%0 Journal Article
%T Biomechanical Mapping of the Female Pelvic Floor: Prolapse versus Normal Conditions
%A Vladimir Egorov
%A S. Abbas Shobeiri
%A Peter Takacs
%A Lennox Hoyte
%A Vincent Lucente
%A Heather van Raalte
%J Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
%P 900-924
%@ 2160-8806
%D 2018
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/ojog.2018.810093
%X <strong>Background:</strong><span><span><span style=\"font-family:;\" \"=\"\"><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> Quantitative biomechanical characterization of pelvic supportive
structures and functions </span><i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">in vivo</span></i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> is
thought to provide insight into pathophysiology of pelvic organ prolapse (POP).
An innovative approach¡ªvaginal tactile imaging¡ªallows biomechanical mapping of
the female pelvic floor to quantify tissue elasticity, pelvic support, and
pelvic muscle functions. The Vaginal Tactile Imager (VTI) records high
definition pressure patterns from vaginal walls under an applied tissue
deformation and during pelvic floor muscle contractions. </span><b><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">Objective:</span></b><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> To
explore an extended set of 52 biomechanical parameters for differentiation and
characterization of POP relative to normal pelvic floor conditions. </span><b><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">Methods:</span></b><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> 96 subjects with normal and POP conditions were included in the data analysis
from multi-site observational, case-controlled studies; 42 subjects had normal
pelvic floor conditions and 54 subjects had POP. The VTI, model 2S, was used
with an analytical software package to calculate automatically 52 biomechanical
parameters for 8 VTI test procedures (probe insertion, elevation, rotation,
Valsalva maneuver, voluntary muscle contractions in 2 planes, relaxation, and
reflex contraction). The groups were equalized for subject age and parity. </span><b><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">Results:</span></b><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> The ranges, mean values, and standard deviations for all 52 VTI parameters were
established. 33 of 52 parameters were identified as statistically sensitive (</span><i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">p</span></i></span></span></span><span><span><i><span style=\"font-family:;\" \"=\"\"> </span></i></span></span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">&lt;</span></span></span><span><span><span style=\"font-family:;\" \"=\"\"> </span></span></span><span><span><span style=\"font-family:;\" \"=\"\"><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">0.05; </span><i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">t</span></i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">-test) to the POP
development. Among these 33 parameters, 11 parameters show changes (decrease)
in tissue elasticity, 8 parameters
%K Biomechanical Mapping
%K Female Pelvic Floor
%K Prolapse
%K Tissue Elasticity
%K Pelvic Support
%K Pelvic Function
%K Tactile Imaging
%K Elastography
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=87039