Skip to main content
Top
Published in: International Urogynecology Journal 7/2013

01-07-2013 | Original Article

Does levator avulsion cause distension of the genital hiatus and perineal body?

Authors: I. Volloyhaug, V. Wong, K. L. Shek, H. P. Dietz

Published in: International Urogynecology Journal | Issue 7/2013

Login to get access

Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

Levator avulsion is associated with prolapse and prolapse recurrence after reconstructive surgery. We set out to determine whether clinical measurement of the genital hiatus and the perineal body (gh + pb) on maximum Valsalva can predict levator avulsion.

Methods

A total of 295 women attending a tertiary referral service underwent 4D translabial ultrasound imaging and clinical examination using the International Continence Society (ICS) Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification system (POP-Q). Analysis of ultrasound data sets for levator avulsion was performed using tomographic ultrasound imaging. The predictive performance of gh + pb for avulsion was tested using receiver-operating characteristic curves.

Results

Optimal sensitivity [70 %, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 59–79 %] and specificity (70 %, 95 % CI 66–72 %) were achieved with a cut-off of 8.5 cm for gh + pb.

Conclusions

A gh + pb measurement ≥ 8.5 cm may help to identify women with levator avulsion who are at increased risk of prolapse recurrence.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Singh K, Reid WM, Berger LA (2002) Magnetic resonance imaging of normal levator ani anatomy and function. Obstet Gynecol 99:433–438CrossRefPubMed Singh K, Reid WM, Berger LA (2002) Magnetic resonance imaging of normal levator ani anatomy and function. Obstet Gynecol 99:433–438CrossRefPubMed
2.
3.
go back to reference DeLancey JO, Kearney R, Chou Q, Speights S, Binno S (2003) The appearance of levator ani muscle abnormalities in magnetic resonance images after vaginal delivery. Obstet Gynecol 101:46–53CrossRefPubMed DeLancey JO, Kearney R, Chou Q, Speights S, Binno S (2003) The appearance of levator ani muscle abnormalities in magnetic resonance images after vaginal delivery. Obstet Gynecol 101:46–53CrossRefPubMed
4.
go back to reference Lien KC, Mooney B, DeLancey JO, Ashton-Miller JA (2004) Levator ani muscle stretch induced by simulated vaginal birth. Obstet Gynecol 103:31–40CrossRefPubMed Lien KC, Mooney B, DeLancey JO, Ashton-Miller JA (2004) Levator ani muscle stretch induced by simulated vaginal birth. Obstet Gynecol 103:31–40CrossRefPubMed
5.
go back to reference Dietz HP, Steensma AB (2006) The prevalence of major abnormalities of the levator ani in urogynaecological patients. BJOG 113:225–230CrossRefPubMed Dietz HP, Steensma AB (2006) The prevalence of major abnormalities of the levator ani in urogynaecological patients. BJOG 113:225–230CrossRefPubMed
6.
go back to reference Shek KL, Dietz HP (2009) The effect of childbirth on hiatal dimensions. Obstet Gynecol 113:1272–1278PubMed Shek KL, Dietz HP (2009) The effect of childbirth on hiatal dimensions. Obstet Gynecol 113:1272–1278PubMed
7.
go back to reference DeLancey JO, Morgan DM, Fenner DE et al (2007) Comparison of levator ani muscle defects and function in women with and without pelvic organ prolapse. Obstet Gynecol 109:295–302CrossRefPubMed DeLancey JO, Morgan DM, Fenner DE et al (2007) Comparison of levator ani muscle defects and function in women with and without pelvic organ prolapse. Obstet Gynecol 109:295–302CrossRefPubMed
8.
go back to reference Dietz HP, Simpson JM (2008) Levator trauma is associated with pelvic organ prolapse. BJOG 115:979–984CrossRefPubMed Dietz HP, Simpson JM (2008) Levator trauma is associated with pelvic organ prolapse. BJOG 115:979–984CrossRefPubMed
9.
go back to reference Weemhoff M, Vergeldt TF, Notten K, Serroyen J, Kampschoer PH, Roumen FJ (2012) Avulsion of puborectalis muscle and other risk factors for cystocele recurrence: a 2-year follow-up study. Int Urogynecol J 23:65–71CrossRefPubMed Weemhoff M, Vergeldt TF, Notten K, Serroyen J, Kampschoer PH, Roumen FJ (2012) Avulsion of puborectalis muscle and other risk factors for cystocele recurrence: a 2-year follow-up study. Int Urogynecol J 23:65–71CrossRefPubMed
10.
go back to reference Dietz HP, Chantarasorn V, Shek KL (2010) Levator avulsion is a risk factor for cystocele recurrence. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 36:76–80CrossRefPubMed Dietz HP, Chantarasorn V, Shek KL (2010) Levator avulsion is a risk factor for cystocele recurrence. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 36:76–80CrossRefPubMed
11.
go back to reference Olsen AL, Smith VJ, Bergstrom JO, Colling JC, Clark AL (1997) Epidemiology of surgically managed pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence. Obstet Gynecol 89:501–506CrossRefPubMed Olsen AL, Smith VJ, Bergstrom JO, Colling JC, Clark AL (1997) Epidemiology of surgically managed pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence. Obstet Gynecol 89:501–506CrossRefPubMed
12.
go back to reference Wong V, Shek KL, Goh J, Rane A, Dietz H (2011) Should mesh be used for cystocele repair? Long-term outcomes of a case–control series. Int Urogynecol J 22(Suppl 1):S91 Wong V, Shek KL, Goh J, Rane A, Dietz H (2011) Should mesh be used for cystocele repair? Long-term outcomes of a case–control series. Int Urogynecol J 22(Suppl 1):S91
13.
go back to reference Dietz H, Shek K, Moegni F (2012) Diagnosis of levator avulsion injury: a comparison of three methods. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. doi:10.1002/uog.11190 Dietz H, Shek K, Moegni F (2012) Diagnosis of levator avulsion injury: a comparison of three methods. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. doi:10.​1002/​uog.​11190
14.
go back to reference Kearney R, Miller JM, Delancey JO (2006) Interrater reliability and physical examination of the pubovisceral portion of the levator ani muscle, validity comparisons using MR imaging. Neurourol Urodyn 25:50–54CrossRefPubMed Kearney R, Miller JM, Delancey JO (2006) Interrater reliability and physical examination of the pubovisceral portion of the levator ani muscle, validity comparisons using MR imaging. Neurourol Urodyn 25:50–54CrossRefPubMed
15.
go back to reference Bump RC, Mattiasson A, Bø K et al (1996) The standardization of terminology of female pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic floor dysfunction. Am J Obstet Gynecol 175:10–17CrossRefPubMed Bump RC, Mattiasson A, Bø K et al (1996) The standardization of terminology of female pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic floor dysfunction. Am J Obstet Gynecol 175:10–17CrossRefPubMed
16.
go back to reference Khunda A, Shek KL (2012) Can ballooning of the levator hiatus be determined clinically? Am J Obstet Gynecol 206:246.e1–246.e4CrossRef Khunda A, Shek KL (2012) Can ballooning of the levator hiatus be determined clinically? Am J Obstet Gynecol 206:246.e1–246.e4CrossRef
17.
go back to reference Abdool Z, Shek K, Dietz H (2009) The effect of levator avulsion on hiatal dimension and function. Am J Obstet Gynecol 201:89.e1–89.e5CrossRef Abdool Z, Shek K, Dietz H (2009) The effect of levator avulsion on hiatal dimension and function. Am J Obstet Gynecol 201:89.e1–89.e5CrossRef
18.
go back to reference Dietz HP (2004) Ultrasound imaging of the pelvic floor. Part 1: two-dimensional aspects. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 23:80–92CrossRefPubMed Dietz HP (2004) Ultrasound imaging of the pelvic floor. Part 1: two-dimensional aspects. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 23:80–92CrossRefPubMed
19.
go back to reference Dietz HP, Bernardo MJ, Kirby A, Shek KL (2011) Minimal criteria for the diagnosis of avulsion of the puborectalis muscle by tomographic ultrasound. Int Urogynecol J 22:699–704CrossRefPubMed Dietz HP, Bernardo MJ, Kirby A, Shek KL (2011) Minimal criteria for the diagnosis of avulsion of the puborectalis muscle by tomographic ultrasound. Int Urogynecol J 22:699–704CrossRefPubMed
20.
go back to reference Dietz HP, Wong V, Shek KL (2011) A simplified method for determining hiatal biometry. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 51:540–543CrossRefPubMed Dietz HP, Wong V, Shek KL (2011) A simplified method for determining hiatal biometry. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 51:540–543CrossRefPubMed
21.
go back to reference Dietz H, Shek C, De Leon J, Steensma AB (2008) Ballooning of the levator hiatus. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 31:676–680CrossRefPubMed Dietz H, Shek C, De Leon J, Steensma AB (2008) Ballooning of the levator hiatus. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 31:676–680CrossRefPubMed
22.
go back to reference Dietz HP, Franco AV, Shek KL, Kirby A (2012) Avulsion injury and levator hiatal ballooning: two independent risk factors for prolapse? An observational study. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 91:211–214CrossRefPubMed Dietz HP, Franco AV, Shek KL, Kirby A (2012) Avulsion injury and levator hiatal ballooning: two independent risk factors for prolapse? An observational study. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 91:211–214CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Does levator avulsion cause distension of the genital hiatus and perineal body?
Authors
I. Volloyhaug
V. Wong
K. L. Shek
H. P. Dietz
Publication date
01-07-2013
Publisher
Springer London
Published in
International Urogynecology Journal / Issue 7/2013
Print ISSN: 0937-3462
Electronic ISSN: 1433-3023
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-012-1993-7

Other articles of this Issue 7/2013

International Urogynecology Journal 7/2013 Go to the issue