Endometriosis

Novel Surgical Technique for the Treatment of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence: Transobturator Vaginal Tape Inside-Out

Relationships among body mass, its components, and bone.

Background
Urinary incontinence is a very common and debilitating problem affecting about 50% of women at some point in their lives. Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a predominant cause in 30% to 80% of these women imposing significant health and economic burden on society and the women affected. Mid-urethral sling (MUS) operations are a recognised minimally invasive surgical treatment for SUI. MUS involves the passage of a small strip of tape through either the retropubic or obturator space, with entry or exit points at the lower abdomen or groin, respectively. This review does not include single-incision slings.

Objectives
To assess the clinical effects of mid-urethral sling (MUS) operations for the treatment of SUI, urodynamic stress incontinence (USI) or mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) in women.

Search methods
We searched: Cochrane Incontinence Specialised Register (including: CENTRAL, MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process, ClinicalTrials.gov) (searched 26 June 2014); Embase Classic (January 1947 to Week 25 2014); WHO ICTRP (searched 30 June 2014); reference lists.

Selection criteria
Randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials amongst women with SUI, USI or MUI, in which both trial arms involve a MUS operation.

Data collection and analysis
Two review authors independently assessed the methodological quality of potentially eligible studies and extracted data from included trials.

Main results
We included 81 trials that evaluated 12,113 women. We assessed the quality of evidence for outcomes using the GRADE assessment tool; the quality of most outcomes was moderate, mainly due to risk of bias or imprecision.

Fifty-five trials with data contributed by 8652 women compared the use of the transobturator route (TOR) and retropubic route (RPR). There is moderate quality evidence that in the short term (up to one year) the rate of subjective cure of TOR and RPR are similar (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.00; 36 trials, 5514 women; moderate quality evidence) ranging from 62% to 98% in the TOR group, and from 71% to 97% in the RPR group. Short-term objective cure was similar in the TOR and RPR groups (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.00; 40 trials, 6145 women). Fewer trials reported medium-term (one to five years) and longer-term (over five years) data, but subjective cure was similar between the groups (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.09; 5 trials, 683 women; low quality evidence; and RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.12; 4 trials, 714 women; moderate quality evidence, respectively). In the long term, subjective cure rates ranged from 43% to 92% in the TOR group, and from 51% to 88% in the RPR group.

MUS procedures performed using the RPR had higher morbidity when compared to TOR, though the overall rate of adverse events remained low. The rate of bladder perforation was lower after TOR (0.6% versus 4.5%; RR 0.13, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.20; 40 trials, 6372 women; moderate quality evidence). Major vascular/visceral injury, mean operating time, operative blood loss and length of hospital stay were lower with TOR.

Postoperative voiding dysfunction was less frequent following TOR (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.65; 37 trials, 6200 women; moderate quality evidence). Overall rates of groin pain were higher in the TOR group (6.4% versus 1.3%; RR 4.12, 95% CI 2.71 to 6.27; 18 trials, 3221 women; moderate quality evidence) whereas suprapubic pain was lower in the TOR group (0.8% versus 2.9%; RR 0.29, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.78); both being of short duration. The overall rate of vaginal tape erosion/exposure/extrusion was low in both groups: 24/1000 instances with TOR compared with 21/1000 for RPR (RR 1.13, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.65; 31 trials, 4743 women; moderate quality evidence). There were only limited data to inform the need for repeat incontinence surgery in the long term, but it was more likely in the TOR group than in the RPR group (RR 8.79, 95% CI 3.36 to 23.00; 4 trials, 695 women; low quality evidence).

A retropubic bottom-to-top route was more effective than top-to-bottom route for subjective cure (RR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.19; 3 trials, 477 women; moderate quality evidence). It incurred significantly less voiding dysfunction, and led to fewer bladder perforations and vaginal tape erosions.

Short-and medium-term subjective cure rates between transobturator tapes passed using a medial-to-lateral as opposed to a lateral-to-medial approach were similar (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.06; 6 trials, 759 women; moderate quality evidence, and RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.23; 2 trials, 235 women; moderate quality evidence). There was moderate quality evidence that voiding dysfunction was more frequent in the medial-to-lateral group (RR 1.74, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.88; 8 trials, 1121 women; moderate quality evidence), but vaginal perforation was less frequent in the medial-to-lateral route (RR 0.25, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.53; 3 trials, 541 women). Due to the very low quality of the evidence, it is unclear whether the lower rates of vaginal epithelial perforation affected vaginal tape erosion (RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.16 to 1.09; 7 trials, 1087 women; very low quality evidence).

Authors' conclusions
Mid-urethral sling operations have been the most extensively researched surgical treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women and have a good safety profile. Irrespective of the routes traversed, they are highly effective in the short and medium term, and accruing evidence demonstrates their effectiveness in the long term. This review illustrates their positive impact on improving the quality of life of women with SUI. However, a brief economic commentary (BEC) identified three studies suggesting that transobturator may be more cost-effective compared with retropubic. Fewer adverse events occur with employment of a transobturator approach with the exception of groin pain. When comparing transobturator techniques of a medial-to-lateral versus a lateral-to-medial insertion, there is no evidence to support the use of one approach over the other. However, a bottom-to-top route was more effective than top-to-bottom route for retropubic tapes.

A salient point illustrated throughout this review is the need for reporting of longer-term outcome data from the numerous existing trials. This would substantially increase the evidence base and provide clarification regarding uncertainties about long-term effectiveness and adverse event profile.

/pdf/mid-urethral-sling-operations-for-stress-urinary-43em414ko2.pdf

Mid-urethral sling operations for stress urinary incontinence in women.

Background There is conflicting evidence about the influence of personality disorder on outcome in depressive disorders.

Aims Meta-analysis of studies in which a categorical assessment of personality disorder or no personality disorder was made in people with depressive disorders, and categorical outcome (recovered/not recovered) also determined.

Method Systematic electronic search of the literature for relevant publications. Hand searches of Journal of Affective Disorders and recent reviews, with subsequent meta-analysis of selected studies.

Results Comorbid personality disorder with depression was associated with a doubling of the risk of a poor outcome for depression compared with no personality disorder (random effects model OR=2.18, 95% CI 1.70-2.80), a robust finding maintained with only Hamilton-type depression criteria at outcome (OR=2.20, 95% CI 1.61-3.01). All treatments apart from electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) showed this poor outcome, and the ECT group was small.

Conclusions Combined depression and personality disorder is associated with a poorer outcome than depression alone.

/pdf/personality-disorder-and-the-outcome-of-depression-meta-2xvf9hxh6j.pdf

Personality disorder and the outcome of depression: meta-analysis of published studies.

Burch Colposuspension and Tension-Free Vaginal Tape in the Management of Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women

Background: To assess the efficacy and complications of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) versus tension-free vaginal tape obturator in women with urodynamic stress incontinence. Methods: Prospective, randomized study. Initially, 91 patients were included in the study and 89 of them were available at 12 months follow-up. Forty-six patients were subjected to classic TVT procedure and 43 to transobturator vaginal tape from inside to outside (TVT-O) operation. There was no significant difference between the groups for age, BMI, menopausal status and prolapse. No patients had cystocele greater than stage I. Subjective and objective cure and improvement rate, mean operative time, hospital stay and complications incidence were assessed. Results: Mean operative time was significant shorter in the TVT-O group (17.4 ± 6.9 min) compared to the TVT group (26.7 ± 8.6 min). There was no significant difference in the duration of hospital stay between two groups. The objective cure rate for TVT group was 89%, the improvement rate was 6.5%, the failure rate was 4.3% and the subjective cure rate 73.9%. The objective cure rate for TVT-O group was 90%, the improvement rate was 7.6%, the failure rate was 2.5% and the subjective cure rate 76.7%. The hemoglobin loss ranged between 1.0 ± 0.5 g/dl for TVT group and 0.9 ± 0.4 g/dl for TVT-O group. Conclusion: The TVT-O technique presents success rates comparable to the classic TVT method in the short term.

Tension-free vaginal tape versus tension-free vaginal tape obturator in women with stress urinary incontinence.

The purpose of this study was to review the cases of ureteric injuries during major pelvic surgery that occurred in our department over the last 15 years, in relation to possible predisposing factors and patient management according to the type of injury. From 5122 major gynecologic operations we found 18 cases of ureteric injury, including 4 cases of urinoma. Parameters that were examined included the indication for surgery and the type of operation, coexisting pathological conditions, the position of and the delay in recognition of the ureteric damage. The incidence of ureteric injury was 0.35%. The time of recognition of injury in 9 cases was during primary surgery and end-to-end anastomosis was performed, whereas in the other 9 cases the injury was recognized after surgery and repair of the ureter was performed, with reimplantation into the bladder in 4 cases and end-to-end anastomosis in 5. Action to prevent the development of iatrogenic ureteral injury must be taken in advance, and the management of ureteric injuries could be improved with prompt recognition and repair by a skilled surgeon.

Ureteral Injuries During Gynecological Surgery

Changes of collagen type III in female patients with genuine stress incontinence and pelvic floor prolapse.

The objective of the study was to obtain a prospective assessment of the efficacy and the complications associated with the use of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) for the management of urodynamic stress incontinence at 5- and 7-year follow-up. Sixty-five female patients with stage I cystocele or less who have been operated with TVT procedure for management of urodynamic stress incontinence have been included in the study. At 5-year follow-up, the objective cure rate was 83% and failure rate 9.4%. At 7-year follow-up, the objective cure rate was 80% and the failure rate 13.5%. De novo detrusor overactivity was seen in 9.4% and 11.4% of patients at 5- and 7-year follow-up, respectively. TVT operation is an effective and safe minimally invasive procedure for the management of urodynamic stress incontinence in women without significant cystocele in the long-term follow-up. The 10- and 20-year results are awaited.

Panagiotis Bakas

Papers

Burch Colposuspension and Tension-Free Vaginal Tape in the Management of Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women

Tension-free vaginal tape versus tension-free vaginal tape obturator in women with stress urinary incontinence.

Ureteral Injuries During Gynecological Surgery

Changes of collagen type III in female patients with genuine stress incontinence and pelvic floor prolapse.

Long-term efficacy of tension-free vaginal tape in the management of stress urinary incontinence in women: efficacy at 5- and 7-year follow-up.