Pelvic floor symptom changes in pessary users.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to compare pelvic floor symptom changes in patients who continue vs discontinue pessary use, and determine whether changes predict pessary continuation. STUDY DESIGN: Women fitted with pessaries completed the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20) before and after initiating pessary use. Scores were compared in women who continued vs discontinued pessaries. Analysis of covariance adjusted for baseline differences in scores. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to find a score predicting pessary continuation. RESULTS: Sixty-four women had complete follow up data; at 6-12 months, 36 of 64 (56%) continued pessary use, and 28 of 64 (44%) discontinued use. The continuation group's final PFDI-20 total, bladder, and prolapse scale scores were better than the discontinuation group's. A 2-month prolapse score that fell to 50% of baseline best predicted pessary continuation. CONCLUSION: PFDI-20 scores improved most in women continuing pessary use. Pessaries effectively treated urinary symptoms, and most effectively treated prolapse symptoms. Prolapse score improvement best predicted continued pessary use.

Vaginal pessaries in managing women with pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence: patient characteristics and factors contributing to success.

OBJECTIVE: An aging population has resulted in higher prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP). This study examines a nurse-run clinic and analyzes the factors contributing to successful pessary use. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective chart review of 1,216 patients was completed. History, pelvic examination and pessary fitting was done. Data was analyzed utilizing a categorical model of maximum-likelihood estimation to investigate relationships. RESULTS: Median patient age was 63 years. Median number of pessaries tried was two. Eighty-five percent of post-menopausal women were on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) prior to fitting. Highest success rate of 78% was in the group on both systemic and local HRT. Success rates ranged from 58% for urge incontinence to 83% for uterine prolapse. Prior vaginal surgery was a factor impacting success. In our series highest success rates for fitting were obtained with ring pessaries, ring with support, and gellhorns. CONCLUSIONS: This model is a viable, option for the conservative management of UI and POP. Local HRT plays an important role in successful pessary fitting. Complications are rare.

Pessary use in advanced pelvic organ prolapse.

The objective of this study was to review our experience with pessary use for advanced pelvic organ prolapse. Charts of patients treated for Stage III and IV prolapse were reviewed. Comparisons were made between patients who tried or refused pessary use. A successful trial of pessary was defined by continued use; a failed trial was defined by a patient's discontinued use. Thirty-two patients tried a pessary; 45 refused. Patients who refused a pessary were younger, had lesser degree of prolapse, and more often had urinary incontinence. Most patients (62.5%) continued pessary use and avoided surgery. Unsuccessful trial of pessary resorting to surgery included four patients (33%) with unwillingness to maintain, three patients (25%) with inability to retain and two patients (17%) with vaginal erosion and/or discharge. Our findings suggest that pessary use is an acceptable first-line option for treatment of advanced pelvic organ prolapse.