An International Continence Society (ICS) report on the terminology for female pelvic floor fistulas

Judith Goh; Lauri Romanzi; Sohier Elneil; Bernard Haylen; Grace Chen; Gamal Ghoniem; Munir'deen Ijaiya; Soo Kwon; Joseph Lee; Sherif Mourad; Rajeev Ramanah; Mohan Regmi; Raheela Mohsin Rivzi; Rebecca Rogers; Jonothan Sharp; Vivian Sung

doi:10.1002/nau.24508

An International Continence Society (ICS) report on the terminology for female pelvic floor fistulas

Neurourol Urodyn. 2020 Nov;39(8):2040-2071. doi: 10.1002/nau.24508.

Authors

Judith Goh¹, Lauri Romanzi², Sohier Elneil³, Bernard Haylen⁴, Grace Chen⁵, Gamal Ghoniem⁶, Munir'deen Ijaiya⁷, Soo Kwon⁸, Joseph Lee⁴, Sherif Mourad⁹, Rajeev Ramanah¹⁰, Mohan Regmi¹¹, Raheela Mohsin Rivzi¹², Rebecca Rogers¹³, Jonothan Sharp¹⁴, Vivian Sung¹⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gynecology, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
² Department of Global Health and Global Medicine, Harvard Medical School, New York, New York, USA.
³ Department of Urogynecology, University College, London Hospitals, London, UK.
⁴ Department of Gynecology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁵ Department of Gynecology, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
⁶ Division of Female Urology, UC Irvine Health, Irvine, California, USA.
⁷ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of IIorin, IIorin, Kwara, Nigeria.
⁸ Department of Gynecology, Zucker School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
⁹ Department of Gynecology, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
¹⁰ Department of Urology, CHU Besancon, Besancon, France.
¹¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, BP Koirala Institute, Dharan, Nepal.
¹² Department of Obsterics and Gynecology, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
¹³ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA.
¹⁴ Department of Women's Health, Fenwek Hospital, Bomet, Kenya.
¹⁵ Division of Urogynecology, Woman & Infants Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.

PMID: 33068487
DOI: 10.1002/nau.24508

Abstract

Introduction: The terminology for female pelvic floor fistulas (PFF) needs to be defined and organized in a clinically based consensus Report.

Methods: This Report combines the input of members of the International Continence Society (ICS) assisted at intervals by external referees. Appropriate core clinical categories and a sub-classification were developed to give a coding to definitions. An extensive process of 19 rounds of internal and external review was involved to examine each definition, with decision-making by collective opinion (consensus).

Results: A terminology report for female PFF, encompassing 416 (188 NEW) separate definitions, has been developed. It is clinically based with the most common diagnoses defined. Clarity and user-friendliness have been key aims to make it interpretable by practitioners and trainees in different specialty groups involved in female pelvic floor dysfunction and PFF. Female-specific imaging (ultrasound, radiology, and magnetic resonance imaging) and conservative and surgical PFF managements as well as appropriate figures have been included to supplement and clarify the text. Interval (5-10 years) review is anticipated to keep the document updated and as widely acceptable as possible.

Conclusion: A consensus-based terminology report for female PFF has been produced to aid clinical practice and research.

Keywords: Female urinary incontinence; Pelvic Floor Fistula; Pelvic reconstructive surgery.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Consensus
Female
Fistula / diagnosis*
Gynecology
Humans
Pelvic Floor Disorders / diagnosis*
Pelvic Floor*
Societies, Medical
Terminology as Topic*
Urology