Impact of Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy on Quality of Life and Function After Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: There is no standard of care for women sustaining an obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASIS). We sought to determine whether pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT) would improve the quality of life and function in women 12 weeks after OASIS. METHODS: This institutional review board-approved randomized trial enrolled primiparous women 2 weeks after delivery complicated by OASIS. After informed consent, all subjects underwent vaginal electromyography and anorectal manometry and completed validated questionnaires; measures were repeated for all subjects at 12 weeks after delivery. The intervention arm completed 4 PFPT sessions. The primary outcome was a change in the Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life. RESULTS: Three hundred four women were screened; 250 were excluded, and 54 were randomized. After four were lost to follow-up, analysis included 27 in the intervention arm and 23 in the control arm. Overall, mean age was 29.8 ± 4.7 years, and there were no demographic differences between groups.Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life domain scores showed improvement for both groups from baseline to 12 weeks for coping (P = 0.006) and depression (P = 0.009); however, there was no difference in domain scores between groups. For the secondary outcome of anorectal manometry, squeezing pressure improved for all subjects (P = 0.035) from baseline to 12 weeks. Vaginal EMG strength (microvolts) increased for all subjects in measures of rest average (P < 0.000), rapid peak (P = 0.006), and work average (P < 0.000), with no difference based on therapeutic arm. CONCLUSIONS: All women showed improvements in quality of life and function at 12 weeks after delivery, regardless of treatment allocation. Further study is needed to determine whether PFPT provides a significant benefit to women having OASIS.

Effects of dexamethasone on quality of recovery following vaginal surgery: a randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid with minimal side effects that may improve quality of recovery. We sought to evaluate standard use of this medication prior to vaginal reconstructive surgery. STUDY DESIGN: This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of women undergoing vaginal reconstructive surgery for pelvic organ prolapse. Patients scheduled for an intraperitoneal vaginal vault suspension, with general anesthesia and an overnight stay, were enrolled. The intervention arm received dexamethasone 60 minutes prior to surgery, and controls received placebo. Postoperative pain medications, antiemetics, and voiding trials were standardized. Our primary outcome was the difference in Quality of Recovery (QoR-40) scores on postoperative day 1. Secondary measures included Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting Intensity scores, and visual analog scales for nausea/vomiting, and pain. Our power calculation demonstrated 31 subjects in each group would be necessary to document difference in QoR-40 scores; to allow for attrition, a goal of 74 subjects was set. RESULTS: Seventy-four women were enrolled and randomized. Two withdrew, 9 were excluded, and 63 were analyzed (36 placebo, 27 dexamethasone). The mean age was 63 years. No significant differences were noted among demographics other than American Society for Anesthesiologists class; there were greater numbers of dexamethasone subjects that were class 3 (5 vs 11; P = .030). Postoperatively, more patients in the placebo group required promethazine as a rescue antiemetic for control of their nausea/vomiting (11 vs 2; P = .029). Placebo subjects also failed their voiding trials more frequently, which remained following a logistic regression controlling for suburethral sling (30 vs 15; P = .037). Regarding the QoR-40 following surgery, the emotional state domain declined less in dexamethasone patients (-14.3, interquartile range [IQR], 16.8 vs -4.6, IQR, 20.1; P = .042), indicating better symptoms. Whereas pain scales were similar, the visual analog scales for nausea/vomiting was lower in dexamethasone subjects (0.7; IQR, 4.1 vs 0.4; IQR, 1.4; P = .042). Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting Intensity scores were not significantly different; nevertheless, twice as many placebo subjects had severe range symptoms (4 vs 2; P = .47). No adverse effects from the dexamethasone were noted. CONCLUSION: Use of dexamethasone prior to vaginal reconstructive surgery was associated with less nausea/vomiting and need for antiemetics as well as greater success with voiding trials. Furthermore, quality of recovery was enhanced, suggesting use of dexamethasone should be considered for these patients.

Prevalence of urinary incontinence in community dwelling men: a cross sectional nationwide epidemiological survey.

PURPOSE: Epidemiological studies on urinary incontinence (UI) in adult men of all ages are scarce. We aim to describe the UI phenomenon among community dwelling adult males in the United States (US). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed data from male respondents to a 14-item mailed UI symptoms questionnaire to the National Family Opinion (NFO) World Group Panel of 45,000 households matching the US 2000 census population on five key demographic elements. RESULTS: A total of 29,903 households responded, of which 21,590 were male heads of household (mean age 50 +/-15.2 years old). A total of 2,059 men (12.7%) reported symptoms of UI during the last 30 days. Symptoms of urge urinary incontinence (UUI), stress urinary incontinence (SUI), mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) symptoms, and other types of urinary incontinence (OUI) symptoms, were reported by 44.6%, 24.5%, 18.8%, and 12.3%, respectively. Among those with UI symptoms, the proportion of UUI and MUI symptoms increases with age while SUI symptoms decrease as age increases. Of those with UI symptoms, 44% consulted a physician of whom 57% did so within 6 months of the onset of symptoms. Treatments reported included absorbent pads (48%), prescription medication (30%), surgical procedure (18%), and intermittent catheterization (4%). CONCLUSIONS: Almost 1 in 10 males reported symptoms of UI. The UI prevalence rate increases with age and UUI symptoms is the most prevalent type reported. Less than half of men with UI symptoms sought professional help and half of them did so within 6 months of onset of UI symptoms.

Surgical management of urinary incontinence: a geriatric perspective.

Urinary incontinence (UI) is highly prevalent in the elderly population. There are several types that call for specific treatment. The three most common options in managing UI are behavioral modification programs, pharmacologic agents, and surgical intervention. In general, a nonsurgical approach is the preferred first choice, unless it already has been tried and failed or if the patient clearly wishes a more definitive surgical therapy.

A comparison between voiding patterns of healthy infants and those with recurrent UTI

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare voiding patterns of healthy infants and those with recurrent UTI aged 1-24 months.METHODS: This was an analytical, cross sectional study of healthy infants and those with recurrent UTI, aged 1-24 months from March 1999 to March 2000 seen at University of Santo Tomas Hospital. The study included 100 subjects; Group I (50 subjects) healthy infants (neurologically intact with other anomalies ruled out by ultrasound and voiding cystourethrogram) Group 2 (50 subjects) are those with recurrent UTI. During the 24-hour period, all micturitions were recorded in terms of voiding frequency, volume and character of voiding. The observation was completed with three determination of residual urine volume using ultrasound by a single sonologist who did not know the diagnosis of each case. Voiding patterns in terms of mean voiding frequency, mean volume per voiding, mean functional bladder capacity and character of voiding were determined. Mean residual urine volume was also determined in milliliters. The two groups were compared using T test with a p value of 0.05 percent at 95 percent confidence interval.RESULTS: The mean voiding frequency was 17.03 (SD +/- 7.5) in-group 1 and 13.5 (SD +/- 4.9) in-group 2 (p value of 0.009) The mean volume per voiding was 33.88 (SD +/- 15.2) on group 1 and 40.12 (SD +/- 37.4) in Group 2 (p value of 0.27). The mean bladder capacity was 44.02 (SD +/- 29.5) in group 1 and 66.48 (SD +/- 29.4) in group 2 (p value 0.00). In group 1 subjects, twenty eight percent showed interrupted voiding pattern compared to none in group 2 (p value 0.00). The mean residual urine volume for group 1 was 7.97 (SD +/- 7.5) and 6.06 (SD +/- 6.6) in group 2 (p value 0.183).CONCLUSION: The voiding patterns of pediatric patients with recurrent UTI were significantly characterized by increased frequency, decreased functional bladder capacity, and interrupted voiding. Mean volume per voiding was also decreased in those with recurrent UTI but not to a significant degree. Determination of residual urine in those with recurrent UTI was not significantly different from healthy infants.