Gamma-irradiated Amniotic Membrane Graft in Posterior Colporrhaphy

• Methodology:

• Protocol approval will be sought from the research ethical committee.
• Enrolment: The patients will be recruited from the outpatient gynecology clinic of Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital (ASUMH).
• History, examination, and routine investigations will be done to identify eligible patients.

History taking including (personal history, age, menopausal, medical history, and surgical history), as well as symptoms score using Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory 6 (POPDI-6) part of the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory Short Form 20. Also, sexual function will be assessed by Female Sexual Function Index Questionnaire.

Clinical examination: including (general examination, abdominal examination and pelvic examination and POP-Q.

Routine investigations: complete blood count and other preoperative tests as needed.

• Written informed consent will be sought from the patients after proper counseling.
• Surgical procedure:

Posterior colporrhaphy with application of the amniotic membrane graft will be done as follows:

Steps of conventional posterior colporrhaphy:

• A midline incision is extended from the perineal body to the vaginal apex or to the cephalad border of a small or distal rectocele.
• The Denonvillier's fascia is mobilized from the vaginal epithelium, leaving as much of the tissue as possible attached laterally to the levator fascia.
• Gamma irradiated Sterilized freeze-dried (lyophilized) amnion grafts will be obtained from the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority and prepared according to the method of Antounians (2019). Multiple procedures are used to sterilize acellular amniotic membranes, the final of which being gamma irradiation. For tissue allograft sterilisation, gamma radiation is claimed to be the most reliable and successful method. Many tissue banks have employed it to sterilise tissues. The clinical function of the amniotic membrane is unaffected by gamma radiation 11. The most frequent dose for sterilising medical goods is 25 kilogram. This graft has the advantage of complete sterilization and is valid on shelf for 5 years as it is dried. Posterior vaginal wall amniotic membrane graft can be placed on the posterior vaginal wall, between the rectal fascia and the vagina, anchored distally at the uterosacral ligaments, and dorsally at the levator ani muscle. The excess amniotic membrane graft is trimmed off, usually around 1-2 cm on each side.
• After obvious defects in the rectal muscularis are repaired, the fascia is plicated in the midline with interrupted or continuous sutures using vicryl 0 sutures.
• When a defective perineal body or perineal membrane is present, reconstruction is performed after accompanying posterior colporrhaphy.
• The superficial muscles of the perineum and bulbocavernous fascia are plicated in the midline and the skin closed as in an episiotomy repair using vicryl 2/0 sutures.
• Detachments of the inferior portion of the Denonvillier's fascia from the perineal body are also corrected.

Postoperative instructions and care:

• Vaginal pack will be left as a compression and will be removed the following day.
• Urinary catheter: will be left for 24hours then removed.
• Postoperative clinical assessment by POP-Q.
• Patients will be instructed to:
• Mobilize to reduce risk of deep vein thrombosis.
• Bath or shower as normal routine.
• Avoid using tampons for 6 weeks.
• Avoid sexual intercourse for at least 6weeks.
• Avoid constipation; by drinking plenty of water and fluids, eating fruit and green vegetables, and any constant cough is to be treated promptly.
• Avoid heavy lifting to reduce the risk of the prolapse recurrence.
• Follow up schedule:

Follow up of all patients will be done in both groups at 3 and 6 months (symptoms +/- examination as needed).

• Data collection and recording. Data will be collected and recorded in case report form. Detection bias will be avoided by blinding the outcome assessor.
• Statistical analysis will be done to get the results.

Inclusion criteria

• Women diagnosed as posterior vaginal wall prolapse: bulging of front wall of rectum into the vagina due to weakening of pelvic support system and thinning of rectovaginal septum.
• Women aged 30-60 years.
• BMI 20-35 kg/m2
• Planned for surgical correction

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with:
• Immuno-compromise e.g. Patients receiving chemotherapy, steroids.
• Severe anaemia (Hb<10)
• conditions that require concomitant reconstructive pelvic floor surgery e.g., anterior and/or apical compartment prolapse.
• Conditions that lead to increase intra-abdominal pressure e.g.,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Uncontrolled medical disorders (diabetes, hypertension, asthma).