Chaoran Dou1, Qin Li2, Tao Ying3, Wen Shui1, Yulin Yan1, Yijia Luo1, Xia Wang1. 1. Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200233, China. 2. Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200233, China. liqinlw@sina.com. 3. Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200233, China. lycskyt1972@163.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of three-dimensional (3D) transperineal ultrasound on the observation of paravaginal support in nulliparous and postpartum women. METHODS: Volume datasets were acquired in 50 nulliparous and 100 postpartum women using 3D transperineal ultrasound. Paravaginal supports were observed by studying the vaginal cross-sectional morphology. The extent of paravaginal support in specific level were evaluated by counting out at a 2 mm interval in tomographic ultrasound imaging mode in all subjects. The Mann-Whitney U test were applied to establish comparisons between the two groups. RESULTS: Three representative manifestations of vaginal cross-sectional morphology corresponding to different paravaginal support were presented from the dorsal side to the caudal side, both in nulliparous women and postpartum women. The extent of paravaginal support in middle vagina was 11 slices (range 9-12) in nulliparous women and 7 slices (range 4-10) in postpartum women (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This pilot study confirmed that it was feasible to indirectly study paravaginal support by observing the vaginal cross-sectional morphology using 3D transperineal ultrasound.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of three-dimensional (3D) transperineal ultrasound on the observation of paravaginal support in nulliparous and postpartum women. METHODS: Volume datasets were acquired in 50 nulliparous and 100 postpartum women using 3D transperineal ultrasound. Paravaginal supports were observed by studying the vaginal cross-sectional morphology. The extent of paravaginal support in specific level were evaluated by counting out at a 2 mm interval in tomographic ultrasound imaging mode in all subjects. The Mann-Whitney U test were applied to establish comparisons between the two groups. RESULTS: Three representative manifestations of vaginal cross-sectional morphology corresponding to different paravaginal support were presented from the dorsal side to the caudal side, both in nulliparous women and postpartum women. The extent of paravaginal support in middle vagina was 11 slices (range 9-12) in nulliparous women and 7 slices (range 4-10) in postpartum women (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This pilot study confirmed that it was feasible to indirectly study paravaginal support by observing the vaginal cross-sectional morphology using 3D transperineal ultrasound.