Biomechanical Properties of Vaginal Tissue in Women with Pelvic Organ Prolapse

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

Pedro Martins (Author) FEUP; Agnaldo Lopes Silva Filho (Author) Other; Andrea Moura R M Rodrigues Maciel da Fonseca (Author) Other; Agostinho Santos (Author) Other; Liliana Santos (Author) Other; Teresa Mascarenhas (Author) FMUP; Renato M N Natal Jorge (Author) FEUP; Antonio J M Ferreira (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation

Vol. 75

Pages: 85-92

ISSN: 0378-7346

Publisher: Karger

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 37 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 36 Citations

Pubmed / Medline

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Clinical medicine

CORDIS: Health sciences > Medical sciences > Medicine > Gynaecology

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-1EC

DOI: 10.1159/000343230

Abstract (EN): Background/Aims: To compare biomechanical properties of vaginal tissues between women with and without pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and investigate factors that may influence these properties. Methods: Forty patients submitted to POP surgery and 15 non-POP cadavers were evaluated. The tissue was excised from anterior and posterior middle third vagina. The biomechanical properties considered were stiffness (E) and maximum stress (S-max), and they were evaluated by means of uniaxial tension tests. Results: POP patients were associated with higher values of E (13.1 +/- 0.8 vs. 9.5 +/- 0.7 MPa; p < 0.001) and S-max (5.3 +/- 0.5 vs. 3.2 +/- 0.9 MPa; p < 0.001) in the anterior vaginal wall compared to the posterior wall. In contrast, non-POP women presented lower values of E (6.9 +/- 1.1 vs. 10.5 +/- 1.0 MPa; p = 0.01) and S-max (2.6 +/- 0.4 vs. 3.5 +/- 0.4 MPa; p = 0.043) in the anterior wall. The occurrence of POP was the only independent predictor of higher values of E and S-max in anterior vaginal samples (p = 0.003 and p = 0.008, respectively). Women with severe anterior vaginal prolapse presented higher levels of E and S-max in the anterior sample compared to those with lower POP stages (p = 0.001 and p = 0.01; respectively). Conclusion:Women with POP present significant changes of biomechanical properties in the vagina. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8