Applicability of Deep Learning to Dynamically Identify the Different Organs of the Pelvic Floor in the Midsagittal Plane.

Introduction And Hypothesis: The objective was to create and validate the usefulness of a convolutional neural network (CNN) for identifying different organs of the pelvic floor in the midsagittal plane via dynamic ultrasound.

Methods: This observational and prospective study included 110 patients. Transperineal ultrasound scans were performed by an expert sonographer of the pelvic floor.

The Application of Shear Wave Elastography to Determine the Elasticity of the Levator Ani Muscle and Vaginal Tissue in Patients With Pelvic Organ Prolapse.

Objectives: The changes of the extracellular matrix of the connective tissue have significantly contributed to the incidence of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). It seems reasonable that sonoelastography could be a useful tool to evaluate the elasticity of pelvic floor tissue in patients with POP and compare it to those without POP. The main aim of this pilot study was to determine if there are differences in the elasticity of the levator ani muscle (LAM) and vaginal tissue between patients with and without POP.

Is the Presence of Levator Ani Muscle Avulsion Relevant for the Diagnosis of Uterine Prolapse?

Objective: To determine if the addition of the assessment of levator ani muscle (LAM) avulsion to the measurement of the difference in the pubis-uterine fundus distance between rest and with the Valsalva maneuver could increase the diagnostic capacity of ultrasound for uterine prolapse (UP).

Methods: This multicenter, observational and prospective study included 145 patients. Ultrasound assessment was performed, establishing the diagnosis of UP as a difference between the pubic-uterine fundus distance at rest and during the Valsalva maneuver ≥15 mm (standard technique), while LAM avulsion was defined as an abnormal LAM insertion in three central slices using multislice ultrasound.

Assessment of late on-set fetal growth restriction using SMI (superb microvascular imaging) Doppler.

Background: The identification of late-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR) fetuses remains a challenge, given the difficulty to distinguish them from healthy small for gestational age (SGA) fetuses. Given the limitations of conventional Doppler for the identification of placental insufficiency, the appearance of superb microvascular imaging (SMI) Doppler seems promising. Our main objective was to evaluate the diagnostic capability of SMI Doppler for the detection of placental insufficiency findings.