Impact of childbirth on pelvic floor dysfunction in women who have undergone previous pelvic floor reconstructive surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The aim of the study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of pregnancy and childbirth (vaginal delivery [VD]) or cesarean section (CS) on the recurrence of pelvic floor disorders in women who had previously undergone pelvic floor reconstructive surgery for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) or stress urinary incontinence (SUI), to facilitate future evidence-based counseling. METHODS: PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, BJOG, Scopus, etc. were screened, from 1990 to date. Inclusion criteria included cohort studies, case-control studies, case series, and case reports that reported on the primary outcome measure of the review. Exclusion criteria included studies on surgical procedures whose outcomes are unlikely to be impacted by pregnancy and childbirth or are obsolete. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3. RESULTS: Seven papers on midurethral slings (MUS; 181 women in both VD and CS groups respectively) and three papers on different hysteropexy techniques (47 and 29 women in the VD and CS groups respectively), were included in the meta-analysis. No difference was seen between the two groups regarding the recurrence of SUI in women who had previously undergone MUS surgery (OR: 1.18 [0.66, 2.09]; Z = 0.56; p = 0.58) or the recurrence of POP following hysteropexy using various apical suspension procedures (OR: 1.81 [0.04, 80.65]; Z = 0.31; p = 0.76). There are insufficient data to support meta-analyses for individual MUS sub-types or hysteropexy procedures. CONCLUSION: Current literature does not demonstrate a protective effect of CS in preventing recurrent SUI in women who had undergone MUS surgery for SUI. When hysteropexy is considered irrespective of the apical suspension procedure employed, the incidence of recurrent POP appears similar after CS and VD.

Impact of experience in breast cancer surgery on survival: the role of quality of care in a registry-based cohort.

AIMS OF THE STUDY: Previous studies have suggested that the surgeon's experience in breast cancer surgery may affect patient survival. In this registry-based retrospective cohort study, we examined whether quality of care could partly explain this association. METHODS: All invasive breast cancers operated on in the private sector between 2000 and 2009 were identified in the Geneva Cancer Registry and followed up for 5 years. Surgeons were classified according to their experience into three categories: ≤5, 6-10, >10 breast cancer operations performed per year. We extracted patient and tumour characteristics. Quality of care was scored as the proportion of 11 quality indicators correctly fulfilled for each patient. Breast cancer-specific mortality was examined with a Cox model adjusted for variables known to affect survival, surgeon experience, and quality of care. RESULTS: A total of 1489 patients were operated on by 88 surgeons; 50 patients (3.4%) died from breast cancer during the 5 years of follow-up. Socioeconomic status and country of birth of the patients, as well as period of diagnosis, differed according to the surgeons' experience. Quality of care provided improved with surgeons' experience. Surgeons performing >10 operations/year more frequently assessed histology before surgery, excised sentinel lymph nodes, removed ≥10 lymph nodes, and prescribed adjuvant radiotherapy when indicated. Crude breast cancer-specific mortality was lower in patients treated by surgeons performing >10 compared with ≤5 operations/year (hazard ratio [HR] 0.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.17-0.67; p = 0.002). The strength of the association decreased after adjustment for patient and tumour characteristics (HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.21-0.94; p = 0.034) and decreased further after adjustment for quality of care (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.24-1.08, p = 0.078). CONCLUSIONS: The association between surgeon's experience and 5-year breast cancer survival is at least partly explained by quality of care, patient and tumour characteristics. Further investigations on the impact of other quality indicators such as multidisciplinary networks are needed.

Four-year functional results of the suburethral sling procedure for stress urinary incontinence: a French prospective randomized multicentre study comparing the retropubic and transobturator routes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate long-term (over 4 years) functional outcomes and quality of life of transobturator (TOR) and retropubic (RPR) routes in the cure of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS: Prospective, randomized multicentre study involving 88 women with SUI from March 2004 to May 2005 (RPR group (n = 42), TOR group (n = 46)). Long-term functional results and quality of life were evaluated using validated questionnaires and compared with those observed at the first year. RESULTS: Eight patients (19%) in the RPR group and 9 patients (19.5%) in the TOR group were lost to follow-up (NS). The mean follow-up in the RPR and the TOR groups was 52.7 months and 53.1 months, respectively. In intention to treat, the success rate at 4 years was 64.3% in the RPR group and 69.5% in the TOR group (NS). At 4 years, no significant differences in the IIQ scores were observed in either group compared to the preoperative scores with no difference between the groups (RPR group: 32 vs. 14.9 (NS), TOR group: 25.7 vs. 21.4 (NS)). Compared to 1 year UDIQ and IIQ scores, a decrease in quality of life was observed for both groups at 4 years (RPR group: 4.7 vs. 34 (P < 0.0001) and 2.6 vs. 14.9 (P < 0.001), TOR group: 1.2 vs. 38.7 (P < 0.0001) and 0 vs. 21.4 (P < 0.0001)) without difference between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows similar relatively high long-term success rates for both the RPR and TOR procedures. Patients should be informed about a possible time-dependent alteration in functional results.

Genital prolapse repair using porcine skin implant and bilateral sacrospinous fixation: midterm functional outcome and quality-of-life assessment.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the midterm anatomic and functional outcome of genital prolapse repair by the vaginal route using a porcine skin implant (Pelvicol) and bilateral sacrospinous fixation. METHODS: From May 2001 to June 2006, 101 patients with Stage III-IV genital prolapse were treated using a porcine skin collagen implant and bilateral sacrospinous fixation. The functional results were evaluated using the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory short form, Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory-6, Colorectal Anal Distress Inventory-8, Urogenital Distress Inventory-6, Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-7 (including Urinary Impact Questionnaire-7, Pelvic Organ Prolapse Impact Questionnaire-7, and Colo-Rectal-Anal Impact Questionnaire-7), and Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the 101 patients, 89 (88%) completed all the questionnaires. The mean follow-up was 38 +/- 18 months. An improvement was noted in the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory-6 (P < .0001), Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 (P = .001), and Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory scores (P < .0001) but not in the Colorectal Anal Distress Inventory-8 scores. An improvement was noted in the Urinary Impact Questionnaire-7 (P < .0001), Pelvic Organ Prolapse Impact Questionnaire-7 (P < .0001), and Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire Short Form 7 (p < 0.0001) scores but not in the Colo-Rectal-Anal Impact Questionnaire-7 scores. The quartile distribution showed that women with a preoperative Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-short form score >133 had a 45% chance of postoperative improvement and those with a preoperative Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire Short Form 7 score >195 had an 81% chance of postoperative improvement. Using multivariate regression analysis, the preoperative Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory score was negatively predictive of satisfaction (t = -2.03, P = .05) and the preoperative Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire Short Form 7 score was positively predictive of satisfaction (t = 2.40, P = .02). No differences in the pre- and postoperative Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire scores were noted. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study have shown that biologic implantation and bilateral sacrospinous fixation are effective in high-grade genital prolapse repair. Validated questionnaires are potentially useful tools to predict the postoperative outcome.

Urinary complications after surgery for posterior deep infiltrating endometriosis are related to the extent of dissection and to uterosacral ligaments resection.

Surgery for deep infiltrating endometriosis can relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. However, few data are available on complications, especially urinary disorders. The aim of this longitudinal study (Canadian Task Force classification II-3) was to evaluate urinary complications of laparoscopic surgery for deep infiltrating endometriosis in 86 patients. The main locations of endometriosis were colorectum (58 patients), uterosacral ligaments (21 patients), and rectovaginal septum (7 patients). Patients requiring surgical resection for posterior deep pelvic endometriosis completed before and after surgery the Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Questionnaire. After surgery, almost all the patients reported significant urinary complications, consisting of hesitancy (p = .02), strain to start (p = .04), stopping flow (p = .01), incomplete emptying (p = .008), and reduced stream (p = .02). Most symptoms were observed postoperatively in the colorectum group. De novo hesitancy (p = .02), stopping flow (p = .02), and incomplete emptying (p = .004) occurred more frequently after colorectal resection than after resection of other locations. The risk of de novo urinary symptoms did not depend on uterosacral ligament resection, except for incomplete emptying (p = .003) when bilateral resection was performed. Extensive dissection in the colorectum group, when combined with uterosacral ligament resection, was associated with significant urinary complications. Urinary complications mainly occurred after segmental colorectal endometriosis resection combined with bilateral uterosacral ligament resection. Surgery designed to spare the pelvic autonomic nerves could reduce the incidence of urinary complications.

Functional results and quality-of-life after bilateral sacrospinous ligament fixation for genital prolapse.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate intra- and post-operative complications, anatomical results, quality-of-life and sexuality after bilateral sacrospinous ligament fixation (SSLF). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective longitudinal study. Between March 2001 and September 2003, 51 women with stage III or IV genital prolapse underwent bilateral SSLF at the gynecology and obstetrics university department of Tenon Hospital, Paris, France. The population characteristics were as follows: mean age (+/-S.D.) was 64+/-10 years. Mean+/-SD BMI was 25+/-4 and median (range) parity was (0-12). Forty-eight (94%) women were post-menopausal, and one-third had previously undergone hysterectomy. Intra- and post-operative complications and anatomical results were recorded. Quality-of-life questionnaires (IIQ-7 and PISQ-12) and numerical analog scales were administered as well as nine questions on digestive symptoms. RESULTS: The overall complication rate was 17.3%, with rectal injury in one (1.9%) women. One pararectal hematoma necessitated repeat surgery. Anterior vaginal wall prolapse (Ba=-1) occurred in three women, at 10, 16 and 19 months, but did not necessitate further surgery. The global patient satisfaction rate after bilateral SSLF was 93% (47 women). Digestive symptoms were improved after bilateral SSLF. The mean pre- and post-operative scores on the IIQ-7 and PISQ-12 questionnaires were 41+/-27 and 10+/-18 (p<0.0001), and 62+/-14 and 72+/-11 (p<0.0001), respectively. Posterior perineorrhaphy was associated with significantly altered sexuality. CONCLUSION: These results support the feasibility of bilateral SSLF: intra- and post-operative complication rates are acceptable, quality-of-life and sexuality are improved, and bowel function is unaffected.

Functional results after the suburethral sling procedure for urinary stress incontinence: a prospective randomized multicentre study comparing the retropubic and transobturator routes.

OBJECTIVES: To compare short-term functional outcomes, urodynamic parameters, and quality of life of transobturator and retropubic routes in the cure of urinary stress incontinence. POPULATION AND METHODS: This prospective, multicentre study involved 88 women undergoing suburethral sling procedure for stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The retropubic route (RPR) and the transobturator route (TOR) were used in 42 and 46 women, respectively. No difference in epidemiologic and preoperative urinary functional status (SUI stage, and pollakiuria, nocturia, and urgency rates) was found between the groups. Functional results and quality of life were evaluated before surgery and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 mo postoperatively. Urodynamic examinations were performed before and 3 mo after surgery. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 10 mo. No difference in the rate of de novo urge incontinence and immediate and late voiding dysfunction was noted between the groups. No difference in the cure rate was observed between the groups (89.3% in the RPR group and 88.6% in the TOR group). RPR was associated with a significant decrease in maximum urinary flow and an increase in residual urine volume. Quality of life was significantly improved after surgery without difference between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Retropubic and transobturator routes for treatment of female SUI have similar high cure rates and quality of life improvement. Because of advantages in the rate of complications and postoperative pain previously demonstrated on the same population, the transobturator route appears to be the best option for the treatment of urinary incontinence.

Peri-operative complications and pain after the suburethral sling procedure for urinary stress incontinence: a French prospective randomised multicentre study comparing the retropubic and transobturator routes.

OBJECTIVE: To compare peri-operative complications, pain, and the immediate functional results of the sub-urethral sling procedure for urinary stress incontinence by the retropublic and transobturator routes, using a non-elastic polypropylene sub-urethral sling. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective, multicentre study involved 88 women undergoing the sub-urethral sling procedure for stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The retropubic route (RPR) and the transobturator route (TOR) were used in respectively 42 and 46 cases. The characteristics of the women in the RPR and TOR groups were as follows: mean age (+/-standard deviation) 56.8+/-12 years and 53.4+/-10 years, respectively; mean BMI: 25+/-4 and 26+/-4; mean parity: 2.1+/-0.9 and 2+/-1 children; post-menopausal status: 66.7% and 58.7%; prior surgery for SUI: 7.1% and 6.5%; and prior hysterectomy: 21.4% and 26.1%. None of these characteristics differed significantly between the groups. Likewise, pre-operative urinary functional status (SUI stage, and pollakiuria, nocturia and urgency rates) was similar in the two groups. RESULTS: Mean hospital stay and overall morbidity rate were not significantly different between the RPR and TOR groups. Mean operating time was longer in the RPR group. Bladder injury was significantly more frequent in the RPR group and vaginal injury was significantly more frequent in the TOR group. Pain scores were significantly lower in the TOR group. The objective functional results at one month did not differ between the groups. Quality of life, evaluated with questionnaires and numerical rating scales, was similarly improved in the two groups. DISCUSSION: The suburethral sling procedure was less painful by the TOR route than by the RPR route. Bladder injury, haematomas and abscesses were only observed in the RPR group, while vaginal injury only occurred in the TOR group. The immediate functional results of the two approaches were similar.

Treatment of genital prolapse by hammock using porcine skin collagen implant (Pelvicol).

INTRODUCTION: To assess the feasibility and efficacy of the hammock using a porcine skin collagen (Pelvicol) implant for the treatment of genital prolapse by the vaginal route. A total of 47 women with Stage III or IV genital prolapse underwent surgical treatment with porcine skin collagen implantation using anterior transobturator and posterior bilateral sacrospinous fixations. Genital prolapse treatment was combined with hysterectomy in 34 patients (72%). TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Porcine skin collagen implantation was feasible in every case. The surgical procedure lasted a median of 90 minutes (range 80 to 150). No vessel injuries, one bladder injury, and one rectal injury not requiring additional surgery occurred. One pararectal hematoma required a second procedure. The median follow-up was 24.6 +/- 8.5 months (range 6 to 42). No rejection of the porcine grafts occurred. Of the 47 women, 39 (83%) had optimal anatomic results, 5 had asymptomatic Stage I prolapse, and 2 had Stage II prolapse. The subjective cure rate was 93.6% (44 of 47 patients). The postoperative scores for lifestyle and urinary discomfort improved significantly after the procedure (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0002, respectively). Of the 18 patients who were sexually active, an improvement in sexual discomfort occurred (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: These short-term results suggest that hammock using porcine skin collagen implantation by the transobturator route and bilateral sacrospinous fixation is a safe and effective treatment for genital prolapse.

Laparoscopic resection of occult metastasis using the combination of FDG-positron emission tomography/computed tomography image fusion with intraoperative probe guidance in a woman with recurrent ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: Positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) have a potential role in detecting and locating recurrent ovarian cancer. Precise tumor location during surgical treatment is often difficult, owing to limited tumor size and post-surgical anatomic modifications. The surgical gamma probe, which has become increasing popular in recent years with the development of sentinel node mapping, may improve tumor detection and facilitate resection of occult metastases. CASE REPORT: We describe the first case of laparoscopic resection of occult metastasis using the combination of FDG-PET/CT image fusion with intraoperative FDG-sensitive probing in a patient with recurrent ovarian cancer. CONCLUSION: FDG-sensitive probe combined with preoperative PET/CT image fusion can help to detect occult metastasis and guide laparoscopic excision.

Sacro-spinous ligament fixation peri-operative complications in 195 cases: visual approach versus digital approach of the sacro-spinous ligament.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate sacro-spinous ligament fixation (SLF) peri-operative complications. STUDY DESIGN: Monocentric, retrospective study. Department of Gynecology, SIHCUS-CMCO, University Hospital, Strasbourg, France. Between January 1990 and December 2000, 195 women, mean age 63.2 years old (40-90), underwent a vaginal SLF. Ninety point eight percent of women were post-menopaused and 27.9% of these had a hormonal substitution. About 24% of patients had prior hysterectomy, 20% vaginal prolapse repair and 22% urinary stress incontinence repair. SLF was performed in 1.5% of cases without any other procedures and it was combined with the following: rectocele and elytrocele repair in 89.2%, hysterectomy in 72.3%, cystocele repair in 52.8% and stress incontinence repair in 15.3% of cases. In 107 cases, the SLF attachment was placed under digital control and in 88 cases under visual control. RESULTS: The mean hospitalisation stay was of 8.5 +/- 2.6 days (4-26). About 41% of women presented a complication. Major complications were represented by 3.6% of bladder injury, 0.5% of uretero-vaginal fistula, 0.5% of vascular injuries, 0.5% of thromboembolic events. In 38% of cases patients had minor complications: urinary tract infections (29%), temporary urinary retention (5.6%), local complications (4.5%), and other complications (3%). The only specific SLF complication in this data was a vascular injury and in this case the SLF was performed under digital control. CONCLUSIONS: The global peri-operative complication frequency of SLF is high. It is mainly represented by non-specific complications, secondary to the combined procedures and not to the SLF itself. The specific complications due to SLF, all of which are major ones, can be avoided or diagnosed earlier, by using the visual approach technique.

Restaging surgery for women with borderline ovarian tumors: results of a French multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the current study was to examine the surgical management of women with borderline ovarian tumors and the adequacy of initial staging according to the guidelines of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics; to evaluate the impact of restaging operations; and to identify risk factors for initial understaging. METHODS: In a retrospective French multicenter study, 54 of 360 women with borderline ovarian tumors underwent a restaging operation. After excluding women with initial complete staging (n = 62), epidemiologic, surgical, and histologic parameters and risk of recurrence were compared between women who underwent restaging (n = 54) and those who did not (n = 244). RESULTS: One hundred fifty (41.6%) of 360 women underwent intraoperative histologic examination, which led to the diagnosis of a borderline tumor in 97 cases (64.7%). Thirty-seven (38.1%) of these 97 women had undergone complete initial staging procedures. A restaging operation was performed for 54 women. A lower median age and a higher rate of conservative treatment were noted in the group that underwent restaging. Eight (14.8%) of the 54 women who underwent restaging had their tumors upstaged: 7 of the 41 cases initially diagnosed as Stage IA tumors were upstaged to Stage IB (n = 3) or to Stage IIA, IIB, IIIA, or IIIC (n = 1 for each); in the eighth case, a Stage IC tumor was upstaged to Stage IIIA. Upstaging tended to be more common in women with serous borderline tumors (P = 0.06) and in women who underwent cystectomy (P = 0.08). There was no difference in recurrence rates according to whether a restaging operation was performed. The recurrence rates after conservative and radical treatment were 15.6% (25 of 160) and 4.5% (9 of 200), respectively (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Women who initially were diagnosed with Stage IA disease and who had serous borderline tumors or underwent cystectomy appeared to derive the most benefit from restaging surgery. Nonetheless, the indications for restaging surgery remain controversial, as no difference in recurrence rate was observed between women who underwent restaging and those who did not.