Diagnostic Accuracy and Clinical Implications of Translabial Ultrasound for the Assessment of Levator Ani Defects and Levator Ani Biometry in Women With Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A Systematic Review

Kim J. B. Notten*, Tineke F. M. Vergeldt, Sander M. J. van Kuijk, Mirjam Weemhoff, Jan-Paul W. R. Roovers

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal(Systematic) Review article peer-review

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy and clinical implications of translabial 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasound for the assessment of levator ani defects and biometry in women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

Methods We performed a systematic literature search through computerized databases including MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE (via OvidSP), and the Cochrane Library using both medical subject headings and text terms from January 1, 2003, to December 25, 2015. We included articles that reported on POP status and diagnostic accuracy measurements with translabial 3D ultrasound or transperineal ultrasound for the detection of levator ani defects or for measuring pelvic floor biometry, that is, levator ani hiatus, or reported on the clinical relevance of using translabial 3D ultrasound for levator ani defects or measuring pelvic floor biometry in women with POP.

Results Thirty-one articles were selected in accordance with parts of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines that can be applied to studies of diagnostic accuracy. Twenty-two articles (71%) are coauthored by 1 expert in this field. Detecting levator ani defects with translabial 3D ultrasound compared with magnetic resonance imaging showed a moderate to good agreement, whereas measuring hiatal biometry on translabial 3D ultrasound compared with magnetic resonance imaging showed a moderate to very good agreement. The interobserver agreement for diagnosing levator ani defects and measuring the levator hiatal area showed a moderate to very good agreement. Furthermore, levator ani defects increase the risk of cystocele and uterine prolapse, and levator ani defects are associated with recurrent POP. Finally, a larger hiatus was associated with POP and recurrent POP.

Conclusions Translabial 3D ultrasound is reproducible for diagnosing levator ani defects and ballooning hiatus. Both levator ani defects and a larger hiatal area are, in a selected population of patients with pelvic floor dysfunction, associated with POP and recurrent POP. More research is needed concerning external validation because most data in this article are coauthored by 1 expert in this field.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)420-428
Number of pages9
JournalFemale Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery
Volume23
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

Keywords

  • hiatal area
  • levator defects
  • pelvic organ prolapse
  • review
  • translabial ultrasound
  • 4-DIMENSIONAL TRANSPERINEAL ULTRASOUND
  • FLOOR MUSCLE ANATOMY
  • CYSTOCELE RECURRENCE
  • 3-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND
  • URINARY-INCONTINENCE
  • PUBOVISCERAL MUSCLE
  • PERINEAL ULTRASOUND
  • AVULSION INJURY
  • LIFETIME RISK
  • SURGERY

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