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Research paper
Published online: 2023-03-15
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Apical defect — the essence of cystocele pathogenesis?

Pawel Szymanowski1, Wioletta K. Szepieniec1, Hanna Szweda1, Janusz Ligeza2, Anna Sedakierska-Chudy3
Affiliations
  1. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Cracow University, Cracow, Poland, Poland
  2. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Division of Biochemistry, Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Cracow University, Cracow, Poland
  3. Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Cracow University, Cracow, Poland

open access

Ahead of Print
ORIGINAL PAPERS Gynecology
Published online: 2023-03-15

Abstract

Objectives: Lack of standardization causes misunderstandings in planning of cystocele treatment and the evaluation of surgical method effectiveness. The POP-Q System and DeLancey’s three levels of pelvic support do not account for the phenomenon of cystocele caused by an apical defect. We aimed to evaluate the impact of level I defect on the formation of cystocele.

Material and methods: Women reporting complaints related to bladder prolapse (cystocele) were subjected to a urogynecological examination. For this purpose, a simple and standardized method was used, based on the POP-Q System and DeLancey’s three levels of pelvic support. Furthermore, it was expanded by evaluating the impact of level I defect (apical defect) on prolapse at level II of the anterior compartment.

Results: In total, contribution of an apical defect to the pathogenesis of cystocele was founded in 72.2% of 302 female patients included in this study. In 30.8% the cystocele was caused exclusively by an apical defect. In turn, in 41.4% of patients, it resulted from concomitant apical and level II defect of the anterior compartment (lateral or central).

Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that an apical defect may play a significant role in the development of a cystocele. Hence, it could be essential to take the influence of an apical defect on level II in anterior compartment into account when planning a surgical procedure. The authors suggest that lack of such procedures potentially exposes some cystocele patients to ineffective treatment.

Abstract

Objectives: Lack of standardization causes misunderstandings in planning of cystocele treatment and the evaluation of surgical method effectiveness. The POP-Q System and DeLancey’s three levels of pelvic support do not account for the phenomenon of cystocele caused by an apical defect. We aimed to evaluate the impact of level I defect on the formation of cystocele.

Material and methods: Women reporting complaints related to bladder prolapse (cystocele) were subjected to a urogynecological examination. For this purpose, a simple and standardized method was used, based on the POP-Q System and DeLancey’s three levels of pelvic support. Furthermore, it was expanded by evaluating the impact of level I defect (apical defect) on prolapse at level II of the anterior compartment.

Results: In total, contribution of an apical defect to the pathogenesis of cystocele was founded in 72.2% of 302 female patients included in this study. In 30.8% the cystocele was caused exclusively by an apical defect. In turn, in 41.4% of patients, it resulted from concomitant apical and level II defect of the anterior compartment (lateral or central).

Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that an apical defect may play a significant role in the development of a cystocele. Hence, it could be essential to take the influence of an apical defect on level II in anterior compartment into account when planning a surgical procedure. The authors suggest that lack of such procedures potentially exposes some cystocele patients to ineffective treatment.

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Keywords

apical defect; central defect; lateral defect; cystocele; pelvic organ prolapse

About this article
Title

Apical defect — the essence of cystocele pathogenesis?

Journal

Ginekologia Polska

Issue

Ahead of Print

Article type

Research paper

Published online

2023-03-15

Page views

504

Article views/downloads

417

DOI

10.5603/GP.a2023.0022

Pubmed

36929792

Keywords

apical defect
central defect
lateral defect
cystocele
pelvic organ prolapse

Authors

Pawel Szymanowski
Wioletta K. Szepieniec
Hanna Szweda
Janusz Ligeza
Anna Sedakierska-Chudy

References (15)
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