The PESSRI study: symptom relief outcomes of a randomized crossover trial of the ring and Gellhorn pessaries

• Published in: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology Vol. 196; no. 4; pp. 405.e1 - 405.e8
• Main Authors: Cundiff, Geoffrey W., MD, Amundsen, Cindy L., MD, Bent, Alfred E., MD, Coates, Kimberly W., MD, Schaffer, Joseph I., MD, Strohbehn, Kris, MD, Handa, Victoria L., MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mosby, Inc 01.04.2007
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cross-Over Studies; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gellhorn pessary; Gels; Humans; Middle Aged; Obstetrics and Gynecology; pelvic organ prolapse; Pessaries; Probability; Prosthesis Design; Quality of Life; Ring pessary; Risk Assessment; Sickness Impact Profile; Treatment Outcome; Uterine Prolapse - diagnosis; Uterine Prolapse - surgery; Gellhorn pessary; Ring pessary; pelvic organ prolapse
• ISSN: 0002-9378; 1097-6868
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2007.02.018

Objective The aim of this randomized crossover trial was to compare symptom relief and change in life impact for women using the ring with support and Gellhorn pessaries. Study Design Subjects were randomized to use each pessary for 3 months. Outcome data included a visual analog satisfaction score, and quality of life questionnaires. Analysis included student’s t-test, Wilcoxan Signed–rank test and logistical regression. Results Subjects were primarily white, parous, postmenopausal women with a mean age of 61. The median POPQ stage was III. We enrolled 134 subjects and collected 3-month data on 94 ring and 99 Gellhorn subjects. There were statistically and clinically significant improvements in the majority of the PFDI and many PFIQ scales with both pessaries, but no clinically significant differences between the two pessaries. Conclusions The ring with support and Gellhorn pessaries are effective and equivalent in relieving symptoms of protrusion and voiding dysfunction.