Cystoscopy with antibiotic irrigation during pelvic reconstruction and minimally invasive gynecologic surgery: A double-blind randomized controlled trial.

AIMS: After pelvic reconstructive surgery, the risk of postoperative urinary tract infection (UTI) is significant; intraoperative cystoscopy may contribute to this risk. Intravesical antibiotics are used in the ambulatory setting and may be applied to the surgical arena. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of antibiotic irrigation during intraoperative cystoscopy to prevent postoperative UTI. METHODS: This double-blind randomized controlled trial enrolled 216 women undergoing cystoscopy with elective surgery for pelvic organ prolapse, stress urinary incontinence, or laparoscopic gynecologic surgery at an academic medical center 2016-2019. Participants were randomized to cystoscopic irrigation fluid type: normal saline (control) or 200,000 U polymyxin B + 40 mg neomycin solution in normal saline (antibiotic). Patients and providers who treated UTIs were blinded. The primary outcome was treatment of UTI within 6 weeks postoperatively, defined as positive culture or treatment for a symptomatic UTI. χ2 and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: We enrolled 216 women: 111 control (51.4%) and 105 antibiotic (48.6%). Mean age was 51.6 years. Groups were well matched in medical comorbidities and surgery type. Primary vaginal surgery was most common (n = 127, 58.8%). Overall, 10.7% of patients developed a postoperative UTI with no difference in incidence between groups: 9.9% of control (n = 11, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.0%-16.0%) versus 11.4% of antibiotic subjects (n = 12, 95% CI: 5.0%-18.0%), on χ2 (p = .718) and logistic regression analysis (adjusted odds ratio, 1.3; CI: 0.53-3.16; p = .569). CONCLUSION: When cystoscopy is performed during elective pelvic surgery, use of antibiotic irrigation does not impact the rate of postoperative UTI.

Tamsulosin to Prevent Postoperative Urinary Retention After Female Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the effect of tamsulosin on postoperative urinary retention in female patients after pelvic reconstructive surgery. METHODS: Data were obtained from a retrospective, matched cohort of female patients who were admitted after pelvic reconstructive surgery at a single academic institution. Patients who received tamsulosin were compared with those who did not at a 1:4 ratio, matched by surgical procedure. Patients were excluded if they were discharged on the day of surgery or if an intraoperative complication necessitated prolonged postoperative bladder drainage. Information on demographics, preoperative diagnoses, prolapse stage, preoperative voiding dysfunction, urodynamic findings, intraoperative details, postoperative complications, and voiding outcomes up to 6 weeks after surgery was gathered. The primary outcome was postoperative urinary retention, defined by failure of an active voiding trial. RESULTS: Patients underwent surgery between January 2016 and March 2018. We identified 35 patients who received tamsulosin and matched to 140 controls. Patients in the tamsulosin group were younger; groups were otherwise similar. Patients who received tamsulosin after surgery were less likely to develop postoperative urinary retention (2.9% vs 24.3%, P = 0.004). After controlling for confounders, multivariable logistic regression identified tamsulosin use as the only independent predictor of postoperative urinary retention with a significant protective effect (odds ratio, 0.09; 95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.67; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic tamsulosin use may be effective in preventing postoperative urinary retention in female patients undergoing pelvic reconstructive surgery.

Evaluation of Urine Choline Levels in Women With and Without Overactive Bladder Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine whether levels of choline (Ch) differ in women with and without overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms. METHODS: New patients were evaluated using the overactive bladder symptom score; Medical, Epidemiologic, and Social Aspects of Aging (MESA) urgency incontinence questionnaire; and Impact Questionnaire 7 and provided a urine sample. Patients were stratified into asymptomatic controls, scoring 0 on overactive bladder symptom score and the MESA questionnaire, and patients with OAB and urgency incontinence (OAB-wet). Patients with conditions predisposing to OAB or had a history of OAB treatment were excluded. Choline detection was accomplished using a commercially available kit. Wilcoxon rank sum test and Fisher exact test were used to express differences between groups. Spearman ρ correlation was used to determine the relationship between Ch and questionnaire scores. Logistic regression was used to identify significant variables associated with OAB. RESULTS: Sixty-three women were included in the final analysis. Patients with OAB-wet were older (P = 0.001), more likely to be obese (P = 0.04), had greater apical descent (P = 0.02), were more likely to be postmenopausal (P = 0.01), and were more likely to have stress incontinence (P = 0.005). Choline was 34.8% lower in OAB compared with the controls (P = 0.014). Lower Ch levels were associated with higher MESA (Spearman ρ = -0.311, P = 0.03). After logistic regression, lower Ch (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.96-0.98), age (aOR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.08-1.18), and body mass index (aOR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.01-1.18) were significantly associated with OAB-wet. CONCLUSIONS: Choline levels are significantly decreased in women complaining of OAB with urgency incontinence, and lower levels are associated with higher MESA scores.

Ventral-onlay buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty for the treatment of female urethral stricture: a step-by-step video for Female Pelvic Reconstructive Surgeons.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Female urethral stricture is a relatively uncommon disease. Conservative management with repeated urethral dilation often leads to unsatisfactory results. Although treatment of female urethral stricture with urethral reconstruction using a variety of surgical techniques is a surgical option, female pelvic reconstructive surgeons have limited exposure to these procedures in their training. The purpose of this video is to demonstrate a step-by-step ventral-onlay buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty in a patient with female urethral stricture disease. METHODS: We use a live action surgical video to describe the harvest of a buccal mucosal graft and ventral-onlay urethroplasty. RESULTS: This video provides a step-by-step approach to a ventral urethroplasty using a buccal mucosal graft. It can be used to educate and train those performing female pelvic reconstructive surgery. CONCLUSION: Pelvic surgeons should be familiar with the management of female urethral stricture, including surgical treatment options such as urethral reconstruction. This video may be used to facilitate the reproducibility and comprehension of the ventral urethroplasty procedure.

Multimodal opioid-sparing postoperative pain regimen compared with the standard postoperative pain regimen in vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery: a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain control after urogynecological surgery has traditionally been opioid centered with frequent narcotic administration. Few studies have addressed optimal pain control strategies for vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery that limit opioid use. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine whether, ice packs, Tylenol, and Toradol, a novel opioid-sparing multimodal postoperative pain regimen has improved pain control compared with the standard postoperative pain regimen in patients undergoing inpatient vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery. STUDY DESIGN: This was a multicenter randomized controlled trial of women undergoing vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery. Patients were randomized to the ice packs, Tylenol, and Toradol postoperative pain regimen or the standard regimen. The ice packs, Tylenol, and Toradol regimen consists of around-the-clock ice packs, around-the-clock oral acetaminophen, around-the-clock intravenous ketorolac, and intravenous hydromorphone for breakthrough pain. The standard regimen consists of as-needed ibuprofen, as-needed acetaminophen/oxycodone, and intravenous hydromorphone for breakthrough pain. The primary outcome was postoperative day 1 pain evaluated the morning after surgery using a visual analog scale. Secondary outcomes included the validated Quality of Recovery Questionnaire, satisfaction scores, inpatient narcotic consumption, outpatient pain medication consumption, and visual analog scale scores at other time intervals. In all, 27 patients in each arm were required to detect a mean difference of 25 mm on a 100 mm visual analog scale (90% power). RESULTS: Thirty patients were randomized to ice packs, Tylenol, and Toradol and 33 to the standard therapy. Patient and surgical demographics were similar. The median morning visual analog scale pain score was lower in the ice packs, Tylenol, and Toradol group (20 mm vs 40 mm, P = .03). Numerical median pain scores were lower at the 96 hour phone call in the ice packs, Tylenol, and Toradol group (2 vs 3, P = .04). Patients randomized to the ICE-T regimen received fewer narcotics (expressed in oral morphine equivalents) from the postanesthesia care unit exit to discharge (2.9 vs 20.4, P < .001) and received fewer narcotics during the entire hospitalization (55.7 vs 91.2, P < .001). At 96 hour follow up, patients in the ice packs, Tylenol, and Toradol group used 4.9 ketorolac tablets compared with 4.6 oxycodone/acetaminophen tablets in the standard group (P = .81); however, ice packs, Tylenol, and Toradol patients required more acetaminophen than ibuprofen by patients in the standard arm (10.7 vs 6.2 tablets, P = .012). There were no differences in Quality of Recovery Questionnaire or satisfaction scores either in the morning after surgery or at 96 hour follow up. CONCLUSION: The ice packs, Tylenol, and Toradol multimodal pain regimen offers improved pain control the morning after surgery and 96 hours postoperatively compared with the standard regimen with no differences in patient satisfaction and quality of recovery. Ice packs, Tylenol, and Toradol can significantly limit postoperative inpatient narcotic use and eliminate outpatient narcotic use in patients undergoing vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery.

National survey of urogynecological practice patterns among United States OB/GYN oral board examinees in different practice settings.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The current urogynecological surgical experience of recent OB/GYN graduates in different practice settings is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in urogynecological surgical care between private practitioners (PPs) and other generalist OB/GYN oral board examinees. METHODS: A total of 699 OB/GYN oral board examination examinees were administered a survey during board preparatory courses with a 70.7% response rate. The primary outcome was to determine differences in subjective reported performance of urogynecological surgery with and without apical support procedures (female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, FPMRS, ± apical) between PP and generalists in other practice models (academic, managed care, other). Secondary outcomes included urogynecological case list reporting, referral patterns, and residency training. RESULTS: A total of 473 surveys were completed; after excluding subspecialists, 210 surveys were completed by PP and 162 by individuals in other settings. 6.7% of PPs subjectively reported that they perform FPMRS + apical surgery compared with 4.3% of those in other practice settings (p = 0.33). Although 29.2% of PPs reported adequate FPMRS training in residency compared with 39.7% of those in other practice settings (p = 0.04), 53.6% of PPs reported that they refer patients with pelvic organ prolapse (POP), compared with 66.5% of those in other practice settings (p = 0.013). 38.9% of PPs report that they performed POP surgery compared with 27.8% of non-PPs (p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of practice setting, surgical volumes are low and few general OB/GYN board examinees report that they perform comprehensive FPMRS ± apical support surgery. The practice environment may affect providers' management of patients with pelvic floor disorders.

Surgical trends and patient factors associated with the treatment of apical pelvic organ prolapse from a national sample.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Prolapse of the vaginal apex can be treated using multiple surgical modalities. We describe national trends and patient characteristics associated with the surgical approach and compare perioperative outcomes of abdominal versus vaginal repair of apical pelvic organ prolapse (POP). METHODS: The 2006-2012 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database was queried for abdominal sacrocolpopexy (ASC) and vaginal apical suspensions. Patients were stratified by whether or not concomitant hysterectomy (CH) was performed or whether or not they were post-hysterectomy (PH). Multivariate logistic regressions were adjusted for confounding variables. RESULTS: A total of 6,147 patients underwent apical POP repair: 33.9% (2,085) ASCs, 66.1% (4,062) vaginal suspensions. 60.0% (3,689) underwent CH. In all cohorts, older patients were less likely to have ASC (CH: OR 0.48, CI 0.28-0.83, p = 0.008 for age ≥ 60; PH: OR 0.28, CI 0.18-0.43, p < 0.001). Over time, the proportion of all vaginal and abdominal repairs remained relatively stable. Use of minimally invasive ASC, however, increased over the study period (trend p < 0.001), and use of mesh for vaginal suspensions decreased (p < 0.001). ASC had a longer median operative time (PH 174 vs 95 min, p < 0.001; CH 192 vs 127 min, p < 0.001). Complication rates were the same for vaginal repairs and ASC, overall and when sub-stratified by hysterectomy status. CONCLUSIONS: Nationally, most apical POP repairs are performed via a vaginal route. Older age was predictive of the vaginal route for both CH and PH groups. ASCs had longer operative times. There has been increased utilization of minimally invasive ASC and decreased use of mesh-augmented vaginal suspensions over time.

Transvaginal bladder-neck closure: a step-by-step video for female pelvic surgeons.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Transvaginal bladder-neck closure is a definitive surgical option for urethral erosion due chronic bladder catheterization in patients with neurogenic bladder. Surgeons who perform female pelvic reconstructive surgery have limited exposure to this procedure in their training. The purpose of this video is to demonstrate a transvaginal bladder-neck closure due to urethral erosion in a patient with neurogenic bladder due to persistent neuropathy from Guillain-Barré syndrome managed with prolonged catheter drainage. METHODS: We used a live-action surgical demonstration to describe transvaginal bladder-neck closure with urinary diversion. RESULTS: This video provides a step-by-step approach to transvaginal bladder-neck closure as treatment for urethral erosion from chronic catheterization. This video can be used to educate and train those performing female pelvic reconstructive surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons who perform female pelvic surgery should be familiar with the complications of chronic Foley catheterization and treatment options that include transvaginal bladder-neck closure. This video may be used to facilitate reproducibility and comprehension of this procedure.

Risk factors for explantation due to infection after sacral neuromodulation: a multicenter retrospective case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Sacral neuromodulation is an effective therapy for overactive bladder, urinary retention, and fecal incontinence. Infection after sacral neurostimulation is costly and burdensome. Determining optimal perioperative management strategies to reduce the risk of infection is important to reduce this burden. OBJECTIVE: We sought to identify risk factors associated with sacral neurostimulator infection requiring explantation, to estimate the incidence of infection requiring explantation, and identify associated microbial pathogens. STUDY DESIGN: This is a multicenter retrospective case-control study of sacral neuromodulation procedures completed from Jan. 1, 2004, through Dec. 31, 2014. We identified all sacral neuromodulation implantable pulse generator implants as well as explants due to infection at 8 participating institutions. Cases were patients who required implantable pulse generator explantation for infection during the review period. Cases were included if age ≥18 years old, follow-up data were available ≥30 days after implantable pulse generator implant, and the implant was performed at the institution performing the explant. Two controls were matched to each case. These controls were the patients who had an implantable pulse generator implanted by the same surgeon immediately preceding and immediately following the identified case who met inclusion criteria. Controls were included if age ≥18 years old, no infection after implantable pulse generator implant, follow-up data were available ≥180 days after implant, and no explant for any reason <180 days from implant. Controls may have had an explant for reasons other than infection at >180 days after implant. Fisher exact test (for categorical variables) and Student t test (for continuous variables) were used to test the strength of the association between infection and patient and surgery characteristics. Significant variables were then considered in a multivariable logistic regression model to determine risk factors independently associated with infection. RESULTS: Over a 10-year period at 8 academic institutions, 1930 sacral neuromodulator implants were performed by 17 surgeons. In all, 38 cases requiring device explant for infection and 72 corresponding controls were identified. The incidence of infection requiring explant was 1.97%. Hematoma formation (13% cases, 0% controls; P = .004) and pocket depth of ≥3 cm (21% cases, 0% controls; P = .031) were independently associated with an increased risk of infection requiring explant. On multivariable regression analysis controlling for significant variables, both hematoma formation (P = .006) and pocket depth ≥3 cm (P = .020, odds ratio 3.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.20-8.89) remained significantly associated with infection requiring explant. Of the 38 cases requiring explant, 32 had cultures collected and 24 had positive cultures. All 5 cases with a hematoma had a positive culture (100%). Of the 4 cases with a pocket depth ≥3 cm, 2 had positive cultures, 1 had negative cultures, and 1 had a missing culture result. The most common organism identified was methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (38%). CONCLUSION: Infection after sacral neuromodulation requiring device explant is low. The most common infectious pathogen identified was methicillin-resistant S aureus. Demographic and health characteristics did not predict risk of explant due to infection, however, having a postoperative hematoma or a deep pocket ≥3 cm significantly increased the risk of explant due to infection. These findings highlight the importance of meticulous hemostasis as well as ensuring the pocket depth is <3 cm at the time of device implant.

LeFort colpocleisis: a step-by-step simulation video for Female Pelvic Surgeons.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: LeFort colpocleisis is a minimally invasive surgical option for patients with pelvic organ prolapse who no longer desire sexual activity. Pelvic surgeons have limited exposure to this procedure during their training, and are therefore less likely to offer this procedure to their patients. METHODS: We use a split screen live action surgery, side by side with a low cost 3D model of a prolapse to describe a LeFort colpocleisis step by step. RESULTS: This video is an easily reproducible guide to the steps and surgical techniques necessary to successfully perform a LeFort colpocleisis. The simulation model can be used to educate and train those performing female pelvic surgery. CONCLUSION: Pelvic surgeons should be able to offer LeFort colpocleisis to their patients. This video may be used to facilitate the understanding and reproducibility of the procedure.

Report of 2 cases of misdiagnosed vesicouterine fistula.

Vesicouterine fistula is a rare complication that may occur after multiple cesarean deliveries. The following reports describe cases where vesicouterine fistula was misdiagnosed; one was initially treated for urge incontinence, and the other was treated for stress urinary incontinence.