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Background The most appropriate diagnostic tests for the assessment of the uterine cavity in patients undergoing standard infertility evaluation in daily practice remain unclear. Routine hysteroscopic uterine cavity evaluation before an in vitro fertilization-embyo transfer (IVF-ET) cycle is not a uniformly accepted procedure. However, cervical findings associated with difficult ET have rarely been reported in previous hysteroscopic studies. The main objective of this study was to examine the relationship between cervical finding under flexible outpatient hysteroscopy (OH) and difficult ET. Material and methods A cohort clinical study was conducted with 650 patients undergoing their first in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) from January 2010 to December 2017. Of them, 605 women with available embryos underwent transfer cycles. Outpatient hysteroscopies were scheduled during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, 1–3 months before starting IVF/ICSI treatment. Results Among the 650 women who underwent transvaginal sonography (TVS) and outpatient hysteroscopy, abnormal sonographic findings were observed in 51 women (7.8%) in which submucous myoma, endometrial polyp, and endometrial hyperplasia were the most common. Abnormal hysteroscopic intracavitary findings were observed in 158 cases (24.3%) in which endometrial polyp, submucous myoma, and intrauterine adhesions were the most common. These results showed that TVS was specific (100%) but not sensitive (32.3%) compared with OH. Embryo transfer was difficult in 25% of women with cervical stenosis or tortuous cervical canal and was significantly more difficult in women in the tortuous cervical canal group (30.7%) than in the cervical stenosis group (19.6%). Conclusion Outpatient hysteroscopy can identify cervical charactistics associated with a high incidence of difficult embryo transfer.

This study aimed to explore the effect of pelvic reconstruction surgery on the relation of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and overactive bladder (OAB) and the impact of preoperative vaginal oestrogen supplement on vaginal tissue. A total of 100 postmenopausal women with symptomatic POP who underwent pelvic reconstruction surgery (laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy or transvaginal mesh) were enrolled in this study. Preoperative vaginal oestrogen was prescribed in 28 cases. The evaluation tools consisted of POP-Q, urodynamic study, Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS), and urinary NGF. Vaginal maturation index and vaginal specimens for hormone receptors study were investigated during operation to evaluate the effect of topical oestrogen. Follow-up assessments were performed at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. Preoperatively, 58 (58%) were POP with OAB. After reconstruction surgery, the OABSS decreased significantly (6.87 ± 0.85 vs 3.77 ± 0.61, p

Introduction and hypothesis In addition to laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LS), laparoscopic pectopexy (LP) is a novel surgical method for correcting apical prolapse. The descended cervix or vaginal vault is suspended with a synthetic mesh by fixing the bilateral mesh ends to the pectineal ligaments. This study was aimed at developing a learning curve for LP and to compare it with results with LS. Methods We started laparoscopic/robotic pectopexy in our department in August 2019. This retrospective study included the initial 18 consecutive women with apical prolapse receiving LP and another group undergoing LS (21 cases) performed by the same surgeon. The medical and video records were reviewed. Results The age was older in the LP group than in the LS group (65.2 vs 53.1 years). The operation time of LP group was significantly shorter than that of the LS group (182.9 ± 27.2 vs 256.2 ± 45.5 min, p Conclusions Laparoscopic pectopexy is a feasible surgical method for apical prolapse, with a shorter operation time and less postoperative discomfort than LS. LP may overcome the steep learning curve of LS because the surgical field of LP is limited to the anterior pelvis and avoids encountering the critical organs.

Objectives This study investigated the effectiveness of sacrospinous ligament fixation (SSLF) and whether uterine preservation reduces the anatomical recurrence rate. Methods The medical records of 82 patients who received SSLF in a single medical center were reviewed retrospectively. Anatomical recurrence was defined as Pelvic Organ Prolapse-Quantification stage 2 or higher in any compartment. The primary outcome was intergroup analysis for uterine preservation and concomitant hysterectomy patients. The secondary outcomes were anatomical recurrence risk factors and the incidence of adverse events. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to adjust for demographic differences between groups. Results The anatomical recurrence rate was 19.5%, and the retreatment rate was 11.0% (mean follow-up duration: 22.9 months). Cystocele was the most common recurrent compartment (17.1%). The uterine preservation group (n = 66) was younger, had lower parity, and had fewer stage 3 to 4 cystoceles and uterine prolapses than the concomitant hysterectomy group (n = 16). Shorter operation times (99.4 minutes vs 153.7 minutes, P = .002) and lower anatomical recurrence rates (11.5% vs 45.5%, P = .039) were found in the uterine preservation group before and after PSM. Previous pelvic organ prolapse surgery (hazard ratio 3.14) and concomitant hysterectomy (hazard ratio 4.08) were identified as risk factors for anatomical recurrence. The most common adverse event was buttock pain (14.6%), which resolved spontaneously within 4 weeks. Conclusions SSLF is an effective surgical method using native tissue for pelvic reconstruction. Compared with concomitant hysterectomy, SSLF with uterine preservation reduces the anatomical recurrence rate.

Aim To evaluate the influence of uterine artery occlusion at myomectomy (UAO + M) on ovarian reserve based on serum sex hormone levels, ultrasound and color Doppler examinations. Methods In this cohort study, nine women with symptomatic uterine myomas underwent UAO + M were recruited. Each woman was assessed preoperatively and 3, 6 months postoperatively, through a serial of hormonal, ultrasound parameters and Doppler examination for ovarian stromal blood flow. The data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations. Results There was no significant difference in serum anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) or follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) levels before and 3, 6 months after UAO + M. The ovarian volume, antral follicle count (AFC) and ovarian stromal blood flow had significant changes in the right ovary. Ovarian volume and AFC significantly reduced at 3 months and recovered at 6 months postoperatively (P = 0.046, P = 0.019, respectively). Peak systolic velocity and end diastolic velocity significantly decreased at 3 months and leveled off at 6 months (P

Objectives To evaluate and compare the long-term clinical outcomes of four different transvaginal mesh systems. Methods This retrospective study included 695 patients classified into four groups (Prolift, n = 132; Perigee-Apogee, n = 186; Prosima, n = 60; Elevate; n = 317), with a median follow-up time of 5.8 years (range 0.5-12.2 years). The outcomes were objective anatomic success (Pelvic Organ Prolapse [POP] Quantification system stage ≤1), mesh exposure, and urologic functional assessments. Results For anatomic outcomes, we stepwise analyzed the short-term (within 3 years) and long-term (after 3 years) results. Prolift had the highest long-term success rate (9 years: 82.1%, P = .007). Elevate had a comparable short-term success rate (3 years: 87.5%), but its long-term success rate significantly decreased over time (5 years: 78.6%, 9 years: 66.8%, P = .007). Prosima had the lowest short-term success rate (P = .027). For the long-term mesh exposure rate (9-year cumulative), Elevate had the lowest with 11.1%; next were Perigee-Apogee (18.8%) and Prolift (24.6%); and Prosima had the highest with 39.4%, with a significant difference. In terms of urinary functional results, we observed no significant differences in voiding dysfunction, de novo stress urinary incontinence, or de novo overactive bladder symptoms among the four mesh groups, whether combined with midurethral sling surgery or not. Conclusion Different vaginal mesh designs have various advantages and features. Prolift provided the best long-term anatomic success but had a high mesh exposure rate. Elevate gave comparable short-term success but had a decreased long-term success rate. However, Elevate is superior with the lowest long-term mesh exposure rate. Prosima had the worst anatomic correction and highest mesh exposure rates. This study provides a comprehensive long-term comparative result for POP patients and surgeons.

Objective: Transvaginal oocyte retrieval has become the common method for infertility couples undergoing artificial reproductive technology. Although it was considered to be safe, rare complications including urinary bladder injury were reported. Case report: We described two cases of bladder injury with refractory blood clots after oocyte retrieval, for whom conservative treatment failed. Diagnostic cystoscopy was performed and an Ellik evacuator was used for clot dissolution successfully. Conclusion: Urinary bladder injury with clots retention is a rare complication following ovary puncture. When tenacious clots become organized, the removal with traditional bladder irrigation may be difficult. We introduce Ellik evacuator as an effective and reliable procedure for evacuating tenacious clots in the urinary bladder. Keywords: Transvaginal oocyte retrieval (TVOR), Bladder injury, Hematuria, Tenacious clot, Ellik

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and clinical outcomes of pelvic floor reconstruction with transvaginal mesh of the Uphold™ Vaginal Support System (Boston Scientific Corporation). Materials and methods: This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of patients with pelvic organ prolapse stage 3 or 4 who underwent pelvic reconstructive surgery with transvaginal mesh of the Uphold™ Vaginal Support System from January 2015 to March 2017. Patients who were treated with laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy, transvaginal sacrospinous ligament suspension or other mesh kits were excluded. Assessments included pre- and postoperative Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) stage, Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6), Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7 (IIQ-7), urodynamic parameters, peri- and postoperative complications and symptoms. Results: Of the 111 enrolled women, the anatomical success rate was 97.3% after a median 18.4 months of follow-up. POP-Q parameters, UDI-6 and IIQ-7 scores, maximum urine flow rate, and post-void residual urine all significantly improved after surgery. Complications included one case (0.9%) of infected hematoma, two cases (1.8%) of mesh exposure, three cases (2.7%) of recurrent prolapse, and 12 cases (10.8%) of transient urine retention. No bladder or bowel injuries occurred during surgery. Conclusions: Pelvic reconstructive surgery with transvaginal mesh of the Uphold™ System yielded satisfactory anatomical and urinary functional outcomes in a median 18.4 months of follow-up. IRB identifier: IRB: 201700645B0 Keywords: Pelvic organ prolapse, Transvaginal mesh, Uphold system

Background This study tested the hypothesis that combined melatonin (Mel) and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) treatment was superior to either one alone on protecting the testis against acute testicular torsion-induced ischemia-reperfusion (TTIR) injury. Methods and results Male adult SD rats (n = 30) were equally categorized into group 1 (sham-operated control), group 2 [TTIR/by torsion of right/left testis (i.e., ischemia) with rotated 720° counterclockwise for 2 h, then detorsion (i.e., reperfusion) to the original position for 72 h], group 3 (TTIR + Mel/intraperitoneal administration/50 mg/kg at 30 min after ischemia, followed by 20 mg at 3 h and days 1/2/3 after TTIR), group 4 (TTIR + ADMSCs/1.2 × 106 cells/by tail-vein administration at 30 min after ischemia, followed by days 1/2 TTIR), and group 5 (TTIR + Mel + ADMSCs/tail-vein administration). The result showed that the protein expressions of oxidative-stress (NOX-1/NOX-2/oxidized-protein), apoptotic/mitochondrial-damaged (mitochondrial-Bax/cleaved-caspase3/cleaved-PARP/cytosolic-cytochrome C), and fibrotic (TGF-ß/Smad3) biomarkers as well as testicular damage scores were lowest in group 1, highest in group 2, and significantly higher in groups 3/4 than in group 5, but they showed no difference between groups 3/4, whereas the protein expressions of androgen receptor (AR) and vimentin showed an opposite pattern of oxidative stress (all p < 0.0001). The cellular levels of inflammation (MMP-9/MPO/CD68) exhibited an identical pattern, whereas the numbers of Sertoli cells, α-tubulin, AR and vimentin as well as thickness of seminiferous tubule exhibited an opposite pattern of oxidative stress among the groups (all p < 0.0001). Conclusion Mel-ADMSCs effectively protected the testis against TTIR injury.

Objectives This study aimed to assess the short-term results of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women undergoing laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LSC) with and without midurethral sling (MUS). Methods This retrospective study was conducted from July 2012 to December 2017. Women with stage 3 or 4 in the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) who underwent LSC were recruited. Multichannel urodynamic studies were performed in all women. Assessment included pre- and postoperative POP-Q stages, urodynamic parameters, peri- and postoperative complications, and symptoms. Results One hundred and eighteen patients met the inclusion criteria in total. A total of 19.5% (23/118) of them had concomitant MUS. The mean follow-up duration was 16.9 ± 16.0 (range 3-69) months. Meanwhile, 33.9% (40/118) of the patients were diagnosed with overt SUI, and 50% (20/40) underwent MUS. In the concomitant MUS group, the rate of having postoperative SUI was only 5% (1/20). Patients diagnosed with SUI and without concomitant MUS had a 45% rate (9/20), and 25% of them (5/20) received MUS later. Preoperatively, 16.1% (19/118) of the patients were diagnosed with occult SUI. Among the patients without anti-incontinence sling during prolapse surgery, 25% (4/16) of them complained about having SUI during the follow-up. However, none of the women required subsequent anti-incontinence surgery. Postoperative de novo SUI occurred to 13.6% (16/118) of them. None of the patients received further operation. Based on the preoperative and postoperative urodynamic studies in the combination surgery group, a significant improvement was observed in the pad test. Conclusions The combination of LSC with MUS procedure is likely to be beneficial in selected patients.

Objective The aim of this study is to compare perioperative parameters and midterm clinical outcomes using two different mesh kits: transobturator vaginal mesh (TVM) (both Perigee and Apogee), versus single incision vaginal mesh (SIM) (combined Elevate anterior/apical system and Elevate posterior/apical system) in treating severe pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Materials and Methods This is a retrospective cohort study. During 2008 and 2013, those women with severe POP [POP quantification system (POP-Q), Stage III and Stage IV], who received either TVM or SIM operation, were enrolled for cohort comparison. There were 111 patients in the TVM group, and 136 in the SIM group. Those with an incomplete POP-Q record, or who did not complete postoperative urodynamic study were excluded. Perioperative characteristics and outcomes, postoperative urinary symptoms, urodynamic parameters, prolapse recurrence (defined as the leading edge > 0 using the POP-Q system), and mesh extrusion rate were compared. Results There were no differences in the operation time, blood loss, hospital stay, and the postoperative visual analog scale for pain. Urodynamic studies showed improvement in bladder outlet obstruction in both groups. The postoperative stress urinary incontinence was significantly higher in the SIM group. The recurrence of prolapse was comparable between the two groups at a median follow-up of 2 years. The mesh extrusion rate was significantly lower in the SIM group. Conclusion At an average of 2 years of follow-up, the mesh extrusion rate was lower in the SIM group than in the TVM group, but there was no difference in postoperative visual analog scale for pain. The postoperative stress urinary incontinence was higher in the SIM group.

Objective: Few studies have investigated the long-term impact of synthetic mesh reconstructive surgery for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) on patient outcomes. This study aimed to examine the incidence and risk factors of mesh exposure and the subsequent requirement for surgical interventions due to mesh-related complications. Materials and methods: This retrospective study was conducted from November 2010 to April 2018. We recruited women with Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) stage 3 or 4 who underwent mesh reconstructive surgery for POP, and enrolled 487 women who received transvaginal mesh (TVM) and 110 women who received laparoscopic abdominal sacrocolpopexy (LASC). Assessments included mesh exposure rate and mesh-related complications requiring surgical interventions in both groups. Results: In the LASC group, the overall mesh-related complication rate was 8.18% over a mean follow-up period of 18 months. Concomitant laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy was associated with mesh exposure (OR = 9.240; 95% CI = 1.752–48.728). No patients in the concurrent supracervical hysterectomy group were exposed to mesh. In the single-incision TVM group, the overall rate of mesh-related complications was 3.29% over a mean follow-up period of 19 months. Concomitant total vaginal hysterectomy was also a risk factor for mesh exposure (OR = 4.799; 95% CI = 1.313–17.359). Conclusion: Preserving the cervix or uterus decreased the rate of mesh exposure in those undergoing TVM and LASC surgery. The overall rate of mesh-related complications was low after up to 8 years of follow-up. Keywords: Laparoscopic abdominal sacrocolpopexy (LASC), Mesh exposure, Mesh-related complication, Transvaginal mesh (TVM)

Midurethral synthetic sling (MUS) placement via either the retropubic or transobturator route is the standard surgical procedure for women with stress urinary incontinence. However, a small portion of patients experienced voiding dysfunction after the surgery, which was debilitating to their quality of life. Our study was aimed at demonstrating the effectiveness of the unilateral sling cut down for post-midurethral sling (MUS) voiding dysfunction and, secondarily, at evaluating the changes in urodynamic parameters. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients who received unilateral midurethral sling cut down for voiding dysfunction after an MUS procedure. The cut-down procedures were performed at the urethral meatus, in the 9 or 3 o’clock direction. Preoperative and postoperative subjective and objective parameters were compared to evaluate the outcome of the cut-down procedures. We selected 15 patients who underwent unilateral MUS cut down for voiding dysfunction after anti-incontinence procedures with various MUSs. The cut-down procedures were performed at a median interval of 7.1 months after sling insertion. The subjective results of the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) after the cut-down procedure showed an overall satisfaction of 93.33%. After the cut-down procedure, the median flow rate increased from 14.8 to 22 ml/s (P > 0.05), and the post-void residual urine volume decreased from 193.5 to 35.0 ml (P

With the advance of minimally invasive surgery (MIS), the surgical trends of hysterectomy changed significantly during past 2 decades. Total number (age-standardized) of all types of hysterectomy decreased, which may be due to the availability of some other alternatives, e.g. hysteroscopy, laparoscopic myomectomy. However, laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH) still remains the mainstream of surgical treatment. LH significantly increases for benign gynecologic conditions in Taiwan and worldwide. The increase of LH was accompanied with decrease of TAH; VH kept stationary, and SAH increased slightly. The increase in popularity of LH and SAH; provides evidence of surgical trends and a paradigm shift for hysterectomy. This time-frame shift suggests LH has reached a u during the later years. Older patients tend to receive AH, while middle-aged women tend to receive LH. Oder surgeons tend to perform AH, while younger surgeons tend to perform LH. However, all type hysterectomy and LH were more commonly performed by older surgeons aged over 50 years. It means both patients and surgeons became older during the time-frames. The above phenomena may also happen due to less young surgeons entered in the gynecologic practice. Most of the LHs were performed by high-volume surgeons, however, there is a shift from high-volume, to medium- and low-volume surgeons. The above scenario may be due to the wide spread of LH techniques. Surgical volume has important impacts on both complications and costs. The high-volume surgeons have lower complications, which result in lower costs. In the future, how to increase the use of LH, to improve the training and monitoring system deserves more attentions.

Objective: To validate the traditional Chinese translated version of the prolapse quality of life questionnaire (P-QOL). Materials and Methods: The P-QOL questionnaire was translated into traditional Chinese characters and administered to women recruited from gynecologic outpatient clinics of Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. After the test–retest reliability and internal consistency were established in a pilot study, all participants completed the P-QOL questionnaire and were examined in the lithotomy position using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification System (POP-Q). The construct validity was assessed by comparing symptom scores and quality-of-life domain scores between symptomatic and asymptomatic women. Results: Of the 244 women recruited, 159 were symptomatic for pelvic organ prolapse, and 85 were asymptomatic. The test–retest reliability confirmed a significant positive monotonic correlation between the total scores of each domain (n = 30, Spearman's rho was from 0.411 to 0.888, p 0.80 showing good internal consistency. Among the 18 symptom questions, the scores differed significantly between symptomatic and asymptomatic women for 12/18 symptom questions. These 12 questions referred to the prolapse/vaginal symptoms. All the quality of life domains differed significantly (p

Uterine sarcoma is a very aggressive and highly lethal disease. Even after a comprehensive staging surgery or en block cytoreduction surgery followed by multimodality therapy (often chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy), many patients relapse or present with distant metastases, and finally die of diseases. The worst outcome of uterine sarcomas is partly because of their rarity, unknown etiology, and highly divergent genetic aberration. Uterine sarcomas are often classified into four distinct subtypes, including uterine leiomyosarcoma, low-grade uterine endometrial stromal sarcoma, high-grade uterine endometrial stromal sarcoma, and undifferentiated uterine sarcoma. Currently, evidence from tumor biology found that these tumors showed alternation and/or mutation of genomes and the intracellular signal pathway. In addition, some preclinical studies showed promising results for targeting receptor tyrosine kinase signaling, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, various kinds of growth factor pathways, Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway, transforming growth factor β/bone morphogenetic protein signal pathway, aurora kinase A, MDM2 proto-oncogene, histone deacetylases, sex hormone receptors, certain types of oncoproteins, and/or loss of tumor suppressor genes. The current review is attempted to summarize the recurrent advance of targeted therapy for uterine sarcomas.

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of anti-incontinence surgeries employing the transobturator sling and single-incision sling (SIS). Our hypothesis is that the outcome of the SIS is not inferior to the obturator sling. This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent anti-incontinence surgery with the transobturator sling or SIS from July 2005 to November 2014. Patients who underwent concomitant pelvic organ reconstruction with an artificial mesh were excluded. Assessments included preoperative and postoperative urodynamic examinations, perioperative complications, and postoperative urogenital symptoms. A total of 122 women were recruited according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Among them, 68 patients underwent transobturator sling procedures while 54 patients underwent SIS procedures. The subjective failure rate of the transobturator sling and SIS were 10.2% and 18.5%, respectively (p = 0.292). The objective failure rate, defined as a pad test showing more than 2 g of urine, was 10.2% for the transobturator sling and 12.9% for the SIS (p = 0.777). SIS resulted in less blood loss, operative time, length of hospital stay, and transient voiding dysfunction after the operation. No major complication occurred after either surgical intervention. In conclusion, SIS and transobturator slings might have similar efficacy, safety, and effects on new-onset urogenital symptoms.

The aim of this study was to assess the 2-year clinical outcomes of pelvic reconstructive surgery with the single-incision Elevate system (American Medical Systems, Minnetonka, MN, USA). This retrospective study was conducted from November 2010 to August 2013, and included 210 patients with pelvic organ prolapse stage 3 or 4 who underwent pelvic reconstructive surgery with an Elevate system and were followed for 1 to 3 years postoperatively. Assessments included pre- and postoperative Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) stage, Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6), Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7) and multi-channel urodynamic examinations. Anatomical success was defined as postoperative POP-Q stage 0 or I. The anatomical success rates were 95 % for the anterior vaginal wall, 99 % for the posterior vaginal wall and 94 % for the apical vaginal wall after a median 27 months of follow-up. POP-Q, UDI-6 and IIQ-7 scores, maximal flow rate and post-voiding residual urine all improved significantly after surgery. Complications included 1 case of internal bleeding, 4 cases of mesh exposure, 5 cases of recurrent prolapse that required salvage operations, and 3 cases of urine retention that required intermittent catheterization. There were no bladder or bowel injuries during surgery. Pelvic reconstructive surgery with the Elevate system yielded good anatomical outcomes and symptom improvement after 2 years of follow-up.

We conducted a medium-term assessment of clinical outcomes and complications after surgical repair of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) using Prolift™ mesh, and sought to determine whether concomitant hysterectomy clinically influenced the outcome of pelvic reconstruction in patients without a prior history of urogenital surgery.Patients diagnosed with POP-Q stage 3/4 uterine prolapse at a tertiary referral urogynecology unit in South Taiwan who had undergone POP repair with Prolift mesh from May 2007 to July 2010 were identified by chart review. Concomitant hysterectomy was performed in 24 patients (hysterectomy group), and uterus-sparing surgery in 78 (uterus-sparing group) Preoperative and postoperative subjective assessments of urinary and prolapse symptoms, objective POP-Q score, urodynamic examination, and postoperative adverse events were compared between the groups.The mean follow-up periods were 25.7 months (range 6.2 - 73.1 months) and 31.7 months (range 6.0 - 78.4 months) in the concomitant hysterectomy and uterus-sparing groups, respectively. There were no between-group differences in functional and anatomic outcomes after surgery. No statistically significant differences were found in postoperative adverse events between the groups.Pelvic reconstruction using Prolift with concomitant hysterectomy and uterus-sparing surgery have similar anatomic and functional results at 2.5 years. Therefore, we consider uterus-sparing surgery to be an alternative to hysterectomy in uterine prolapse repair.

Objective To determine risk factors for urinary tract infection (UTI) after urodynamic examination by evaluating patients' clinical characteristics and urodynamic parameters. Materials and methods Two hundred and sixty-one female patients (mean age 58.7 ± 12.3 years) from May to December 2011 who had lower urinary tract symptoms or needed definite diagnosis before pelvic floor reconstruction or anti-incontinence surgery received urodynamic examination. All patients received urinalysis on the scheduled day of urodynamic examination and 3 days after urodynamic examination. Mid-stream urine samples were obtained for urinalysis before urodynamic examination. If patients had UTI based on our urinalysis criteria before urodynamic examination, the investigation was postponed until the patient had a 3–7-day course of antibiotic treatment and urinalysis showed no UTI. Results Among 261 patients, 19 and 51 patients had UTI before and after urodynamic examination, respectively. Our data suggest that urodynamic examination causes significantly increased incidence of UTI. Increased number of vaginal births, UTI before investigation, diabetes and decreased average flow rate are risk factors for UTI after urodynamic examination. Conclusion When the prevalence of UTI after urodynamic examination is higher than 10%, we recommend that prophylactic antibiotics should be given for high-risk patients with parameters such as older age, diabetes and multipara (>3). Those who have UTI before urodynamic examination and who are found to have a low average flow rate of less than 7 mL/second should take prophylactic antibiotics after examination.

Objective: Using a population-based nationwide database, we describe the changing surgical trends for laparoscopy or laparotomy for benign ovarian tumors among hospitals of different accreditation levels in Taiwan (medical centers, regional hospitals, and local hospitals). Materials and methods: Women who had National Health Insurance and received either laparoscopy or laparotomy as the primary surgery for benign ovarian tumors in Taiwan during 1999–2009 were identified for analysis. Results: In total, 135,793 women who received either laparotomic (39,779) or laparoscopic surgery (96,014) for benign ovarian pathology were identified. The increase in annual laparoscopy number from 7176 in 1999 to 11,046 in 2009 was significant according to a log-linear regression test (p

Objective: To describe the treatment outcomes of aberrant ectopic implantations in the lower segment of the uterus in a cohort population and to evaluate whether or not low-lying-implantation ectopic pregnancy (LLIEP), a new term, is appropriate to include in the traditional diagnoses of cervical pregnancy (CP), cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP), and other unusual aberrant implantations in the lower segment of the uterus in the first trimester, in terms of clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis. Materials and methods: Forty-two women with ectopic pregnancies of

Aims The use of surgical mesh for female pelvic floor reconstruction has increased in recent years. However, there is paucity of information about the biological responses of host stroma cells to different meshes. This study was aimed to establish an in vitro experimental model to study the micro-environment of extracellular matrix (ECM) with embedded mesh and the stroma cell behaviors to different synthetic meshes. Methods Matrigel multi-cellular co-culture system with embedded mesh was used to evaluate the interaction of stroma cells and synthetic mesh in a simulated ECM environment. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and NIH3T3 fibroblasts were inoculated in the system. The established multi-cellular Matrigel co-culture system was used to detect stroma cell recruitment and tube formation ability for different synthetic meshes. Results HUVEC and NIH3T3 cells were recruited into the mesh interstices and organized into tube-like structures in type I mesh material from Perigee, Marlex and Prolift 24 hr after cell inoculation. On the contrary, there was little recruitment of HUVEC and NIH3T3 cells into the type III mesh of intra-vaginal sling (IVS). Conclusions The Matrigel multi-cellular co-culture system with embedded mesh offers a useful in vitro model to study the biological behaviors of stroma cells in response to different types of synthetic meshes. The system can help to select ideal mesh candidates before actual implantation into the human body. Neurourol. Urodynam. 33:449–454, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Objective: To characterize the changing trend and variables of either open or laparoscopic retropubic urethropexy (RPU) in treating female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in Taiwan. Materials and methods: Using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), a total of 8977 female patients with SUI during the period between 1997 and 2007 were identified. The differences in distribution of open and laparoscopic RPU in the context of different years, patient age, surgeon age and gender, and hospital accreditation level and ownership were examined using Chi-square tests. Results: An upward trend of annual RPU was found between 1997 (377 procedures per year) and 2004 (1060), followed by a downward trend between 2004 and 2007 (705). In the meantime, an upward trend of using laparoscopy for SUI was found between 1997 and 2002 (annual percentage change, APC ¼ 24.86, p ¼ 0.001), followed by a downward trend from 2002 to 2007 (APC ¼� 41.88, p ¼ 0.001), which was evidenced by joinpoint regression analysis. In year 2007, only 10 laparoscopic RPU procedures were performed. Patient age, surgeon age, hospital accreditation level, and ownership were shown to have statistically significant associations with the types of RPU chosen (all p values for the Chi-square tests were less than 0.0001). Surgeon gender was not associated with the choices of surgical types (p ¼ 0.85). Conclusion: The vicissitudes of laparoscopic RPU, with an initial increase followed by a decrease around the year of 2002, happened during the past 11 years in Taiwan. The evolution of the surgical methods for SUI may affect the trend of the choices of RPU approaches significantly. The increased and decreased demands on laparoscopic RPU before and after the emergence of tension-free vaginal tape denote the need for more minimally invasive procedures. Nevertheless, the long-term value of novel surgical modalities for SUI is yet to be defined.

The interest of uterus-preserving surgery has been growing. Based on a nationwide database, we examined surgical procedures for uterine prolapse in Taiwan during the study period of 1997-2007, a total of 11 years.The operations, either uterine suspension or hysterectomy, due to the diagnosis of uterine prolapse were indentified into the study. Data on several parameters were collected for analysis, i.e., the surgical type, patient factors (age and concomitant anti-incontinence surgery), surgeon factors (age and gender), and hospital factors (accreditation level and ownership). Data of this study were obtained from the inpatient expenditures by admission files of the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). The NHIRD was established by the National Health Research Institute with the aim of promoting research into current and emerging medical issues in Taiwan.In total, 31,038 operations were identified for this study. There was a trend for increased use of uterine suspension with uterine preservation during the latter years, evidenced by joinpoint regression analyses. More women who were younger (50 years) or had concomitant anti-incontinence surgery received uterine suspension. Younger surgeons (50 years) and male surgeons tended to perform more uterine suspensions. As for hospital accreditation, more uterine suspension surgeries were performed in regional hospitals, followed by local hospitals and medical centers. As for hospital ownership, more uterine suspension surgeries were performed in private hospitals, followed by not-for-profit and government-owned hospitals.There has been a considerable change in the surgical approach for uterine prolapse in Taiwan over the past 11 years. Patient age and concomitant anti-incontinence surgery, surgeon age and gender, and hospital accreditation and ownership may correlate with the choice of surgery for women with uterine prolapse.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of polypropylene mesh for uterine preservation during pelvic reconstruction in patients with severe uterine prolapse. Materials and Methods: The study included 67 women with severe uterine prolapse (pelvic organ prolapse quantification stage III/IV) who received transvaginal mesh reconstruction with uterine preservation. Surgery combined with a transobturator membrane sling procedure (tension-free vaginal tape–transobturator route) was performed in 54 patients. Among them, 18 had urodynamic stress incontinence, 30 had occult stress urinary incontinence, and six had mixed urinary incontinence. Objective assessments were carried out with the pelvic organ prolapse quantification staging system, urodynamic examination, and 1-h pad test. Evaluation of urinary and prolapse symptoms comprised the subjective assessment. Results: The mean follow-up interval was 19.6 months (12–40 months). The objective cure rate for the treatment of uterine prolapse was 89.5%, and the objective cure rate for the treatment of urinary incontinence was more than 90%. Conclusions: Uterine preservation in pelvic reconstruction is technically feasible and the subjective and objective assessments imply that uterine preservation in pelvic reconstruction is an alternative option for indicated patients.

Study Objective: To estimate the trends in various types of hysterectomy (abdominal, vaginal, laparoscopic, and subtotal) and their distribution according to patient age, surgeon age, and hospital accreditation in Taiwan. Design: Retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting: Population-based National Health Insurance (NHI) database. Patients: Women with NHI in Taiwan undergoing various types of hysterectomy to treat noncancerous lesions. Interventions: Data for this study were obtained from the Inpatient Expenditures by Admissions files of the NHI research database, released by the NHI program in Taiwan for 1996-2005. Measurements and Main Results: A total of 234 939 women who underwent various types of hysterectomy were identified for analysis. The number of hysterectomies performed annually remained stationary during the 10-year study. Total abdominal hysterectomies decreased significantly (77.33% in 1996 vs 45.68% in 2005), laparoscopic hysterectomies increased signifi- cantly (5.20% vs 40.40%), vaginal hysterectomies decreased (14.70% vs 8.86%), and subtotal abdominal hysterectomies in- creased (2.76% vs 5.06%). Laparoscopic hysterectomy was more commonly performed in middle-aged women; vaginal hysterectomy wasmorecommoninolderwomen;andsubtotalabdominalhysterectomywasmorecommoninyoungerwomen. Laparoscopic hysterectomy was performed more commonly in regional hospitals (33.11%), followed by medical centers (30.17%) and local hospitals (17.78%). Laparoscopic hysterectomy was performed more commonly in not-for-profit hospitals (30.25%), followed by private hospitals (29.32%) and government-owned hospitals (25.91%). Conclusion: There has been considerable change in the types of surgery used for hysterectomy in Taiwan over the past 10 years. As a minimally invasive approach, laparoscopic hysterectomy represents a profound change for both patients and surgeons. Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology (2010) 17, 612-619 2010 AAGL. All rights reserved.

Endometriosis, defined by the presence of viable extrauterine endometrial glands and stroma, can grow or bleed cyclically, and possesses characteristics including a destructive, invasive, and metastatic nature. Since endometriosis may result in pelvic inflammation, adhesion, chronic pain, and infertility, and can progress to biologically malignant tumors, it is a long-term major health issue in women of reproductive age. In this review, we analyze the Taiwan domestic research addressing associations between endometriosis and other diseases. Concerning malignant tumors, we identified four studies on the links between endometriosis and ovarian cancer, one on breast cancer, two on endometrial cancer, one on colorectal cancer, and one on other malignancies, as well as one on associations between endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome, one on links with migraine headache, three on links with pelvic inflammatory diseases, four on links with infertility, four on links with obesity, four on links with chronic liver disease, four on links with rheumatoid arthritis, four on links with chronic renal disease, five on links with diabetes mellitus, and five on links with cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, etc.). The data available to date support that women with endometriosis might be at risk of some chronic illnesses and certain malignancies, although we consider the evidence for some comorbidities to be of low quality, for example, the association between colon cancer and adenomyosis/endometriosis. We still believe that the risk of comorbidity might be higher in women with endometriosis than that we supposed before. More research is needed to determine whether women with endometriosis are really at risk of these comorbidities.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of concomitant pelvic reconstructive surgery with tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure to treat pelvic organ prolapse women with urodynamic stress incontinence (USI) or occult USI. Seventy-five women with pelvic organ prolapse and diagnosed as USI or occult USI were enrolled in this study. All patients with USI or occult USI underwent TVT treatment under general anesthesia, combined with transvaginal total hysterectomy (VTH), anterior-posterior colporrhaphy (APC), and/or right sacrospinous ligament suspension (SSS) reconstructive surgeries. The subjective assessment was evaluated by using a visual analog scale (VAS) score and a urinary symptomatic questionnaire. The objective assessment was carried out with a 1-h pad test, cough stress test, and urodynamic examination. Of the 75 patients, 35 patients with grade III uterine prolapse underwent VTH and APC, 30 patients with grade IV uterine prolapse underwent VTH, SSS, and APC, and the other 10 patients who had previous hysterectomy with total vaginal vault prolapse underwent SSS and APC. The mean follow-up interval was 25 months (12-42 months). The mean hospitalization was 5.9 days and the mean catheterization time was 3.8 days. The subjective success rate for the treatment of urine incontinence was 88%, and the objective complete cure rate was 84%. The rate of postoperative complications with persistent urinary urgency, de novo detrusor overactivity, dysfunctional voiding, and tape erosion were 50, 8, 12, and 1.3%, respectively. There were no bladder perforations during the TVT procedure and no perioperative complications requiring conversion to laparotomy. Pelvic organ prolapse women with USI or occult USI can be treated by reconstructive surgeries combined with a TVT procedure to treat and prevent postoperative USI.

The intravaginal midurethral sling operations have become a trend to treat female stress urinary incontinence. Cases of complications requiring surgical revision are rarely reported. We report on seven patients with complications necessitating surgery. Six patients with vaginal erosion were treated with transvaginal excision of migrated tape and fibrotic tissues around the vaginal wall, and one patient with bladder erosion was treated with suprapubic minimal laparotomy and transvaginal partial excision of the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT). The incidence of polypropylene mesh erosion was 1.1% in this study. All patients recovered well from our surgical intervention, except the bladder erosion patient who needed anticholinergic medication to treat postoperative urgency and urge incontinence.

Objective To determine the accuracy of differential diagnosis by team consultation of abortion in progression, low-lying implantation/cervicoisthmic pregnancy, and cervical pregnancy (CP) in patients referred for suspicion of abnormal implantation on the lower segment and cervix of the uterus and to determine the efficacy of endoscopic surgery with uterine artery blockade followed by cervical evacuation in the treatment of confirmed CP. Design Prospective observational study under multiple-clinic and multiple-hospital cooperation. Setting Tertiary clinical and academic medical center. Patient(s) Twenty-seven women with a tentative diagnosis of CP made at their primary gynecologists' offices from July 1999 to June 2003. Intervention(s) Second-opinion ultrasound scanning with transabdominal and transvaginal approach and optional color Doppler use. For patients with confirmed CP, a new treatment modality with laparoscopy-assisted uterine artery ligation followed by hysteroscopic local endocervical resection to remove the ectopic pregnancy was employed. For patients with abortion in progression or low-lying implantation/cervicoisthmic pregnancy (non-CP) requiring termination, dilatation and curettage (D&C) was performed under transabdominal ultrasound guidance. Main outcome measure(s) Fulfillment of ultrasound-based diagnostic criteria and operative course, convalescence, and commencement of menstruation in those patients with confirmed CP. Result(s) Cervical pregnancy was diagnosed in six (22.2%) patients at ≤9-weeks' gestation, and they were all successfully treated without the need for adjuvant therapy. The mean operating time was 119 minutes, and the mean blood loss was 125 mL. Menstruation began a mean of 63 days after the treatment. Termination of non-CPs was achieved by a simple D&C. Conclusion(s) Team consultation minimizes false-positive ultrasound-based diagnosis of CP. A single-step combination endoscopic operation is an effective uterus-preserving alternative in the management of CP.