Prophylactic use of negative pressure dressings for closed laparotomy wounds significantly reduces the incidence of SSI at 30 days postoperatively.

Increasingly, uterine preservation surgeries are being performed for treating apical prolapse. Several types of procedures and surgical approaches to correct apical prolapse have been described in the literature. Despite this, there remains inadequate information to provide evidence-based recommendations regarding the optimal treatment approach and materials to use, and trials are ongoing to identify the optimal techniques. In the future, our patients may be the strongest determining influence when it comes to choice of apical prolapse surgery, with factors such as autonomy, reproduction, intimacy and fear influencing their decision. It is our opinion that the two most powerful forces behind the choice of apical POP surgical technique are the woman's personal desire for uterine preservation or not and the surgeon's personal choice of procedure based on training received. Present management of apical prolapse involves understanding patient goals and acknowledging their treatment preferences and values.

The aim of our retrospective study is to report on our experience using the Prevena™ wound system in obese patients undergoing caesarean section delivery. A total of 26 cases were identified from July 2012 to October 2013. The median BMI of these women was 45.3 kg/m(2). Elective caesarean sections were performed in 20 women (77%). There were four cases (15%) of superficial dehiscence. Factors associated with wound breakdown were wound infection (p = 0.03), increasing BMI (p < 0.001) and emergency LSCS (p = 0.04). In a logistic regression model the presence of infection was the only factor which remained associated with wound breakdown. Wound disruption is a major cause of morbidity following caesarean section in morbidly obese patients. The wound complication rate in our experience was low with the Prevena™ dressing with no cases of sheath dehiscence, and no patient required a second operation. The presence of infection is the most important factor in wound breakdown and should be the focus for management protocols.

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Introduction and hypothesis Urinary tract infection is the most common complication after urodynamic studies (UDS). Practice guidelines recommend against antibiotic prophylaxis based on an outdated review of the literature, which advised on the premise of "a lack of good quality studies" and based on an assumed low incidence not consistently supported by the literature. Objectives This systematic review aims to update the assessment of the efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis compared with placebo or no treatment for prevention of urinary tract infection in females over the age of 18 years undergoing UDS. Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE, COCHRANE, DISSERTATIONS, conference proceedings and clinical trial registries were searched for relevant randomized controlled trials. Two authors independently screened and selected articles, assessed these for quality according to Cochrane guidelines and extracted their data. Results A total of 2633 records were screened, identifying three relevant randomized controlled trials. The one study that was critically appraised as being the least likely biased showed a statistically significant effect of antibiotic prophylaxis in reducing bacteriuria post UDS in female patients. The other two studies included in the review did not. None of the studies included were powered to show a significant change in the incidence of urinary tract infection following UDS in female patients receiving antibiotic prophylaxis versus no prophylaxis. Conclusions Similar to the 2012 Cochrane review on this subject, this systematic review demonstrated that antibiotic prophylaxis may decrease bacteriuria in women post UDS; however, further research is required to assess its effect on urinary tract infections in this context.

Purpose Transient postoperative urinary retention (POUR) is common after pelvic floor surgery. We aimed to determine the association between peri-operative variables and POUR and to determine the number of voids required for post-void residuals (PVRs) to normalize postoperatively. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 992 patients undergoing pelvic floor surgery at a tertiary referral centre from January 2015 to October 2017. Variables assessed included: age, BMI, ASA score, anaesthesia type, type of surgery, length of postoperative stay, surgeon, bladder protocol used, and number of PVRs required to “pass” the protocol. Results Significant risk factors for POUR included: placement of MUS during POP surgery, anterior repair and hysterectomy with concomitant sacrospinous vault suspension. A total of 25.1% were discharged requiring catheterization. Patients receiving a concomitant mid-urethral sling (MUS) were 2.2 (95% CI1.6–2.9) and 2.3 (95% CI 1.8–3.1) times more likely to have elevated PVR after their second TOV and third TOV (p < 0.0001), respectively, compared with those without concomitant MUS. Permitting a third TOV allowed an additional 10% of women to pass the voiding protocol before discharge. The median number of voids to pass protocol was 2. An ASA > 2 and placement of MUS were associated with increasing number of voids needed to pass protocol. Conclusions While many women passed protocol by the second void, using the 3rd void as a cut point to determine success would result in fewer women requiring catheterization after discharge. Prior to pelvic floor surgery, women should be counselled regarding POUR probability to allow for management of postoperative expectations.

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Maternal obesity is an emerging challenge in contemporary obstetrics. To date there has been no study analysing the relationship between specific maternal body composition measurements and foetal soft-tissue measurements. The aim of this study was to determine whether measurement of maternal body composition at booking predicts foetal soft-tissue trajectories in the third trimester. We analysed the relationship between foetal thigh in the third trimester and both maternal BMI and body composition using the Tanita digital scales in the first trimester. Foetal subcutaneous thigh tissue measurements were obtained at intervals of 28, 32 and 36 weeks of gestation. A total of 160 women were identified. There was a direct correlation between MTST at 36 weeks and BMI (p = .002). There was a positive correlation between MTST at 36 weeks and leg fat mass (p = .13) and leg fat free mass (p = .013). There was a positive correlation between arm fat free mass and MTST at 36 weeks. We showed there is an association between maternal fat distribution and foetal subcutaneous thigh tissue measurements. MTST may be more useful in determining if a child is at risk of macrosomia. Impact statement Previous studies have suggested that maternal obesity programmes intrauterine foetal adiposity and growth. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship in a high-risk obstetric population between measurements of maternal body composition in early pregnancy and the assessment of foetal adiposity in the third trimester using serial ultrasound measurements of mid-thigh soft-tissue thickness. BMI is only a surrogate measurement of fat and does not measure fat distribution. Our study shows the distribution of both maternal fat and fat-free mass in early pregnancy may be positively associated with foetal soft-tissue measurements in the third trimester. Maternal arthropometric measurements other than BMI may help predict babies at risk of macrosomia and neonatal adiposity.