Directive clinique n° 411 : Utilisation des pessaires.

OBJECTIF: Passer en revue l'utilisation, l'entretien et l'ajustement des pessaires. POPULATION CIBLE: Les femmes qui ont besoin d'utiliser un pessaire en raison d'un prolapsus génital et/ou d'une incontinence urinaire d'effort. L'utilisation peut être indiquée chez les femmes enceintes dans certains scénarios cliniques liés à la grossesse, dont l'incarcération utérine et le risque de travail préterme liée à l'incompétence du col. OPTIONS: Les pessaires constituent une option pour les femmes atteintes d'un prolapsus et/ou d'une incontinence urinaire d'effort. De plus, certains types de pessaires peuvent être utilisés chez des patientes atteintes d'incompétence du col ou d'une incarcération utérine. ISSUES: Il est possible de trouver un pessaire efficace chez la plupart des femmes atteintes d'un prolapsus génital ou d'une incontinence urinaire d'effort de façon à obtenir un excellent soulagement des symptômes, un taux de satisfaction élevé et des complications minimes. BéNéFICES, RISQUES ET COûTS: Les femmes atteintes d'un prolapsus génital et/ou d'une incontinence urinaire d'effort peuvent choisir d'utiliser un pessaire pour traiter leurs symptômes au lieu de subir une intervention chirurgicale ou dans l'attente d'une telle intervention. Des complications majeures ont été observées seulement en cas de soins de pessaire négligés. Les complications mineures (telles que les pertes vaginales, les odeurs et les érosions) sont généralement traitables avec succès. DONNéES PROBANTES: Des recherches ont été effectuées dans la base de données Medline afin de récupérer les articles pertinents publiés jusqu'en décembre 2018. Le présent document constitue une mise à jour de la mise à jour technique de la SOGC publiée en 2013, laquelle a été la première directive clinique publiée à l'international relativement à l'utilisation des pessaires. Une ligne directrice australienne sur l'utilisation des pessaires pour le traitement du prolapsus a été publiée plus tard en 2013. MéTHODES DE VALIDATION: Les auteures ont évalué la qualité des données probantes et la solidité des recommandations au moyen des critères du cadre méthodologique du Groupe d'étude canadien sur les soins de santé préventifs (annexe A). PROFESSIONNELS CONCERNéS: Gynécologues, obstétriciens, médecins de famille, physiothérapeutes, résidents et moniteurs cliniques (fellows). DÉCLARATIONS SOMMAIRES: RECOMMANDATION.

Guideline No. 411: Vaginal Pessary Use.

OBJECTIVE: To review the use, care, and fitting of pessaries. TARGET POPULATION: Women requiring the use of vaginal pessaries for pelvic organ prolapse and/or stress urinary incontinence. Use may also be indicated for women with certain pregnancy-related clinical scenarios, including incarcerated uterus. OPTIONS: Pessaries are an option for women presenting with prolapse and/or stress urinary incontinence. In addition, certain types of pessaries can be considered for patients with cervical insufficiency or incarcerated uterus. OUTCOMES: Most women with prolapse or stress urinary incontinence can be successfully fitted with a pessary and experience excellent symptom relief, high satisfaction rates, and minimal complications. BENEFITS, HARMS, AND COSTS: Women with pelvic organ prolapse and/or stress urinary incontinence may choose to use a pessary to manage their symptoms rather than surgery or while waiting for surgery. Major complications have been seen only when pessaries are neglected. Minor complications such as vaginal discharge, odour, and erosions can usually be successfully treated. EVIDENCE: Medline was searched for relevant articles up to December 2018. This is an update of the SOGC technical update published in 2013, which was the first internationally published guidance on pessary use. Subsequently, an Australian guideline on the use of pessaries for the treatment of prolapse was published later in 2013. VALIDATION METHODS: The authors rated the quality of evidence and strength of recommendations using the approach of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (Appendix A). INTENDED AUDIENCE: Gynaecologists, obstetricians, family physicians, physiotherapists, residents, and fellows. SUMMARY STATEMENTS: RECOMMENDATION.

Pelvic floor muscle training as a treatment for genitourinary syndrome of menopause: A single-arm feasibility study.

OBJECTIVES: Treatments for genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) may not be suitable for all women, may not be completely effective, and may cause adverse effects. Therefore, there is a need to explore new treatment approaches. The objectives were to evaluate the feasibility of using a pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) program in postmenopausal women with GSM, and to investigate its effect on symptoms, signs, activities of daily living (ADL), quality of life (QoL) and sexual function. STUDY DESIGN: Postmenopausal women with GSM participated in a single-arm feasibility study embedded in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) on PFMT for urinary incontinence. This substudy was composed of two pre-intervention evaluations, a 12-week PFMT program and a post-intervention evaluation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Feasibility was defined as study completion and participation in physiotherapy sessions and in-home exercises. The effects of the PFMT program were assessed by measuring GSM symptoms ('Most Bothersome Symptom' approach, ICIQ-UI SF), GSM signs (Vaginal Health assessment scale), GSM's impact on ADL (Atrophy Symptom questionnaire), QoL and sexual function (ICIQ-VS, ICIQ-FLUTSsex) and leakage episodes. RESULTS: Thirty-two women participated. The study completion rate was high (91%), as was participation in treatment sessions (96%) and in-home exercises (95%). Post-intervention, there were significant reductions in GSM symptoms and signs (p < 0.01) as well as in its impacts on ADL, QoL and sexual function (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A study including a PFMT program is feasible, and the outcomes indicate PFMT to be an effective treatment approach for postmenopausal women with GSM and urinary incontinence. This intervention should be assessed through a RCT.

Test-retest reliability of clitoral blood flow measurements using color Doppler ultrasonography at rest and after a pelvic floor contraction task in healthy adult women.

AIMS: Test-retest reliability assessment of the dorsal clitoral artery's blood flow at rest and after muscle activation has never been documented. If this outcome measure is to be used in conditions impeding vascularity, it requires a psychometric evaluation. The aim of this study was to assess the inter-session test-retest reliability of clitoral blood flow in healthy women using color Doppler ultrasonography at rest and after a pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction task. METHODS: Two assessment sessions were conducted using a clinical ultrasound system. Clitoral blood flow measurements were repeated at rest and after a PFM contraction task. Measurements of the peak systolic velocity (PSV), time-averaged maximum velocity (TAMX), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), pulsatility index (PI), and resistance index (RI) were taken. The test-retest reliability was assessed using paired t-test, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and Bland-Altman plots. RESULTS: For reliability at rest, ICC values were 0.95 for PSV, 0.87 for TAMX, and 0.67 for both PI and RI. The variability between measurements, as per Bland-Altman plots, was small for PSV, TAMX, and RI and acceptable for PI. For reliability after the PFM contractions task, ICC values were 0.85 for PSV, 0.77 for TAMX, 0.79 for PI, and 0.81 for RI. The variability between measurements was small for PSV and RI and acceptable for TAMX and PI. EDV parameter did not perform as well in both conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of the clitoral blood flow with color Doppler ultrasound is reliable at rest and after a PFM contraction task.

Test-retest reliability of internal pudendal artery blood flow using color Doppler ultrasound in healthy women.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The internal pudendal artery (IPA) is one of the main arteries supplying the pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) and vulvo-vaginal tissues. Its assessment with color Doppler ultrasound has been documented previously, but the reliability of IPA measurements has never been assessed. This study evaluates the test-retest reliability of IPA blood flow parameters measured by color Doppler ultrasound under two conditions: at rest and after a PFM contraction task. METHODS: Twenty healthy women participated in this study. One observer performed two measurement sessions using a clinical ultrasound system with a curved-array probe on the participant's gluteal area. IPA measurements were repeated: at rest and after a PFM contraction task. Peak systolic velocity (PSV), time-averaged maximum velocity (TAMX), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), pulsatility index (PI), and resistance index (RI) were measured. Test-retest reliability was assessed using a paired t test, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and Bland and Altman plots. RESULTS: There was no significant difference for all IPA blood flow measurements between the two repeated sessions. At rest, reliability was excellent for PSV and TAMX and the variability between measurements, as per Bland and Altman plots, was small. After PFM contractions, reliability was excellent for PSV and TAMX and fair to good for PI. The variability between measurements was small for PSV and acceptable for TAMX and PI. EDV and RI parameters did not perform as well. CONCLUSION: The assessment of IPA blood flow with color Doppler ultrasound to evaluate vascular change in women is reliable.

Genitourinary syndrome of menopause symptom severity and impact outcome measures: are they reliable and correlated?

OBJECTIVE: The Most Bothersome Symptom Approach (MBSA) assesses symptom severity of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), and identifies the symptom with the greatest burden. The Atrophy Symptoms Questionnaire (ASQ) assesses the impact of GSM symptoms on the activities of daily living. The psychometric properties of these outcomes remain to be completely assessed. This study aimed to assess the test-retest reliability of the MBSA and the ASQ and their convergent validity. METHOD: One evaluator administered the outcomes twice 2 weeks apart to postmenopausal women with GSM and urinary incontinence. MBSA reliability was assessed with the graphical analysis of paired differences, Kappa coefficients and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and the ASQ reliability, with paired t test and ICC. The convergent validity of both outcomes was investigated through their association with the Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Thirty-one women participated in the study. For the MBSA, the severity of the most bothersome symptom obtained a good reliability with 80% observed agreement between sessions, a substantial kappa (0.67 ±â€Š0.12) and excellent ICC (0.88 [95% confidence interval 0.75-0.94]). For the ASQ, no significant difference was found between sessions (P = 0.146) and ICC indicated excellent reliability (0.85 [95% confidence interval 0.69-0.93]). There was a large, positive correlation between the severity of the most bothersome symptom selected by the participants in the MBSA and the ASQ total score for the two measurement sessions (T1: r = 0.587, P = 0.001 and T2: r = 0.601, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The MBSA and the ASQ are reliable outcome measures in postmenopausal women with GSM and urinary incontinence. Our findings support good convergent validity of those two outcomes as they showed a significant positive correlation between the severity of GSM symptoms and their impact on activities of daily living.

Pelvic floor muscles training to reduce symptoms and signs of vulvovaginal atrophy: a case study.

OBJECTIVE: Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA), caused by decreased levels of estrogen, is a common problem in aging women. Main symptoms of VVA are vaginal dryness and dyspareunia. First-line treatment consists of the application of local estrogen therapy (ET) or vaginal moisturizer. In some cases however, symptoms and signs persist despite those interventions. This case study describes a 77-year-old woman with severe VVA symptoms despite use of local ET and the addition of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training to her treatment. METHODS: A patient with stress urinary incontinence and VVA was referred to a randomized clinical trial on PFM training. On pretreatment evaluation while on local ET, she showed VVA symptoms on the ICIQ Vaginal Symptoms questionnaire and the ICIQ-Female Sexual Matters associated with lower urinary tract Symptoms questionnaire, and also showed VVA signs during the physical and dynamometric evaluation of the PFM. She was treated with a 12-week PFM training program. RESULTS: The patient reported a reduction in vaginal dryness and dyspareunia symptoms, as well as a better quality of sexual life after 12 weeks of PFM training. On posttreatment physical evaluation, the PFMs' tone and elasticity were improved, although some other VVA signs remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic floor muscle training may improve some VVA symptoms and signs in women taking local ET. Further study is needed to investigate and confirm the present case findings and to explore mechanisms of action of this intervention for VVA.

Differences in pelvic floor morphology between continent, stress urinary incontinent, and mixed urinary incontinent elderly women: An MRI study.

AIMS: To compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pelvic floor musculature (PFM), bladder neck and urethral sphincter morphology under three conditions (rest, PFM maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), and straining) in older women with symptoms of stress (SUI) or mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) or without incontinence. METHODS: This 2008-2012 exploratory observational cohort study was conducted with community-dwelling women aged 60 and over. Sixty six women (22 per group), mean age of 67.7 ± 5.2 years, participated in the study. A 3 T MRI examination was conducted under three conditions: rest, PFM MVC, and straining. ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis tests (data not normally distributed) were conducted, with Bonferroni correction, to compare anatomical measurements between groups. RESULTS: Women with MUI symptoms had a lower PFM resting position (M-Line P = 0.010 and PC/H-line angle P = 0.026) and lower pelvic organ support (urethrovesical junction height P = 0.013) than both continent and SUI women. Women with SUI symptoms were more likely to exhibit bladder neck funneling and a larger posterior urethrovesical angle at rest than both continent and MUI women (P = 0.026 and P = 0.008, respectively). There were no significant differences between groups on PFM MVC or straining. CONCLUSIONS: Women with SUI and MUI symptoms present different morphological defects at rest. These observations emphasize the need to tailor UI interventions to specific pelvic floor defects and UI type in older women. PATIENT SUMMARY: Older women with UI demonstrate different problems with their pelvic organ support structures depending on the type of UI. These new findings should be taken into consideration for future research into developing new treatment strategies for UI in older women. Neurourol. Urodynam. 35:515-521, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Randomized controlled trial of physiotherapy for postpartum stress incontinence: 7-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the long-term effect of intensive, 6-week physiotherapy programs, with and without deep abdominal muscle (TrA) training, on persistent postpartum stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS: The study was a single-blind randomized controlled trial. Fifty-seven postnatal women with clinically demonstrated persistent SUI 3 months after delivery participated in 8 weeks of either pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) (28) or PFMT with deep abdominal muscle training (PFMT + TrA) (29). Seven years post-treatment, 35 (61.4%) participants agreed to the follow-up; they were asked to complete a 20-min pad test and three incontinence-specific questionnaires with an assessor blinded to each participant's group assignment. RESULTS: Of the 35 (61.4%) who agreed to the follow-up: 26 (45.6%) took the 20-min pad test (12 PFMT and 14 PFMT + TrA) and 35 (61.4%) completed the questionnaires (18 PFMT and 17 PFMT + TrA). The baseline clinical characteristics of the follow-up and non-follow-up participants were not significantly different; nor did they differ between PFMT and PFMT + TrA participants enrolled in the follow-up study. At 7 years, the pad test scores for the PFMT group did not differ statistically from those of the PFMT + TrA group. When combining both treatment groups, a total of 14/26 (53%) follow-up participants were still continent according to the pad test. CONCLUSION: The addition of deep abdominal training does not appear to further improve the outcome of PFM training in the long term. However, benefits of physiotherapy for postpartum SUI, although not as pronounced as immediately after the initial intervention, is still present 7 years post-treatment.

Predictors of success for physiotherapy treatment in women with persistent postpartum stress urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of success for physiotherapy treatment in women with persistent postpartum stress urinary incontinence (SUI). DESIGN: Secondary analysis of data from a single-blind randomized controlled trial comparing 2 physiotherapy intervention programs for persistent SUI in postpartum women. SETTING: Obstetric clinic of a mother and children's university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Women, ages 23 to 39 (N=57), were randomized to 1 of 2 pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training programs, 1 with and 1 without abdominal muscle training. INTERVENTION: Over 8 weeks, participants in each group followed a specific home exercise program once a day, 5 days a week. In addition, participants attended individual weekly physiotherapy sessions throughout the 8-week program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Treatment success was defined as a pad weight gain of less than 2 g on a 20-minute pad test with standardized bladder volume after 8 weeks' treatment. The relationship between potential predictive PFM function variables as measured by a PFM dynamometer and success of physiotherapy was studied using forward stepwise multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Forty-two women (74%) were classified as treatment successes, and 15 (26%) were not. Treatment success was associated with lower pretreatment PFM passive force and greater PFM endurance pretreatment, but the latter association was barely statistically significant. This model explained between 23% (Cox and Snell R(2)) and 34% (Nagelkerke R(2)) of the outcome variability. CONCLUSIONS: The results contribute new information on predictors of success for physiotherapy treatment in women with persistent postpartum SUI.

Responsiveness and clinical utility of the geriatric self-efficacy index for urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVES: To report on the responsiveness testing and clinical utility of the 12-item Geriatric Self-Efficacy Index for Urinary Incontinence (GSE-UI). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Six urinary incontinence (UI) outpatient clinics in Quebec, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling incontinent adults aged 65 and older. MEASUREMENTS: The abridged 12-item GSE-UI, measuring older adults' level of confidence for preventing urine loss, was administered to all new consecutive incontinent patients 1 week before their initial clinic visit, at baseline, and 3 months posttreatment. At follow-up, a positive rating of improvement in UI was ascertained from patients and their physicians using the Patient's and Clinician's Global Impression of Improvement scales, respectively. Responsiveness of the GSE-UI was calculated using Guyatt's change index. Its clinical utility was determined using receiver operating curves. RESULTS: Eighty-nine of 228 eligible patients (39.0%) participated (mean age 72.6+5.8, range 65-90). At 3-month follow-up, 22.5% of patients were very much better, and 41.6% were a little or much better. Guyatt's change index was 2.6 for patients who changed by a clinically meaningful amount and 1.5 for patients having experienced any level of improvement. An improvement of 14 points on the 12-item GSE-UI had a sensitivity of 75.1% and a specificity of 78.2% for detecting clinically meaningful changes in UI status. Mean GSE-UI scores varied according to improvement status (P<.001) and correlated with changes in quality-of-life scores (r=0.7, P<.001) and reductions in UI episodes (r=0.4, P=.004). CONCLUSION: The GSE-UI is responsive and clinically useful.

P-Mate, a new device allowing women to urinate in the standing position: urodynamic and satisfaction assessment.

Urodynamic parameters and satisfaction were recorded after micturition in the seated position versus the standing position with a single-use device (P-Mate) in healthy women. Healthy adult women were recruited. Eligibility criteria were: no past urological history and no urological symptoms. Volunteers were given four P-Mates to use during a week and a satisfaction questionnaire to fill. After this trial week, they were invited to perform four flowmetries, two in the seated position and two standing up, with the P-Mate. Seated and standing flowmetry parameters were compared (by paired t-test). Twenty women completed the study. There was no difference in the maximum flow rate (Qmax), voided volume and post-void residual (PVR) in the standing versus the seated position. In terms of Qmax and PVR in healthy women, urinating standing up was as efficient as in the seated position. A majority of participants were satisfied with the device.

Creation and testing of the Geriatric Self-Efficacy Index for Urinary Incontinence.

OBJECTIVES: To report on the content development, construct validity, and reliability testing of the Geriatric Self-Efficacy Index for Urinary Incontinence (GSE-UI). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Six UI outpatient clinics in Quebec, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling incontinent men and women aged 65 and older. MEASUREMENTS: Thirty-eight items were generated using a literature search and interdisciplinary panel of experts. Item reduction was achieved through field-testing with 75 older men and women with UI attending an information session. The final 20-item draft, measuring older adults' level of confidence in preventing urine loss, was administered to a new group of consecutive patients 1 week before and at the time of their first visit to the UI clinic to enable evaluation of test-retest reliability. A 3-day voiding diary, quantifying the frequency of UI, and the Incontinence Quality of Life questionnaire were used to test construct validity. RESULTS: One hundred sixteen of 300 eligible patients (39%) participated (mean age+/-standard deviation 74+/-6, range 65-87). The GSE-UI items showed normal distributions and no ceiling effects. Self-efficacy scores ranged from 16 to 193 (mean 104+/-41, possible range 0-200) and correlated positively with quality of life scores (r=0.7, P<.001) and negatively with UI severity (r=-0.4, P<.001). Internal consistency for the GSE-UI was 0.94 (Cronbach alpha). Initial test-retest reliability of the 20 items using intraclass correlations ranged from 0.50 to 0.86. CONCLUSION: The GSE-UI will enable measurement of whether a person's confidence in their ability to prevent urine loss is an important mechanism contributing to improvements in UI.

Botulinum toxin type a injections into the trigone to treat idiopathic overactive bladder do not induce vesicoureteral reflux.

PURPOSE: We assessed the generation of vesicoureteral reflux before and after injection of botulinum toxin A into the trigone of patients with nonneurogenic overactive bladder, and evaluated its short-term efficacy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adults with nonneurogenic overactive bladder resistant to behavioral treatments, pelvic floor exercises, medication and neuromodulation were included in the study. The initial evaluation (history, physical examination, 3-day urinary diary, V8 score, flowmetry and post-void residual) was repeated 6 weeks after botulinum toxin A injection. Videourodynamic study was performed 1 hour before injection and 6 weeks later. Botulinum toxin A (200 units) was injected into the detrusor in 10 sites over the bladder base including the trigone. The primary outcome was the presence or absence of vesicoureteral reflux before and 6 weeks after botulinum toxin A injection. The secondary outcomes were clinical and urodynamic parameter changes. Values were compared using the Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: A total of 12 women were enrolled in the study (median age 76 years). The duration of symptoms was 7.5 years. One patient was excluded from analysis because of a urinary tract infection. There were 10 women with no vesicoureteral reflux at baseline and 1 had bilateral vesicoureteral reflux (grade 2 right, grade 1 left). At 6 weeks there was no induced vesicoureteral reflux and the patient with vesicoureteral reflux at baseline showed no change in vesicoureteral reflux grade. No local or systemic side effects related to botulinum toxin A were reported. In terms of efficacy, at direct questioning 6 weeks after treatment 4 of 11 patients reported an improvement that made them ask for another injection. CONCLUSIONS: Botulinum toxin A injection into the trigone does not induce de novo vesicoureteral reflux in patients with nonneurogenic overactive bladder. The therapeutic value of this approach remains to be confirmed and compared to other injection designs.

Prospective clinical trial comparing Obtape and DUPS to TVT: one-year safety and efficacy results.

OBJECTIVES: Obtape and DUPS are modifications of the original TVT procedure. To test these new products in terms of safety and efficacy, we designed a prospective clinical trial with a follow-up of at least 1 yr. METHODS: We randomized 190 consecutive females with SUI for this study. They were evaluated by history, ICIQ-SF, physical examination, cystoscopy, UDS, and the 1-h pad test. Patients were reevaluated at 1, 6, and 12 mo. The ICIQ-SF and pad test were repeated at 1-yr follow-up. RESULTS: There were 78, 32, and 80 patients in the Obtape, DUPS, TVT arms, respectively. An interim analysis after 32 patients in each arm indicated postoperative retention rates of 3 (9.4%), 6 (18.8%), and 4 (12.5%) patients in Obtape, DUPS, and TVT groups, respectively. Because of higher retention rate and suprapubic discomfort, DUPS was discontinued. At the end of the study, complete retention rates were 6 (7.8%), 6 (18.8%), and 6 (7.5%) in Obtape, DUPS, and TVT, respectively. TVT was the only procedure with bladder perforations at a rate of 14%. However, Obtape and DUPS were associated with more postoperative complications including complete retention, urethrolysis, hematoma, mesh erosion, UTI, and wound infection (13%, 28%, and 8%; p< or =0.025). At 1 yr, 83%, 94%, and 86% of patients in the Obtape, DUPS, and TVT groups were objectively cured (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TVT was the only procedure associated with bladder perforation, but there were more postoperative complications with Obtape and DUPS. No statistically significant differences in cure rates were observed at 1-yr follow-up. Longer follow-up is needed to confirm these results.

Severe soft tissue infection of the thigh after vaginal erosion of transobturator tape for stress urinary incontinence.

Since the beginning of use of synthetic midurethral slings, several complications, usually benign, have been reported. Recently, three consecutive cases of severe thigh infection secondary to transobturator insertion of a synthetic tape alarmed us. This is a case report about these three cases and a review of literature about complications of transobturator tapes.

Physiotherapy for persistent postnatal stress urinary incontinence: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of multimodal supervised physiotherapy programs with the absence of treatment among women with persistent postnatal stress urinary incontinence. METHODS: This was a single-blind randomized controlled trial. Sixty-four women with stress urinary incontinence were randomly assigned to 8 weeks of either multimodal pelvic floor rehabilitation (n = 21), multimodal pelvic floor rehabilitation with abdominal muscle training (n = 23), or control non-pelvic floor rehabilitation (n = 20). The primary outcome measure consisted of a modified 20-minute pad test. The secondary outcome measures included a Visual Analog Scale describing the perceived burden of incontinence, the Urogenital Distress Inventory, the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire, and pelvic floor muscle function measurements. RESULTS: Two patients dropped out, leaving 62 for analysis. At follow-up, more than 70% of the women in the treatment groups (14/20 in the pelvic floor and 17/23 in the pelvic floor plus abdominal group) were continent on pad testing compared with 0% of women in the control group. Scores on the pad test, Visual Analog Scale, Urogenital Distress Inventory, and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire improved significantly in both treatment groups (all P <.002), whereas no changes were observed in the control group. Pelvic floor muscle function, however, did not improve significantly in either active group. CONCLUSION: Multimodal supervised pelvic floor physiotherapy is an effective treatment for persistent postnatal stress urinary incontinence.