Pelvic Health Flashcards
Describe the detrusor muscle
- Wall of the bladder
- Smooth muscle
- At inferior end of bladder & is continuous with the internal urethral sphincter
- Pushes urine from bladder to urethra
What makes up the perineum
- Anterior urogenital triangle
- Posterior anal triangle
What makes up the anterior urogenital triangle
- Deep perineal pouch
- Perineal membrane
- Superficial perineal pouch
- Perineal fascia
What does the deep perineal pouch contain
- Urethra
- External urethral sphincter
- Vagina in females
What does the superficial perineal pouch contain
- Erectile tissues that form the penis & clitoris
- Ischiocavernosus muscle
- Bulbospongiosus muscle
- Superficial transverse perineal muscles
What is the perineal fascia
- Continuation of abdominal fascia
What is the perineal body
- Fibromuscular mass located at the junction of the urogenital & anal triangles
- Levator ani, bulbospongiosus, superficial/deep transverse perineal muscles, external anal sphincter, & external urethral sphincter muscle fibers
What makes up the posterior anal triangle
- Anal aperture: opening of the anus
- External anal sphincter muscle
- Ischioanal fossae (x2): allow expansion of the canal during defecation
- Pudendal nerve
The external sphincter is not affected by pelvic floor contraction however there is external compression of the urethra. (True/False)
- True
Describe a perineal examination
- When pt is asked to cough or Valsalva the perineum should show no downward movement; ventral movement may occur bc of the guarding actions of the pelvic floor muscles
Describe perineal elevation and descent
- Elevation: inward (cephalad) movement of the vulva, perineum, & anus (NORMAL)
- Descent: outward (caudal) movement of the vulva, perineum, & anus (ABNORMAL)
What can be observed on a rectal examination
- Anal sphincter tone/strength: assessment on digital exam, as good or poor in the absence of any quantitative assessment
- Anal sphincter tear: may be recognized as a clear “gap” in the anal sphincter on digital exam
- Confirm presence or absence of fecal impaction
- Anal lesions: hemorrhoids, fissures, rectovaginal fistula, or tumor
- Females: confirm presence or absence of rectocele & if possible, differentiate from anterocele; Dx perineal body deficiecy
Describe a vaginal examination
- Exam vaginal length (normal adult = 10-12cm) & mobility, presence of scarring and/or pain, & estrogenization (thickened, redundant, & pale pink appearance)
- Location of any vaginal pain should be noted
- Tenderness over the course of the pudendal nerve
Function of the core musculature on the pelvic floor
- Visceral support
- Sphincteric support (urethral meatus & anus)
- Sexual contracting muscles to respond to arousal & to enhance enjoyment
Pelvic floor muscle function can be qualitatively defined by
- Tone at rest & the strength of a voluntary or reflex contraction as strong, normal, weak or absent, or by a validated grading symptom
Define enterocele
- Like a hernia between the vagina and the rectum
Voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction & relaxation may be assessed by
- Visual inspection
- Digital palpation (circumferentially)
- Electromyography
- Dynamometry
- Perineometry
- Ultrasound
Describe correct and incorrect action of pelvic floor muscle contraction
- Correct: pelvic floor lifts, the deep abdominals draw in & there is no change in breathing
- Incorrect: pulling the belly button in towards the backbone & holding your breath can cause bearing-down on pelvic floor
Modified Oxford Scale (MOS) grading scale
- 0 = no contraction
- 1 = flicker
- 2 = weak
- 3 = moderate (w/lift) increased intravaginal pressure with small cranial elevation of the vaginal wall
- 4 = good (w/lift) fingers compressed with elevation of the vaginal wall towards pubic synthesis
- 5 = strong (w/lift) firm compression of examiners fingers & fingers pulled further into vagina
What factors should be assessed for pelvic floor muscle function
- Muscle strength
- Voluntary muscle relaxation: absent, partial, complete
- Musculature endurance: ability to sustain maximal or near maximal force
- Repeatability: the # of times a contraction to maximal or near maximal force can be performed
- Duration
- Coordination
Describe a perineometer
- Provides a number based measurement
- Digital palpation necessary to note correct contraction
- May be used as form of biofeedback
Define normal pelvic floor muscles
- Pelvic floor muscles which can voluntarily & involuntarily contract and relax
Define overactive pelvic floor muscles
- Pelvic floor muscles which do not relax, or may even contract when relaxation is functionally needed, for example, during micturition or defecation
Define underachieve pelvic floor muscles
- Pelvic floor muscles which cannot voluntarily contract when this is appropriate
Define non-functioning pelvic floor muscles
- Pelvic floor muscles where there is no action palpable
Define frequency volume chart (FVC)
- The recording of the time of each micturition & the volume voided for at least 24 hrs
- Ideally for 2-3 days
Define daytime urinary frequency
- Number of voids by day (wakeful hours including last void before sleep and first void after waking and rising).
Define nocturnal frequency/nocturia
- Number of times sleep is interrupted by the need to micturate. Each void is preceded and followed by sleep.
Define 24 hr frequency
- Total number of daytime voids and episodes of nocturia during a specified 24-hr period.
Define 24 hr urine production
- Summation of all urine volumes voided in 24 hrs
Define maximum voided volume
- Highest voided volume recorded
Define average voided volume
- Summation of volumes voided divided by the number of voids
Additional information obtained from the bladder diary involves severity of incontinence in terms of leakage episodes & pad usage including
- Fluid intake
- Pad usage
- Incontinence episodes
- Degree of incontinence
- Episodes of urgency & sensation
- Activities performed during or immediately preceding the involuntary loss of urine
What is the best estimate for healthy fluid intake
- Drink 1/2 body weight in ounces of fluid/day
- 2/3 should be water
Consequences of being dehydrated
- Dehydration concentrates the urine & irritates the bladder lining
- Many elderly pts are not drinking enough fluids
- If fluid loading occurs at the end of the day, a person may have to get up more at night
- Types of fluid can affect bladder health
List bladder irritants
- Alcohol
- Carbonated drinks
- Caffeine
- Citrus fruits/juices
- Tomatoes
- Spiced foods
- Chocolate
- Milk/milk products
- Artificial sweeteners
List typically less irritating foods & beverages
- Pears
- Watermelons
- Apircots
- Papayas
- Sun-brewed teas
- Non-citrus herbal teas
Risk factors for urinary incontinence
- Age
- Pregnancy (bothpre- and post-natal women)
- Menopause
- Obesity/ BMI
- Frequent urinary tract infections
- Constipation
- Prostatectomy*and hysterectomy
- Reduced mobility preventing person from getting to or using the toilet
- Neurological and musculoskeletal conditions such as multiple sclerosis and arthritis
- Health conditions such as diabetes, stroke, heart conditions, respiratory conditions, and prostate problems
What are the 4 steps/events of continence
- Bladder fills
- First sensation to void
- Normal desire to void
- Micturition
What occurs in the storage phase of continence
- 400-600ml
- Fills at 15 drops per minute
- Internal sphincter & pelvic floor muscles contracted, detrusor relaxed
- Outlet pressure > bladder pressure
- Should take bladder 2-4 hrs to fill
What occurs in the storage & first urge to void phase of continence
- 1st desire to void: 150-200ml
- Takes 3 hrs to fill
- Internal sphincter & pelvic floor muscles contracted
- Outlet pressure > bladder pressure
- Do not go on 1st urge as the bladder is less than half full typically
- Urge is delayed
What occurs in the normal desire to void & transition phase of continence
- Signal to void is recognized
- Voiding is postponed via Bradley’s loop 3 & cortex inhibition
- Internal sphincter & pelvic floor muscles contracted
- Outlet pressure > bladder pressure
- Do not go on 1st urge as the bladder is less than half full typically
What occurs in the micturition or voiding phase of continence
- Pelvic floor muscles relax
- Switches on bladder: Bradley’s loop #3
- Detrusor contracts & bladder pressure increases
- Empty fully: PVR 50ml or less
- Bladder pressure > outlet pressure
- In order to relax muscles, should sit or squat
Define incontinence
- Complaint of involuntary loss of urine
Define continuous (urinary) incontinence
- Complaint of continuous involuntary loss of urine
Define stress (urinary) incontinence
- Complaint of involuntary loss of urine on effort or physical exertion or on sneezing or coughing
Define urgency (urinary) incontinence
- Complaint of involuntary loss of urine associated with urgency
Define mixed (urinary) incontinence
- Complaint oof involuntary loss of urine associated with urgency & also with effort or physical exertion or on sneezing or coughing
Define nocturnal enuresis
- Complaint of involuntary urinary loss of urine which occurs during sleep
Define postural (urinary) incontinence
- Complaint of involuntary loss of urine associated with change of body position, for example rising from a seated or lying position
Define insensible (urinary) incontinence
- Complaint of urinary incontinence where the woman has been unaware of how it occurred