The uncorrected defect: a risk stratification model for persistent levator ballooning following pelvic organ prolapse repair
Objective To develop and validate a multivariable prediction model capable of identifying patients at high risk of persistent levator hiatus ballooning 3 months following primary POP reconstructive surgery. Method A prospective observational study was conducted on a consecutive cohort of 140 women u...
| Autores: | , , , , , |
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| Formato: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2026 |
| País: | España |
| Recursos: | Universidad de Sevilla (US) |
| Repositorio: | idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:dnet:idus________::e57cb6c850ef05d318f841f8a9a66d66 |
| Acesso em linha: | https://hdl.handle.net/11441/185744 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-026-06662-z |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palavra-chave: | Pelvic organ prolapse Levator ani muscle Ballooning Transperineal ultrasound Prediction model |
| Resumo: | Objective To develop and validate a multivariable prediction model capable of identifying patients at high risk of persistent levator hiatus ballooning 3 months following primary POP reconstructive surgery. Method A prospective observational study was conducted on a consecutive cohort of 140 women undergoing primary surgery for symptomatic POP (POP-Q stage ≥ 2). All patients underwent a standardized transperineal ultrasound assessment preoperatively and at 3 months postoperatively. Ballooning was defined as a levator hiatus area (LHA) of ≥ 25 cm2 on straining maneuver. A multivariable binary logistic regression model was developed to predict the presence of postoperative ballooning. The model’s performance was assessed using Harrell’s C-index (AUC) and calibration plots. Results Although surgery resulted in a significant mean reduction of the LHA on straining (from 29.60 ± 8.30 cm2 to 27.17 ± 7.24 cm2; p < 0.001), the ballooning phenotype persisted in 57.1% (80/140) of the cohort. The final multivariable model identified three independent predictors: age (OR 0.959; 95% CI 0.920–0.999), body mass index (OR 1.095; 95% CI 1.004–1.194), and preoperative resting LHA (OR 1.276; 95% CI 1.158–1.405). Notably, resting area proved to be a stronger predictor than straining area. The model demonstrated high discriminative ability with an AUC of 0.84 (95% CI 0.77–0.91) and good calibration. Conclusions Surgical correction of POP reduces hiatal dimensions but fails to correct levator ballooning in the majority of patients. We developed a highly accurate predictive model that identifies this “uncorrected defect” using preoperative resting biometry. Identifying this high-risk phenotype is crucial for patient counseling and managing expectations regarding long-term recurrence. |
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