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The author offers a commentary on a retrospective study published within the issue concerning the link between vaginal delivery and minimal levator hiatus. An overview of the study is given, along with its procedure and key findings. The strengths and weaknesses of the study are noted. The author suggests further studies to look at minimal levator hiatus after each delivery to draw confident conclusions.

Background: Black women are at an increased risk of developing uterine leiomyomas and experiencing worse disease prognosis than White women. Epidemiologic and molecular factors have been identified as underlying these disparities, but there remains a paucity of deep, multiomic analysis investigating molecular differences in uterine leiomyomas from Black and White patients., Objective: To identify molecular alterations within uterine leiomyoma tissues correlating with patient race by multiomic analyses of uterine leiomyomas collected from cohorts of Black and White women., Study Design: We performed multiomic analysis of uterine leiomyomas from Black (42) and White (47) women undergoing hysterectomy for symptomatic uterine leiomyomata. In addition, our analysis included the application of orthogonal methods to evaluate fibroid biomechanical properties, such as second harmonic generation microscopy, uniaxial compression testing, and shear-wave ultrasonography analyses., Results: We found a greater proportion of MED12 mutant uterine leiomyomas from Black women (>35% increase; Mann-Whitney U, P<.001). MED12 mutant tumors exhibited an elevated abundance of extracellular matrix proteins, including several collagen isoforms, involved in the regulation of the core matrisome. Histologic analysis of tissue fibrosis using trichrome staining and secondary harmonic generation microscopy confirmed that MED12 mutant tumors are more fibrotic than MED12 wild-type tumors. Using shear-wave ultrasonography in a prospectively collected cohort, Black patients had fibroids that were firmer than White patients, even when similar in size. In addition, these analyses uncovered ancestry-linked expression quantitative trait loci with altered allele frequencies in African and European populations correlating with differential abundance of several proteins in uterine leiomyomas independently of MED12 mutation status, including tetratricopeptide repeat protein 38., Conclusion: Our study shows that Black women have a higher prevalence of uterine leiomyomas harboring mutations in MED12 and that this mutational status correlates with increased tissue fibrosis compared with wild-type uterine leiomyomas. Our study provides insights into molecular alterations correlating with racial disparities in uterine leiomyomas and improves our understanding of the molecular etiology underlying uterine leiomyoma development within these populations., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Importance: FGM/C is common, effecting over 200 million women worldwide and has substantial associated morbidity. We seek improving the reversal procedure using ultrasound imaging., Objective: The use of peri- and intraoperative ultrasound imaging for reconstructive surgery following FGM/C for staging and surgical planning, with focus on the clitoral structures and blood flow., Study Design: This is a case series of patients with FGM/C who were evaluated and underwent reconstructive surgical management at a single institution between 2018 and 2022. Ultrasound examination with Doppler imaging was performed. The electronic medical record was queried for data regarding patient characteristics, examination and ultrasound findings, and surgical and postoperative course., Results: Seven patients are described in this case series who sustained the FGM/C with classifications ranging from Ia to IIIb. The primary complaints were dyspareunia or apareunia. Six of seven (86%) reported anorgasmia. Four of seven (57%) had prior vaginal deliveries, and one of seven (14%) was delivered only by cesarean sections, two of seven (29%) have not been able to have intercourse. Ultrasound examination was utilized to facilitate recognition of the anatomic structures during the reconstruction, and Doppler was used to evaluate the clitoral blood flow. Doppler was useful to delineate clitoral tissues from a closely involved periclitoral inclusion cyst, aiding in surgical excision while minimizing clitoral vascular or nerve injury. Postoperative anatomical restoration, sexual function, and alleviation of dyspareunia were excellent. None of the patients reported decreased sexual pleasure postoperatively., Conclusions: Ultrasound imaging with Doppler can be utilized to facilitate personalized approaches to optimize both anatomical and functional results in cases of genital reconstruction., (© 2024 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.)

Levator ani muscle (LAM) avulsion is a common complication of vaginal childbirth and is linked to several pelvic floor disorders. Diagnosing and treating these conditions require imaging of the pelvic floor and examination of the obtained images, which is a time-consuming process subjected to operator variability. In our study, we proposed using deep learning (DL) to automate the segmentation of the LAM from 3D endovaginal ultrasound images (EVUS) to improve diagnostic accuracy and efficiency. Over one thousand images extracted from the 3D EVUS data of healthy subjects and patients with pelvic floor disorders were utilized for the automated LAM segmentation. A U-Net model was implemented, with Intersection over Union (IoU) and Dice metrics being used for model performance evaluation. The model achieved a mean Dice score of 0.86, demonstrating a better performance than existing works. The mean IoU was 0.76, indicative of a high degree of overlap between the automated and manual segmentation of the LAM. Three other models including Attention UNet, FD-UNet and Dense-UNet were also applied on the same images which showed comparable results. Our study demonstrated the feasibility and accuracy of using DL segmentation with U-Net architecture to automate LAM segmentation to reduce the time and resources required for manual segmentation of 3D EVUS images. The proposed method could become an important component in AI-based diagnostic tools, particularly in low socioeconomic regions where access to healthcare resources is limited. By improving the management of pelvic floor disorders, our approach may contribute to better patient outcomes in these underserved areas.

Competing Interests: The authors have declared they have no conflicts of interest.

Introduction and Hypothesis: This study aimed to compare the difference in levator ani muscle (LAM) volumes between 'normal' and those with sonographically visualized LAM defects. We hypothesized that the 'muscle damage' group would have a significantly lower muscle volume., Methods: The study included patients who had undergone a 3D endovaginal ultrasound. The normal (NM) and damage (DM) muscle groups' architectural changes were evaluated based on anterior-posterior (AP), left-right (LR) diameter, and minimal levator hiatus (MLH) area. The puboanalis-puboperinealis (PA), puborectalis (PR), and pubococcygeus-iliococcygeus (PC) were manually segmented using 2.5 vs. 1.0 mm to find the optimal sequence and to compare the volumes between NM and DM groups. POPQs were compared between the NM and DM groups., Results: The 1.0-mm segmentation volumes created superior volume analysis. Comparing NM to the DM group showed no significant difference in LAM volume. Respectively, the mean total LAM volumes were 17.27 cm 3 (SD = 3.97) and 17.04 cm 3 (SD = 4.32), p = 0.79. The mean MLH measurements for both groups respectively were 10.06 cm 2 (SD = 2.93) and 12.18 cm 2 (SD = 2.93), indicating a significant difference (p = 0.01). POPQ analysis demonstrated statistically significant differences at Ba and Bp parameters suggesting that the DM group had worse prolapse (p = 0.05, 0.01, respectively)., Conclusions: While LAM volumes are similar, there is a significant difference in the physical architecture of the LAM and the POPQ parameters in muscle-damaged patients compared to the normal group., (© 2022. The International Urogynecological Association.)

Objectives: To determine whether transobturator slings follow a consistent path and whether there is an association between ultrasonographically visualized sling pattern or position with sling-related pain., Methods: This was a cross-sectional retrospective pilot study. We evaluated women who were presented to our clinic for pain or other urogynecologic symptoms following transobturator sling placement between 2009 and 2014. Patients had undergone a 3-dimensional endovaginal pelvic floor ultrasound, assessing minimal levator hiatus, antero-posterior diameter, left-right diameter, and the hiatal shape. The mesh patterns were categorized as seagull patterns (normal), lopsided, flat, and convoluted., Results: A total of 68 cases were reviewed. Fifty patients reported pain, and 18 did not. There were wide variations in the course of the slings. The sling center- minimal levator hiatus position ranged 14.8 mm below and 17.9 mm above the minimal levator hiatus. The lateral arm insertion points ranged between 17.1 mm below and 16.6 mm above the minimal levator hiatus. The right arm insertion points ranged between 9.6 mm below and 18.8 mm above the minimal levator hiatus. Thirty-five of 68 (70%) patients with pain and 13 of 18 (72.2%) without had abnormal sling patterns. The abnormal sling shape was not correlated with pain (P = 1). The levator shape trended toward a statistical significant correlation with sling shape abnormality (P = .084)., Conclusions: This population of women with transobturator sling complications demonstrated wide variations in anatomic paths. Neither the abnormal sling shape nor the distance of the center of the tape from the minimal levator hiatus level were correlated with pain., (© 2022 American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.)

There is an increasing interest in the applications of 3D ultrasound imaging of the pelvic floor to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and surgical planning of female pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD). Pelvic floor biometrics are obtained on an oblique image plane known as the plane of minimal hiatal dimensions (PMHD). Identifying this plane requires the detection of two anatomical landmarks, the pubic symphysis and anorectal angle. The manual detection of the anatomical landmarks and the PMHD in 3D pelvic ultrasound requires expert knowledge of the pelvic floor anatomy, and is challenging, time-consuming, and subject to human error. These challenges have hindered the adoption of such quantitative analysis in the clinic. This work presents an automatic approach to identify the anatomical landmarks and extract the PMHD from 3D pelvic ultrasound volumes. To demonstrate clinical utility and a complete automated clinical task, an automatic segmentation of the levator-ani muscle on the extracted PMHD images was also performed. Experiments using 73 test images of patients during a pelvic muscle resting state showed that this algorithm has the capability to accurately identify the PMHD with an average Dice of 0.89 and an average mean boundary distance of 2.25mm. Further evaluation of the PMHD detection algorithm using 35 images of patients performing pelvic muscle contraction resulted in an average Dice of 0.88 and an average mean boundary distance of 2.75mm. This work had the potential to pave the way towards the adoption of ultrasound in the clinic and development of personalized treatment for PFD.

Abstract: This clinical consensus statement on vaginal energy-based devices (EBDs) reflects an update by content experts from the American Urogynecologic Society's EBD writing group. In 2019, the American Urogynecologic Society's EBD writing group used a modified Delphi process to assess statements that were evaluated for consensus after a structured literature search. A total of 40 statements were assessed and divided into 5 categories: (1) patient criteria, (2) health care provider criteria, (3) efficacy, (4) safety, and (5) treatment considerations. Of the 40 statements that were assessed, 28 reached consensus and the remaining 12 did not. Lack of evidence was among the main reasons that vulvovaginal EBD treatment statements did not reach consensus. In March 2022, these statements were reassessed using the interim literature., Competing Interests: The other authors have declared they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 American Urogynecologic Society. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the American College of Surgeons (ACS) surgical risk calculator's reliability in predicting outcomes in hysterectomies., Methods: This is a prospective cohort study at a large community-based hospital. Twenty-one preoperative and postoperative criteria were abstracted from the electronic medical record and entered into the online ACS calculator to determine a risk score. Logistical regression was used to determine the association between risk score and actual outcome. The prediction capability was analyzed with c-statistic, Hosmer-Lemeshow, and Brier score., Results: A total of 634 hysterectomies were performed during the study period from January to April 2019. Patients were predominantly 55 years old, white (53%) and overweight (body mass index 30). Predicted perioperative adverse events were significantly higher than actual adverse events across all domains. In all, 54/634 (8.5%) patients experienced postoperative urinary tract infection. C-statistics for return to operating room, renal failure, and readmission were 0.607 (95% C Statistic index [CI] 0.370-0.845), 0.882 (95% CI 0.802-0.962), 0.637 (95% CI 0.524-0.750), respectively. Brier scores approached one in all categorical domains., Conclusion: The ACS surgical risk calculator holds the promise of predicting postoperative complications or length of stay for patients undergoing hysterectomy. Further adjustment to this tool is required before it can be advocated for use in the clinical setting., (© 2021 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.)

Introduction and Hypothesis: Pelvic floor ultrasound is used as a validated technique for measuring levator ani dimensions. Vaginal manometry has been used in the past as a method to assess levator ani muscle (LAM) strength. Whether the combination of both methods can contribute to our understanding of pelvic floor pathophysiology has not yet been described. We hypothesized that as female pelvic floor muscular hiatus increases, the vaginal pressure and strength decrease., Methods: We recruited 20 asymptomatic nulliparous women ages 18-85 years. Minimal levator hiatus (MLH) area, anteroposterior/left-right (AP/LR) diameter ratio, the distance between levator plate and the pubic symphysis (LP-PS) while at rest and squeeze were measured using endovaginal ultrasound (US). Vaginal pressure at rest, squeeze (Kegel) and Valsalva were measured using 3D manometry. Logistic and linear regression analysis was performed to assess correlations., Results: MLH area was negatively correlated with the sum of all the squeeze pressures produced on the four walls of the vagina (p = 0.049, R 2  = 0.197). There was also a borderline negative correlation between MLH and the sum of rest pressures (p = 0.09, R 2  = 0.15). AP/LR ratio was negatively correlated with the sum of squeeze pressures (p = 0.056, R 2  = 0.197). LP-PS distances, both while at rest and during squeeze, were negatively correlated with the vaginal squeeze pressure (p = 0.046, R 2  = 0.21; p = 0.011, R 2  = 0.31, respectively). LP-V distance, both at rest and during squeeze, was negatively correlated with the sum of squeeze pressures on four vaginal walls (p = 0.02, R 2  = 0.25; p = 0.005, R 2  = 0.36, respectively)., Conclusions: Stronger levator ani muscles, smaller MLH area and a more oval shape of pelvic floor hiatus as assessed by pelvic floor ultrasound are associated with higher squeeze vaginal pressures as assessed by 3D manometry., (© 2022. The International Urogynecological Association.)

Objective: To compare the effects of 6% Pueraria mirifica vaginal gel with those of placebo gel on vaginal blood flow, vaginal maturation index (VMI), vaginal health index (VHI), endometrial thickness and genitourinary symptoms in postmenopausal women., Study Design: In a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study (TCTR20200624007), 72 postmenopausal women were randomized into the P. mirifica or the placebo gel group. Both groups were followed up at week 4 and week 12., Main Outcome Measure: Doppler ultrasonography pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI), VMI, VHI, endometrial thickness and genitourinary symptoms were evaluated at baseline, at week 4 and week 12 of treatment., Results: Sixty-three participants completed the study. After 4 and 12 weeks of treatment, PI and RI had significantly decreased in the P. mirifica group compared with the placebo group. At week 12, PI in the P. mirifica group and in the placebo group were 3.03 + 1.09 and 6.88 + 2.16, respectively (p = 0.002). Similar changes were also demonstrated in the resistance indices. The P. mirifica group demonstrated a markedly higher mean VMI at week 12 compared with the placebo group, 55.19 ± 18.53 and 20.29 ± 28.46 (p = 0.012). In addition, all parameters of VHI based on the vaginal physical findings at week 12 in the P. mirifica group were significantly higher than in the placebo group (p < 0.001)., Conclusion: In this study, 6% P. mirifica vaginal gel for 12 weeks in postmenopausal women with GSM appeared to increase vaginal artery circulation and restore atrophic vaginal tissue., Clinical Trial Registration Number: TCTR20200624007., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Introduction and Hypothesis: The aim of this study is to develop and validate a new integral parameter, the Biomechanical Integrity score (BI-score), for the characterization of the female pelvic floor., Methods: A total of 253 subjects with normal and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) conditions were included in the multi-site observational, case-control study; 125 subjects had normal pelvic floor conditions, and 128 subjects had POP stage II or higher. A Vaginal Tactile Imager (VTI) was used to acquire and automatically calculate 52 biomechanical parameters for eight VTI test procedures (probe insertion, elevation, rotation, Valsalva maneuver, voluntary muscle contractions in two planes, relaxation, and reflex contraction). Statistical methods were applied (t-test, correlation) to identify the VTI parameters sensitive to the pelvic conditions., Results: Twenty-six parameters were identified as statistically sensitive to POP development. They were subdivided into five groups to characterize (1) tissue elasticity, (2) pelvic support, (3) pelvic muscle contraction, (4) involuntary muscle relaxation, and (5) pelvic muscle mobility. Every parameter was transformed to its standard deviation units against the patient age similar to T-score for bone density. Linear combinations with specified weights led to the composition of five component parameters for groups (1)-(5) and the BI-score in standard deviation units. The p-value for the BI-score has p = 4.3 × 10 -31 for POP versus normal conditions. A reference BI-score curve against age for normal pelvic floor conditions was defined., Conclusions: Quantitative transformations of the pelvic tissues, support structures, and functions under diseased conditions may be studied with the BI-score in future research and practical applications., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Study Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy, safety, and healthcare resource use of laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation (LAP-RFA) compared with myomectomy in patients with symptomatic uterine leiomyomas (ULs)., Design: This was a secondary analysis of the original postmarket randomized, multicenter, longitudinal, comparative TRUST (Treatment Results of Uterine Sparing Technologies) United States trial in patients with symptomatic ULs. After the procedure, subjects were followed over a 12-month period., Setting: Multicenter trial, including hospitals with or without an academic affiliation, surgery centers, and fertility centers performing outpatient procedures for uterine myomas., Participants: A total of 57 patients were randomized to either LAP-RFA (n = 30) or myomectomy (n = 27)., Interventions: LAP-RFA or myomectomy (laparoscopic or abdominal)., Measurements and Main Results: The main outcome measures of this study were part of the secondary outcomes of the original TRUST trial. The primary outcome of this study was the reduction of UL symptoms and the improvement in patient-reported outcomes scores over time. Secondary outcomes included postprocedure hospitalization, length of stay, complications, reinterventions, and recovery time. There was a significant improvement in UL symptoms at 3 and 12 months after the procedure within each treatment group, and these improvements were similar between treatment groups. There was a significant reduction in UL symptoms per month between baseline and 12-months after the procedure for both LAP-RFA and myomectomy of 72% and 85%, respectively. A significant improvement was seen in all patient-reported outcomes scores over time for both groups. At 3 and 12 months after the procedure, the percentages of patients who were hospitalized in the LAP-RFA group were 74% and 49% lower than those of patients in the laparoscopic myomectomy group, respectively, with the 3-month difference being statistically significant. The length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the LAP-RFA group compared with the myomectomy group (8.0 ± 5.7 hours vs 18.8 ± 14.6 hours; p < .05). Doctors recommended taking significantly less time off before returning to work for the patients in the LAP-RFA group compared with those in the myomectomy group (10.3 ± 5.1 days vs 14.5 ± 5.4 days; p < .05). The total number of days until back to normal activity was significantly lower in the LAP-RFA group compared with the myomectomy group (16.3 ± 15.2 days vs 26.5 ± 15.9 days; p < .05)., Conclusion: The results from this 12-month follow-up study suggest that LAP-RFA is a safe, effective, uterine-sparing alternative to laparoscopic myomectomy in the treatment of ULs. These data points build on previously published studies showing that LAP-RFA has lower healthcare resource use overall, including lower postprocedure hospitalization rate and shorter length of stay. In clinical practice, LAP-RFA is a promising treatment approach to ULs for women., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: To investigate how aging and menopausal status in absence of pregnancy and childbirth affect the elasticity of the bladder and urethra., Study Design: A single-center prospective observational study including nulliparous 10 pre- and 12 postmenopausal women. Data collection included baseline characteristics, physical examination data, questionnaire scores, PDFI and the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire, and pelvic floor sonographic measurements as well as elastography measurements. The shear wave elastography (SWE) of tissue was measured using Kilopascal (kPa). The elastography measurements were taken over the rhabdosphincter, the suburethra smooth muscle, and the trigonal areas., Results: A total of 22 nulliparous subjects were enrolled in the study. The cohort's mean age was 43.5 years, the mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.8, and 86% were of Caucasian ethnicity. The postmenopausal group was older and with higher BMI (p < 0.001 and p = 0.05). They also had higher scores in all the questionnaires (p < 0.05 for all) and did not demonstrate prolapse in any compartments. The SWE results for the whole group were 35.2 kPa in the rhabdosphincter measuring point, 40.2 kPa in the sub-urethra point, and 20.6 kPa in the trigone point. Comparing the premenopause and postmenopause groups, we found lower measurements in the rhabdosphincter area and equivocal measurements for the suburethral zone. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups CONCLUSIONS: The elastic properties of the different bladder components and the urethra change with age and menopause. Using elastic properties of the tissues, we can further explore both stress urinary incontinence and overactive bladder., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

We aimed to determine whether intraoperative ultrasound is a feasible tool for visualization of the pouch of Douglas (POD) to facilitate a safe vaginal entry for direct robotic vaginal trocar insertion for pelvic floor surgery. Endovaginal ultrasound-guided needle insertion of a trocar into the POD was performed in six fresh frozen female cadavers and a live sheep animal model. Using an endovaginal probe the POD was identified as a fluid-filled space clear of bowel or adhesions, then a Veress needle was also used to confirm POD localization. Access to the POD was achieved using a robotic trocar designed for this purpose. The animal study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Asaf-Harofe hospital. Direct visualization during laparoscopy in cadavers and open cadaveric dissections confirmed safe POD entry and accurate trocar placement. This method was found feasible in the development of a safe vaginal entry in both the animal and cadaveric model, possibly negating the need for laparoscopic umbilical observation., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag London Ltd. part of Springer Nature.)

The Pelvic Floor Disorders Consortium (PFDC) is a multidisciplinary organization of colorectal surgeons, urogynecologists, urologists, gynecologists, gastroenterologists, radiologists, physiotherapists, and other advanced care practitioners. Specialists from these fields are all dedicated to the diagnosis and management of patients with pelvic floor conditions, but they approach, evaluate, and treat such patients with their own unique perspectives given the differences in their respective training. The PFDC was formed to bridge gaps and enable collaboration between these specialties. The goal of the PFDC is to develop and evaluate educational programs, create clinical guidelines and algorithms, and promote high quality of care in this unique patient population. The recommendations included in this article represent the work of the PFDC Working Group on Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Pelvic Floor Disorders (members listed alphabetically in Table 1). The objective was to generate inclusive, rather than prescriptive, guidance for all practitioners, irrespective of discipline, involved in the evaluation and treatment of patients with pelvic floor disorders.

Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate differences in levator ani hematoma formation within 3 days of delivery between adult women after their first vaginal delivery and adult women who have had multiple vaginal deliveries., Methods: This was a cross-sectional study at a single institution from 2013 to 2015 using a high-resolution endovaginal ultrasound transducer to identify postvaginal delivery hematoma formation. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between hematoma formation and vaginal parity while considering potential confounders including induction, vaginal operative delivery, vaginal birth after cesarean, fetal weight, fetal head circumference, race and ethnicity, body mass index, age at delivery, gestational age, and length of second-stage labor., Results: Ninety women (46 vaginal-primiparous; 44 vaginal-multiparous) were included in this study. After adjusting for oxytocin use, length of second-stage labor, and body mass index, the odds of pelvic floor hematoma of 1000 mm3 or greater were 2.93 (95% confidence interval, 0.78-10.91) times greater in women after their first vaginal delivery compared with women with a history of multiple vaginal deliveries. The adjusted odds of pelvic floor hematoma of 1500 mm3 or greater were 6.02 (95% confidence interval, 1.09-33.24) times greater in vaginal-primiparous compared with vaginal-multiparous women., Conclusions: Although the prevalence of pelvic floor hematoma was higher in vaginal-primiparous women than vaginal-multiparous women after vaginal delivery, hematomas were present in both groups. Future prospective studies are needed to evaluate the additive effect of multiple vaginal deliveries on the pelvic floor., Competing Interests: The authors have declared they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 American Urogynecologic Society. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The true etiology of pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence and variations observed among individuals are not entirely understood. Tactile (stress) and ultrasound (anatomy, strain) image fusion may furnish new insights into the female pelvic floor conditions. This study aimed to explore imaging performance and clinical value of vaginal tactile and ultrasound image fusion for characterization of the female pelvic floor., Methods: A novel probe with 96 tactile and 192 ultrasound transducers was designed. Women scheduled for a urogynecological visit were considered eligible for enrollment to observational study. Intravaginal tactile and ultrasound images were acquired for vaginal wall deformations at probe insertion, elevation, rotation, Valsalva maneuver, voluntary contractions, involuntary relaxation, and reflex pelvic muscle contractions. Biomechanical mapping has included tactile/ultrasound imaging and functional imaging., Results: Twenty women were successfully studied with the probe. Tactile and ultrasound images for tissues deformation as well as functional images were recorded. Tactile (stress) and ultrasound (strain) images allowed creation of stress-strain maps for the tissues of interest in absolute scale. Functional images allowed identification of active pelvic structures and their biomechanical characterization (anatomical measurements, contractive mobility and strength). Fusion of the modalities has allowed recognition and characterization of levator ani muscles (pubococcygeal, puborectal, iliococcygeal), perineum, urethral and anorectal complexes critical in prolapse and/or incontinence development., Conclusions: Vaginal tactile and ultrasound image fusion provides unique data for biomechanical characterization of the female pelvic floor. Bringing novel biomechanical characterization for critical soft tissues/structures may provide extended scientific knowledge and improve clinical practice., Competing Interests: Disclosure Egorov is a CEO and a minor shareholder of Advanced Tactile Imaging, Inc. Egorov has submitted a patent application related to the reported approach. Raalte is a minor shareholder of Advanced Tactile Imaging, Inc. Shobeiri reports no conflict of interest

Study Objective: To determine the distances and angles that assure a safe entry into the pouch of Douglas (POD) during blind laparoscopic and robotic trocar entry., Design: Trocars were inserted into the POD of 4 intact fresh frozen female pelves. Cadaveric dissection was performed, and the distance from the POD to the sacrum at rest and with maximal pressure to POD with the trocar was measured. In addition, the optimal angle for trocar insertion and entry was evaluated., Setting: Inova Advanced Simulation and Technology Evaluation Center., Patients: Fresh frozen cadavers with intact reproductive organs., Interventions: Vaginal POD trocar insertion., Measurements and Main Results: Measurements were recorded from the sacrum to the POD at rest and from the sacrum to the hymen with trocar pressure. The dissection demonstrated correct trocar placement in the POD of human cadaveric specimens. The mean distances from the sacrum to the hymen, the sacrum to the POD, and the sacrum to the POD with pressure were 18.75 cm, 9.75 cm, and 7.25 cm, respectively. After the deployment of the trocar, the tip was observed to be 2 cm below the cervix in the POD. The mean trocar angle to clear the sacral promontory and the neurovascular structures without injury to the uterus was 25° to 40° from the horizontal plane and 15° to 30° from the coronal plane., Conclusion: A direct trocar entry into the POD has been found to be feasible in fresh frozen cadaveric specimens. This study provided valuable information for the angle of entry into the POD to facilitate vaginal and robotic trocar entry for minimally invasive gynecologic procedures., (Copyright © 2020 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study examined biomechanical changes in pelvic floor after urogynecological surgery., Methods: This multisite clinical study was designed to explore changes in tissue elasticity, pelvic support, and certain functions (contractive strength, muscle relaxation speed, muscle motility) after pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery. A biomechanical mapping of the pelvic floor was performed before and 4 to 6 months after the surgery. The biomechanical data for 52 parameters were acquired by vaginal tactile imaging for manually applied deflection pressures to vaginal walls and pelvic muscle contractions. The two-sample t-test (P < 0.05) was used to test the null hypothesis that presurgery data in group 1 (positive parameter change after surgery) and presurgery data in group 2 (negative parameter change after surgery) belonged to the same distribution., Results: A total of 78 subjects with 255 surgical procedures were analyzed across 5 participating clinical sites. All 52 t-tests for group 1 versus group 2 had P value in the range from 4.0 × 10-10 to 4.3 × 10-2 associating all of the 52 parameter changes after surgery with the presurgical conditions. The P value of before and after surgery correlation ranged from 3.7 × 10-18 to 1.6 × 10-2 for 50 of 52 tests, with Pearson correlation coefficient ranging from -0.79 to -0.27. Thus, vaginal tactile imaging parameters strongly correlated weak pelvic floor presurgery with the positive POP surgery outcome of improved biomechanical properties., Conclusions: Pelvic organ prolapse surgery, in general, improves the biomechanical conditions and integrity of the weak pelvic floor. The proposed biomechanical parameters can predict changes resulting from POP surgery., Competing Interests: Vladimir Egorov is a co-founder and a CEO of Advanced Tactile Imaging; Peter Takacs, S. Abbas Shobeiri, Lennox Hoyte, and Vincent Lucente have no conflicts of interest; Heather van Raalte is a minor shareholder in Advanced Tactile Imaging; and Noune Sarvazyan is a major shareholder in Artann Laboratories., (Copyright © 2019 American Urogynecologic Society. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: Postoperative safety outcomes with laparoscopic intra-abdominal ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation, as performed by gynecologic surgeons new to the procedure, were evaluated and compared to the premarket, pivotal study. Post-procedure feedback from surgeons was reported., Methods: This was a post-market, prospective, single-arm analysis with 4 to 8 weeks follow-up among surgeons (n = 29) with varying levels of laparoscopic surgery experience participating in the ongoing, multinational Treatment Results of Uterine Sparing Technologies randomized clinical trial. Patients were premenopausal adult women (n = 110) desiring uterine-conserving treatment for symptomatic fibroids. During run-in, surgeons received proctored training. Following training, and after performing ≥ 2 procedures, surgeons provided self-assessment and feedback using a standardized form., Results: Surgeons performed 105 procedures with 100 per-protocol patients. The average number of proctored cases per surgeon was 2.48. No acute (≤ 48 hours) serious adverse events occurred (0/101, 0.0%) compared with 2 acute serious adverse events in the premarket study (2/137, 1.46%). Both studies reported 1 near-term (∼30 days) serious adverse event (< 1% for both). In this study, the near-term complication was fever of unknown origin requiring hospitalization related to uterine entry/manipulation. This was categorized as probably device-related; the patient was treated with antibiotics and discharged. Twenty-six surgeons completed the evaluation form; none reported experiencing problems with the procedure., Conclusion: Minimally invasive gynecologic surgeons can learn laparoscopic intraabdominal ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation and perform it safely (in terms of acute and near-term serious adverse events) after ≥ 2 proctored cases. There were no significant differences in safety outcomes compared to the premarket, pivotal study., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: SY reports receiving compensation for the Acessa procedures performed only during the conduct of the study from Acessa Health. BB reports grants from Acessa Health during the conduct of the study. AS reports grants from Acessa Health/Halt Medical during the conduct of the study. AP has nothing to disclose. DE reports grants from Acessa Health (previously Halt Medical) during the conduct of the study, and is a consultant for Acessa Health, Inc., (© 2020 by JSLS, Journal of the Society of Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeons.)

This clinical consensus statement on vaginal energy-based devices (EBDs) reflects statements drafted by content experts from the American Urogynecologic Society's EBD writing group. The American Urogynecologic Society's EBD writing group used a modified Delphi process to assess statements that were evaluated for consensus after a structured literature search. A total of 40 statements were assessed and divided into 5 categories: (1) patient criteria, (2) health care provider criteria, (3) efficacy, (4) safety, and (5) treatment considerations. Of the 40 statements that were assessed, 28 reached consensus and the remaining 12 did not. Lack of evidence was among the main reasons that vulvovaginal EBD treatment statements did not reach consensus.

Heterogeneity of echo-texture and lack of sharply delineated tissue boundaries in diagnostic ultrasound images make three-dimensional (3D) registration challenging, especially when the volumes to be registered are considerably different due to local changes. We implemented a novel computational method that optimally registers volumetric ultrasound image data containing significant and local anatomical differences. It is A Multi-stage, Multi-resolution, and Multi-volumes-of-interest Volume Registration Method. A single region registration is optimized first for a close initial alignment to avoid convergence to a locally optimal solution. Multiple sub-volumes of interest can then be selected as target alignment regions to achieve confident consistency across the volume. Finally, a multi-resolution rigid registration is performed on these sub-volumes associated with different weights in the cost function. We applied the method on 3D endovaginal ultrasound image data acquired from patients during biopsy procedure of the pelvic floor muscle. Systematic assessment of our proposed method through cross validation demonstrated its accuracy and robustness. The algorithm can also be applied on medical imaging data of other modalities for which the traditional rigid registration methods would fail., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate perineal body stiffness intrapartum using shear wave elastography ultrasound and to study its association with maternal and labor characteristics., Methods: This was a prospective observational study. Pregnant women with term pregnancy who had been admitted for labor management were recruited into the study. Transperineal shear wave elastography of perineal body was performed. Maternal and labor data were retrieved from electronic medical charts., Results: Thirty-two patients' data were available for analysis. Mean (SD) melastography modulus was 15.33 (5.49). While comparing the mean elastography modulus across maternal and labor characteristics, the difference was statistically different between parity, cervical dilation, and perineal laceration presence groups (P < 0.05). The mean of elastography modulus of primiparous women with cervical dilation less than 3 cm was 21.47 kPa, whereas that of multiparous women was 13.17 kPa (P = 0.0511). Perineal laceration was more prevalent in women with stiffer perineal body. The risk of having perineal laceration compared with no perineal laceration was 29.1% higher for each additional unit increase in perineal body elastography modulus (odds ratio, 0.709; 95% confidence interval, 0.507-0.992)., Conclusions: Shear wave elastography can be used to quantify perineal body stiffness. Primiparous women in early stages of labor have stiffer perineal body than multiparous women in any stage of labor and primiparous women in late stage of labor.

Objectives: To report 12-year experience with replacing transvaginal mesh (TVM) with fascia lata autograft., Methods: This was a chart review of TVM removal and replacement with a fascia lata autograft placement by a single surgeon between 2005 and 2017. The Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system before and 1 year following the procedure, patient-reported recurrence of symptoms, changes in the POP-Q examination and complication rates are analyzed., Results: Twenty-four patients were included. Mean age was 57.2 (95% CI 53.2-61.2) years. Mean number of days to Foley catheter removal was 3.2 days (95% CI 1.6-4.9) and mean number of days to drain removal was 10.9 days (95% CI 9.9-12.0). Following the surgery, no leg seroma, infection or numbness was reported. UTI occurred in four (16.7%) of the participants postoperatively. At 3-month follow-up, mild urinary symptoms were reported in five participants (20.8%). At 1-year follow-up, one participant was symptomatic of pelvic organ prolapse. Paired t-test analysis revealed statistically significant retraction of Aa and Ba vaginal points (p < 0.001). C, GH and PB points were also statistically significantly retracted., Conclusion: Fascia lata autograft for anterior compartment reconstruction due to TVM complications is associated with high safety and efficacy rates.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the course of the transobturator posterior anal sling and its relationship to anatomical structures., Methods: The transobturator anal sling procedure was performed in four fresh-frozen pelvises. The pelvises were dissected and the structures adjacent to the sling and the course of the sling were identified and measurements obtained., Results: The transobturator posterior anal sling was inserted 2 ± 0.5 cm posteriorly to the anus, and 2.5 ± 0.5 cm caudal to the coccyx under the levator plate at the level of the puborectalis muscle. The tape was 3.5 ± 0.5 cm from the pubic symphysis and 2.3 ± 0.3 cm from the obturator canal at entry into the pelvic cavity. The tape passed 2.3 ± 0.3 cm inferior-medial to the obturator canal. At entry, the sling passed lateral to the ischiopubic ramus through the following structures: gracilis, adductor brevis, obturator externus, obturator membrane, and beneath the obturator internus muscle. The sling traveled 2-3 ± 0.5 cm over the iliococcygeus muscle and perforated the iliococcygeus fibers 0-2 cm medial to arcus tendinous levator ani. The posterior division of the obturator nerve was 2.8 ± 0.7 cm from the tape. The anterior division of the obturator nerve was 3.4 ± 0.8 cm from the tape. The device passed 1.1 ± 0.4 cm from the most medial branch of the obturator vessels., Conclusions: The transobturator posterior anal sling travels mostly in the avascular area of the ischiorectal fossa and posterior to the puborectalis muscle as intended.

Objective: To assess age-related changes in the pelvic floor muscular hiatus and their association with symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse, urinary and fecal incontinence, and sexual function., Methods: In this pilot study we performed 3D endovaginal ultrasonography in two age groups of nulliparous women: 18 to 40 years and 52 to 85 years. Anterior-posterior (AP) diameter, left-right (LR) diameter, and the Minimal Levator Hiatus area were measured. The AP/LR ratio was calculated to compare the shape of the pelvic floor muscles between participants (oval vs circular). Other measurements included length of the urethra, and levator plate lift. Participants were assessed for (1) distress symptoms of pelvic floor prolapse, urinary, and fecal symptoms by the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20, (2) quality of life via the pelvic floor impact inventory-7, and (3) sexual function by the female sexual function inventory (FSFI-19)., Results: A total of 12 women into the younger group and 10 to the older group were recruited. Older women had higher AP/LR ratio and longer distance levator plate lift while performing the squeeze maneuver ( P = 0.017 and 0.038, respectively). Older women had worse urinary and pelvic organ prolapse symptoms ( P = 0.002 and 0.004, respectively). Fewer women in the older group were sexually active (60% vs 92%) and their quality of sexual life was lower based on their FSFI-19 results., Conclusion: Levator ani muscle hiatus changes to a more oval form in older nulliparous postmenopausal women and this change in shape is associated with increased pelvic floor symptoms., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: The anatomic and physiologic pathophysiology of obstructive defecatory symptoms is complex and poorly understood. As a consequence, there is no one surgical method that can achieve overall superiority. We aimed to investigate rectal architectural change in women with obstructive defecatory symptoms using three-dimensional pelvic floor ultrasound., Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 65 women who were referred to our urogynecology clinic because of varied pelvic floor disorders between January 2013 and January 2014. Patients completed a standardized interview including PFDI-20 questionnaire and received a standard examination and assessment of pelvic floor by three-dimensional endovaginal ultrasound. Women were categorized to case and control based on their answers to questions 7, 8, and 14 on PFDI-20 (Colorectal and Anal Distress Index) questionnaire. In ultrasound images, levator plate descent angle, levator plate-probe distance, and rectal area have been measured and values have been compared among symptomatic and asymptomatic patients., Results: Forty-five women with obstructive defecatory symptoms and 20 asymptomatic women entered the study. There was no significant difference in mean (SD) age (56.55 [SD] 13.29 vs 51.8 [15], P = 0.2), mean (SD) body mass index (27.39 [6.7] vs 24.2 [4.08], P = 0.11), and median (range) parity (3 [1-7] vs 2 [1-6], P = 0.15) among categories. There was significant difference in ultrasound measurements, levator plate descent angle, levator plate-probe distance, and rectal area, between women with obstructive defecatory symptoms and asymptomatic women., Conclusions: Women with obstructive defecatory symptoms have wider rectum and descendent levator plate regardless of the stage of prolapse as measured by POPQ or the severity of rectocele.

This committee opinion reviews the laser-based vaginal devices for treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause, vaginal laxity, and stress urinary incontinence. The United States Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning for unsubstantiated advertising and use of energy-based devices. Well-designed case-control studies are required to further investigate the potential benefits, harm, and efficacy of laser therapy in the treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause, vaginal laxity, and stress urinary incontinence. The therapeutic advantages of nonsurgical laser-based devices in urogynecology can only be recommended after robust clinical trials have demonstrated their long-term complication profile, safety, and efficacy.

Introduction: Quantitative biomechanical characterization of pelvic supportive structures and functions in vivo is thought to provide insight into the pathophysiology of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Vaginal tactile imaging is an innovative approach to the biomechanical mapping of the female pelvic floor to quantify tissue elasticity, pelvic support, and pelvic muscle functions. The Vaginal Tactile Imager (VTI) records high definition pressure patterns through the vaginal walls under an applied tissue deformation and during pelvic floor muscle contractions., Objective: The objective of this study is to explore an extended set of 52 biomechanical parameters of the female pelvis for the differentiation and characterization of uterine prolapse relative to normal pelvic floor conditions., Methods: Sixty subjects were included in the data analysis from observational and case-controlled studies. Out of these 60, forty-two subjects had normal pelvic floor conditions and 18 subjects had uterine prolapse (no anterior, no posterior prolapse). The VTI, model 2S, was used with an analytical software package to automatically calculate 52 biomechanical parameters for 8 VTI test procedures (probe insertion, elevation, rotation, Valsalva maneuver, voluntary muscle contractions in 2 planes, relaxation, and reflex contraction)., Results: The ranges, mean values, and standard deviations for all 52 VTI parameters were established. Twenty-two of 52 parameters were identified as statistically sensitive (p < 0.05; t-test) to the development of uterine prolapse. Among these 21 parameters, 6 parameters show changes (decrease) in tissue elasticity, 5 parameters show deteriorations in pelvic support, and 10 parameters show weakness in muscle functions for uterine prolapsed versus normal conditions., Conclusion: The biomechanical mapping of the female pelvic floor with the VTI provides a unique set of parameters characterizing uterine prolapse versus normal conditions. These objectively measurable biomechanical transformations of pelvic tissues, support structures, and functions under the prolapse conditions may be useful in future research and practical applications.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate disability impact in patients and cost to the families of patients who have had complications of transvaginal prolapse mesh kits and underwent surgical revision., Methods: Patients who developed complications of transvaginal mesh kits for prolapse and who had undergone vaginal prolapse mesh surgical revision/removal in 2009 to 2014 at a single institution were identified by Current Procedural Terminology codes. The group was invited to complete a phone survey pertaining to the initial vaginal mesh used for prolapse surgery utilizing Sheehan Disability Scale (scale 0-10) and Years of life Lived with Disability (YLDs) questionnaires. The data collected were used to estimate the disability and cost analysis. We used our data to estimate the economic and quality-of-life impact of vaginal mesh complications on patients in the United States RESULTS: Sixty-two patients (62/198 [31.2%]) were consented to participate and completed the questionnaires by phone. Extremely disabled patients were 18 (29%) of 62 of whole cases, and 5 (8%) of 62 reported that they had no disability after vaginal mesh surgery. The median for overall disability score after vaginal mesh procedure was 8 (which reflects marked disability on a scale of 0-10). The majority of patients missed a median of 12 months of their school or work because of their mesh complications. Thirty-seven (59.6%) of 62 did not improve after mesh removal. Twenty-one (33.9%) of 62 stated that their family income dropped because of productivity loss related to mesh complications. The mean time between vaginal mesh surgery and mesh removal procedure was 4.7 years. Sheehan Disability Scale scores are significantly correlated with YLDs outcomes. Patients' overall disability score showed a significant correlation with YLDs scores (P < 0.0001)., Conclusions: Vaginal mesh for prolapse reduction complications had a sustained disability impact that continued despite mesh removal. Likewise, the complications were associated with increased economic burden on the families of the effected individuals and a drop in the family income in more than one third of the families.

Objective: To review our 6-year experience (2009-2015) in teaching three-dimensional pelvic floor ultrasonography workshops that utilized pelvic floor phantoms in the setting of an Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills methodology., Methods: Four-hour Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills workshops were given at several society meetings and involved a didactic session, a hands-on session using the pelvic floor phantoms, and a computer station session reviewing pelvic floor pathologies. We analyzed improvement in participants' diagnostic skills using a test with 60 illustrated questions of normal and pathologic findings in live human models., Results: Two hundred forty-three attendees completed the 60-question test before and after attending the workshop. Paired t test showed a significant improvement in attendees' average scores after the workshop in all categories: anatomy, normal, or pathologic endovaginal imaging and normal or pathologic endoanal imaging (P<.001 for all). McNemar test showed a statistically significant increased number of correct answers in 50 of 60 (83%) questions., Conclusion: Our Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills workshops incorporating pelvic floor phantoms enhanced trainees' pelvic floor ultrasound diagnostic skills.

Background: Quantitative biomechanical characterization of pelvic supportive structures and functions in vivo is thought to provide insight into pathophysiology of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). An innovative approach-vaginal tactile imaging-allows biomechanical mapping of the female pelvic floor to quantify tissue elasticity, pelvic support, and pelvic muscle functions. The Vaginal Tactile Imager (VTI) records high definition pressure patterns from vaginal walls under an applied tissue deformation and during pelvic floor muscle contractions., Objective: To explore an extended set of 52 biomechanical parameters for differentiation and characterization of POP relative to normal pelvic floor conditions., Methods: 96 subjects with normal and POP conditions were included in the data analysis from multi-site observational, case-controlled studies; 42 subjects had normal pelvic floor conditions and 54 subjects had POP. The VTI, model 2S, was used with an analytical software package to calculate automatically 52 biomechanical parameters for 8 VTI test procedures (probe insertion, elevation, rotation, Valsalva maneuver, voluntary muscle contractions in 2 planes, relaxation, and reflex contraction). The groups were equalized for subject age and parity., Results: The ranges, mean values, and standard deviations for all 52 VTI parameters were established. 33 of 52 parameters were identified as statistically sensitive ( p < 0.05; t -test) to the POP development. Among these 33 parameters, 11 parameters show changes (decrease) in tissue elasticity, 8 parameters show deteriorations in pelvic support and 14 parameters show weakness in muscle functions for POP versus normal conditions., Conclusions: The biomechanical mapping of the female pelvic floor with the VTI provides a unique set of parameters characterizing POP versus normal conditions. These objectively measurable biomechanical transformations of pelvic tissues, support structures, and functions under POP may be used in future research and practical applications., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Male-to-female gender reassignment surgery may lead to unsatisfactory vaginal length. No standard approaches are established to treat these patients. We present a case of vaginoplasty using the laparoscopic Davydov technique performed on a male-to-female transgender patient. Our case provides a novel approach to treating this rare condition and introduces Davydov procedure as a potentially effective and safe treatment. Preoperative endovaginal and endoanal 3-dimensional ultrasounds and a pelvic magnetic resonance imaging of the case are presented to provide details of this patient's unique anatomy.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine the association between x-ray funneling and ultrasound urethral sphincter complex measurements and to compare the reliability of funneling versus urethral volume measurement in the detection of intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD)., Methods: This was a retrospective analysis, which included 54 stress incontinent women dichotomized into those with (1) ISD and (2) no ISD. The presence of bladder neck funneling was diagnosed by fluoroscopic images obtained at the time of video-urodynamics testing. Measurements of the urethral sphincter complex were obtained from ultrasound volumes. Reliability measures were obtained for both funneling and urethral volume measurements., Results: Rhabdomyosphincter length and area were found to be smaller in patients with funneling compared with those with no funneling (P = 0.0161, P = 0.0359). The urethral volume was significantly smaller in the ISD versus no-ISD group (P = 0.0002). For those who had funneling, the ISD group had smaller urethral volume compared with the no-ISD group (P = 0.0019). For those who did not have funneling, the ISD group still had a smaller urethral volume compared with the no-ISD group (P = 0.0054). An ultrasound urethral volume of less than 3.5 cm had a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 64% for the presence of ISD, whereas x-ray funneling had a sensitivity of 76% and a specificity of 73%., Conclusions: Smaller rhabdomyosphincter length and area on ultrasound are associated with x-ray funneling. Ultrasound urethral volume of 3.5 cm as a cutoff provides the same reliability as x-ray funneling for the diagnosis of ISD.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the ultrasound characteristics of vaginal mesh in women with vaginal mesh complications., Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of women presenting with extrusion complications from vaginal mesh kit for prolapse at our tertiary care center between years 2009 and 2014. We included women who concurrently underwent a 3-dimensional endovaginal ultrasound (EVUS) as part of the clinical evaluation. We excluded women with incomplete charts and poor imaging quality. Subjects were categorized by the presence or absence of associated pelvic pain. Based on ultrasound findings, we compared the location of mesh, the appearance of mesh pattern (flat, folding, prominence, convoluted), and other EVUS characteristics of mesh., Results: Forty-six women with vaginal mesh complications and good image quality were included. When comparing mesh length between posterior and anterior compartments, the posterior meshes were significantly longer than the anterior meshes (42.1 [SD, 11.9] mm vs 25.8 [SD, 9] mm; P < 0.0001) and more often associated with pain. In the posterior compartment, the mean mesh length seen on EVUS was significantly longer in women with pain than in women without pain (46.5 [SD, 9] mm vs 31.8 [SD, 12.1] mm; P = 0.0001). There was also a higher proportion of a "flat" mesh pattern, 14 (58.3%) of 25, in the posterior compartment associated with the presence of pain (P = 0.013). In the posterior compartment, a smaller distance between the distal edge of the mesh and the anal sphincter was significantly associated with the presence of pain (8 mm [0-37] vs 21 mm [8-35], P = 0.024). In both compartments, the EVUS had 100% sensitivity for detection of mesh extrusions., Conclusions: In this population of patients presenting with mesh complications, the posterior meshes were more often visualized as a "flat" pattern with a higher frequency of pain. Mesh complications of the anterior compartment had a higher frequency of folding and shrinkage.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine factors associated with decreased pelvic floor strength (PFS) after the first vaginal delivery (VD) in a cohort of low-risk women., Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a prospective study examining the risk of pelvic floor injury in a cohort of primiparous women. All recruited participants underwent an examination, three-dimensional ultrasound and measurement of PFS in the third trimester and repeated at 4 weeks to 6 months postpartum using a perineometer., Results: There were 84 women recruited for the study, and 70 completed the postpartum assessment. Average age was 28.4 years (standard deviation, 4.8). There were 46 (66%) subjects with a VD and 24 (34%) with a cesarean delivery who labored. Decreased PFS was observed more frequently in the VD group compared with the cesarean delivery group (68% vs 42%, P = 0.03).In modified Poisson regression models controlling for mode of delivery and time of postpartum assessment, women who were aged 25 to 29 years (risk ratio = 2.80, 95% confidence interval, 1.03-7.57) and 30 years and older (risk ratio = 2.53, 95% confidence interval, 0.93-6.86) were over 2.5 times more likely to have decreased postpartum PFS compared with women younger than 25 years., Conclusions: In this population, women aged 25 years and older were more than twice as likely to have a decrease in postpartum PFS.

Introduction and Hypothesis: To compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to 3D endovaginal ultrasound (EVUS) in the evaluation of major levator ani defects in women with pelvic floor disorders., Methods: A total of 21 subjects with pelvic floor with complaints of pelvic floor disorders were included in this study. EVUS imaging of the levator ani muscle (LAM) was performed in all subjects, and the LA muscle groups of interest evaluated were the puboanalis (PA), puborectalis (PR), and pubovisceralis (PV) muscles. The right and left subdivisions were evaluated separately, and classified as (i) normal, normal with only minor irregularities, grossly abnormal, or absent, or (ii) by the levator ani deficiency (LAD) score and classified by no defect (complete attachment of muscle to the pubic bone), <50% detachment or loss, >50% detachment or loss, and completely detached or complete muscle loss. Paired data were analyzed with McNemar's test or Bowker's test of symmetry., Results: When unilateral LAM subdivisions were classified as "normal," "normal with minor irregularity," "grossly abnormal," and "absent," there were no significant differences between MRI and EVUS by categorization of LAM defects. Comparing "normal" versus "abnormal," there was no difference between imaging modalities. When compared by LAD score evaluation, there were no differences in the categorization of unilateral defects between MRI and EVUS., Conclusions: Endovaginal 3D US is comparable to MRI in its ability to identify both normal and abnormal LAM anatomy. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:409-413, 2017. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to establish the predictive role of obstetric variables for obstetric outcomes and birth related levator ani muscle (LAM) trauma., Methods: In this prospective study, women underwent 3-dimensional pelvic floor ultrasound at their first appointment at 36 weeks and also 3 months postpartum. The measurements included minimal levator hiatus circumference (MLHC) and the ratio of fetal head circumference to MLHC = head-induced stretch ratio (HISR) as an indicator of the discrepancy between passage and passing canal. To derive the true impact of baby's mass on the levator ani musculature, we devised the levator ani stretch ratio (LASR), which was calculated by multiplying the HISR and the baby's weight., Results: Data set of 173 women was available for analysis. Mean HISR and LASR values were statistically different across all binary outcome categories, with 1 exception for HISR and levator ani injury. The odds ratios for LASR indicated positive and statistically significant associations with all obstetric outcomes examined. The probability of the LASR correctly classifying those with the adverse obstetric outcome, as estimated by the area under the curve, ranged from 0.64 to 0.80 with the strongest discriminatory ability observed for severe LAM trauma., Conclusions: Fetal head circumference/mother MLHC ratio (HISR) is associated with longer length of second stage of labor, assisted delivery, and increased severity of perineal trauma. Similar associations were observed for LASR, but in addition, LASR had good discriminatory ability to identify severe LAM trauma.

Objective: To investigate the association between the minimal levator hiatus (MLH) area at rest with its surrounding soft-tissue and bony structures in nulliparous asymptomatic women with a normal levator ani muscle., Methods: A subanalysis was undertaken of a prospective study of the appearance of the levator ani in asymptomatic nulliparous women conducted between September 2010 and September 2011. The subanalysis included women with a normal levator ani muscle. Three-dimensional ultrasonography volumes were used to obtain pelvic floor measurements., Results: The analysis included 56 women with mean age of 43.0±13.4years. The mean MLH area was 13.1±1.8cm(2) (range 9.0-17.3). The pubic arch angle had no influence on the MLH area (Pearson correlation coefficient r=0.13). Height and pubic arch length were positively correlated with the MLH area (r=0.26 [P=0.52] and r=0.50 [P<0.001], respectively)., Conclusion: The MLH size of nulliparous women varied widely and was positively correlated with the height and pubic arch length of the women. Therefore, caution is warranted when interpreting the MLH area as an indicator of a levator ani defect or a predictor of pelvic organ prolapse without taking a woman's pelvic bone characteristics into account., (Copyright © 2016 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aim: The perineal body (PB) plays an important role in supporting the pelvic floor and the posterior vaginal wall, but its attachments and relationships are still debated. This study aimed to assess the normal anatomy of the PB using high-resolution three-dimensional endovaginal ultrasound (3D-EVUS) in asymptomatic nulliparae., Method: To validate the identification of perineal structures, 3D-EVUS was initially performed on nulliparous cadavers. Fresh frozen pelves were prepared and echogenic structures thought to be the PB, the external anal sphincter, the superficial and deep transverse perineii, pubovaginalis, puboperinealis, puboanalis, puborectalis and iliococcygeus muscles were tagged with biopsy needles, and marked with indigo carmine dye for localization during dissection. In the second part of the study, consecutive asymptomatic nulliparae were prospectively imaged with the same ultrasound modality. Interrater reproducibility was assessed off-line from stored 3D US volumes using a standardized technique., Results: Five fresh frozen pelves and 44 asymptomatic nulliparae were assessed with 3D-EVUS. The PB was seen as an ovoid structure of mixed echogenicity between the rectum and vagina. It appeared to be divided into a superficial level, in contact with the external anal sphincter, the bulbospongiousus and the superficial transverse perineii muscle and a deep level, in contact with puboperinealis and puboanalis muscles. Interobserver repeatability was excellent for the measurements of PB height [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) 0.927], PB depth (ICC 0.969) and PB width (ICC 0.932)., Conclusion: The PB is divided into two levels with different anatomical relationships with the pelvic floor muscles. 3D-EVUS yields reproducible assessment of this complex structure., (Colorectal Disease © 2015 The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.)

Objectives: To use 3-dimensional endovaginal ultrasound to describe the location and distribution of bulking agent after an uncomplicated transurethral injection., Methods: Endovaginal ultrasound was performed in 24 treatment-naive patients immediately after bulking agent was injected. The distance between the center of the hyperechoic density of bulking agent and the urethrovesical junction (UVJ) was measured in the sagittal and axial views. This was calculated in percentile length of urethra. Also, the pattern of tracking of bulking agent was assessed if it is presented., Results: After the 2 subjects were excluded because of the poor quality of images, 22 patients were included in this study. Eighteen (82%) subjects showed 2 sites of bulking agents, and mostly, they were located around 3- and 9-o'clock positions. The average distance of bulking agent from left UVJ was at 16.9% of the length of the urethra (6.2 mm; range, 0.5-17 mm) and at 25.5% of the length of the urethra (8.9 mm; range, 0-24.8 mm) in the right side. The average length of urethra was 36.7 mm. Eleven of the 22 subjects (50%) had both sides within upper one third of urethra. The difference in distance between the 2 sides was less than 10 mm in 12 of 22 patients (54%). Nine of the 22 patients (41%) had a significant spread of bulking agent mostly either into the bladder neck or toward the distal urethra., Conclusions: Although the bulking agent is most often found at 3- and 9-o'clock positions as intended, the distance from the UVJ is highly variable after an uncomplicated office-based transurethral injection. The bulking material does not form the characteristic spheres in 41% of cases and tracks toward the bladder neck or the distal urethra.

Aim: The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical and ultrasonographic findings of women who had three-dimensional endovaginal ultrasound (EVUS) for the management of vaginal mesh complications., Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients that had EVUS due to mesh complications at a tertiary care center. The clinical charts were reviewed. The stored 3D volumes were reviewed regarding mesh information by two examiners independently. The predictive value of physical examination for detection of vaginal mesh was calculated. Patient outcomes were reviewed., Results: Seventy-nine patients presented to our center because of their, or their physicians' concern regarding mesh complications. Forty-one (51.9%) had vaginal/pelvic pain, and 51/62 (82.2%) of sexually active women experienced dyspareunia. According to ultrasonographic findings, mesh or sling was not demonstrated in six patients who believed they have had mesh/sling implantation. The positive predictive value for vaginal examination was 94.5% (95% CI: 84.9%-98.8%), negative predictive value was 12.5% (95% CI: 2.8%-32.4%), sensitivity was 72.2% (95% CI: 59.4%-81.2%), and specificity was 50.0% (95% CI: 12.4%-87.6%). Fifty-four patients were indicated for surgical treatment. Median postoperative review was 12 (range, 3-18) months and 38/53 (71.7%) patients were satisfied., Conclusions: The most common complaints of vaginal mesh complications were pain and dyspareunia. EVUS appeared to be helpful for assessing mesh presence, location, and extent including planning for surgical intervention., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)