Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(10):757-764
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004001000002
PURPOSE: to analyze the results of a technical alternative to perform sacrospinous colpopexy for the treatment of vault prolapse after hysterectomy, and also as an additional facilitating procedure in cases of total uterovaginal prolapse. METHODS: forty-six patients underwent hysterectomy and were followed-up for 12 to 44 months, with an average of 32 months. Twenty-three of them presented vaginal vault prolapse (GVault), and 23 had total uterovaginal prolapse (GUterus). The inclusion criterion was the presence of symptomatic prolapse grade III or IV according to the classification proposed by the International Continence Society. Patients presenting lower grade prolapse were excluded. The average age of the patients was similar: 67.0 years in GVault and 67.5 years in GUterus. Average body mass index was also similar: 27.4 kg/m² in GVault and 25.6 kg/m² in GUterus. Deliveries varied from 0 to 13 in GVault (average: 4.4 deliveries), and from 1 to 13 in GUterus (average: 6.2 deliveries). Among the 23 patients in GVault, eight had undergone previous surgical repair without success. The results obtained in both groups were analyzed and compared. The used method takes into account well-known anatomical principles, and differs from the original technique by using a curved needle holder oriented upside down to place sutures through the right sacrospinous ligament under direct vision, approximately 2 cm medially to the ischial spine, thus minimizing the risk of injury to the pudendal vessels and nerve. RESULTS: average duration of the surgery was 90.0 min in GVault and 119.5 min in GUterus, a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). Three blood transfusions were needed, one in GVault and two in GUterus. There was no bladder, rectal or ureteral injury nor death in any of the groups. The incidence and type of postoperative complications were similar in the two groups, and included urinary infection, granuloma, urinary retention, transient neuropathy, buttock pain and blood transfusion. Average vaginal length after the operation was 7.6 cm in GVault and 7.3 cm in GUterus (p>0.05). The anatomical result of the apical, anterior and posterior vaginal compartments was satisfactory in more than 90% of the patients of both groups. The functional result was also similar in both groups, and among the sexually active patients, only one (7.7%) in GVault and two (13.3%) in GUterus complained of dyspareunia after the surgery. There was no association between age, parity, obesity, and the anatomical and functional results. CONCLUSION: analysis of the obtained data demonstrates that this modification of sacrospinous colpopexy is technically simple, safe and effective, providing similar results in both groups of the studied patients.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(6):441-447
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000600004
OBJECTIVE: to compare Baden and Walker's (BW) classification system to the International Continence Society (ICS) standardization of terminology of female pelvic organ prolapse. METHODS: information about urogynecological investigation on 101 women, performed by the Urogynecology and Vaginal Surgery Sector of UNIFESP/EPM, was retrospectively analyzed. Only patients who had undergone the standard ICS exam which quantifies the pelvic prolapse were selected. According to ICS, the prolapse is analyzed through a standard reference system relating the hymen to the anatomic position of six vaginal points: two in the anterior vaginal wall, two in the vaginal apex and other two in the posterior vaginal wall. The maximum amount of pelvic organ prolapse was viewed and recorded during a Valsalva's maneuver. The measurement of the most distal point of the prolapse was performed and it was compared to the BW classification system. The data were analyzed by kappa statistics, to assess the concordance between the two terminologies. RESULTS: There was total correspondence only for the posterior vaginal prolapse stage IV (one patient) and for the uterus prolapse stage 0 (29 patients) with severe rectocele and absence of prolapse, respectively, according to BW. In the three types of prolapses evaluated, the values of kappa statistics were below 0.4, indicating a weak concordance between the two terminologies. There is an extensive variation in the measurement of the most distal point of prolapse when the BW classification is perfomed. CONCLUSIONS: there is a weak concordance between the BW classification system and the ICS standardization of terminology of female pelvic organ prolapse.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2003;25(5):353-358
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032003000500008
PURPOSE: to determine interobserver reliability of site-specific measurements and stages according to the proposed International Continence Society prolapse terminology document. METHODS: we analyzed 51 women during urogynecological investigation performed at the Urogynecology and Vaginal Surgery Sector of UNIFESP / EPM. We recorded the locations of point-specific measures proposed by the International Continence Society (ICS). They are: two in the anterior vaginal wall, two in the superior vagina, two in the posterior vaginal wall, genital hiatus, perineal body and total vaginal length. Then we recorded the stage of genital prolapse. Women underwent pelvic examinations by two investigators, each blinded to the results of the other's examination. The reproducibility of the nine site-specific measurements and the summary stage were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and the median measurements were compared by the paired-t test. RESULTS: there were substantial and highly significant correlations for each of the nine measurements. Correlation coefficient for point Aa was 0.89 (p<0.0001), point Ba 0.90 (p<0.0001), point C 0.97 (p<0.0001), point Ap de 0.72 (p<0.0001), point Bp 0.84 (p<0.0001), point D 0.91 (p<0.0001), genital hiatus 0.65 (p<0.0001), perineal body 0.66 (p<0.0001) e total vaginal length 0.73 (p<0.0001). We also did not note differences between the means of measurements by the two examiners. Staging was highly reproducible (r=0.81, p<0.0001). ln no subject did the stage vary by more than one; in 86,2%, stages were identical. CONCLUSIONS: there is a good reproducibility of measures using the system proposed by the International Continence Society prolapse terminology document.