Larissa V. Rodriguez, MD, summarizes the 2017 American Urological Association (AUA) Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) guidelines and critiques their limitations. In particular, she criticizes the fact that their index patient does not represent patients urologists usually see, their exclusion of non-FDA approved interventions, and their insufficient emphasis on urodynamics.
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Larissa V. Rodriguez, MD, discusses considerations for midurethral sling surgery to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI) that the American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines do not cover, including how to treat non-index patients and choosing optimal slings for individual cases. Specifically, she compares the outcomes of retropubic, transobturator, and autologous fascia pubovaginal slings in various patient demographics. She also summarizes the evolution of sling surgery and how it came into widespread use.
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Larissa V. Rodriguez, MD, discusses risk factors of recurrent urinary tract infections after midurethral sling surgery, when and how to evaluate patients that present with recurrent infections, and imaging options like translabial ultrasound. She also evaluates indications for sling removal and whether or not it safe and beneficial option.
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Larissa V. Rodriguez, MD, summarizes the current understanding and available options of stem cell therapy in the context of female pelvic medicine and reconstruction, especially for treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI), pelvic organ prolapse, interstitial cystitis, and fecal incontinence.
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Larissa V. Rodriguez, MD, discusses the role of environmental stress in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and interstitial cystitis (IC) and the development of the Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network. She explains how the neurovisceral interactions involved in processing, emotion, and attention affect bladder function, and how studying this link help develop future treatment options.
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