The Reliability of 3-Dimensional Endoanal Ultrasonography Early and Late Postpartum.

Importance: There is no consensus on how to define obstetric anal sphincter defects detected by 3-dimensional endoanal ultrasonography (3D-EAUS), and the reported rates vary significantly in the postpartum period.

Objective: The objective of this study was to establish a diagnostic strategy with a high and clinically relevant interrater reliability both early and late postpartum.

Study Design: The study was prospective and observational, and 3D-EAUS was performed 10-14 days and 9-12 months postpartum in an unselected cohort of primiparous women with vacuum-assisted deliveries.

Three-dimensional endovaginal ultrasound assessment using the levator ani deficiency score in primiparas: A replication study.

Introduction: It is essential to assess the levator ani properly as part of clinical care in patients presenting with pelvic floor dysfunction. The levator ani deficiency scoring system is a previously published method to assess levator ani defects with three-dimensional endovaginal ultrasound. The primary aim of this study was to determine the intra- and interrater reliability of the levator ani deficiency score in a cohort of non-instrumentally delivered primiparas.

Postoperative three-dimensional endoanal ultrasound findings and relation to anal fistula plug failure.

Objectives: To explore the utilization of three-dimensional (3D) endoanal ultrasound (EAUS) for the follow-up of the anal fistula plug (AFP), describe morphological findings in postoperative 3D EAUS, and evaluate if postoperative 3D EAUS combined with clinical symptoms can predict AFP failure.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of 3D EAUS examinations performed during a single-centre study of prospectively included consecutive patients treated with the AFP between May 2006 and October 2009. Postoperative assessment by clinical examination and 3D EAUS was performed at 2 weeks, 3 months and 6-12 months ("late control").

Episiotomy in vacuum extraction, do we cut the levator ani muscle? A prospective cohort study.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Vaginal delivery may lead to levator ani muscle (LAM) injury or avulsion. Episiotomy may reduce obstetric anal sphincter injury in operative vaginal delivery, but may increase the risk of LAM injury. Our aim was to assess whether lateral episiotomy in vacuum extraction (VE) in primiparous women causes LAM injury.

Anorectal dysfunction after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer.

To prospectively assess anorectal dysfunction using patient-reported outcomes using validated questionnaires, manovolumetry and endoanal ultrasound before and 12 months after RC. From 2014 to 2019, we prospectively included 44 patients scheduled for RC. Preoperatively and 12 months after surgery, 41 patients filled in a low anterior resection syndrome score (LARS-score) to assess fecal incontinence, increased frequency, urgency and emptying difficulties and a St Mark's score to assess fecal incontinence in conjunction with manovolumetry and endoanal ultrasound examinations.

Long-term outcome of the Surgisis (Biodesign ) anal fistula plug for complex cryptoglandular and Crohn's fistulas.

Aim: To evaluate the long-term success rate of treatment with the Surgisis (Biodesign ) anal fistula plug for complex anal fistulas, assess fistula plug failure over time and compare success rates for fistula plug between a group of patients with cryptoglandular fistula and another group with Crohn's fistula.

Method: This is a single-centre study of consecutive patients treated with the Surgisis (Biodesign ) anal fistula plug between May 2006 and October 2009. All patients had complex anal fistulas in need of surgical treatment.

Effect of vaginal delivery on endosonographic anal sphincter morphology.

Objective: To describe the effect of vaginal delivery with no clinically recognized sphincter tear on endosonographic anal sphincter morphology and sphincter pressure and to relate endosonographic results to anal sphincter pressure and anal incontinence score.

Study Design: Thirty-two nullipara underwent anal endosonography and anal manometry in the third trimester of pregnancy, 2 weeks and 6 months post-partum. The sphincter defect scores (1-16) and the thickness and length of the sphincters were measured by endosonography, and sphincter pressures and manometric sphincter lengths were determined.