A randomized controlled trial of cystoinflation to prevent bladder injury in the adhesive disease of multiple caesarean sections

Caesarean sections carry the risk of urinary bladder injury due to formation of adhesions obscuring pelvic planes. Visualizing bladder during retro-fill (cystoinflation) makes it recognizable as it rises into the abdomen taking a tense rounded contour. We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial to find out whether improved identification of bladder margins by cystoinflation could decrease bladder injury rate and blood loss without causing urological complications. This study included 214 healthy women with previous operative deliveries undergoing elective caesarean section and found to have dense pelvic adhesions. The subjects were randomly allocated into cystoinflation and control groups. Adhesiolysis was performed using bladder retro-fill with 300 cc saline in cystoinflation group, and without retro-fill in control. The bladder injury rate was significantly lower in cystoinflation group compared to control (2.8% vs 20.6%, P < .0001) with lesser blood loss in cystoinflation group (585.33 cc vs 797.10 cc, P < .0001). Mean operative time was similar in both groups. Urinary tract infection and micturition problems occurred more frequently in control group than cystoinflation group (16.8% vs 1.9%, P = .001 and .47 ± 1.63% vs 077 ± .633%, P = .021 respectively) with fistula in one subject compared to none in cystoinflation group. In this study, cystoinflation was effective to significantly reduce bladder injury rate and blood loss. This technique may also prove useful in the fields of surgery, urology and urogynecology.

Can Urinary Catheterization Before Birth Reduce Postpartum Urinary Retention?

<p>Objective: Postpartum urinary retention (PUR) is defined as no spontaneous micturition in a period of more than 6 hours postpartum or residual volume of &gt;150cc after urination. If a diagnosis is not made, there may be problems of over-distention of the bladder and consequently, denervation, detrusor atony and long-term micturition problems. This study aimed to examine the effect of urinary catheterization during birth on postpartum urinary retention (PUR).</p><p>Study Design: A prospective randomized study was conducted with 137 patients. The study and control groups were formed according to a random number table. In the study group, urinary catheterization was applied before birth. In both groups, the time of the first postpartum micturition was recorded and after the first micturition, the residual urine volume was measured with catheterization. Cases with no spontaneous micturition in the first 6 hours postpartum were accepted as PUR. The two groups were compared with respect to time of first micturition and residual urine volume using Mann Whitney U-test and the presence of PUR with Chi-square test.<br />Results: The time to first micturition was determined to be shorter in the group where urinary catheterization was applied before birth, the PUR rate was lower and the amount of residual urine was less (p&lt;0.05). Birthweight, duration of labour, maternal age, weight, gravida and use of oxytocin were similar between the groups (p&gt;0.05). <br />Conclusion: Urinary catheterization before birth reduces the rate of PUR.<br /><br /></p>

Physical Therapy in the Management of Pelvic Floor Muscles Hypertonia in a Woman with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia

Background. Pelvic floor (PF) hypertonic disorders are a group of conditions that present with muscular hypertonia or spasticity, resulting in a diminished capacity to isolate, contract, and relax the PF. Their presentation includes voiding and sexual dysfunctions, pelvic pain, and constipation. Various factors are associated, such as complicated vaginal birth, muscular injury, scar tissue formation, and neuropathies.Study Design. The case of a single patient will be presented, together with the management strategies employed.Case Description. A woman with hereditary spastic paraparesis and a history of muscle spasticity and urinary and fecal complaints since childhood. She presented to this institution seeking treatment for pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, constipation, and micturition problems. A physical therapy protocol was developed, with the trial of several treatment modalities.Outcome. After some failed attempts, perineal and pelvic floor stretching proved to be very efficacious therapies for this patient’s complaint, leading to improved pain during intercourse, constipation, pelvic pain, and urinary stream.Discussion. PF spasticity can lead to severe disability and interfere with daily basic functions, such as micturition and evacuation. Physical therapy plays an essential role in the management of these patients and can lead to significant improvement in quality of life.

Surgical treatment of low stage cervical carcinoma: Back to the old days?

Radical hysterectomies for the treatment of cervical carcinoma are being performed laparoscopically by some surgeons. Others combine the laparoscopic lymphadenectomy with a radical vaginal hysterectomy or a radical trachelectomy, like in the Schauta procedure. In this way the procedure resembles the AVRUEL-procedure (Abdominal Vaginal Radical Uterus Extirpation with transperitoneal Lymphadenectomy), as developed in 1957 by Sindram who combined the Wertheim and the Schauta procedure together with abdominal lymphadenectomy in one single operation. Because of the high complication rate in the form of voiding problems and sexual impairment caused by the Schauta part, this operation is no longer performed. In order to pay attention to the morbidity associated in the past with the combined abdomino-vaginal approach compared to the single abdominal approach, we reassembled the data of several large Dutch centers where patients were treated either by the AVRUEL or the abdominal radical hysterectomy.A total of 730 patients underwent an AVRUEL procedure, all carried out between 1957 and 1981. Fistulas occurred in 57 patients (7.8%), long-term urologic complications in 233 patients (32%), and sexual dysfunction in 71 (9.7%) were found. A total of 928 patients underwent an abdominal radical hysterectomy, of whom in 511 cases the complication rates have been described. Twelve fistulas occurred (2%), long-term micturition problems in 55 (10%), and sexual problems in 11 (2%). There was no difference in 5-year survival rates in both groups. From the abovementioned data it is clear, that returning to the old days in terms of a re-introduction of the Schauta procedure is not to be preferred. In order to conclude if the laparoscopically assisted radical vaginal hysterectomy or the trachelectomy are an improvement, they should be carried out according to clearly defined prospective protocols in which data can be compared to those of other techniques with special attention to late complications including micturition and sexual sequelae.