Background: The rate of prolapse recurrence after vaginal hysterectomy ranges from 6% to 12%. Vaginal vault fixation procedures like the iliococcygeus fixation and the cul-de-sac obliteration (McCall culdoplasty) have been used to address the loss of apical support in patients with advanced-stage prolapse to prevent this recurrence. Objectives: This study aims to assess the rate of prolapse recurrence and risk factors for recurrence as well as urinary, bowel, and sexual symptoms in women who have undergone vaginal hysterectomy with and without vaginal vault fixation for pelvic organ prolapse stage 2 or higher. Methods: This study is a retrospective study that included patients with pelvic organ prolapse stage 2 or greater who underwent vaginal hysterectomy with and without vaginal vault fixation from 2009 to 2014 seen at the urogynecology clinic of a Philippine tertiary referral center. The cohorts were divided into those with iliococcygeal fixation (n=171) and those without (n=83). The Z test of mean difference was used in comparing average values between the two groups. Chi-square test of independence was used in comparing the proportion of patients as stratified by various variables and their corresponding groups, while some variables were adjusted for 2x2 Fischer Exact test. Any associated p-value less than 0.05 alpha were considered statistically significant. Results: Of the 876 patients operated on for prolapse between 2009 to 2014, 254 were included in the study. They were divided into those with iliococcygeal fixation (n=171) and those without (n=83). Recurrence was significantly lower in the group who underwent iliococcygeal fixation (23.39% vs 36.14%, p=0.037) after a median follow-up of 28.98 months for those with fixation and 31.08 for those without. The posterior compartment prolapse recurrence rate is higher in those without fixation (16.87% vs 6.43%, p=0.013). Longer duration of menopause (16.96 ± 7.16 vs 13.37 ± 7.1, p=0.001), unemployment (52.85% vs 36.41%, p=0.22) and longer time from surgery (37.84 ± 15.69 vs 26.55 ± 12.59, p=0.000) were significantly associated with recurrence. Moreover, higher pre- (6.24 ± 1.41 vs 5.78 ± 0.95, p=0.003) and post-operative genital hiatus (4.53 ± 0.97 vs 4.23 ± 0.54, p=0.002) and shorter pre-operative perineal body (1.86 ± 0.35 vs 1.97 ± 0.35, p=0.025) measurements were also significantly associated with recurrence. Both groups have no significant difference in urinary, sexual or bowel symptoms. Conclusion Iliococcygeus fixation is an effective method of preventing prolapse recurrence. Increased duration of menopause, longer time from surgery, longer genital hiatus, and shorter perineal body all contribute to recurrence. Moreover, urinary, sexual and bowel symptoms do not differ significantly between those with and without iliococcygeus fixation. Thus performing prophylactic vaginal vault fixation should be contemplated in patients undergoing prolapse surgery, with careful consideration of patient factors and potential morbidities.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse ; Recurrence ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal

PURPOSE: Obesity is a significant risk factor for pelvic organ prolapse (POP), but the effects of obesity on outcomes of surgery for POP are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between POP symptomatology, subjective outcomes of surgery and body mass index (BMI) in women undergoing vaginal hysterectomy for POP. METHODS: Pre- and postoperative data from a validated pelvic floor questionnaire (electronic Personal Assessment Questionnaire-Pelvic Floor) were collected prospectively from 60 women undergoing vaginal hysterectomy for POP. Of these, 20 were normal weight (BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m²), 20 were overweight (BMI 25–29.9 kg/m²), and 20 were women with obesity (BMI 30–34.9 kg/m²). The relationship between BMI and symptom scores for prolapse, impact on vaginal symptoms on quality of life (VS-QoL) and ‘overall change in condition’ was assessed. Pre- and postoperative symptom scores were compared using repeated mixed analysis of variance test for BMI as a categorical variable (normal, overweight, and obese). Spearman rank order correlation test was carried out to evaluate BMI as a continuous variable. All women underwent vaginal hysterectomy using a standardized technique. RESULTS: Overall, 93% of women reported improvement in their condition. The main finding was that ‘overall change in condition’ was negatively correlated with increasing BMI (r(s)=-0.324, P=0.028). Irrespective of BMI, significant improvements were observed in symptoms of prolapse and VS-QoL at 3-month postoperation. CONCLUSIONS: With increasing BMI, women are likely to report lower levels of satisfaction following prolapse surgery, despite reporting equivalent improvements in symptoms. BMI is known to affect how individuals perceive their general health and well-being with obese individuals reporting poorer levels of subjective health status. Women with obesity may perceive change in their condition after prolapse surgery differently to women of normal weight. Reduction of weight prior to prolapse surgery could be considered in obese women to improve subjective outcomes of surgery.
Body Mass Index ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Patient Outcome Assessment ; Pelvic Floor ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse ; Prolapse ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE: This study is to compare the baseline characteristics and symptoms between groups with leiomyoma only (group M; myoma group), adenomyosis only (group A; adenomyosis group), and leiomyoma and adenomyosis together (group B; group for both disease). METHODS: Selected patients were who received total abdominal hysterectomy, laparoscopy-assisted vaginal hysterectomy, or total laparoscopic hysterectomy from January 2014 to December 2015, and whose pathology result showed leiomyoma (n=74), adenomyosis (n=27), or both (n=63). Baseline characteristics and symptoms were reviewed from the medical records. Researched characteristics included patients' age, degeneration of leiomyoma, endometrial hyperplasia, endometriosis, weight of the removed uterus, menopause before the surgery, method of the surgery, necessity for blood transfusion before and after the surgery, difference of hemoglobin level before and after the surgery, and number of gravida, para, and abortion. RESULTS: Eleven symptoms were checked. Thirty-eight point four percent of total subject had uterine leiomyoma and adenomyosis at the same time. Number of abortion was higher in the group B. The group B showed a tendency of presenting more menorrhagia, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, acute lower abdominal pain, and urinary frequency. Symptoms related to mass effect seem to be relative to uterine leiomyoma, and symptoms related to menorrhagia seems to be relative to adenomyosis. The group M showed suddenly growing mass symptoms, and was more likely to have massive hemorrhage during the surgery. It is hard to differentiate coexistence of uterine leiomyoma and adenomyosis from each disease. CONCLUSION: Coexistence of two disease exhibits mixed symptoms of each disease, but shows different tendency.
Abdominal Pain ; Adenomyosis ; Blood Transfusion ; Endometrial Hyperplasia ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal ; Leiomyoma ; Medical Records ; Menopause ; Menorrhagia ; Methods ; Metrorrhagia ; Myoma ; Pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterus

PURPOSE: Descent of the uterus is a major etiology of uterine prolapse. However, true cervical elongation can cause uterine prolapse without uterine descent. The aim of study was to investigate the clinical outcomes of Manchester operation in patients with uterine prolapse caused by “true cervical elongation,” compared with vaginal hysterectomy (VH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of patients who underwent Manchester operation or VH from 2006 to 2015 were reviewed. True cervical elongation was defined on the basis of C point of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system ≥0 and D point ≤−4, as well as estimated cervical length of ≥5 cm. The primary outcome was recurrence of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) evaluated by POP-Q system. The outcomes of two groups were compared after propensity score matching, for age, parity, and preoperative POP-Q stage. RESULTS: During the study period, 23 patients underwent Manchester operation and 374 patients underwent VH. The recurrence rate of POP (p=0.317) and complication rate were not statistically significant different between the two study groups. Manchester operation exhibited shorter operation time than VH (p=0.033). In subgroup analysis (POP-Q stage III), body mass index [odds ratio (OR)=1.74; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.08–2.81] and not having concurrent anterior colporrhaphy (OR for concurrent anterior colporrhaphy, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.01–0.75) were identified as significant risk factors for recurrence of POP. CONCLUSION: The Manchester operation technique seems to be an effective and safe alternative procedure for the treatment of uterine prolapse caused by true cervical elongation, compared with VH.
Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal ; Medical Records ; Parity ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse ; Propensity Score ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Uterine Prolapse ; Uterus

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to determine the differences in outcomes between natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (NAVH) and conventional laparoscopy-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients who between July 2012 and September 2015, were diagnosed as having benign uterine disease such as uterine myoma, endometriosis, or adenomyosis and managed via NAVH or LAVH in a single-center (Eulji University Hospital). Data such as age, body weight, height, parity, operation time, intra/post-operative complications, and uterus weight were obtained from the clinical charts. NAVH and LAVH recipients were matched 1:3 in terms of baseline characteristics, and the 2 groups were compared regarding surgical outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 160 patients with benign uterine disease included in the present study. Forty received NAVH and remaining 120 received LAVH. There were significant differences between the groups regarding operation time and hemoglobin change. Notably, although the operation time was shorter for LAVH, hemoglobin change was lower for NAVH. Additionally, although maximum hospitalization duration was shorter for LAVH, the average length of hospitalization was similar between NAVH and LAVH. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of other variables. CONCLUSION: NAVH may become a new alternative surgical method of choice for hysterectomy, as it represents a clinically feasible and safe approach; moreover is superior to LAVH in terms of bleeding loss.
Adenomyosis ; Body Weight ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal* ; Laparoscopy ; Leiomyoma ; Methods ; Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery ; Parity ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Diseases ; Uterus

Malignant melanoma of the genital tract is a rare disease that is usually diagnosed by chance. When a definite diagnosis is delayed, the prognosis is very poor without standardized treatment. Herein, we describe a 40-year-old patient who presented with a history of bloody vaginal discharge for 7 months. Gynecological examination showed an exophytic, hard and pigmented cervical mass involving the upper vagina. The patient was diagnosed with cervical melanoma after a punch biopsy and underwent a radical hysterectomy, upper vaginectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. After surgeries, the patient underwent 2-cycles of adjuvant immunotherapy with pembrolizumab, but died within 8 months. In this report, treatment with pembrolizumab after radical surgery was not effective for this patient who had a primary cervical melanoma that metastasized to bone and lung tissue. We do not know why pembrolizumab was ineffective for this patient, but there are several possible explanations; further research is needed.
Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Biopsy ; Cervix Uteri* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Gynecological Examination ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Immunotherapy ; Lung ; Lymph Node Excision ; Melanoma* ; Prognosis ; Rare Diseases ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Vagina ; Vaginal Discharge

Based on the current understanding of a preventive effect of bilateral salpingectomy on ovarian/fallopian/peritoneal cancers, the Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korean Society of Gynecologic Endocrinology, Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology, Korean Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine, and Korean Society for Reproductive Medicine support the following recommendations:• Women scheduled for hysterectomy for benign gynecologic disease should be informed that bilateral salpingectomy reduces the risk of ovarian/fallopian/peritoneal cancer, and they should be counseled regarding this procedure at the time of hysterectomy.• Although salpingectomy is generally considered as a safe procedure in terms of preserving ovarian reserve, there is a lack of evidences representing its long-term outcomes. Therefore, patients should be informed about the minimal potential of this procedure for decreasing ovarian reserve.• Prophylactic salpingectomy during vaginal hysterectomy is favorable in terms of prevention of ovarian/fallopian/peritoneal cancer, although operation-related complications minimally increase with this procedure, compared to the complications associated with vaginal hysterectomy alone. Conversion to open or laparoscopic approach from vaginal approach to perform prophylactic salpingectomy is not recommended.• Women who desire permanent sterilization at the time of cesarean delivery could be counseled for prophylactic salpingectomy before surgery on an individual basis.
Endocrinology ; Fallopian Tubes ; Female ; Genital Diseases, Female ; Gynecology* ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal ; Obstetrics* ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Ovarian Reserve ; Prophylactic Surgical Procedures ; Reproductive Medicine ; Salpingectomy* ; Sterilization

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the rate of postoperative urinary retention (POUR) and identify the risk factors for this complication in women who underwent transvaginal uterosacral suspension surgery. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted for 75 women who underwent transvaginal uterosacral suspension surgery with vaginal hysterectomy, repair of cystocele, and levator myorrhaphy with/without transobturator anti-incontinence surgery. POUR was defined as a need for continuous intermittent catheterization on the third day subsequent to removal of the urethral indwelling catheter. RESULTS: Acute POUR was reported in 18 women (24.0%). Thirty-six of the 75 patients (48.0%) had undergone anti-incontinence surgery. Crude analysis revealed significant association between the following variables and the risk of POUR: hypertension, the lower average flow rate in the pressure-flow study (PFS), greater post-void residual (PVR) urine volume in PFS, and PVR >30% of the total bladder capacity (TBC) in PFS. In the logistic regression analysis, PVR >30% of the TBC in PFS was identified as the only significant predictor of POUR (odds ratio, 15.4; 95% confidence interval, 2.5–90.9; P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The PVR >30% of the TBC in PFS was identified as the only predictive factor of acute POUR in women who underwent transvaginal uterosacral suspension surgery.
Catheterization ; Catheters ; Catheters, Indwelling ; Cystocele ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal ; Logistic Models ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Retention ; Urination Disorders

OBJECTIVE: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping is being adapted to gynecologic cancer. Higher SLN mapping rates were reported with indocyanine green (ICG) compared to other dyes. The aim of this film is to share our experience of SLN mapping with ICG in vaginal cancer. METHODS: A 40 year-old woman was diagnosed with squamous cell vaginal cancer. About 1.5 cm-sized tumor was located on the posterior vaginal fornix. Preoperatively she was assumed to be stage I vaginal cancer. Beginning of surgery, we performed SLN mapping by ICG injection into 3- and 9-o'clock positions of the vaginal tumor. Concentrated in 1.25 mg/mL, 1 mL of ICG solution was injected into deep stroma and another 1 mL submucosally in both sides. Bilateral SLN identification and lymphadenectomy were done. Afterward, laparoscopic Type C1 Querleu-Morrow radical hysterectomy with vaginectomy was done. A fluorescence endoscope produced by KARL STORZ (Tuttlingen, Germany) was used for ICG detection. RESULTS: To our knowledge, this is the first film report performing SLN mapping with ICG in vaginal cancer. The mapping was successful and we were able to recognize SLN of vaginal cancer. SLNs were located in the bilateral obturator fossa. According to the pathologic diagnosis, the mass size was 15 mm and invasion depth was 1 mm. Subvaginal tissue involvement and pelvic wall extension were absent. Resection margin of the vagina was free from carcinoma. No lymph node metastasis was reported including the bilateral SLNs. CONCLUSION: For vaginal cancer, SLN mapping can be applied by injecting ICG into the bilateral sides of the vaginal tumor.
Coloring Agents ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopes ; Epithelial Cells ; Female ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Indocyanine Green* ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Vagina ; Vaginal Diseases ; Vaginal Neoplasms*

During the study period from January 2008 to December 2012, 177 women had transvaginal sacrospinous ligament fixation (SSF) for vault suspension at General Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Of the 177 women, 133 (75.1%) had severe uterovaginal prolapse while 44 (24.9%) had post-hysterectomy vault prolapse. All patients with severe uterovaginal prolapse and rectocele undergone vaginal hysterectomy and posterior colporrhaphy respectively. A hundred and seventy-four patients (98.3%) had anterior repair whilst 48 (27.1%) received midurethral sling as concomitant procedure to vault suspension (SSF). The mean duration of surgery was 92.1±30.2 minutes and the mean estimated blood loss was 319±199.3mls. There was no surgical mortality. Two patients (1.1%) had rectal injuries. No patient had bladder injury or de novo urinary symptoms. The commonest immediate postoperative complications was fever (98; 55.4%) followed by buttock pain in 18 (10.2%) patients. Both complications were resolved with conservative measures. Seven patients (3.9%) had sutures erosion as late complications. Of the 177 women, 158 (89.3%) and 141 (79.7%) came for the 6 and 12 months follow-up, respectively. The success rate for all three compartments ranged from 92.4% to 98.1% at 6 months and reduced to range from 85.7% to 94.4% at 12 months. The highest success rate was observed in the posterior compartment followed by apical and anterior compartment. Equally, the recurrence rate was lowest in the posterior compartment (1.9%), followed by the central (3.8%) and anterior compartment (7.5%) at 6 months’ review. This increased to 5.7% for rectocele, 7.8% for vault prolapse and 14.2% for cystocele at 12 months’ follow-up. None had repeated surgery for prolapse recurrence during the study period. In conclusion, SSF remains a high priority in our therapeutic regime for the treatment of severe uterovaginal and vault prolapse as it has a reasonably good success rate with lower serious complications in the skillful hands.
Hysterectomy, Vaginal