PROLAPSE AND INCONTINENCE Flashcards
How common is urogenital prolapse?
Affects 40% of post-menopausal women
Lifetime risk is up to 19%
Types of urogenital prolapse?
Which is most common?
Cystocele or cystourethrocele - most common type
Rectocele
Uterine prolapse
Vault prolapse
Others: urethrocele, enterocele
What causes urogenital prolapse?
Weakness and lengthening of the ligaments and muscles surrounding the uterus, rectum and bladder
What is a uterine prolapse?
When the uterus itself descends into the vagina
What is a vault prolapse?
Occurs in women that have had a hysterectomy
The vault of the vagina (top) descends into the vagina
What is a rectocele?
Posterior vaginal wall defect allows the rectum to prolapse forwards into the vagina
Symptoms specific for rectocele?
Significant constipation, urinary retention - due to Faecal loading
Many women will push the prolapsed contents back into the vagina, correcting the anatomical position of the rectum, and allowing them to open their bowels
What is a cystocele?
Defect in the anterior vaginal wall allows the bladder to prolapse backward into the vagina
What is a cystourethrocele?
Prolapse f the bladder and the urethra
What is an enterocele?
Herniation of the punch of Douglas into the vagina (including small intestine)
Risk factors for urogenital prolapse?
Increasing age and post menopausal status
Multiple vaginal deliveries
Instrumental, prolonged or traumatic delivery
Obesity
Chronic resp disease causing coughing
Chronic constipation causing straining
Spina bifida
Presentation of a urogenital prolapse?
sensation of pressure, heaviness, ‘bearing-down’, dragging in the vagina or pelvis
urinary symptoms: incontinence, frequency, urgency, weak stream, retention
Bowel symptoms: constipation, incontinence, urgency
Sexual dysfunction: pain, altered sensation and reduced enjoyment
Bulge which can be pushed back in and worsens on straining or bearing down
Examination for a urogenital prolapse?
Empty bladder and bowels before examination
Examine on dorsal and left lateral position
Use a sim’s speculum - U-shaped single-bladed speculum which can be used to support the anterior or posterior vaginal wall while the other vaginal walls are examined e.g. hold on anterior wall to examine for a rectocele
Cough test - ask to cough to assess full descent of prolapse and see if stress incontinence
Ask woman to “bear down” for the same reasons as above
What grading system do we use for urogenital prolapse?
Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification System (POP-Q)
Outline the POP-Q system
Grade 0: Normal
Grade 1: The lowest part is more than 1cm above the introitus
Grade 2: The lowest part is within 1cm of the introitus (above or below)
Grade 3: The lowest part is more than 1cm below the introitus, but not fully descended
Grade 4: Full descent with eversion of the vagina
Management options for a urogenital prolapse?
Conservative
Pessary
Surgery
Conservative management of urogenital prolapse?
Weight loss
Pelvic floor msucle exercises - may include referral to physio - do these for at least 16 weeks!
High fibre diet to avoid constipation
Avoid lifting heavy objects
For any stress incontinence: Reduce caffeine intake and Incontinence pads
Vaginal oestrogen cream to ease some symptms e.g. dyspareunia or vaginal dryness
Types of vaginal pessaries?
Ring pessary
Shelf and gellhorn pessary
Cube pessary
Donut pessary
Hodge pessary
Which pessary is used if pt is sexually active?
Ring pessary
Management of vaginal pessaries?
Women often have to try a few types of pessary before finding the correct comfort and symptom relief
Remove and clean them or change them every 4-6 months
Can last up to 10 years
May need oestrogen cream to help protect vaginal walls from irritation
Side effects of vaginal pessaries?
BV - smelly discharge
Irritation, soreness or bleeding in vagina
Stress incontinence
UTI
Interference with sex
Surgical options for a rectocele?
Posterior colporrhaphy
Sugrical options for a uterine prolapse?
Hysterectomy
Sacrohysteropexy (mesh attaches cervix to sacral region)
Surgical options for cystocele or cystourethrocele?
Anterior colporrhaphy
Complications of pelvic organ prolapse surgery?
Pain, bleeding, infection, DVT
risks associated with anaesthetic
Damage to the bladder or bowel
Recurrence of the prolapse
Altered experience of sex
Vaginal discharge or bleeding
The controversy over mesh repairs for urogenital prolapse?
NICE recommend mesh procedures should be avoided entirely
They can cause chronic pain, mesh exposure (where it sticks out through the surgery cut and into the vaginal canal), altered sensation, dyspareunia, abnormal bleeding, urinary/bowel problems
Risk factors that predispose a person to develop stress urinary incontinence?
Increasing age
Pregnancy and vaginal delivery - may damage pudendal or pelvix nerves
Increased pressure on tummy e.g. pregnancy or obesity
Constipation
Prolapse
Oestrogen deficient states
FHx
Smoking - chronic cough -> may contribute
Damage to bladder during surgery
Certain meds - ACEi, diuretics, antidepressants, HRT, sedatives