Transperineal Ultrasonography Research Articles

EP25.01: Study of usefulness to evaluate objectively the fetal head rotation and degree of descent using transperineal ultrasonography for delivery management

EP25.01: Study of usefulness to evaluate objectively the fetal head rotation and degree of descent using transperineal ultrasonography for delivery management

Effect of structured pelvic floor muscle training on pelvic floor muscle contraction and treatment of pelvic organ prolapse in postpartum women: ultrasound and clinical evaluations.

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of structured pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) on pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction and the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in postpartum women. Sixty patients who volunteered for a PFMT assessment at 6-8weeks after delivery were included in this retrospective analysis. For 5 weeks, all patients had structured PFMT, which included supervised daily pelvic muscle contractions, biofeedback therapy, and electrical stimulation. The main outcomes were POP stage assessed by POP quantification (POP-Q), pelvic organ position and hiatus area (HA) assessed by transperineal ultrasound, PFM contraction assessed by Modified Oxford scale (MOS), surface electromyography (EMG), and sensation of PFM graded using visual analog scale (VAS). Structured PFMT was associated with better POP-Q scores in Aa, Ba, C, and D (p values were 0.01, 0.001, 0.017, and 0.001 separately). The bladder neck at rest and maximum Valsalva, the cervix position and HA at maximum Valsalva in transperineal ultrasound were significantly better than before (p values were 0.031, < 0.001, 0.043, and < 0.001 separately). PFM contraction assessed by MOS, EMG, and PFM VAS score were significantly improved (all p values were < 0.001). However, no significant improvement was observed in POP-Q stage. Structured PFMT can increase PFM function in postpartum women but cannot modify the POP-Q stage. Transperineal ultrasonography is a useful method for evaluating therapy efficacy objectively. More randomized controlled trials are needed before definitive conclusions can be drawn about the effect of structured PFMT on POP in postpartum women.

Does transperineal ultrasound predict the risk of perineal trauma in women with term pregnancy? A prospective observational study.

This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of perineal trauma during childbirth and to assess the correlations of the pelvic floor dimensions and fetal head station with obstetric trauma in a prospectively recruited cohort of women. The study included women with a gestational age of at least 37 weeks, who were carrying a single fetus in a cephalic presentation. Transperineal ultrasound (TPU) was performed prior to the onset of labor or labor induction. The purpose was to measure the anteroposterior diameter (APD) of the levator ani muscle (LAM) and the angle of progression, at both rest and maximum Valsalva maneuver. The head-perineum distance was assessed only at rest. A total of 296 women were included. Of the 253 women who delivered vaginally, 19% (48/253) experienced no perineal trauma, 18.2% (46/253) received an episiotomy during childbirth, 34.4% (87/253) sustained a first-degree laceration, 25.3% (64/253) had a second-degree laceration, and 3.2% had a third- or fourth-degree laceration (8/253). Women with episiotomy had a significantly shorter median APD under Valsalva than women without perineal trauma. Furthermore, women with LAM coactivation (identified by a negative difference between the APD at Valsalva and the APD at rest) were approximately three times more likely to undergo an operative vaginal delivery and over five times more likely to sustain a third- or fourth-degree tear during childbirth than women who exhibited normal relaxation of the LAM during the Valsalva maneuver. TPU may predict the risk of perineal trauma in women with term pregnancy during childbirth.

Differentiation of Active Ulcerative Colitis vs Noninflammatory Bowel Disease Proctitis by Transperineal Superb Microvascular Imaging.

Transabdominal ultrasonography and transperineal ultrasonography (TPUS) appear correspond to colonoscopy (CS) for evaluating ulcerative colitis (UC) activity, but their utility in UC diagnosis remains unclear. This research compared the accuracy of TPUS and CS for assessing rectal activity and differentiating noninflammatory bowel disease proctitis from UC in pediatric cases. The study is a blinded, prospective, and controlled trial. Prospectively, values of fecal calprotectin (FCP) and findings of the TPUS and CS were compared between child cases of UC and non-IBD proctitis. Findings of rectal wall thickening (RWT), rectal wall flow (RWF) on power Doppler, and microvascular signal at wall circumference (MSWC) on monochrome superb microvascular imaging assessed using TPUS were compared with the CS. Thirty patients with Mayo endoscopic subscore (MES) 0 to 1 UC, 57 with MES 2 to 3 UC, and 44 with proctitis were registered. Fecal calprotectin, RWF, and MSWC indicated significant differences among the groups (P < .05). Rectal wall thickening showed no significant difference between MES 0-1 and proctitis (P = .76). Rectal wall thickening and MSWC were independent predictors of endoscopic activity of UC, resulting in a sensitivity and specificity of 100% for RWT ≥4.5 mm and positive MSWC. Fecal calprotectin and RWF were independent predictors for differentiating MES 0 to 1 and proctitis, and FCP and RWT were independent predictors for differentiating MES 2 to 3 and proctitis. Sensitivity and specificity were 77.2% and 80.9%, respectively, for FCP >242.5 μg/g and RWF negative; and they were both 100% for RWT >4.1 mm and MSWC positive. Transperineal ultrasonography with mSMI may enable the evaluation of rectal activity and differentiation of UC from non-IBD proctitis with accuracy comparable to endoscopy.

A Novel Magnetic Resonance Imaging/Ultrasound Fusion Prostate Biopsy Technique Using Transperineal Ultrasound: An Initial Experience

To report an initial experience with a novel, "fully" transperineal (TP) prostate fusion biopsy using an unconstrained ultrasound transducer placed on the perineal skin to guide biopsy needles inserted via a TP approach. Conventional TP prostate biopsies for detection of prostate cancer have been performed with transrectal ultrasound, requiring specialized hardware, imposing limitations on needle trajectory, and contributing to patient discomfort. Seventy-six patients with known or suspected prostate cancer underwent 78 TP biopsy sessions in an academic center between June 2018 and April 2022 and were included in this study. These patients underwent TP prostate fusion biopsy using a grid or freehand device with transrectal ultrasound as well as TP prostate fusion biopsy using TP ultrasound in the same session. Per-session and per-lesion cancer detection rates were compared for conventional and fully TP biopsies using Fisher exact and McNemar's tests. After a refinement period in 30 patients, 92 MRI-visible prostate lesions were sampled in 46 subsequent patients, along with repeat biopsies in 2 of the 30 patients from the refinement period. Grade group ≥2 cancer was diagnosed in 24/92 lesions (26%) on conventional TP biopsy (17 lesions with grid, 7 with freehand device), and in 25/92 lesions (27%) on fully TP biopsy (P=1.00), with a 73/92 (79%) rate of agreement for grade group ≥2 cancer between the two methods. Fully TP biopsy is feasible and may detect prostate cancer with detection rates comparable to conventional TP biopsy.

Relationship between Q-Tip Test and Urethral Hypermobility on Perineal Ultrasound.

The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between the overall rest-stress distance measured by transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) and Q-tip test angle in women with urodynamic stress incontinence (USI), and determine a cut-off value of rest-stress distance for predicting urethral hypermobility (UH). Women with USI scheduled for mid-urethral sling surgery were retrospectively recruited. UH was defined as a Q-tip angle more than or equal to 30 degrees. Ultrasonic measurement of the overall rest-stress distance was defined as the linear distance of bladder-neck position change from resting status to maximal strain. Among the 132 enrolled women, the Pearson correlation coefficient between the overall rest-stress distance in TPUS and Q-tip test angle was 0.9104 (95% CI, 0.8758-0.9357, p < 0.001). In receiver-operating-characteristic-curve analysis, a rest-stress distance of more than 13.3 mm was an optimal cut-off value to predict UH (sensitivity = 76.47%, specificity = 93.3%; area = 0.937, 95% confidence interval: 0.881-0.972). The overall rest-stress distance in TPUS correlated well with the Q-tip test angle, indicating that it can be an alternative method for the assessment of USI. A rest-stress distance of more than 13.3 mm was an optimal cut-off value to predict UH in women with USI.

Feasibility of using transperineal ultrasound as a diagnostic test in perianal abscesses and fistulas under resource-limited setting: A retrospective study

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of preoperative transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) in evaluating perianal abscesses and fistulas under a resource-limited setting and compared it with surgical findings as gold standards. Material and Methods: A retrospective study conducted between February 2017 and March 2020, involving 85 patients who were presented to the emergency department with suspected perianal suppurative conditions and underwent TPUS with a 4- to 7-MHz curved transducer, were enrolled. Perianal abscesses and fistulas were classified according to the American Gastroenterological Association criteria and Parks’ classification. Data on patients’ characteristics, TPUS findings, and operative findings were analyzed. The sensitivity and accuracy of preoperative TPUS in detecting lesions were assessed and compared with the surgical findings as gold standards. Result: The mean age of study participants was 32.12 ± 13.83 years and there were 69 (81.2%) men and 16 (18.8%) women. The TPUS findings were consistent with surgical results in 74 out of 85 patients. In 11 out of the 85 cases, preoperative TPUS missed the diagnosis, and in 5 (6.7%) out of 74 cases, TPUS showed other abnormalities. Perianal abscesses, fistula, and mixed abscesses (with fistula or sinus) were observed in 29 (39.2%), 34 (46%), and 6 (8.1%) cases, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of TPUS in detecting perianal abscesses and fistulas were 86%, 100%, and 87%, respectively. TPUS correctly detected all perianal abscesses with their subtypes (sensitivity of 100%, excellent degree of correlation, k = 1). In the case of fistulas, the accuracy of TPUS in detecting subtype fistula was 87.5% (excellent degree of correlation, k = 0.81); however, it showed low sensitivity in identifying suprasphincteric fistula (5/10, 50%). Additionally, the accuracy of TPUS in detecting the number of external openings was 87.5%, with a reasonable degree of correlation (k = 0.78). However, the accuracy of TPUS in detecting the site of internal openings and tracts of the fistula was 82% and 95%, respectively. Within a mean follow-up of 6.571 ± 1.72 months, there was a recurrence in one fistula patient. Conclusion: Although the TPUS was not precise enough to diagnose suprasphincteric fistulas, it provides good diagnostic accuracy in identifying perianal abscesses and fistulas. Under resource-limited settings where MRI is unavailable or under emergencies, we recommend TPUS as the first diagnostic test for patients with perianal abscesses and fistulas.

Is It Possible to Diagnose Surgical Uterine Prolapse With Transperineal Ultrasound? Multicenter Validation of Diagnostic Software.

To validate an ultrasound software that uses transperineal ultrasound to diagnose uterine prolapse (UP). Multicenter, observational and prospective study with 155 patients that had indications for surgical intervention for dysfunctional pelvic floor pathology. Each patient underwent an examination with Pozzi tenaculum forceps was performed in the operating room with the patient anesthetized, followed by surgical correction of stages II-IV UP. Transperineal ultrasound was used to assess the difference in the pubis-uterine fundus measurement. With a multivariate logistic regression binary model (with the measurement ultrasound at rest, the Valsalva maneuver and age) using nonautomated methods to predict UP. With the purpose of evaluating the model, a table with coordinates of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, after which sensitivity and specificity were assessed. A total of 153 patients were included (73 with a diagnosis of surgical UP). It was obtained from the AUC (0.89) of the probabilities predicted by the model (95% confidence interval, 0.84-0.95; P < .0005). Based on the ROC curve for the model, obtaining a sensitivity of 91.8% and a specificity of 72.7%, values that were superior to those for the clinical exam for surgical UP (sensitivity: 80.8%; specificity: 71.3%). We validated software that uses transperineal ultrasound of the pelvic floor and patient age to generate a more reliable diagnosis of surgical UP than that obtained from clinical examinations.

An Evaluation of the Effects of Gestational Weight Gain on the Early Postpartum Pelvic Floor Using Transperineal Ultrasound.

We herein evaluated the effects of gestational weight gain (GWG) on postpartum pelvic floor function using transperineal ultrasound (TPUS). We analyzed retrospectively the data from 228 primiparous women with singleton pregnancies who were evaluated for postpartum pelvic floor function between February 2022 and October 2022. According to the 2009 Institute of Medicine guidelines regarding GWG, subjects were separated into three groups: inadequate GWG, recommended GWG, and excessive GWG. All underwent TPUS 6-10 weeks postpartum to assess bladder neck descent between rest and Valsalva (BND), retrovesical angle at Valsalva (RVA), urethral rotation angle between rest and Valsalva (URA), the area of levator hiatus at Valsalva (LHA), and abnormal pelvic floor function. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were applied to explore the association measures between GWG and the pelvic floor. A P-value <.05 was considered statistically significant. Of the 228 primiparous women, 113 (49.6%) showed excessive GWG. Univariate analysis revealed that there were no statistical differences in ultrasonic parameters of the pelvic floor among the three groups (P > .05). After adjusting for potential confounders and using the recommended GWG group as a reference group, inadequate GWG was significantly associated with BND ≥25 mm (OR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.14-0.93), and excessive GWG was significantly associated with uterine prolapse (OR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.13-6.92). GWG was associated with the ultrasonic parameters of the female pelvic floor in the early postpartum period.

Pelvic Floor Muscle Function and Its Relationship with Post-Prostatectomy Incontinence

ObjectivesPost-prostatectomy incontinence (PPI) is a common condition, but the underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. Transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) assessment of voluntary pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function may be associated with PPI. This study investigates the relationship between PPI and pre- and postoperative displacement of anatomical landmarks related to PFM function.MethodsThis was a prospective longitudinal cohort study of 40 patients undergoing robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) by a high-volume single surgeon. All patients underwent PFM training pre- and postoperatively. TPUS was used to obtain sagittal images of pelvic structures during maximal voluntary PFM contractions: (1) preoperatively, (2) 3 weeks postoperatively, and (3) 6 weeks postoperatively. TPUS images were analyzed to calculate displacement of anatomical landmarks associated with activation of striated urethral sphincter (SUS), bulbocavernosus muscle (BC), and puborectalis muscle (PR). Continence was assessed at 3 and 6 weeks postoperatively, defined as use of ≤ 1 pad/day. The relationship of continence to the displacement of SUS, BC, and PR was analyzed.ResultsSUS, BC, and PR displacement decreased significantly 3 weeks postoperatively (P = 0.042, P = 0.002, P &lt; 0.001, respectively). Continent men exhibited significantly greater SUS displacement (median, 5.13 mm) than incontinent men (median, 3.90 mm) 3 weeks postoperatively (P = 0.029). Between 3 and 6 weeks following RARP, there was significant increase in SUS, BC, and PR displacement (P = 0.003, P = 0.030, P &lt; 0.001, respectively).ConclusionsA significant decrease in PFM function occurs following RARP, with a subsequent recovery of postoperative PFM function between 3 and 6 weeks post-procedure in men who undergo PFM training. SUS activation was significantly greater in continent patients compared to incontinent patients at 3 weeks following RARP.

The role of transperineal ultrasonography for perinatal management: A review.

Transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) has become an increasingly popular tool in obstetrics due to its objective, non-invasive, and real-time imaging capabilities. This review aims to describe the basic approaches, current utilization, and potential future applications of TPUS. A comprehensive literature review on TPUS was conducted. In addition, discussions at academic meetings and congress focused on TPUS were also considered. TPUS was initially used in prostate biopsies and is currently applied to evaluating fetal head descent in labor, with the angle of progression being the most widely used parameter. It is more tolerated than conventional invasive or expensive methods, such as digital vaginal examinations or MRIs. Additionally, TPUS can assess the internal rotation of the fetal head in the birth canal. Compared to other imaging modalities like MRI and CT scans, TPUS is easier to perform and more cost-effective. It also provides real-time imaging, allowing for quick and accurate assessments. It also help clinicians make critical decisions regarding the mode of delivery and identify patients at high risk for fecal incontinence postpartum. With its many benefits, TPUS has the potential to become a standard tool in urogynecology and obstetrics. Transperineal ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging modality that is well-tolerated and easy to understand for patients and their family and help medical staff support the patients. Transperineal ultrasound can be applied in real-time monitoring of labor progress, helping predict the possibility of vaginal delivery during labor, and further research in this area is warranted.

Automated segmentation and measurement of the female pelvic floor from the mid-sagittal plane of 3D ultrasound volumes.

Transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) is a valuable imaging tool for evaluating patients with pelvic floor disorders, including pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Currently, measurements of anatomical structures in the mid-sagittal plane of 2D and 3D US volumes are obtained manually, which is time-consuming, has high intra-rater variability, and requires an expert in pelvic floor US interpretation. Manual segmentation and biometric measurement can take 15 min per 2D mid-sagittal image by an expert operator. An automated segmentation method would provide quantitative data relevant to pelvic floor disorders and improve the efficiency and reproducibility of segmentation-based biometric methods. Develop a fast, reproducible, and automated method of acquiring biometric measurements and organ segmentations from the mid-sagittal plane of female 3D TPUS volumes. Our method used a nnU-Net segmentation model to segment the pubis symphysis, urethra, bladder, rectum, rectal ampulla, and anorectal angle in the mid-sagittal plane of female 3D TPUS volumes. We developed an algorithm to extract relevant biometrics from the segmentations. Our dataset included 248 3D TPUS volumes, 126/122 rest/Valsalva split, from 135 patients. System performance was assessed by comparing the automated results with manual ground truth data using the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and average absolute difference (AD). Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and time difference were used to compare reproducibility and efficiency between manual and automated methods respectively. High ICC, low AD and reduction in time indicated an accurate and reliable automated system, making TPUS an efficient alternative for POP assessment. Paired t-test and non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test were conducted, with p<0.05 determining significance. The nnU-Net segmentation model reported average DSC and p values (in brackets), compared to the next best tested model, of 87.4% (<0.0001), 68.5% (<0.0001), 61.0% (0.1), 54.6% (0.04), 49.2% (<0.0001) and 33.7% (0.02) for bladder, rectum, urethra, pubic symphysis, anorectal angle, and rectal ampulla respectively. The average ADs for the bladder neck position, bladder descent, rectal ampulla descent and retrovesical angle were 3.2mm, 4.5mm, 5.3mm and 27.3°, respectively. The biometric algorithm had an ICC>0.80 for the bladder neck position, bladder descent and rectal ampulla descent when compared to manual measurements, indicating high reproducibility. The proposed algorithms required approximately 1.27 s to analyze one image. The manual ground truths were performed by a single expert operator. In addition, due to high operator dependency for TPUS image collection, we would need to pursue further studies with images collected from multiple operators. Based on our search in scientific databases (i.e., Web of Science, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, Elsevier ScienceDirect and PubMed), this is the first reported work of an automated segmentation and biometric measurement system for the mid-sagittal plane of 3D TPUS volumes. The proposed algorithm pipeline can improve the efficiency (1.27 s compared to 15 min manually) and has high reproducibility (high ICC values) compared to manual TPUS analysis for pelvic floor disorder diagnosis. Further studies are needed to verify this system's viability using multiple TPUS operators and multiple experts for performing manual segmentation and extracting biometrics from the images.

New transperineal ultrasound-guided biopsy for men in whom PSA is increasing after Miles’ operation

ObjectivesCurrently, a prostate biopsy is guided by transrectal ultrasound (US) alone. However, this biopsy cannot be performed in men without an anus. The aim of this study was to show the outcomes of a new transperineal US (TPUS)-guided biopsy technique in patients who underwent Miles’ operation.MethodsBetween April 2009 and March 2022, TPUS-guided biopsy was consecutively conducted in 9 patients (median, 71 years; range, 61–78 years) with high prostate-specific antigen values (22.60 ng/mL; 6.19–69.7 ng/mL). Their anuses were all removed due to rectal cancer. TPUS-guided biopsy was performed according to information on prostate magnetic resonance imaging. The technical success rate, cancer detection rate, and complication rate were recorded. Tumor sizes were compared between benign and cancer groups using an unpaired t-test with Welch’s correction.ResultsThe new TPUS-guided biopsy was successfully performed in all patients. Cancer was detected in 77.8% (7/9) of the patients. These were all categorized as PI-RADS 5. Among them, the detection rate of significant cancer (Gleason score 7 or higher) was 66.7% (6/9). The median tumor size was 2.4 cm (1.7–3.1 cm). However, two patients were diagnosed with benign tissue with PI-RADS 3 or PI-RADS 4. Their median tumor size was 1.0 cm (0.8–1.2 cm). There was significant difference between the cancer and benign groups (p = 0.037) in terms of tumor size. Neither post-biopsy bleeding nor infections occurred.ConclusionsNew TPUS-guided biopsy technique may contribute to detecting large PI-RADS 5 prostate cancer in men after Miles’ operation.

Accuracy of Transperineal Ultrasonography for Assessing Rectal Lesions in Paediatric Ulcerative Colitis: A Prospective Study.

Transabdominal ultrasonography [TAUS] appears comparable to colonoscopy for evaluating ulcerative colitis [UC] activity, but it has low accuracy in rectal evaluation. In this study, the accuracy of transperineal ultrasonography [TPUS] for evaluating rectal activity was compared to that of colonoscopy in paediatric UC cases. Faecal calprotectin [FCP] values and TPUS and colonoscopic findings were compared prospectively in paediatric UC cases. Rectal wall thickening [RWT] and rectal wall flow [RWF] on power Doppler evaluated by TPUS were compared with the colonoscopy findings and were also measured on TAUS and assessed for the concordance rate of each finding. Thirty Mayo endoscopic sub-score [MES] 0-1 UC cases and 57 MES 2-3 UC cases were enrolled. FCP, RWT and RWF showed significant differences between the two groups [p < 0.05]. RWT and RWF were independent predictors of UC endoscopic activity, showing sensitivity of 95.8% and specificity of 100% with RWT ≥ 4.5 mm and positive RWF. The concordance rates between TPUS and TAUS findings in MES 2-3 were moderate to fair, whereas those in MES 0-1 were fair to poor. The concordance rates between ultrasonic examiners were good for both TAUS and TPUS. TPUS may evaluate rectal activity of UC with accuracy comparable to endoscopy. If accurate ultrasonic screening for the total colon can be performed by TPUS and TAUS, repeated evaluation of short-term treatment response may be possible.

Assessing Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries: A Comparison of Exoanal and Endoanal Ultrasound.

To explore the differences in assessing obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASI) between transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) and endoanal ultrasound (EAUS) and test relationships between ultrasound findings and anal incontinence (AI) symptoms. A group of 196 women with a history of vaginal delivery was recruited. OASI was detected in a set of 5 slices by EAUS and 8 slices by TPUS. OASI grading was performed on TPUS rules and EAUS rules. A "significant sphincter defect" was diagnosed by TPUS and EAUS using "2/3 rules." Symptoms of AI were determined using the St Mark's Incontinence Score (SMIS). Ultrasound findings were compared between the two methods and correlated with symptoms. Of 196 women, 29 (14.8%) suffered from AI with a mean SMIS of 12.1 ± 4.5, and 70 (35.7%) women with a mean age of 57 years had suspected OASI on imaging. Twenty-one (10.7%) "significant defects" were diagnosed by TPUS and 24 (12.2%) by EAUS. OASI Grades on TPUS had good agreement with EAUS rules (k=0.70, P < .001). Logistic regression analysis showed that OASI Grade on imaging and "significant sphincter defects" seen on both forms of imaging were associated with AI symptoms. The odds ratio was 46 and 38 for "significant defects" on TPUS and EAUS, and 14 and 7 for OASI 3b+ on TPUS and EAUS in predicting AI, respectively. "Significant defects" diagnosed by EAUS or TPUS and OASI Grade 3b+ predict AI symptoms. The diagnostic performance of endoanal and exoanal ultrasound (EAUS and TPUS) appear to be very similar.

Assessment of the angle of progression and head-perineum distance in the prediction of type of delivery and duration of second stage of labor using intrapartum transperineal ultrasonography

Background: Each pregnancy's straightforward goal is to deliver a healthy baby to a healthy mother. Prolonged second stages of labour have been linked to poor mother and neonatal outcomes. The gold standard for diagnosing head descent clinically is still a digital transvaginal examination. Head station is based on the relationship between the ischial spine and the leading edge of the foetal head in the maternal pelvis. The intrapartum transperineal ultrasonography is a safe method for determining the position of the foetal head and for anticipating the course of the delivery. It is very useful in analyzing phenomena connected to the transit of the foetus through the birth canal.Aims: This study's objective is to assess the effectiveness of intrapartum transperineal ultrasound in predicting the kind of birth and length of the second stage of labour by assessing parameters for the Angel of Progression and Head Perineum Distance.Patients and Methods: Cross-sectional prospective research is the study's design. At Tanta University Hospitals' Department of Obstetrics inpatient ward, 65 primigravida women participated in the study. commenced in August 2021 and concluded in August 2022.Results: According to our findings, there was a positive highly statistically significant correlation between AOP and vaginal delivery patients compared to CS delivery patients, while there was a negative highly statistically significant correlation between HPD and vaginal delivery patients compared to CS delivery patients. A positive highly statistically significant association was found between the length of the second stage and the HPD, while a negative highly statistically significant correlation was found between the length of the second stage and the angle of progression.Conclusion: Intrapartum ultrasound has been used to measure a number of characteristics, including the angle of progression (AOP) and head-perineum distance (HPD). The manner of delivery and length of pushing can be predicted with the help of an ultrasound conducted at the start of the active second stage of labour.

Association between 2D trans-perineal ultrasound and physical examination in evaluation of ani function.

To compare the correlation between 2D transperineal ultrasonography and physical examination (intravaginal palpation) for assessing pelvic floor and levator ani function. Due to symptoms of pelvic floor disorder, 40 women between the ages of 29 and 75 were enrolled in this study as candidates for urodynamic and structural evaluation of the pelvic floor. A pelvic floor gynaecologist and radiologist assessed the levator ani function via physical examination (graded based on the Oxford Grading System) and transperineal 2D ultrasound, respectively. The ultrasound parameters for calculating the Levator Ani Index (LAI) demonstrate a difference between the anteroposterior dimension of the levator hiatus (r = 0.691, p < 0.001) and the cranial shift of muscle (r = 0.499, p < 0.001) at rest and during a squeezing manoeuvre in the mid-sagittal plane. Reduced anteroposterior diameter of the hiatus and increased cranial shift were associated with a higher Oxford Physical Examination Score (OPES). The association between LAI and OPES was independent of baseline variables such as age, BMI, number of births, and the presence of incontinence symptoms. Measures such as the LAI can be used to quantify the function of the levator ani muscle, which may be useful for evaluating the efficacy of pelvic floor physiotherapy and exercise.

Combined 3D Endoanal Ultrasound and Transperineal Ultrasound Improves the Detection of Anal Sphincter Defects.

Anal sphincter injury, mainly due to obstetric or iatrogenic etiology, is the most common cause of fecal incontinence (FI). Three-dimensional endoanal ultrasound (3D EAUS) is used for assessment of the integrity and the degree of anal muscle injury. However, 3D EAUS accuracy may be hampered by regional acoustic effects, such as intravaginal air. Therefore, our aim was to examine whether a combination of transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) and 3D EAUS would improve the accuracy of detection of anal sphincter injury. We prospectively performed 3D EAUS followed by TPUS in every patient evaluated for FI in our clinic between January 2020 and January 2021. The diagnosis of anal muscle defects was assessed in each ultrasound technique by two experienced observers that were blinded to each other's assessments. Interobserver agreement for the results of the 3D EAUS and the TPUS exams was examined. A final diagnosis of anal sphincter defect was based on the results of both ultrasound methods. Discordant results were re-analyzed by the two ultrasonographers for a final consensus on the presence or absence of defects. A total of 108 patients underwent ultrasonographic assessment due to FI (mean age 69 ± 13). Interobserver agreement for the diagnosis of tear on EAUS and TPUS was high (83%) with Cohen's kappa of 0.62. EAUS confirmed anal muscle defects in 56 patients (52%), while TPUS confirmed them in 62 patients (57%). The final consensus agreed on the diagnosis of 63 (58%) muscular defects and 45 (42%) normal exams. The Cohen's kappa coefficient of agreement between the results of the 3D EAUS and the final consensus was 0.63. The combination of 3D EAUS and TPUS improved the detection of anal muscular defects. The application of both techniques for the assessment of the anal integrity should be considered in every patient going through ultrasonographic assessment for anal muscular injury.

Unsupervised convolutional autoencoders for 4D transperineal ultrasound classification.

4D Transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) is used to examine female pelvic floor disorders. Muscle movement, like performing a muscle contraction or a Valsalva maneuver, can be captured on TPUS. Our work investigates the possibility for unsupervised analysis and classification of the TPUS data. An unsupervised 3D-convolutional autoencoder is trained to compress TPUS volume frames into a latent feature vector (LFV) of 128 elements. The (co)variance of the features are analyzed and statistical tests are performed to analyze how features contribute in storing contraction and Valsalva information. Further dimensionality reduction is applied (principal component analysis or a 2D-convolutional autoencoder) to the LFVs of the frames of the TPUS movie to compress the data and analyze the interframe movement. Clustering algorithms ( -means clustering and Gaussian mixture models) are applied to this representation of the data to investigate the possibilities of unsupervised classification. The majority of the features show a significant difference between contraction and Valsalva. The (co)variance of the features from the LFVs was investigated and features most prominent in capturing muscle movement were identified. Furthermore, the first principal component of the frames from a single TPUS movie can be used to identify movement between the frames. The best classification results were obtained after applying principal component analysis and Gaussian mixture models to the LFVs of the TPUS movies, yielding a 91.2% accuracy. Unsupervised analysis and classification of TPUS data yields relevant information about the type and amount of muscle movement present.

Correlation between trans-perineal ultra-sonography, urodynamic study and physical examination findings in female patients with stress urinary incontinence: Single center experience.

To evaluate the efficacy of Trans-perineal ultrasonography (TPUS) in assessment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and its correlation with urodynamic study (UDS) and physical examination in women with SUI. The study enrolled a total of 91 females including 66 women with SUI and 25 women with no history of urinary incontinence as control group. The α and β angles (anterior urethral and posterior urethro-vesical angle respectively) were recorded both at rest and at straining, using TPUS. The differences between these angles at rest and during the straining were considered as the rotational angles (Rα and Rβ). Urethral length and caliber, bladder neck funneling, and pubo-urethral distance were measured as well. The mean (SD) α angle at rest of the SUI group was 49.0 (±14.3)°, which was higher than the same parameter in the control group: 47.6 (±9.7)°. Similarly, the α angle at straining was significantly higher in the SUI group versus the control group, 61.0 (±15.4)° versus 55.8 (±15.8)°. The mean (SD) β angle in the SUI group at rest was 124.6 (±28.5)°, which was significantly higher than that of the control group at 114.0 (±22.5)°. The mean (SD) β angle at straining was also higher in the SUI group versus the control group: 151.8 (±90.6) versus 136.0 (±27)°. Moreover, higher Rα and Rβ angels were documented in the SUI group. Our data suggest that TPUS can be considered as a non-invasive, easily conducted, and accurate modality in early diagnosis of female SUI. It may reduce the need for performing relatively invasive UDS. However, the role of TPUS in assessment of SUI severity remains to be studied probably with a larger sample size.