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Objectives: To elucidate the prevalence of overt, occult and no demonstrated (ND) stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women with advanced-stage cystoceles., Study Design: Between November 2011 and January 2017, all women with ≥stage 2 cystoceles were retrospectively enrolled. Overt SUI was diagnosed before the prolapse reduction test, and occult SUI was diagnosed when urine leakage was noted after a reduction test with vaginal gauze. Otherwise, a diagnosis of ND-SUI was made., Main Outcome Measures: The prevalence, clinical and urodynamic findings of overt SUI, occult SUI, and ND-SUI., Results: In 480 enrolled women, 62% had overt SUI, 17% had occult SUI, and 21% had ND-SUI. The occult SUI group had the most advanced prolapse. The pad weight results after prolapse reduction (37.3 ± 44.3 vs. 13.4 ± 21.9, p < 0.05), the bladder capacity (243 ± 54 vs. 273 ± 48, p < 0.001), and questionnaires regarding life quality were significantly different between the overt SUI and the occult SUI groups. Bladder oversensitivity (BO) was the most common urodynamic diagnosis (389/480, 81%), especially in overt SUI, while urodynamic stress incontinence (56/480, 12%) and detrusor overactivity (60/480, 13%) were uncommon. The cutoff value of stage 3 uterine prolapse was the strongest predictor for predicting occult SUI (sensitivity = 30.3%, specificity = 78.5%; area = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.52-0.68)., Conclusion: SUI occurs in a ratio of 3:1:1 among cases with overt, occult, and no demonstrable symptoms. BO is the most common urodynamic diagnosis. Pad test with prolapse reduction remains an important tool, especially for coexistent stage 3 uterine prolapse., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 Formosan Medical Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Few studies have compared the effects of tibolone versus hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on lower urinary tract symptoms and female sexual function. The current study aimed to compare these treatments., Methods: Women with climacteric symptoms were recruited consecutively and allocated to receive tibolone (2.5 mg) or estradiol valerate (1 mg) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (2.5 mg). Patients were followed up at 4 weeks and 12 weeks after treatment., Results: Overall, there were no significance of improvement in the International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS) scores in the HRT group. However, nocturia and the IPSS storage score improved after tibolone treatment. In addition, orgasm, satisfaction and pain improved after HRT. However, desire, lubrication, and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) total scores improved after tibolone treatment. There was a between-group difference in the change from baseline in the nocturia score after 4 weeks of treatment (0.1 ± 0.9 for HRT vs. -0.4 ± 1.2 for tibolone, p = 0.02). Nonetheless, there were no significant differences of the changes from baseline in the other IPSS and FSFI domains between the tibolone and HRT groups., Conclusion: Despite the limited effect, tibolone seems to have more benefit in nocturia than HRT. In addition, tibolone seems to have benefits on overall low urinary tract storage symptoms; and both tibolone and HRT seem to have beneficial effects on female sexual function, despite there were no significant differences between tibolone and HRT., (Copyright © 2023 Formosan Medical Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate the changes in clinical outcome and urodynamic parameters after tailored anterior transvaginal mesh (ATVM) surgeries in a mid-term follow-up., Methods: Between November 2011 and December 2015, women with ≥stage II pelvic organ prolapse (POP) who underwent ATVM surgeries were retrospectively reviewed. The data-reviewing timeframe was until December 2021. Clinical and urodynamic diagnoses regarding urinary symptoms were evaluated before and after the operation., Results: A total of 160 women were included. Stress urinary incontinence decreased significantly after the operation (99% (159/160) vs. 43% (68/160), p < 0.01), as well as the pad weight (20.5 ± 2.7 vs. 9.4 ± 2.0, p < 0.001) and diagnosis of urodynamic stress incontinence (83% (132/160) vs. 51% (82/160), p < 0.01). Overactive bladder syndrome increased significantly after the operation (18% (29/160) vs. 28% (45/160), p = 0.03), even though the objective parameters, such as first and strong desire to void, bladder oversensitivity, and detrusor overactivity, were all improved after the operation. The pad weight was mostly improved significantly within the first postoperative 2 years. Eighteen (11%) women had global recurrent POP, and only one (0.6%) woman had true recurrence of cystocele. Twenty-four (15%) women had mesh extrusion, and two-thirds of them could be managed in an office setting., Conclusion: In women with advanced cystocele, the ATVM surgery provides a favorable anatomic reduction outcome with an acceptable mesh extrusion rate. The ATVM provides an anti-incontinence effect, both in subjective symptoms and objective parameters, but this effect might decline after postoperative 2 years., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest The authors have no conflicts of interest relevant to this article., (Copyright © 2022 Formosan Medical Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background/purpose: The impact of neurologic disorders on the clinical outcome of suburethral sling procedures has seldom been studied. Our aim is to elucidate factors predicting further anti-incontinence interventions or transvaginal urethrolysis after a re-adjustable pubovaginal sling procedure (PVS), especially in patients with neurologic disorders., Methods: Medical records of all consecutive women who underwent re-adjustable PVS for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) were reviewed., Results: A total of 589 women were enrolled, 152 (25.8%) women were found to have persistent or recurrent SUI after surgery, and 39 (6.6%) women underwent further anti-incontinence interventions. Postoperative voiding dysfunction was found in 46 (7.8%) women, and 23 women (3.9%) underwent transvaginal urethrolysis. Low body mass index (hazard ratio = 0.92) and low functional bladder capacity (dL, hazard ratio = 0.83) were factors predicting the presence of persistent/recurrent SUI. However, the presence of spinal cord disorder (hazard ratio = 8.91) and a history of prior surgery for pelvic organ prolapse (hazard ratio = 2.51) were factors predicting further anti-incontinence interventions. A high post-void residual volume (PVR, dL, hazard ratio = 1.52) and preoperative bladder outlet obstruction (BOO, hazard ratio = 5.39) were factors predicting postoperative voiding dysfunction. Similarly, a high PVR (dL, hazard ratio = 1.50) and preoperative BOO (hazard ratio = 5.38) were factors predicting transvaginal urethrolysis. A PVR >1.51 dL was an optimal cut-off value for predicting transvaginal urethrolysis., Conclusion: The presence of spinal cord disorder and prior surgery for pelvic organ prolapse were predictors of further anti-incontinence interventions after re-adjustable PVS. In addition, a large PVR and preoperative BOO were predictors of transvaginal urethrolysis after re-adjustable PVS., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest relevant to this article., (Copyright © 2021 Formosan Medical Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of detrusor underactivity (DU) and bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in women with high-grade cystocele and the impacts of cystocele repair., Methods: Between November 2010 and September 2018, women with ≥stage II cystocele were included. DU (detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate (PdetQmax) < 20 cmH 2 O, maximum flow rate (Qmax) < 15 mL/s, and bladder voiding efficiency < 90%) and BOO (PdetQmax ≥ 40 cmH 2 O and Qmax < 12 mL/s) were diagnosed by urodynamic study (UDS). Women who underwent cystocele repair were further analyzed with preoperative and postoperative comparisons., Results: A total of 623 women were included. Forty-four (7%) and 17 (3%) women were diagnosed with DU and BOO, respectively. Among the 314 operatively treated women, a significant increase in DU (7% vs. 15%, p = 0.0007), especially in those with stage III cystocele, and a slightly decreased rate of BOO were noted postoperatively. UDS revealed that the postvoid residual volume, functional profile length, maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP), and pressure transmission ratio at the MUCP decreased significantly, as did the pad weight. Nearly all lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) improved significantly, except nocturnal enuresis. Among bladder diary parameters, nocturia episodes, daytime frequency, urgency episodes, and incontinence episodes decreased significantly after the operation., Conclusion: The prevalence rates of DU and BOO in women with high-grade cystocele were 7% and 3%, respectively. After cystocele repair, the rate of DU increased. Most LUTS improved subjectively on questionnaires and objectively on UDS and bladder diary parameters after operation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest relevant to this article., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background/purpose: Factors affecting the anti-incontinence efficacy of a tailored anterior transvaginal mesh (ATVM) surgery are undetermined. Thus, our aim was to investigate predictors for anti-incontinence efficacy of this ATVM surgery., Methods: Medical records of women with pelvic organ prolapse and concomitant evident or occult urodynamic stress incontinence, who underwent the ATVM surgery but without concomitant anti-incontinence surgery, were reviewed., Results: A total of 134 women were reviewed, including those who underwent ATVM only (n = 45), ATVM and posterior transvaginal mesh surgery (n = 88), and ATVM with total vaginal hysterectomy (n = 1). Multivariable analysis revealed that stage of cystocele (coefficient = 56.4), functional profile length (cm, coefficient = 61.1) and the score of general health perceptions in the King's Health Questionnaire (coefficient = -3.3) were independent predictors of the percentage change in pad weight from baseline. Seven (5.2%) women were found to have recurrent or persistent stress urinary incontinence, and 6 of the above 7 women underwent transobturator mid-urethral sling procedure. Free of further anti-incontinence surgery probabilities were 94.7% and 89.2% at 3 and 6 years after surgery, respectively. Functional profile length (hazard ratio = 2.61) was also identified as a predictor for further anti-incontinence surgery., Conclusion: Lesser degree of cystocele, shorter functional profile length and poorer general health perceptions were predictors of greater anti-incontinence effect after the tailored ATVM surgery. Besides, longer functional profile length was also a predictor for further anti-incontinence surgery after the ATVM surgery., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflicts of interest relevant to this article., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Purpose: To evaluate the post-hysterectomy vault prolapse (PHVP) rates performed using different methods of vaginal total hysterectomy (VTH)., Methods: A total of 251 women who underwent VTH with/without concomitant surgeries between January 1986 and December 2001 in a tertiary center. Thirty-eight women were excluded due to not only a vaginal approach. Of the remaining 213 women, 129 and 84 underwent VTH via the Tsuzi method with residual uterine ligament ligations (ligations group) and traditional VTH (without ligations group), respectively. The χ 2 and Mann-Whitney U tests were applied appropriately. The cumulative percentages of women without PHVP were calculated over time and compared using Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant., Results: Compared to the without ligations group, women in the ligations group had longer operation time (115.9 ± 37.1 vs. 103.3 ± 41.4 min, p = 0.002) and more blood loss (217.4 ± 137.8 vs. 148.2 ± 149.0 mL, p < 0.001). When focusing on women with uterine prolapse, only operation time and grade of uterine prolapse were different between the groups (117.3 ± 24.8 vs. 107.9 ± 40.5 min, p = 0.025, and 21% vs. 41%, p = 0.018, respectively). The rate of PHVP was significantly lower in the ligation group than in the without ligations group (0 vs. 5, p = 0.005)., Conclusion: VTH via the Tsuzi method with residual uterine ligament ligations resulted in fewer cases of PHVP than occurred in traditional VTH. If native tissue repair is planned in pelvic reconstruction surgery, VTH with residual uterine ligament ligations should be considered., (Copyright © 2019 Formosan Medical Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background/purpose: The most suitable surgical technique for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) remains undetermined. The aim of this study was to compare clinical outcomes of the tailored transvaginal mesh (TVM) surgery and vaginal native tissue repair (NTR) surgery for POP., Methods: Between November 2011 and August 2014, medical records of 339 women receiving POP surgeries were reviewed., Results: Compared with the NTR group (n = 169), the use of TVM surgery (n = 170) was a predictor for longer operation time (coefficient = 25.2 min, P < 0.001) and larger blood loss (coefficient = 79.9 mL, P < 0.001) by multivariable analysis. However, a higher recurrence rate of cystoceles (log-rank test, P = 0.001) was found in the NTR group, compared with the TVM group; but not apical prolapse (P = 0.32) or rectocele (P = 0.45). Multivariable analysis revealed that the TVM surgery (hazard ratio = 0.24, 95% confidence interval = 0.09-0.64, P = 0.004) and old age (hazard ratio = 1.07, 95% confidence interval = 1.02-1.11, P = 0.005) were independent predictors for the recurrence of cystoceles. Based on the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, the cut-off age value was 64 years with an ROC area of 0.65. In women with intact uterus (n = 162), the recurrence rate of cystoceles was lower in the TVM group (log-rank test, P = 0.0001), compared with the NTR group. However, there was no between-group difference in the recurrence rate of cystoceles in women with prior or concomitant hysterectomy (n = 177, P = 0.17)., Conclusion: In women with intact uterus, the TVM group has a lower recurrence rate of cystoceles than the NTR group. In addition, old age, especially more than 64 years old, is a risk factor for cystocele recurrence., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The age-adjusted prevalence of overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) in Taiwan is approximately 16.9%. Currently, a variety of treatments are available for female OAB. However, different treatments have different treatment-related effects that may lead to significant adverse effects and ineffective treatment. In this article, we reviewed the tools that can be used to evaluate the efficacy of OAB treatments, such as a variety of questionnaires, serum or urine biomarkers, bladder diaries and urodynamic studies. In addition, we reviewed the medications used for female OAB treatment, such as antimuscarinics, beta-3 agonists, onabotulinumtoxinA intradetrusor injections, topical vaginal estrogen therapy and bladder instillation of liposome-encapsulated onabotulinumtoxinA. We focused on their efficacy and any treatment-related effects. The information in this review should be useful as a guide to the treatment of female OAB patients., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background/purpose: Outcome for fetuses with prenatally detected congenital heart disease (CHD) and/or cardiac arrhythmias is important for prenatal counseling and perinatal management; however, there exists little literature regarding the outcome for CHD diagnosed in utero in Taiwan. Therefore, we attempted to investigate the outcome for fetuses with CHD and/or cardiac arrhythmias diagnosed prenatally at a tertiary care medical center in Taiwan., Methods: Between January 1995 and December 2000, 339 patients referred to the National Taiwan University Hospital for fetal echocardiography were included in this study. Medical records were reviewed retrospectively to determine the salient clinical characteristics for all fetuses., Results: CHD was found in 103 fetuses. Gestational age at diagnosis ranged from 17 to 40 weeks; in 37 cases (35.9%) the diagnosis was made before 24 weeks. Mean gestational age at diagnosis was 27.8 weeks. Of the 103 cases, 15 fetuses (14.6%) had major extra cardiac malformations and 15 fetuses (14.6%) had chromosomal abnormalities (five had both) and 30 pregnancies (29.1%) were terminated. Of the remaining 73 pregnancies, three (4.1%) of the fetuses died in utero and 28 (38.4%) postnatally, with 42 (57.5%) surviving. The mortality rates were both 60% in cases with extracardiac or chromosomal anomalies. Arrhythmias were identified in 25, and two pregnancies involving hydrops fetalis were terminated. Of the remaining 23 continued pregnancies, two (8.7%) with long QT syndrome expired postnatally., Conclusion: Outcome for fetuses with prenatally detected CHD remains poor, with the prognosis negatively influenced by the presence of complex heart defects as well as extracardiac and chromosomal anomalies. However, prognosis is good for fetuses with cardiac arrhythmia, except with long QT syndrome or hydrops fetalis.