Clinical cases

Abstract

This chapter describes four clinical cases, within a process of clinical reasoning with the paradigm of evidence-based medicine and practice. The patients present symptoms related to pelvic floor dysfunction, some after delivery, others a long time after. The first patient complains of stress urinary incontinence, the second of dyspareunia, the third of rectocele and the fourth of obstructed defecation. For every patient, the author completes medical history, physical examination, possibly diagnostic instruments and paper questionnaires and tests. Some are addressed to conservative therapy, especially pelvic floor physiotherapy and rehabilitation, others to a surgical treatment. The aim of the chapter is to focus on the need for the professionals to always consider with much attention the symptoms reported by patients after delivery and to the fact that many of these can be resolved through a conservative treatment.