Changes in pelvic floor electrical activity and vulvar pain after botulinum toxin treatment of vestibulodynia: are clinical and electrophysiological outcomes related?

Vestibulodynia is a gynecological condition with different treatment options available, including botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) injections into the vulvar vestibule. Unlike other treatments, no studies have assessed changes in the myoelectrical activity of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) after BoNT/A treatment. The aim of this study was thus to evaluate these changes and to correlate them with changes in vulvar pain sensitivity. To do this, 35 patients with vestibulodynia were recruited, the myoelectrical activity of their left and right PFM was recorded with surface electromyography (sEMG), and their vulvar pain sensitivity was monitored according to Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and an algometer, both before and after BoNT/A treatment. According to our results, patients' signals during PFM relaxation showed a significantly higher power than those of healthy women at baseline, as shown by their root mean square values (RMS), but became similar at follow-up. Patients' mean vulvar pain VAS scores significantly decreased after treatment. Furthermore, baseline-to-follow-up differences of RMS at PFM rest vs. mean VAS were significantly correlated (CC=0.48, p<0.01) so that higher reductions in the PFM activity power were associated with higher decreases in vulvar pain.Clinical Relevance- Altered PFM electrophysiological condition of patients with vestibulodynia becomes similar to healthy women's after BoNT/A treatment. This study also points to a relationship between the evolution of clinical and PFM electrophysiological conditions.

Treatment of Vestibulodynia with Submucosal Injections of IncobotulinumtoxinA into Targeted Painful Points: An Open-Label Exploratory Study.

The studies carried out to date on vulvodynia treatment with botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) have followed generic injection protocols and reported contradictory outcomes on its effects. The aim of the present study was thus to propose a protocol for injecting BoNT/A into targeted painful points, to comprehensively assess the clinical effect of BoNT/A treatment and identify the risk/protective factors for successful treatment. Thirty-five vestibulodynia patients were treated with submucosal injections of incobotulinumtoxinA and assessed 8, 12 and 24 weeks after their treatment. Their clinical and pelvic statuses were assessed from self-reported questionnaires (Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Marinoff's Dyspareunia Scale (MDS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Catastrophizing Scale (CS)), physical examinations and surface electromyography (sEMG). The patients reported a reduction in provoked vestibulodynia (FSFI, p < 0.01;

Experience with nutraceutical supplements in the treatment of pelvic pain in gynaecology: case reports.

Three women with diverse gynaecological medical histories (one with endometriosis, one having had an episiotomy and obstetric anal sphincter injury during a recent delivery, and one having had a recent cystectomy of the left Bartholin gland) developed acute episodes of gynaecological pelvic pain. In each case, clinical investigations (including objective tools for assessing the source, nature and severity of the pain) were conducted early on, and a multimodal approach to therapy was introduced to control the pain and avoid central sensitization or chronicity. The multimodal approach included hormone therapy, antineuropathic medications, and corticosteroid or botulinum neurotoxin infiltrations in some of the patients according to their medical conditions but consistently included behavioural adjustments, physical interventions and a nutraceutical supplement (alpha-lipoic acid, palmitoylethanolamide and myrrh). In each case, the pelvic pain and associated dyspareunia (Marinoff scale 2 or 3) were largely resolved. These clinical cases support the results of clinical trials showing the benefits of alpha-lipoic acid + palmitoylethanolamide + myrrh for the management of gynaecological pelvic pain, enabling the reduction or withdrawal of other analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antineuropathic medications.

Gender dysphoria: laparoscopic sigmoid vaginoplasty. Another utility of indocyanine green.

AIM: Gender dysphoria is the disagreement between the gender of birth and the one with which the patient identifies. For its management it is mandatory to have a multidisciplinary team. Gender confirmation surgery with penoscrotal skin flap is the procedure of choice, and a sigmoid vaginoplasty is a feasible alternative. The new technologies and the help of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence can help to guarantee a correct neovagina vascularization. The objective of this paper is to present the surgical technique of laparoscopic sigmoid vaginoplasty assisted by ICG. METHODS: We present two patients with gender dysphoria and a history of stricture of the penoscrotal skin flap vaginoplasty. We performed sigmoid vaginoplasty by the laparoscopic approach. We began the procedure with the mobilization and section of 30 cm of sigmoid colon, selective ligation of the vessels assisted by ICG, 180° sigmoid rotation, externalized on antiperistaltic position, construction of colovestibular anastomosis and promontory fixation. We finished the procedure with virtual ileostomy construction and drain placement. RESULTS: Patients recovered satisfactorily and were discharged on the seventh day after surgery without complications. CONCLUSION: Sigmoid vaginoplasty is a safe and feasible procedure. ICG has great value, contributing to the selective ligation of the vessels, allowing 180° sigmoid rotation and guaranteeing the irrigation of the neovagina.

Treatment of Dyspareunia with Botulinum Neurotoxin Type A: Clinical Improvement and Influence of Patients' Characteristics.

The treatment of chronic pelvic pain (CPP) with botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) has increased lately, but more studies assessing its effect are needed. This study aimed to evaluate the evolution of patients after BoNT/A infiltration and identify potential responders to treatment. Twenty-four women with CPP associated with dyspareunia were treated with 90 units of BoNT/A injected into their pelvic floor muscle (PFM). Clinical status and PFM activity were monitored in a previous visit (PV) and 12 and 24 weeks after the infiltration (W12, W24) by validated clinical questionnaires and surface electromyography (sEMG). The influence of patients' characteristics on the reduction in pain at W12 and W24 was also assessed. After treatment, pain scores and the impact of symptoms on quality of life dropped significantly, sexual function improved and sEMG signal amplitude decreased on both sides of the PFM with no adverse events. Headaches and bilateral pelvic pain were risk factors for a smaller pain improvement at W24, while lower back pain was a protective factor. Apart from reporting a significant clinical improvement of patients with CPP associated with dyspareunia after BoNT/A infiltration, this study shows that clinical characteristics should be analyzed in detail to identify potential responders to treatment.

Effect of BoNT/A in the Surface Electromyographic Characteristics of the Pelvic Floor Muscles for the Treatment of Chronic Pelvic Pain.

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a complex condition with a high economic and social burden. Although it is usually treated with botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) injected into the pelvic floor muscles (PFM), its effect on their electrophysiological condition is unknown. In this study, 24 CPP patients were treated with BoNT/A. Surface electromyographic signals (sEMG) were recorded at Weeks 0 (infiltration), 8, 12 and 24 from the infiltrated, non-infiltrated, upper and lower PFM. The sEMG of 24 healthy women was also recorded for comparison. Four parameters were computed: root mean square (RMS), median frequency (MDF), Dimitrov's index (DI) and sample entropy (SampEn). An index of pelvic electrophysiological impairment (IPEI) was also defined with respect to the healthy condition. Before treatment, the CPP and healthy parameters of almost all PFM sides were significantly different. Post-treatment, there was a significant reduction in power (MDF), lower fatigue index (SampEn) in all sites in patients, mainly during PFM contractions, which brought their electrophysiological condition closer to that of healthy women (

Vulvodynia-It Is Time to Accept a New Understanding from a Neurobiological Perspective.

Vulvodynia is one the most common causes of pain during sexual intercourse in premenopausal women. The burden of vulvodynia in a woman's life can be devastating due to its consequences in the couple's sexuality and intimacy, in activities of daily living, and psychological well-being. In recent decades, there has been considerable progress in the understanding of vulvar pain. The most significant change has been the differentiation of vulvar pain secondary to pathology or disease from vulvodynia. However, although it is currently proposed that vulvodynia should be considered as a primary chronic pain condition and, therefore, without an obvious identifiable cause, it is still believed that different inflammatory, genetic, hormonal, muscular factors, etc. may be involved in its development. Advances in pain neuroscience and the central sensitization paradigm have led to a new approach to vulvodynia from a neurobiological perspective. It is proposed that vulvodynia should be understood as complex pain without relevant nociception. Different clinical identifiers of vulvodynia are presented from a neurobiological and psychosocial perspective. In this case, strategies to modulate altered central pain processing is necessary, changing the patient's erroneous cognitions about their pain, and also reducing fear avoidance-behaviors and the disability of the patient.

Characterization of Pelvic Floor Activity in Healthy Subjects and with Chronic Pelvic Pain: Diagnostic Potential of Surface Electromyography.

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a highly disabling disorder in women usually associated with hypertonic dysfunction of the pelvic floor musculature (PFM). The literature on the subject is not conclusive about the diagnostic potential of surface electromyography (sEMG), which could be due to poor signal characterization. In this study, we characterized the PFM activity of three groups of 24 subjects each: CPP patients with deep dyspareunia associated with a myofascial syndrome (CPP group), healthy women over 35 and/or parous (>35/P group, i.e., CPP counterparts) and under 35 and nulliparous (<35&NP). sEMG signals of the right and left PFM were recorded during contractions and relaxations. The signals were characterized by their root mean square (RMS), median frequency (MDF), Dimitrov index (DI), sample entropy (SampEn), and cross-correlation (CC). The PFM activity showed a higher power (>RMS), a predominance of low-frequency components (DI), greater complexity (>SampEn) and lower synchronization on the same side (35/P group. The same trend in differences was found between healthy women (<35&NP vs. >35/P) associated with aging and parity. These results show that sEMG can reveal alterations in PFM electrophysiology and provide clinicians with objective information for CPP diagnosis.

Clinical pilot study to evaluate the neovaginal PACIENA prosthesis® for vaginoplasty without skin grafts in women with vaginal agenesis.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the feasibility and clinical outcomes of vaginoplasties using a neovaginal polylactic acid prosthesis made with 3-dimensional (3D) printing technology as an intraneovaginal mould. METHODS: This was an interventionist, prospective, and multicentre clinical pilot investigation of a sanitary product (PACIENA prosthesis®) aiming to recruit and operate on 8 patients over 6 months with a follow-up period of 6 months. Only six patients with Rokitansky syndrome and one patient with Morris syndrome (7 patients in total) were operated on in two university hospitals: "La Fe", Valencia (H1) and "Arrixaca", Murcia (H2). INTERVENTIONS: Extensive surgical dissection of a defined space between the urethra and bladder in the front and of the rectum in the back as well as insertion of the PACIENA prosthesis® covered with Interceed® were performed. After 12 days, the prosthesis was changed to the silicone-covered version for daily application. RESULTS: In the 6 patients with Rokitansky syndrome (86%), the primary endpoint (satisfactory vaginal outcome in terms of appearance, function, and sensation without relevant additional morbidity) was achieved, although only 2 patients (28%) were sexually active at the end of 6 months of follow-up. The patient with Morris syndrome withdrew from the study after 1 month. Patients without bacterial colonization showed positive Schiller tests at 1 month, and subsequent biopsies showed adequate keratinization and epidermization. Epithelization and iodopositivity were delayed in the patients who developed inflammatory granulomas. CONCLUSIONS: Good anatomical and functional results can be achieved with the PACIENA prosthesis® for vaginoplasties without skin grafts. However, adequate patient selection and education, good surgical techniques and haemostasis, postoperative support, and prevention of bacterial colonization are important. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This clinical study was approved by the Ethical Clinical Investigation Committee of San Juan University Hospital on September 27, 2016, to be conducted in the participating centres; it was authorized by the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) on April 24, 2017 (exp. no. 585/16/EC), to be carried out in that hospitals.

Arabin cerclage pessary as a treatment of an acute urinary retention in a pregnant woman with uterine prolapse.

A 35-year-old gravida 7, para 1, and abortus 5 female with hypogastric pain and inability to void urine after 14 + 3 weeks of amenorrhea was examined in the emergency department. One year before, a uterine prolapse had been diagnosed in another hospital. Examination showed a uterine prolapse grade 2 with palpable bladder. The patient was unable to void urine. After a manual reduction of the uterine prolapse, the patient underwent an emergency catheterization for bladder drainage. A Hodge pessary (size 70) was placed, which led to spontaneous micturitions. Due to the persistence of the symptoms the following day, Hodge pessary was replaced by an Arabin cerclage pessary. Although the pessary could be removed from the beginning of the second trimester, due to the uterine prolapse as a predisposing factor in the patient and the uncomplicated progression of pregnancy, it was decided to maintain it in our patient. Therefore, Arabin cerclage pessary allowed a successful pregnancy outcome and was not associated with threatened preterm delivery or vaginal infection.

Manejo conservador y seguimiento ecográfico de hematoma en el área Retzius y la fosa isquiopubiana tras malla vía transobturadora / Conservative management and ultrasound monitoring of a hematoma in Retzius’ space and isquiopubic area after placement of transobturator vaginal tape

Las complicaciones de las técnicas quirúrgicas antiincontinencia mediante el uso de mallas vía transobturadora son muy infrecuentes, por lo que no existen protocolos establecidos sobre su manejo y seguimiento. Presentamos el caso clínico de aparición de hematoma de gran tamaño tras colocación de TVT-O, en el cual se optó por un manejo conservador con el uso de la ecografía convencional y 3D como seguimiento de esta complicación, con resultados muy satisfactorios (AU)

Complications after surgery to correct incontinence by using transobturator vaginal tape are highly uncommon and consequently there are no established protocols for their management and monitoring. We report a case of a large hematoma after placement of TVT-O, in which we chose conservative management using conventional and 3-dimensional ultrasound to monitor this complication, with highly satisfactory results (AU)

Arándano americano (Vaccinium macrocarpon): conclusiones de la investigación y de la evidencia clínica / Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon): research findings and clinical evidence

Esta revisión explora la posible relación entre metabolitos del arándano americano o cranberry (fruto de Vaccinium macrocarpon) y un efecto beneficioso sobre la salud humana. Estudios in vitro sobre E. coli han demostrado que el arándano americano posee efecto de antiadhesión bacteriana por su contenido en proantocianidinas (PAC) tipo A, de forma dosis-dependiente. Numerosos estudios en distintas poblaciones han demostrado su efecto preventivo en el desarrollo de infecciones urinarias. Su aparente falta de riesgo durante la gestación, su buena tolerancia y la ausencia de interacciones significativas con fármacos está permitiendo su uso generalizado. Existen estudios experimentales y preclínicos que sugieren posibles beneficios del arándano americano en el terreno antitumoral y antioxidativo. Ensayos clínicos lo vinculan a la prevención de la enfermedad gástrica por H. pylori y de la enfermedad periodontal. Para estas aplicaciones, sin embargo, se deberían desarrollar nuevos estudios que expliquen el mecanismo de acción y confirmen las expectativas clínicas (AU)

This review explores possible relationship between metabolites of cranberry (fruit of Vaccinium macrocarpon) and its beneficial effect on human health. In vitro studies in E. coli have shown that Cranberry has anti bacterial adhesion effect due to its content of proanthocyanidin (PAC) type A, in a dose-dependent way. Many studies have shown its preventive effect in the development of urinary infections in different populations. Its apparent lack of risk during gestation, good tolerability and absence of significative interactions with drugs are allowing their widespread use. Preclinic studies suggest possible benefits of cranberry in antitumoral and antioxidative fields. Clinical assays link cranberry with the prevention of both gastric disease caused by H. pylori and periodontal disease. However, for these applications, additional studies are needed to explain the mechanisms and to confirm clinical expectatives (AU)

Esta revisão aborda possíveis relações entre metabolitos do arando americano (fruto do Vaccinium macrocarpon) e um efeito benéfico sobre a saúde humana. Estudos in vitro em E. coli mostraram que o arando americano tem efeito de anti-adesão bacteriana pelo seu conteúdo em proantocianidinas (PAC) do tipo A, de forma dosedependente. Vários estudos em diferentes populações têm demonstrado o seu efeito preventivo sobre o desenvolvimento de infecções do tracto urinário. A sua aparente falta de risco durante a gravidez, boa tolerância e ausência de interacções significativas com fármacos tem permitido o seu uso generalizado. Existem estudos experimentais e pré-clínicos que sugerem possíveis benefícios do arando americano como anti-tumural e antioxidante. Ensaios clínicos associam-no à prevenção da doença gástrica por H. pylori e doença periodontal. Para estas aplicações, no entanto, mais estudos devem ser desenvolvidos para explicar o mecanismo de acção e confirmar as expectativas clínicas (AU)