University of Ottawa
Research Spotlight
Featured Publications
McLean L, Charette M, Varette K, Brooks K, Harvey MA, Robert M, Baker K, Day A, Della Zazzera V, Sauerbrei E, Brison R. Pelvic floor muscle training as an adjunct to a midurethral sling: a single-blind randomised controlled trial. Int Urogynecol J. 2022 Apr;33(4):809-819. doi: 10.1007/s00192-020-04668-9. Epub 2021 Mar 3. PMID: 33660001.
This was a single-blind randomised controlled trial comparing peri-operative physiotherapist-supervised pelvic floor muscle training versus receiving a pelvic floor muscle therapy handout. Efficacy on stress urinary incontinence (SUI) symptoms improvement and other urinary symptoms was assessed. Women with SUI planning mid-urethral sling insertion (N=103) were randomized to one of the 2 arms and followed for 3 months after the surgery; they were recontacted at up to 2 years. Women in the physiotherapy group (N=52) participated in 6 physiotherapist-led sessions over 12 weeks preoperatively, as well as 3 postoperative sessions, while the control group (N=51) received standard recommendations by handout. At 3 months postoperatively, all participants in both groups show improvement compared to baseline. The physiotherapy group reported better improvement in SUI symptoms and higher cure at 3 months postoperatively than the control group. However, no difference between groups was found on pad test, filling or voiding symptoms. Fifty-two women attended 1-year follow-up and 36 completed 2-year follow-up, with overall results similar to 3 months. It was concluded that a postoperative physiotherapist-led program of pelvic floor muscle training was more effective than providing handouts for SUI cure at 3 months postoperatively. Larger longer-term studies are needed.
2021-2022 Publication List
Stairs J, Rolnik D, Pascali D, Clancy A. Association between obstetrical anal sphincter injury and postpartum urinary retention: a contemportary nationwide cohort study. International Urogynecology Journal 2022. (epub ahead of print, doi: 10.1007/s00192-022-05346-8).
Xia W, Ameri G, Fakim D, Akhuanzada H, Raza MZ, Abbas Shobeiri S, McLean L, Chen ECS. Automatic plane of minimal hiatal dimensions extraction from 3D female pelvic floor ultrasound. IEEE Trans Med Imaging. 2022 Aug 19;PP. doi: 10.1109/TMI.2022.3199968. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35984794.
Arranz-Martín B, Navarro-Brazález B, Sánchez-Sánchez B, McLean L, Carazo-Díaz C, Torres-Lacomba M. The Impact of Hypopressive Abdominal Exercise on Linea Alba Morphology in Women Who Are Postpartum: A Short-Term Cross-Sectional Study. Phys Ther. 2022 Aug 4;102(8):pzac086. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzac086. PMID: 35908286.
Niederauer S, Bérubé MÈ, Brennan A, McLean L, Hitchcock R. Pelvic floor tissue damping during running using an intra-vaginal accelerometry approach. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2022 Feb;92:105554. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2021.105554. Epub 2021 Dec 29. PMID: 34974336; PMCID: PMC8863648.
Bernard S, McLean L, Boucher S, Hébert LJ, Plante M, Grégoire J, Sebastianelli A, Renaud MC, Froment MA, Moffet H. An in-home rehabilitation program for the treatment of urinary incontinence symptoms in endometrial cancer survivors: a single-case experimental design study. Int Urogynecol J. 2021 Nov;32(11):2947-2957. doi: 10.1007/s00192-021-04981-x. Epub 2021 Sep 25. PMID: 34562132; PMCID: PMC8536558.
Antônio FI, Rodrigues MP, Brooks K, Varette K, McLean L. What improvements in levator ani motor function lead to improvement in stress urinary incontinence signs and symptoms in females? Int Urogynecol J. 2022 Oct;33(10):2735-2747. doi: 10.1007/s00192-021-04931-7. Epub 2021 Sep 3. PMID: 34477898.
Bouchard ME, Stairs J, Hickling D, Clancy A, Khalil H. The use of tissue adhesive in management of genitourinary fistulas: a systematic review and case report. International Urogynecology Journal 2022. (epub ahead of print, doi: 10.1007/s00192-022-05297-0).
Gujral P, Clancy AA. Vesicovaginal fistula caused by complete procidentia. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Canada 2022; S1701-2163(22)00471-6. (epub ahead of print, doi: 10.1016/j.jogc.2022.07.007).
Brooks KCL, Varette K, Harvey MA, Robert M, Brison RJ, Day A, Baker K, Della Zazzera V, Sauerbrei E, McLean L. A model identifying characteristics predictive of successful pelvic floor muscle training outcomes among women with stress urinary incontinence. Int Urogynecol J. 2021 Mar;32(3):719-728.
Kanji S, Pascali D, Clancy AA. Short term complications in mesh augmented vaginal repair of pelvic organ prolapse are not higher when compared with native tissue repair. Int Urogynecol J. 2022, 33(7):1941-1947. (epub ahead of print, doi: 10.1007/s00192-021-04915-7).
Bouchard ME, Baker K, Schachter J, Khalil H, Pascali D, Hickling D, Clancy A. Preoperative anemia and complications after surgery for pelvic organ prolapse: an analysis of the national surgical quality improvement program database. Int Urogynecol J. 2021; (epub ahead of print, doi: 10.1007/s00192-021-04800-3).
Stairs J, Minassian V, Clancy A. Complications after vaginal vault suspension versus minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy in women with elevated body mass index: A retrospective cohort study using data from the national surgical quality improvement program database. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg 2022, 28(6):391-396.
Nayak AL, Breau R, Hickling D, Pascali D, Clancy A, Mallick R, Chen I. Risk Factors for Urologic Injury in Women Undergoing Hysterectomy for Benign Indication. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2022, 44(3):247-254.
Reeves J, McLean L. The influence of contraction type, prior performance of a maximal voluntary contraction and measurement duration on fine-wire EMG amplitude. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2021 Aug;59:102566. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2021.102566. Epub 2021 Jun 8. PMID: 34139549.
Bernard S, Frenette AG, McLean L, Noël P, Froment MA, Hébert LJ, Moffet H. Reliability of ultrasound imaging of pelvic floor morphology and function among females who have undergone pelvic radiotherapy. Neurourol Urodyn. 2021 Apr;40(4):1001-1010. doi: 10.1002/nau.24656. Epub 2021 Mar 19. PMID: 33739537.
McLean L, Charette M, Varette K, Brooks K, Harvey MA, Robert M, Baker K, Day A, Della Zazzera V, Sauerbrei E, Brison R. Pelvic floor muscle training as an adjunct to a midurethral sling: a single-blind randomised controlled trial. Int Urogynecol J. 2022 Apr;33(4):809-819. doi: 10.1007/s00192-020-04668-9. Epub 2021 Mar 3. PMID: 33660001.
Falah-Hassani K, Reeves J, Shiri R, Hickling D, McLean L. The pathophysiology of stress urinary incontinence: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Urogynecol J. 2021 Mar;32(3):501-552. doi: 10.1007/s00192-020-04622-9. Epub 2021 Jan 8. Erratum in: Int Urogynecol J. 2021 Jun;32(6):1607. PMID: 33416968; PMCID: PMC8053188.
Czyrnyj CS, Bérubé MÈ, Lanteigne E, Brennan A, Bader Y, Lomovtsev D, Vandermolen M, Boucher S, Mitri L, McLean L. Design and validation of an automated dual-arm instrumented intravaginal dynamometer. Neurourol Urodyn. 2021 Feb;40(2):604-615. doi: 10.1002/nau.24600. Epub 2021 Jan 7. PMID: 33410542.
Padoa A, McLean L, Morin M, Vandyken C. The Overactive Pelvic Floor (OPF) and Sexual Dysfunction. Part 2: Evaluation and Treatment of Sexual Dysfunction in OPF Patients. Sex Med Rev. 2021 Jan;9(1):76-92. doi: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2020.04.002. Epub 2020 Jul 4. PMID: 32631813.
Clancy AA, Ilin J, Shehata F, Pascali D, Hickling D. Outcomes of an overnight-stay unit for urogynecologic surgery: feasibility and risk factors for failure of next-day discharge. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg 2021,1;27(2):98-104.
Clancy AA, Chen I, Pascali D, Minassian V. Surgical approach and unplanned readmission following pelvic organ prolapse surgery: a retrospective cohort study using data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database (NSQIP). Int Urogynecol J. 2021, 32(4): 945-953.
Shehata F, Hickling D, Pascali D. Urethral erosion of an obturator midurethral sling. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2021, 43(4):423.