Value of pelvic floor ultrasound in the perioperative evaluation of transvaginal modified patch repair and sacrospinous ligament fixation

Abstract

Objective To investigate the value of evaluation of pelvic floor ultrasound in the transvaginal modified patch repair and sacrospinous ligament fixation in uterine prolapse patients. Methods Thirty-two patients with uterine prolapse were included in the retrospective study from March 2016 to January 2017 in Hangzhou maternity and child health care hospital. All patients were detected by pelvic floor ultrasound before operation and cured by vaginal patch bilateral sacral spine ligament fixation treatment after. Of them, 8 cases were complicated with cystocele and 3 cases with anorectal prolapse, and all the complications were treated at the same time. The observations of the change of position, shape and activity of the implant by transvaginal at rest, on maxium Valsalva and contraction, and the transperineal pelvic ultrasound were performed to evaluate the change of pelvic floor function and compare the distance from the lowest point of the bladder, uterus and the rectal ampulla to reference line (the horizontal line at the lower margin of the pubic bone), area of levator hiatus and the thickness of the puborectalis muscle before and after operation. Results The patches were observed 2D and 3D postoperatively by pelvic ultrasound. The U-shaped hyperecho could be clearly shown around the cervix and activity of patches were clearly shown. The observation of 32 cases of patients with pelvic viscera situation by the transperineal 2D and 4D pelvic ultrasound: the distance from the lowest point of the bladder, uterus and the rectal ampulla to reference line and the thickness of the puborectalis muscle enlarged after operation (0.65±1.85 vs 0.15±1.85, 2.80±1.10 vs -1.00±1.50, 0.60±1.90 vs -0.55±1.55, 0.51±0.24 vs 0.37±0.19) onmaxium valsalva, the area of levator hiatus decreased after operation (20.15±7.20 vs 29.00±9.50). The differences were both statistically significant (all P<0.05). Uterine prolapse were not found after operation. In the 8 cases with cystocele, 5 cases were cured and 3 cases were improved. And all the 3 cases of patients with anorectal prolapse were all cured. Conclusion Combined application of transvaginal and transperineal pelvic ultrasound can clearly show the suspension of the patch after the treatment of modified patch repair and Sacrospinous ligament fixation, which provide valuable imaging information in the evaluation of preoperative pelvic functionand postoperative therapeutic effect. Key words: Pelvic floor ultrasound; Uterine prolapse; Modified patch repair; Sacrospinous ligament fixation; Levator hiatus