Clinical Research Directory

Vaginal Vault Native Tissue Suspension

Vaginal vault suspension at time of abdominal hysterectomy using Mackenrodt and uterosacral ligaments.

POMEGRANATE Trial: Comparing Reia Pessary Versus Standard of Care Pessary for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Treatment

This multi-centered, randomized controlled trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of home use of the novel Reia System (RS), which includes the Reia pessary and applicator, compared to standard pessary care (Gellhorn or ring with/without support without knob) among women with stage II-IV pelvic organ prolapse (POP). A total of 200 participants will be recruited among pessary naïve patients who are symptomatic and choose a vaginal pessary for management of their POP from study sites specializing in Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery (URPS). Participants will be assigned via 1:1 randomization using computer generated numbers in permutated groups of variable block sizes to either the intervention (the Reia System, RS) or standard pessary care (SPC) stratified by site. Participation in this trial will involve a total of four visits over six months. The primary outcome measure will be satisfaction measured at the six-month time point. Secondary outcomes will include validated surveys to assess quality of life, number of self-management events, ease/difficulty of pessary insertion/removal, importance of ability to self-manage pessary, and adverse events. Specific Aims Aim 1: To compare satisfaction with pessary use and management between subjects randomized to the Reia System and those randomized to standard of care pessary. Aim 2: To assess successful fitting, number of refitting visits, number of self-management events and continued pessary use over a 6-month period between subjects randomized to the Reia System and those randomized to standard of care pessary. Aim 3: To compare ease/difficulty of pessary use and importance of ability to self-manage, as well as quality of life over a 6-month period between subjects randomized to the Reia System and those randomized to standard of care pessary. Aim 4: To measure rates of adverse events and risk factors for adverse events over a 6-month period between subjects randomized to the Reia System and those randomized to standard of care pessary.

Intraoperative Costs and Patient Perceptions in Sacrocolpopexy for Prolapse

Robotic sacrocolpopexy (a procedure for female pelvic organ prolapse) has been demonstrated to have equivalent surgical outcomes to open abdominal sacrocolpopexy and has been previously deemed more cost effective due to the longer hospital course following open procedures. The total cost of these procedures, including all costs of hospitalization as well as costs associated with the 30 days following surgery have previously been evaluated by the investigators. However, previous research is lacking in both the specific cost components that contribute to intraoperative cost of surgery as well as the patient perceived outcomes following these two procedures. This project aims to evaluate the marginal costs of surgery and to survey sacrocolpopexy patients to evaluate their satisfaction with outcomes and surgical scars.

i-Stitch for Bilateral Sacrospinous Ligament Fixation (SSLF)

The purpose of the clinical investigation is to generate clinical data to substantiate the safety and performance of the i-Stitch device for bilateral sacrospinous ligament fixation (SSLF) in pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repair.

Study Comparing Transobturator Cystocele vs. Anterior Vaginal RepairS

Surgical correction of the prolapse in the anterior compartment remains one of the major challenges in urogynecology. Paravaginal defect in level II of vaginal fixation results in the majority of cystoceles. Clinically, these defects are often combined and/or may be bilateral. Hence, careful assessment and individualized planning of the surgical procedure is essential to optimize cystocele repair outcome. Several surgical techniques and approaches have been used for cystocele repair. After the ban on transvaginal meshes, the interest in native tissue repair has risen. Paravaginal defect repair is an effective surgery for paravaginal defect reconstruction. There is a current trend to utilize transvaginal surgery instead of more invasive transabdominal surgery. A novel method of transvaginal paravaginal defect repair - TOCR (transobturator cystocele repair) was suggested. The principle objective of the present trial is to compare its efficacy and safety to preexisting method of native tissue cystocele repair.

GYNEMESH PS Mesh Post Marketing Clinical Follow-Up Study

The objective of this retrospective and prospective, single-arm, observational, multicenter, post-market study is to evaluate outcomes in women who underwent surgery for vaginal or uterine prolapse with a GYNEMESH PS Mesh.

Centered Surgery - Preoperative Counseling and Patient Satisfaction

This study is a prospective cohort study which aims to assess patient satisfaction and preparedness for surgery through two methods of preoperative counseling: standard individual phone calls versus virtual group sessions called Shared Medical Appointments (SMAs). The study will focus on patients undergoing urogynecology prolapse surgeries at Cleveland Clinic. Researchers hypothesize that virtual group counseling will improve patient satisfaction and preparedness compared to individual phone calls. Additionally, the study will evaluate healthcare resource utilization as a secondary outcome. Participants will complete surveys before and after surgery to measure satisfaction and preparedness using validated tools. The study will enroll patients aged 18 and older who can provide informed consent and are scheduled for specific prolapse surgeries. Findings may help improve preoperative counseling practices and enhance patient-centered care.

Ethicon Pelvic Mesh Post Market Clinical Follow-up Registry

The objective of this post market, clinical registry is to evaluate the performance of the products of the TVT family of products or vaginal vault or uterine prolapse repair (with laparotomic or laparoscopic approach including robotic assisted) using either Gynemesh PS Mesh or Artisyn Mesh in women undergoing surgery for SUI and POP.

Effects of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training With & Without Hypopressive Exercises

Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) is a prevalent condition affecting women's quality of life due to the descent of pelvic organs caused by weak pelvic floor muscles (PFMs). This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effects of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) alone and PFMT combined with hypopressive exercises in improving pelvic floor muscle strength, reducing dyspareunia, and enhancing overall quality of life in women aged 45-65 diagnosed with stage I-II POP.This study will be randomized controlled trial and will be conducted in Qasim Sandhu Hospital, Muhammadi Medical Trust and Clinic 1. This will undergo 4 sessions totaling 1 month of treatment. . Non-probability convenience sampling technique will be used and 46 participants will be recruited in study after randomization.The subjects will be divided into two groups. Group A will receive pelvic floor muscle training with hypopressive exercises and Group B will receive pelvic floor muscle training without hypopressive exercises receiving baseline treatment.

Sequence of Midurethral Sling Placement During Robotic Sacrocolpopexy

This study looks at the best time to place a midurethral sling (MUS), which is a small piece of mesh used to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI) (leaking urine when you cough, laugh, or exercise). The sling is placed during a type of surgery called robotic sacrocolpopexy (RSC). This surgery helps fix pelvic organ prolapse, when organs like the bladder or uterus drop from their normal place. Doctors can place the sling either before or after they lift and support the top of the vagina during surgery, but they aren't sure which timing works better. In this study, investigators are comparing what is the best time to place the sling, how the patient feels after surgery and if a patient's symptoms got better or worse.

To Explore the Surgical Outcomes and Safety of an Innovative Laparoscopic Uterine Pectopexy Technique Using Inverted T-meshes for Simultaneous Apical and Anterior Vaginal Repair.

Patients referred for pelvic reconstructive surgery frequently present with combined anterior and apical vaginal wall prolapse. Previous studies found that anterior compartment involvement is the most common and serious defect that occurs with an apical defect. To address this, many surgeons will conduct concomitant surgeries in addition to sacrocolpopexy or pectopexy. This prospective pilot study was conducted to explore the surgical outcomes and safety of an innovative laparoscopic uterine pectopexy technique using inverted T-meshes for simultaneous apical and anterior vaginal repair.

The AccelERate Trial

The AccelERate study will evaluate the physical recovery of patients who have undergone Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) surgery. This will be evaluated via a self-reported recovery questionnaire completed daily. Participants will wear an accelerometer device on their non-dominant wrist and be given either routine or exercise-focused postoperative instructions. The primary outcome will be a comparison of the number of days needed to reach self-reported "mostly recovered" status between randomly assigned instruction groups.

AMBULAPSE STUDY Feasibility Study on Laparoscopic Double-mesh Sacrocolpopexy With or Without Robotic Assistance, in Female Patients Presenting With Symptomatic Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Based on an Outpatient Treatment Model.

Pelvic organ prolapse is an increasingly common functional disorder which affects approximately 30 to 40% of the female population, 12% of whom have a symptomatic form, with a psychological, physical and social impact. Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy represents the surgical "gold standard" for the treatment of this functional disorder. It aims to suspend the vaginal vault by means of a prosthesis. The patient satisfaction rate is evaluated at 94% with low overall complication rate, evaluated at 11%. Pelvic organ prolapse surgery is a common, with an estimated 30,000 procedures carried out in France in 2013 (excluding hysterectomy) (2013 ATIH data), and the number will increase in the future due to increasing life expectancy. 13% of women will undergo this type of procedure. The French General Directorate of Health Care Supply (DGOS) deems outpatient surgery to be the benchmark for surgical activity in all eligible patients, and has expressed the need for recommendations and tools for supporting its development. The rate of outpatient surgery for prolapse remains low in France (6.1%, 2015 ATIH data), while it is 25% in the US and 56% in Denmark. The average duration of hospital stays for DRG N81.2 (first degree uterine prolapse) in 2015 was 3.43 days. These procedures have been the subject of publications concerning outpatient care and involving low numbers of patients, with the exception of the publication by Sinhal which involved 111 patients.

SORE Study: Sitz Baths After Urogynecologic Reconstruction

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the utility of postoperative sitz baths in patient pain perception and recovery following surgical repair of prolapse. The SORE Study is a prospective, randomized controlled trial that aims to compare postoperative pain intensity one week after native tissue repair of pelvic organ prolapse for patients undergoing a sitz bath regimen versus usual care. Findings from this study may contribute to more robust, multimodal postoperative pain management plans if proven efficacious or, alternatively, reduce plastic medical waste and simplify postoperative pain plans if found to be ineffective.

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training During Pregnancy

The project seeks to investigate effectiveness of PFMT during pregnancy.

Enabling Self-Care for Pessary Users in Rural Setting

This study is to see if a using new collapsible pessary (Reia pessary) for treatment of pelvic organ prolapse will allow patients to care for their prolapse on their own, rather than having to come to be seen by a provider in the office regularly (2-4 times per year) to manage the pessary. Enrollment in the study will be offered to current patients who have regular office visits to care for their pessary.

Cranberry Tablets Versus Nitrofurantoin Prophylaxis for Urinary Tract Infection Prevention After Urogynecologic Surgery

We aim to compare the effectiveness of cranberry capsules versus nitrofurantoin prophylaxis in preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs) after urogynecologic surgery by conducting a double-blinded randomized clinical trial involving women with pelvic organ prolapse and/or urinary incontinence scheduled to have surgery with the Urogynecologists who comprise the Brigham and Women's Urogynecology Group.

EASE: The Materna Prep Pivotal Study

This study is designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Materna Prep Device in reducing pelvic muscle injuries during vaginal delivery. Subjects are randomized to Materna Prep Device or Standard of Care without use of the Materna Prep Device Intervention with the Materna Prep Device is expected to be a one-time use of approximately 30-90 minutes during the 1st stage of labor. Subject participation in the study is targeted to be 12 months from the time of the use of the device during delivery.

Pelvic Floor Disorder Symptoms in Women Seeking Weight Loss Therapy

The purpose of this study is to compare change in pelvic floor symptoms between patients receiving medical therapy for weight loss and surgical treatment for weight loss. Examples of pelvic floor symptoms include urinary incontinence, urinary urgency, urinary frequency, fecal incontinence, and vaginal prolapse. Participants in this study do not need to have any pelvic floor symptoms to enroll in the study. Understanding how different types of weight loss treatment impact pelvic floor symptoms will help clinicians guide which weight loss treatments are recommended for patients with pelvic floor symptoms in the future.

VNOTES Approach in Mesh Free Sacrocolpopexy: A Functional and Anatomic Evaluation

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of mesh-free sacrocolpopexy performed using the VNOTES (Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery) technique in the surgical treatment of pelvic organ prolapse. Anatomical and functional outcomes will be assessed over a 6-month period before and after the operation. Evaluation tools will include the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20), Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system, and the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12). The findings of this study are expected to provide important data on the anatomical improvement, functional outcomes, and impact on sexual function of mesh-free sacrocolpopexy performed via the VNOTES approach.

Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation of Female Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

The goal of this observational study is to learn about the therapeutic effects of different pelvic floor rehabilitation treatments, including pelvic floor muscle training , pelvic floor biofeedback electrical stimulation, and magnetic stimulation, in a population of Chinese patients with female pelvic floor dysfunction disorders. The study aims to find out the individualised pelvic floor rehabilitation treatment plan suitable for the Chinese population. The main question it aims to answer is: 1. Do patients with reduced pelvic floor muscle strength after childbirth, or patients with mild to moderate pelvic organ prolapse and symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse benefit from pelvic floor rehabilitation? 2. Is the combination of biofeedback electrical stimulation plus pelvic floor magnetic stimulation superior to single electrical stimulation, magnetic stimulation or pelvic floor muscle training? 3. Which pelvic floor rehabilitation therapy is most suitable for Chinese patients with female pelvic floor dysfunction? 4. What factors are early predictors of developing female pelvic floor dysfunction? And what factors can predict the prognostic status of patients treated with pelvic floor rehabilitation? Participants in the multicenter will be treated with different rehabilitation therapies, during which the researchers will collect clinical symptoms using the PFDI20 questionnaire, and POP-Q scores, pelvic floor muscle strength, and electromyography results from participants before, at the end of, and 3 months and 1 year after the end of treatment.

Physical Therapy Intervention for Pelvic Organ Prolapses

Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and pessaries are first-line non-surgical conservative treatments for pelvic organ prolapse (POP). High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Field (HIFEM) is a noninvasive and painless device, designed to promote muscle strengthening and growth and has become a popular treatment option for urinary incontinence in the field of gynecology. However, HIFEM has not yet been rigorously compared to traditional physical therapy for POP. The objectives of this pilot study are to explore clinical effects of HIFEM on POP symptoms; to compare the effectiveness of HIFEM versus PFMT with biofeedback, and usual care on patient-centered outcomes; and to explore the acceptability of the interventions. This is a prospective, single-center randomized controlled trial with a nested qualitative interview study. Twenty-one women with POP, aged \>20 years, will be recruited and randomly allocated to three groups, 'HIFEM' group, 'Biofeedback' group, and 'Usual care' group.The 'HIFEM' group will be asked to sit straight in the center of an electromagnetic chair and remained fully clothed for 28 minutes. The 'Biofeedback' group will receive PFMT with biofeedback and/or electrostimulation. Both 'HIFEM' and 'Biofeedback' groups will receive the interventions twice a week for 8 weeks. Participants allocated to the 'Usual care' group will receive the lifestyle advice leaflet only. All participants will be assessed for pelvic floor muscle function, symptom severity of POP, occurrence and distress related to pelvic floor dysfunction, and impact of pelvic floor dysfunction at baseline and immediately post-intervention.

Comparison of V-NOTES and Laparoscopic Mesh-Free Sacrocolpopexy Techniques

This study aims to compare the surgical outcomes, safety profiles, and patient satisfaction between two minimally invasive techniques for pelvic organ prolapse repair: Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (V-NOTES) mesh-free sacrocolpopexy and laparoscopic mesh-free sacrocolpopexy. By evaluating perioperative data, complication rates, anatomical and functional outcomes, this trial seeks to determine whether the V-NOTES approach provides comparable or superior results to the traditional laparoscopic technique, without the use of synthetic mesh.

Platelet Rich Plasma as an Adjunct Therapy at the Time of Transvaginal Native Tissue Prolapse Surgery

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the surgical outcomes of injecting platelet-rich plasma (PRP) into the vaginal tissue as an adjunct therapy at the time of prolapse surgery