levator ani muscle's integrity, levator hiatal area at rest, on Valsalva, and on contraction. RESULTS: Levator ani avulsion was diagnosed in 59.5% of forceps deliveries. There were no statistically significant differences in postnatal hiatal dimensions between normal vaginal deliveries at 9 months postpartum and nulligravid. Levator hiatal area was significantly higher after forceps delivery. CONCLUSION: Low incidence of levator avulsion takes place in normal vaginal deliveries. However, forceps delivery is the riskiest type of delivery for pelvic floor pathology and its recovery.