Pubourethral Ligaments Research Articles

Prospective Evaluation of Feminizing Genitoplasty Using Partial Urogenital Sinus Mobilization for Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

We present our experience with partial urogenital sinus mobilization in girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, with particular attention to vaginal caliber, introitus position, urinary continence and genital appearance. We present data on a prospective evaluation of 24 girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia who underwent feminizing genitoplasty using urogenital sinus mobilization with preservation of the pubourethral ligaments during a 4-year period. Urogenital sinus length determined by cystoscopy and degree of external genitalia virilization, defined according to Prader classification, were evaluated before reconstruction. At followup patients were examined while under sedation for evaluation of overall external genitalia cosmesis and calibration of the vagina. Urinary continence status and voiding efficiency were assessed clinically in toilet trained patients by voiding diary, and measurement of bladder capacity and post-void residual by ultrasound. Patient age at operation ranged from 1 to 16 years (median 28.5 months), with a mean followup of 25 months (8 to 47). Degree of virilization was Prader type III in 3 children (12.5%), type IV in 16 (66.7%) and type V in 5 (20.8%). Urogenital sinus length was 2.5 cm or less in 17 children. Cosmetic results were good in 21 patients (87.5%) and satisfactory in 3 (12.5%). The vaginal and urethral openings were separate and identified at the surface of the vestibule in 21 girls. Adequate caliber of the mobilized vagina was achieved in 23 patients (95.8%). None of the 20 toilet trained children had urinary incontinence or recurrent urinary tract infections, with normal bladder emptying in 18 and small post-void residual in 2 (10%). Urinary continence and excellent cosmetic appearance with adequate exteriorization of the vaginal and urethral openings can be achieved in most children with urogenital sinus anomaly treated with partial urogenital sinus mobilization.

Partial urogenital mobilization: A limited proximal dissection

Introduction The treatment of urogenital sinus malformations is complex and controversial. Despite numerous and significant contemporary surgical advances, the dissection of the urogenital sinus remains technically challenging. Methods Based on total urogenital mobilization, we describe a technique whereby this dissection is limited to the pubourethral ligament. Our short-term results with partial urogenital mobilization (PUM) performed on 15 patients are retrospectively reviewed. Results There were no intraoperative complications and the short-term cosmetic results are excellent. No patients have developed voiding dysfunction or urinary tract complications. Conclusions While total urogenital mobilization is a very effective procedure, we believe that the PUM approach limits potential morbidity in the reconstruction of these complex problems.

Voiding dysfunction after the tension-free vaginal tape procedure

Throughout the past decade, pubovaginal slings have become the most widely used surgical procedure for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence. However, despite its widespread use and success rates, it is associated with a significant complication rate. In response to the high complication rate, the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) was introduced. Based on the integral theory that stress urinary incontinence results from defective urethral support, the TVT consists of a loosely placed piece of prolene mesh under the urethra to recreate the pubourethral ligament. However, despite its tension-free nature, studies have shown that the TVT causes postoperative voiding dysfunction in 2.8% to 14% of patients. Radiologic and urodynamic studies suggest that postoperative voiding dysfunction is related to a change in outflow resistance during voiding, not to a change in the bladder neck positioning at rest. Although voiding dysfunction appears to be less after TVT than colposuspensions and the early pubovaginal slings, it does exist and patients should be warned of the potential complication.

ROLE OF SLING INTEGRITY IN THE RESTORATION OF LEAK POINT PRESSURE IN THE RAT VAGINAL SLING MODEL

We tested the hypothesis that cutting the sling at its suburethral section does not cancel its anti-incontinence effect. We also examined the long-term effects of the sling on bladder function in a recently validated rat model of vaginal sling. Stress urinary incontinence was created in 60 female Sprague-Dawley rats by the previously established method of bilateral pudendal nerve transection. Under anesthesia 20 animals received a vaginal sling, 20 received a vaginal sling in which the suburethral portion of the sling was cut immediately after placement and 20 received a sham vaginal sling. Six weeks after the procedures leak point pressure was determined and a cystometrogram was done using anesthesia in each animal via a previously implanted suprapubic catheter. Kruskal-Wallis and pairwise separate rank multiple comparison tests were performed with a significance level of 0.05. The cut and intact slings increased leak point pressure similarly and these values were significantly higher than that of the sham sling (24.9 and 27.9 cm H2O, respectively, vs 20.7, p <0.0001). Peak micturition pressure was not significantly different among the 3 groups, indicating absent bladder outlet obstruction in the sling groups. Bladder compliance was significantly decreased 6 weeks after placement of a cut or intact sling compared with the sham sling (p = 0.007 and 0.05, respectively). An intact suburethral portion is not a requirement for sling effectiveness in the rat model of stress urinary incontinence. However, the sling procedure decreases bladder compliance. This may explain the observed voiding dysfunction associated with sling procedures.

Midline intravaginal slingplasty for treatment of urinary stress incontinence: results of an independent audit up to 2 years after surgery

Recently, the midline intravaginal slingplasty (anterior IVS) directed at reinforcing the pubourethral ligament was introduced for treatment of urinary stress incontinence. An independent telephone interview to evaluate urinary symptoms and surgery-related changes in quality of life was performed between 12 and 32 months after surgery. Of 52 women initially enrolled, 3 were lost during follow-up. None of the patients experienced infection, rejection or erosion of the tape. The procedure failed in 7 patients whereas in 42 patients cure of stress incontinence was achieved. This was not only verified by clinical examination at initial follow-up but also confirmed by the patients at the time of the interview. Although about two-thirds of the patients reported urge incontinence and/or voiding difficulties during their interview, the validation of the surgery was rather high and only in a minority did urinary complaints translate into reduced quality of life.

Female urethral reconstruction

The female urethra is relatively short compared with its male counterpart and is generally between 2 and 4 cm in length. It is made up of an inner layer of mucosal epithelium with numerous infoldings that create an effective seal against the passive loss of urine. Beneath the mucosa lies a rich, vascular network of elastic tissue that is much like the corpus spongiosum. Surrounding the spongy vascular tube is a collagen-rich fibromuscular envelope comprising the periurethral fascia. These three components of a normal urethra are crucial in maintaining continence and enabling dynamic function during increases in abdominal pressure and during normal micturition. Two fascial attachments suport the urethra: the pubourethral and urethropelvic ligaments. The pubourethral ligaments are a band of fascial support located superiorly between the urethra and pubic symphysis. These ligaments often serve as a point of anatomic division between the proximal and distal urethra. The urethropelvic ligaments are comprised of two layers of fascial condensation, the endopelvic fascia and the pubocervical fascia, whichprovide lateral attachment to the arcus tendineus. Themidurethra is believed to be the center of continence where the striated sphincter complex maintains active and passive tone. A basic understanding of female urethral anatomy is necessary to approach urethral reconstruction from an anatomic standpoint. This article reviews the techniques of female urethral reconstruction based on these anatomic divisions: proximal and bladder neck, midurethra, and distal urethra.

The tension-free vaginal tape procedure

This article discusses the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure, which attempts to recreate urethral support at the level of the pubourethral ligaments by placing a polypropylene sling at the midurethra as opposed to the bladder neck. The procedure has the proposed advantage of being done under local anesthesia and being an outpatient surgery and can be performed transvaginally or suprapubically.

The urethra and its supporting structures in women with stress urinary incontinence: MR imaging using an endovaginal coil.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the urethra and its supporting structures in patients with stress urinary incontinence using MR imaging with an endovaginal coil. We reviewed MR images obtained using an endovaginal coil in 63 patients with stress urinary incontinence and in 16 continent women. We compared the two groups for the thickness of the striated muscle, smooth muscle, and mucosa-submucosa of the urethra; degree of asymmetry of the puborectalis muscle; frequency of distortion in the periurethral, paraurethral, and pubourethral ligaments; degree of the vesicourethral angle; and dimension of the retropubic space. Using the status of the urethra and its supporting structures as our basis, we scored the risk of stress urinary incontinence for each woman on a scale of 0-5. The striated muscle layer of the urethra was thinner in the group with stress urinary incontinence (mean +/- SD, 1.9 +/- 0.5 mm) than that in the continent group (2.6 +/- 0.4 mm) (p < 0.001). A high degree of asymmetry of puborectalis muscle (>1.5) was more frequent in the group with stress urinary incontinence (29%) than in the continent group (0%) (p = 0.015). Supporting ligaments were more frequently distorted in the incontinent group than in the continent group. Distorted periurethral ligaments were found in 56% of the patients with stress urinary incontinence versus 13% of the women who were continent; distorted paraurethral ligaments were found in 83% of the patients with stress urinary incontinence versus 19% of the women who were continent; and distorted pubourethral ligaments were found in 54% of the patients with stress urinary incontinence versus 19% of the women who were continent (p < 0.05). The group with stress urinary incontinence had a greater vesicourethral angle (148 degrees vs 125 degrees ) and larger retropubic space (7.5 vs 5.1 mm) than did the women who were continent (p < 0.05). The score for the risk of stress urinary incontinence was higher in the group with stress urinary incontinence (3.3 +/- 1.4) than in the women who were continent (1.0 +/- 1.2) (p < 0.001). MR imaging with an endovaginal coil revealed significant morphologic alterations of the urethra and supporting structures in patients with stress urinary incontinence.

Tension-free vaginal tape failure caused by sling displacement and successfully retreated using Burch colposuspension.

In 1995 Ulmsten and Petros first described the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure as a minimally invasive treatment of genuine stress incontinence (GSI). It restores the pubourethral ligament and subvaginal hammock and has cure rates comparable to retropubic urethropexy. While the success rate is comparable to traditional sling procedures it requires a hospital stay of less than 24 h. The causes of failure of this procedure have not been reported in the literature. We report a case of recurrent GSI after TVT that was then successfully treated by colposuspension. The cause of the failure is also discussed. (excerpt)

Highlights Of The Society Of Urologic Oncology Meeting, June 2, 2001

Highlights Of The Society Of Urologic Oncology Meeting, June 2, 2001

TVT: On Midurethral Tape Positioning and its Influence on Continence

All known original and subsequent publications describing the treatment of stress urinary incontinence by means of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) assert that fixing the tape in a midurethral position is an absolute requirement for restoring continence and avoiding bladder voiding disorders. These studies assume that TVT works by replacing defective pubourethral ligaments inserting at the midurethra. In 20 patients we intraoperatively marked the suburethral position of the tape by metal clips and X-ray-proof string, and documented this postoperatively by X-ray images. In most cases the tape was located in the proximal third of the urethra, which did not cause a higher rate of bladder voiding disorders. All 20 patients became continent through the operation. We do not contest the efficiency of the TVT procedure, but we disprove first, that correctly performed operations always result in the midurethral location of the tape, and secondly that the midurethral position is decisive for its success.

Pubourethral ligaments in women: anatomical and clinical aspects.

The anatomy and histological structure of the proximal (PPUL), distal (DPUL) and intermediate (IPUL) pubourethral ligaments in women was examined to improve the understanding of their roles in female urethral physiology. An anatomical study of the pelvis was carried out in 10 adult female cadavers (60-102 years), the pelvis being removed and frozen prior to dissection. The pubourethral ligaments (PUL) were dissected in sagittal sections in seven specimens and in a frontal section in one specimen; the remaining two pelves were dissected using a hypogastric approach. The location, insertion, direction and histological structure of the ligamentous structures were studied. The PUL were identified in all 10 dissections, being paired, symmetrical, pearly-white, fibrous and resistant to stretching. The bony (parietal) insertion was variable on the posterior surface of the pubis, while the visceral insertion was located on the dorsal aspect of the proximal third of the urethra and neck of the bladder for the PPUL and on the distal third of the urethra for the DPUL. Histologically, the ligaments were composed of dense collagen fibres and bundles of axially orientated smooth muscle fibres. The PPUL was closely associated with the sphincter urogenitalis muscle, whereas the DPUL appeared to reinforce the role of the compressor urethra. It is suggested that the PUL plays an effective role in passive and active suspension of the urethra. The pubourethral ligaments are a constant anatomical entity which should be spared in urethral surgery in women in order to ensure an intact urogenital sphincter.

Identificação das estruturas músculo-ligamentares do assoalho pélvico feminino na ressonância magnética

OBJETIVO: Determinar a freqüência de identificação das estruturas músculo-ligamentares do assoalho pélvico por meio de exames de ressonância magnética e avaliar o índice de concordância entre os observadores. MÉTODO: Estudo prospectivo em 20 voluntárias assintomáticas, idade de 20 a 80 anos (média de 50 anos). Realizados exames de ressonância magnética pélvica (1,5 T) nas seqüências turbo spin-eco ponderadas em T1 e T2 nos planos axial e sagital. Os exames foram avaliados por dois observadores independentes, que procuraram identificar os músculos levantador do ânus (músculos coccígeo, pubococcígeo, iliococcígeo e puborretal), obturador interno e compressor da uretra e os ligamentos pubovesical e pubouretral. Os resultados foram comparados com base na freqüência de identificação das estruturas anatômicas e na concordância entre os observadores (índice kappa -- kapa). RESULTADOS: A freqüência de identificação das estruturas variou de 50% a 100%, sendo pouco inferior para os ligamentos. A concordância interobservador na identificação das estruturas foi a seguinte: músculos levantador do ânus e obturador interno (kapa=1), pubococcígeo (kapa=0,62), iliococcígeo (kapa=0,86), puborretal (kapa=0,27), coccígeo (kapa=0) e compressor da uretra (kapa=1), e ligamentos pubovesical (kapa=0,50) e pubouretral (kapa=0,58). CONCLUSÃO: A ressonância magnética de pelve permite identificar as principais estruturas músculo-ligamentares do assoalho pélvico na grande maioria dos indivíduos, com boa concordância interobservador.

Continence-preserving anatomic radical retropubic prostatectomy

Introduction. Urinary continence, especially in regard to the time required to regain urinary control after radical prostatectomy, remains a significant complication of the procedure. Technical Considerations. The “no touch” or “avoidance” surgical principles that are the basis for continence-preserving radical prostatectomy primarily focus on the preservation of the following components of the external striated urethral sphincteric complex: the entire circumferential musculature of the rhabdosphincter, the fascial investments (the pubourethral ligaments anterolaterally and median fibrous raphe posteriorly), and the innervation of both the rhabdosphincter by way of the intrapelvic branch of the pudendal nerve (somatic) and the mucosal and smooth muscle components by way of the urethral branch of the inferior hypogastric plexus (autonomic). Conclusions. The clinical impact of preserving the external striated urethral sphincter, its innervation, and its fascial attachments by performing a continence-preserving anatomic retropubic prostatectomy is a shorter time to achieve urinary continence.

PREDICTING THE NEED FOR ANTI-INCONTINENCE SURGERY IN CONTINENT WOMEN UNDERGOING REPAIR OF SEVERE UROGENITAL PROLAPSE

We determined the indications for anti-incontinence surgery in continent women undergoing surgical repair of severe urogenital prolapse. We prospectively evaluated 24 continent women referred for evaluation of severe urogenital prolapse. All patients underwent a meticulous clinical evaluation, including a complete history and physical examination, urinary questionnaire, voiding diary, pad test, cotton swab test, video urodynamics and cystoscopy. The urodynamic evaluation was repeated with prolapse repositioning by a fitted vaginal pessary. Surgical intervention was tailored according to urodynamic findings. Reduction of prolpase with a pessary unmasked sphincteric incontinence in 14 women (58%). Ten women with no urodynamic evidence of sphincteric incontinence underwent anterior colporrhaphy and no additional anti-incontinence procedure was performed. Mean followup was 44 months (range 12 to 96). None had postoperative stress incontinence but 1 (10%) had a recurrent grade 2 cystocele. The 14 remaining women with sphincteric incontinence after prolapse reduction underwent anterior colporrhaphy with a pubovaginal sling procedure. Mean followup in these cases was 47 months (range 12 to 108). In 2 patients (14%) stress incontinence developed postoperatively and 1 (7%) had a recurrent grade 3 cystocele. The incidence of urge incontinence did not appear to be significantly influenced by either surgical intervention. Overall 12 patients had preoperative urge incontinence, of whom 9 (75%) had persistent urge incontinence postoperatively. In another woman new onset urge incontinence developed. Preoperative urodynamic evaluation with and without prolapse reduction is essential for making the correct diagnosis of masked stress incontinence in women with urogenital prolapse. The decision to perform a concomitant prophylactic anti-incontinence procedure should be tailored to individual urodynamic findings. Larger series and longer followup are needed to establish the most effective preventive procedure for this troublesome clinical problem.

Connective tissue in female urinary incontinence.

An effective closure of the female urethra in stress situations is dependent on an integrated action of various anatomical structures connected to the organ. The most important of these structures - from a functional aspect - are the suburethral vaginal wall, the pubourethral ligaments, the pubococcygeus muscles and the paraurethral connective tissues. In all these structures connective tissue is an essential ingredient. Hence, defects in the actual connective tissue - in particular the paraurethral connective tissue that connects the aforementioned structures to each other and to the urethra - will bring about an ineffective urethral closure. Female urinary incontinence may then be caused by defective connective tissue per se and/or by a disconnection of the aforementioned structures, whereby the urethra cannot be 'kinked' - that is, closed off in stress situations.

The pubourethral ligaments--an anatomical and histological study in the live patient.

The aim of the study was to analyze the structure, relations and insertions of the pubourethral ligament in the living female. Thirty-five women, mean age 44 years, were studied. The intravaginal slingplasty (IVS) procedure, as performed via two paraurethral incisions, allowed immediate access to the structures in this area, the urethra, vaginal hammock, pubourethral ligaments and anterior portion of the pubococcygeus muscle. Histological biopsies were performed from the structures identified as ligaments. The pubourethral ligament descends like a fan from the lower part of the pubic bone. It consists of vaginal and urethral parts, joined together by thin fibrous threads, giving the appearance of a continuous sheet of amorphous connective tissue. Each part generally varies between 5 and 7 mm in width and 3-4 mm in thickness. The urethral part is approximately 2 cm long and inserts into the midpart of the urethra. The vaginal part is approximately 3-4 cm long. It inserts into the vaginal hammock posterolaterally, approximately 1 cm short of the bladder neck. Histologically the ligaments consist of smooth muscle, elastin, collagen, nerves and, blood vessels. The dissections confirm that the pubourethral ligaments are strong finite structures. Allowing for differences between cadavers and live patients, relationships and insertions are much as described by Robert Zacharin.

Transrectal sonographic investigation of urethral and paraurethral structures in women with stress urinary incontinence.

Transrectal sonography of the urethra was used in 14 asymptomatic volunteers, 37 women with frequency-urgency syndrome, 42 patients with mild stress urinary incontinence, and 18 with severe stress urinary incontinence. Transverse scanning over the midurethra was performed and cross-sectional images of the urethral and paraurethral structures were compared among the four groups, with P < 0.05 being considered statistically significant. The total cross-sectional area of the midurethra was significantly smaller in patients with stress urinary incontinence than in those without this disorder (86.7+/-29.9 versus 104+/-35.6 mm2, P = 0.005); this difference resulted from a significantly smaller peripheral striated muscle component in patients with stress urinary incontinence (42.8+/-20.7 versus 58.3+/-27.3 mm2, P = 0.001). The thickness of the urethropelvic ligaments was significantly thinner in patients with stress urinary incontinence than in those without (5.9+/-1.7 versus 8.9+/-2.1 mm, P < 0.001). The distribution of the peripheral striated muscle around the urethra was variable: complete surrounding the urethra was noted in 35.7% of the control women and in 48.6% of frequency-urgency patients, but only in 16.7% of patients with mild stress urinary incontinence and 5.3% of patients with severe disease. Bladder neck incompetence was seen in 42 patients with stress urinary incontinence but in none of the control women. The length of the pubourethral ligaments was similar in the four groups. Our finding showed that stress urinary patients had a smaller striated muscle component in the midurethra and thinner urethropelvic ligaments. These defects in the continence mechanisms might have great implications in the pathophysiology of stress urinary incontinence. Transrectal sonography of the urethra is a valuable investigative tool in assessing urethral and paraurethral conditions in patients with stress urinary incontinence before deciding treatment modality.

Vaginal Surgery for Genital Prolapse Associated with Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Retrospective Study

This is a retrospective analysis of the results obtained in 60 cases of urogenital prolapse associated with either medium (stress test grade III) or severe-stress (stress test grade IV) stress urinary incontinence (SUI) who underwent vaginal hysterectomy, anterior colporraphy, plication of the posterior pubourethral ligaments, and colpoperineorraphy. The surgical, anatomic, and functional outcome was evaluated in the long term during a median follow-up period of 32 months. One year after surgery, the anatomy of the vaginal profile was successfully restored in 90% of patients. The cure rate of the patients with grade III stress test was 96% at the 2-month postsurgical evaluation, 90% after 1 year, and 76% after two years. The cure rate of the patients with grade IV stress test was 80% at the 2-month postsurgical evaluation, but the 1-year cure rate was reduced to 68% and fell further to 52% after 2 years. We conclude that although these data do not reach statistical significance, an exclusively vaginal approach may be satisfactory as cure of genital prolapse associated with moderate SUI, while in the case of associated severe SUI, the success rate is unacceptably low. Nevertheless, because of its simplicity, a vaginal procedure is still the most favored solution for patients in poor general conditions. (J GYNECOL SURG 14:175, 1998)

The functional anatomy of the urethra: Role of the pubourethral ligaments

OBJECTIVE: This clinical study examines and defines the functional anatomy of the urethra as it relates to the Valsalva and Kegel maneuvers and to urethral stability. STUDY DESIGN: Dissection of embalmed cadavers and examination of 60 patients were performed to study adjunct structures in urethral stability. Provocative maneuvers (Valsalva and Kegel) were used in all 60 patients. Urethral prolapse was graded with use of the International Continence Society classification. RESULTS: Cadaveric dissection confirmed the structural anatomy of the pubourethral muscles and ligaments. Physical examination in 30 patients revealed a lack of urethral stability in all patients with stress urinary incontinence. In 30 patients acting as normal controls, no urinary incontinence was present, and all maintained urethral stability with provocation. The urethrovesical junction was mobile in all patients in performing a Valsalva maneuver. CONCLUSION: Intact pubourethral ligamentous and muscular attachments aid in stabilizing the urethra to its normal anatomic position. This helps maintain continence. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1997;176:1200-5.)