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Mickey M Karram

Publications and source records attributed to Mickey M Karram.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Complications and untoward effects of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure.

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience with our first 350 cases of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT), specifically assessing intraoperative complications, postoperative morbidity, and untoward effects of the procedure. METHODS: Although increased numbers of reports have documented the efficacy of the TVT procedure, there are minimal data about the incidence of complications and how they are managed. We performed a retrospective review of all patients undergoing the TVT procedure over a 4-year period to report intraoperative complications (bladder perforation and excessive bleeding), postoperative complications (de novo urge incontinence, voiding dysfunction, erosion, nerve injury, urinary retention, hematoma formation), and incidence of reoperation either for voiding dysfunction or for recurrent incontinence. RESULTS: A total of 350 patients were included in the study. Fifty-five percent (194) of women underwent the TVT procedure in conjunction with other vaginal surgery, and 45% (156) underwent the TVT alone. Seventy women (20%) had previous antiincontinence surgery. Intraoperative complications included 19 bladder perforations in 17 patients (4.9%) and three cases of significant bleeding (0.9%). Postoperatively, 17 women (4.9%) had voiding dysfunction and 42 (12%) required anticholinergic therapy beyond 6 weeks. Recurrent urinary tract infections developed in 38 (10.9%), erosion or poor healing in three (0.9%), hematoma in six (1.7%), and nerve injury in three (0.9%). Twenty-eight (8%) underwent urethral dilation in the postoperative period for varied amounts of voiding dysfunction. Of these, 82% were either improved or were cured. Six women (1.7%) underwent a takedown of the TVT procedure for continued voiding dysfunction, and two of these (33%) developed recurrent stress incontinence. To date, two patients (0.5%) have undergone another procedure for recurrent or persistent stress incontinence. CONCLUSION: The TVT procedure is efficacious for the correction of stress incontinence. Our data show that it is a safe procedure with an acceptable complication rate when performed by surgeons who have experience with retropubic and transvaginal antiincontinence procedures.

Female↗

Tension-free vaginal tape: a quality-of-life assessment.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) results in significant improvements in urinary incontinence and its effect on patients' quality of life (QOL) utilizing two validated questionnaires. METHODS: One hundred sixty-two tension-free vaginal tape procedures were performed at two sites between October 1998 and January 2001. All patients were requested to complete the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7) and Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI-6) as part of their preoperative assessment. History, physical, and demographic data were also collected. All subjects underwent subtracted cystometry and urethral function tests prior to surgery. A combination of mail and phone follow-up was used to obtain postoperative IIQ-7 and UDI-6 scores in October 2001. Data were analyzed with the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-one patients completed the pre- and postoperative quality-of-life forms and were included in the analysis. Mean follow-up was 22.1 months (range 6.1-49.8). There were significant improvements in postoperative scores for both the IIQ-7 and the UDI-6 (P <.001). Significant improvements were also seen in subscales measuring urge symptoms, stress incontinence symptoms, and symptoms of voiding dysfunction. These improvements were consistent, regardless of type or severity of stress incontinence. CONCLUSION: The IIQ-7 and UDI-6 are validated tools that can be used to provide some objective evidence for the impact of urinary incontinence on patients' lives. Utilizing these two validated quality-of-life tools we show that tension-free vaginal tape results in significant improvement in patient quality of life and symptoms of urgency, stress incontinence, and voiding dysfunction.

Aged↗

Evaluation and management of rectoceles.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: As life expectancy increases, the prevalence of pelvic organ prolapse in general, and rectoceles, in particular, will continue to grow. The objectives of this article are to review the basic anatomy and contributing factors associated with the development of rectoceles and to discuss the appropriate work-up and treatment options. RECENT FINDINGS: The main themes in the current literature stress the importance of not only anatomic restoration, but also quality of life issues regarding visceral and sexual function when performing a rectocele repair. Many recent studies are also evaluating the role of preoperative adjunctive tests to better evaluate women with combined pelvic floor disorders, while others are looking at outcomes data regarding the various surgical approaches to repair a rectocele. SUMMARY: With significant advancements in pelvic anatomy over the last several decades the surgical approach to treating symptomatic rectoceles has evolved from the traditional posterior colporrhaphy with levator ani plication to the defect specific rectocele repair. While anatomic and overall functional outcomes have improved, one still needs to better define the correlation between defecatory dysfunction and a rectocele.

Defecation↗