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The unexpected absence of urodynamic stress incontinence (USI) in women planning surgery for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a challenge to surgeons. We examined the prevalence and clinical and demographic factors associated at baseline (preoperatively) with the unexpected absence of USI among study participants of two multicenter randomized clinical trials of surgery for treating SUI.Women with SUI symptoms and positive stress tests on physical examination enrolled in two separate clinical trials-one comparing the autologous fascial sling with the Burch colposuspension [Stress Incontinence Surgical Treatment Efficacy Trial (SISTEr), and the other comparing the retropubic mid-urethral sling with the transobturator midurethral sling [Trial of Mid-Urethral Slings (TOMUS)]-were evaluated for USI preoperatively. The association of clinical, demographic, and urodynamic parameters was examined in women without USI in univariate and multivariate analyses.Overall, 144 of 1,233 women (11.7 %) enrolled in the two studies showed no USI. These women had a significantly lower mean volume at maximum cystometric capacity than those with USI (347.5 vs. 395.8 in SISTEr, p = 0.012), (315.2 vs. 358.2 in TOMUS, p = 0.003) and a lower mean number of daily accidents reported on a 3-day diary (2.2 vs 2.7 in SISTEr, p = 0.030) (1.7 vs 2.7 in TOMUS, p0.001). Additionally, those without demonstrable USI were more likely to have Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) stage III/IV (31.7 % vs 14.4 % in SISTEr, p = 0.002), (15.5 % vs 6.9 % in TOMUS, p = 0.025). SUI severity as recorded on the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI) correlated strongly with the presence of USI in both studies.We observed that about one of eight women planning surgery for SUI does not show USI. Stage 3/4 POP was strongly associated with the unexpected absence of USI. A diminished urodynamic bladder capacity among women who did not display USI may reflect an inability to reach the limits of capacity during urodynamics, at which these women normally leak.

We hypothesized that certain preoperative voiding symptoms would be correlated with poorer post-continence surgery outcomes in women.Preoperative voiding symptoms from 655 women were assessed with questionnaires. Outcomes (overall failures, stress-specific failures, and voiding dysfunction) after Burch or sling surgery were measured. Logistic regression models were used to associate preoperative voiding symptoms with postoperative outcomes.Hesitating urinary stream was associated with voiding dysfunction [OR 2.22, p=0.01], overall [OR 1.57, p=0.03], and stress-specific [OR 1.67, p=0.009] failures. A ten-point increase in preoperative Urogenital Distress Inventory-obstructive (UDI-O) subscore was associated with overall [OR 1.10, p=0.049] and stress-specific [OR 1.21, p0.0001] failures. Even controlling for severity of POPQ stage, significant associations of hesitating urinary stream with voiding dysfunction, overall and stress-specific failures remained.Preoperative hesitating urinary stream and obstructive voiding symptoms were associated with poorer surgical outcomes. Further studies in this area may be fruitful.

Understanding the clustering of pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) within families is important because it may suggest underlying risk factors that may be environmental, genetic or both. The objective of this study was to describe clinical characteristics observed in familial cases with PFDs and compare them with strictly defined controls. Women evaluated and treated for PFDs were recruited as part of a larger genetic study. Here, we define familial cases as those with bothersome symptoms or treatment for a PFD (pelvic organ prolapse [POP], stress urinary incontinence [SUI], and overactive bladder [OAB]) and who had a first-degree relative with bothersome symptoms or treatment for the same pelvic floor defect. We assigned clinical characteristics to probands and their relatives using standardized symptom questions (PFDI), examination, and review of treatment records, if any. We identified 126 familial POP cases, 183 familial SUI cases, and 101 familial OAB cases. Familial cases were more likely to have bothersome symptoms for more than one PFD. Among familial POP cases, bothersome SUI (71 %), OAB (54 %), and a combination of all three disorders (48 %) were common. Among familial SUI cases, bothersome OAB (60 %), POP (59 %), and combinations of all disorders (40 %) were common. Among familial OAB cases, bothersome SUI (88 %), POP (66 %), and combinations of all three disorders (59 %) were common. Familial cases of POP, SUI, and OAB are more likely to have more than one pelvic floor defect. It is likely that underlying genetic factors contribute to more than one pelvic floor defect.

Patient preparedness for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) surgery is associated with improvements in post-operative satisfaction, symptoms and quality of life (QoL). This planned secondary analysis examined the association of patient preparedness with surgical outcomes, treatment satisfaction and quality of life. The ValUE trial compared the effect of pre-operative urodynamic studies with a standardized office evaluation of outcomes of SUI surgery at 1 year. In addition to primary and secondary outcome measures, patient satisfaction with treatment was measured using a five-point Likert scale (very dissatisfied to very satisfied) that queried subjects to rate the treatment’s effect on overall incontinence, urge incontinence, SUI, and frequency. Preparedness for surgery was assessed using an 11-question Patient Preparedness Questionnaire (PPQ). Based on PPQ question 11, 4 out of 5 (81 %) of women reported they “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that they were prepared for surgery. Selected demographic and clinical characteristics were similar in unprepared and prepared women. Among SUI severity baseline measures, total UDI score was significantly but weakly associated with preparedness (question 11 of the PPQ; Spearman's r = 0.13, p = 0.001). Although preparedness for surgery was not associated with successful outcomes, it was associated with satisfaction (r s = 0.11, p = 0.02) and larger PGI-S improvement (increase; p = 0.008). Approximately half (48 %) of women “strongly agreed” that they felt prepared for SUI. Women with higher pre-operative preparedness scores were more satisfied, although surgical outcomes did not differ.

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in women is a common condition whose etiology is poorly understood. There is increasing evidence that POP is heritable. The aim of our study was to define and evaluate familial clustering of POP.Using a population-based Utah genealogy linked to more than a decade of hospital data, we calculated relative risks (RR) of POP in female relatives of women with POP using age- and birth year-specific rates of POP. We compared the average pairwise relatedness of all POP cases to the population using a measure of genetic distance.We identified 1,292 women with diagnostic and procedure codes for POP. The RR of POP was significantly elevated in first- and third-degree female relatives (RR 4.15, p0.001; RR 1.24, p = 0.05). The average pairwise relatedness for all individuals with POP was significantly higher than expected (p0.001).These results strongly support a significant heritable contribution to POP.

The aim of this study was to determine whether preoperative voiding detrusor pressures were associated with postoperative outcomes after stress incontinence surgery.Opening detrusor pressure, detrusor pressure at maximum flow (p (det) Q(max)), and closing detrusor pressure were assessed from 280 valid preoperative urodynamic studies in subjects without advanced prolapse from a multicenter randomized trial comparing Burch and autologous fascia sling procedures. These pressures were compared between subjects with and without overall success, stress-specific success, postoperative detrusor overactivity, and postoperative urge incontinence using independent sample t tests.There were no clinically or statistically significant differences in mean preoperative voiding detrusor pressures in any comparison of postoperative outcomes.We found no evidence that preoperative voiding detrusor pressures predict outcomes in women with stress predominant urinary incontinence undergoing Burch or autologous fascial sling procedures.