This multicenter, randomized trial demonstrates that percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation is safe with statistically significant improvements in patient assessment of overactive bladder symptoms, and with objective effectiveness comparable to that of pharmacotherapy. Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation may be considered a clinically significant alternative therapy for overactive bladder.

A urogynecologist's examination typically includes assessment of the abdominal musculature, including the determination of whether a diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) is present. The purposes of the current study were to examine the (1) prevalence of DRA in a urogynecological population, (2) differences in select characteristics of patients with and without DRA, and (3) relationship of DRA to support-related pelvic floor dysfunction diagnoses. A retrospective chart review was conducted by an independent examiner. Fifty-two percent of the patients examined presented with DRA. Patients with DRA were older, reported higher gravity and parity, and had weaker pelvic floor muscles than patients without DRA. Sixty-six percent of all the patients with DRA had at least one support-related pelvic floor dysfunction (SPFD) diagnosis. There was a relationship between the presence of DRA and the SPFD diagnoses of stress urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and pelvic organ prolapse.

Statistically significant overactive bladder symptom improvement achieved with 12 weekly percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation treatments demonstrates excellent durability through 12 months. The durability of response demonstrates the effectiveness of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation as a viable, long-term therapy for overactive bladder.

Our aim was to examine the effects of denervation on urethral anatomy and urine voiding pattern. Rats usually void at one end of their cage, which gives a behavioral index of continence. The voiding preference for denervated rats was decreased to 88.8 + 4.7%, n = 32, P < 0.001, compared to improvements with time for unoperated (117 +/- 10%, n = 16) or sham-operated rats (105 +/- 8%, n = 5). The volume of urine or the frequency of voidings between denervated, unoperated or sham-operated rats did not differ significantly. Urethral sections were analyzed immunochemically and quantified morphometrically. Smooth muscle volume remained constant but skeletal muscle volume decreased after denervation, from 43 +/- 2% to 36 +/- 3% (P < 0.05, n = 5). Fiber diameter decreased from 14.3 +/- 1.4 microm to 8.5 +/- 0.7 microm (P < 0.005). We concluded that pudendal nerve transection in female rats causes behavioral alterations in voiding and muscular atrophy of the striated sphincter.

This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and complications of the posterior intravaginal slingplasty (IVS). A retrospective chart review was performed. Ninety IVS procedures were performed from January 2004 to June 2005. The group consisted of predominantly nonsmoking, Caucasian, postmenopausal women with a median age of 62 years and a median parity of 3. The mean follow-up was 33 +/- 23.2 weeks with a median of 31.9 weeks. There were no intraoperative bladder, bowel, or vascular injuries. Overall, 11 out of 90 patients developed recurrent or de novo prolapse; 4.4% of these had recurrent apical prolapse. There was a 17.8% incidence of mesh erosion. Only 1 of the 11 patients with recurrent prolapse had concomitant mesh erosion. The procedure demonstrated an unacceptably high erosion rate. The adoption of newer mesh techniques based on the slingplasty concept or the use of the multifilament polypropylene tape should be scrutinized.