3D Ultrasound Strain Imaging of Puborectalis Muscle

Shreya Das,Hendrik H.G Hansen,Gijs A.G.M Hendriks,Frieda Van Den Noort,Claudia Manzini,C Huub Van Der Vaart,Chris L De Korte

doi:10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2020.11.016

Abstract

The female pelvic floor (PF) muscles provide support to the pelvic organs. During delivery, some of these muscles have to stretch up to three times their original length to allow passage of the baby, leading frequently to damage and consequently later-life PF dysfunction (PFD). Three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound (US) imaging can be used to image these muscles and to diagnose the damage by assessing quantitative, geometric and functional information of the muscles through strain imaging. In this study we developed 3D US strain imaging of the PF muscles and explored its application to the puborectalis muscle (PRM), which is one of the major PF muscles.

Highlights

Female pelvic floor (PF) muscles provide support to the pelvic organs by compensating for gravity and abdominal pressure (Hoyte and Damaser, 2016)
Vaginal delivery is associated with multiple levator ani muscles (LAM) defects, all of which are risk factors for later-life pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) (Dalpiaz and Curti 2006; Shek and Dietz 2010; Tubaro et al 2011; Dixit et al 2014; Dieter et al 2015; Notten et al 2017; de Araujo et al 2018)
Accumulated displacement estimates In volunteer 1, at the time point at which the muscle is at rest (Figure 5a, 5d, 5g, first column), the estimated displacements between the first two volumes are quite low in all directions, which is expected at rest

Summary

Introduction

Female pelvic floor (PF) muscles provide support to the pelvic organs by compensating for gravity and abdominal pressure (Hoyte and Damaser, 2016). LAM is extended by approximately 245%, allowing the levator hiatus (LH) to widen during crowning (DeLancey et al 2007; Shek and Dietz 2010; Tubaro et al 2011; Dixit et al 2014; Dieter et al 2015). Vaginal delivery is associated with multiple LAM defects, all of which are risk factors for later-life pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) (Dalpiaz and Curti 2006; Shek and Dietz 2010; Tubaro et al 2011; Dixit et al 2014; Dieter et al 2015; Notten et al 2017; de Araujo et al 2018). It has been reported that the primary cause of these late-age

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Conclusion