Facts Views and Vision in ObGyn最新文献

Background: No large-scale databases exist of pregnancy outcomes and rate of uterine rupture for women after myomectomy, resulting in inconsistent antenatal counselling and decision-making regarding mode and timing of delivery. Standardising information collected at myomectomy may facilitate data collection, informing prenatal/ antenatal counselling.

Objectives: To determine clinician opinions regarding standardisation of myomectomy operation notes to allow comprehensive data input into a prospective database of pregnancy outcomes, toward an evidence-based approach to decision making regarding timing and mode of delivery in subsequent pregnancies.

Materials and methods: A google forms survey was emailed to all consultant (attending-level) obstetricians and gynaecologists across 25 hospitals in London, Kent, Surrey, and Sussex (UK) between March and May 2022. To enhance response rates, two further email reminders were sent alongside in-person reminders from selected local unit representatives.

Main outcome measures: Senior clinician opinion for characteristics necessary to collect at time of surgery to develop a widescale database of post myomectomy pregnancy outcomes.

Results: 209/475 (44%) responses received; 95% (198/209) agreed with standardising operation notes. Criteria selected for inclusion included cavity breach (98%, 194/198), location (98%, 194/198), number of fibroids removed (93%, 185/198) and number of uterine incisions (96%, 190/198).

Conclusions: Gynaecologists support standardising myomectomy operation notes to inform the development of prospective large-scale databases of pregnancy outcomes after myomectomy.

What is new?: Acquisition of clinician opinions on the development and content of a standardised myomectomy operation note to aid the development of a pregnancy-outcome database for women after myomectomy.

Background: Subtle distal fallopian tube abnormalities are a group of diseases characterised by small variations in tubal anatomy. The clinical significance of these abnormalities need to be studied.

Objectives: The purpose of this multicentre prospective observational study was to investigate whether subtle distal fallopian tube abnormalities are related to infertility and endometriosis.

Materials and methods: The investigation was carried out in five medical centres in China and France from February to July 2021 and included reproductive-age patients who underwent gynaecological laparoscopy. Subtle abnormalities included Hydatid of Morgagni (HM) , fimbrial agglutination, tubal diverticula, accessory ostium, fimbrial phimosis, and accessory fallopian tube.

Results: 642 patients were enrolled in the study and 257 (40.0%) were diagnosed with subtle tube abnormalities. Hydatid of Morgagni was the most common abnormality (22.7%; n=146), followed by fimbrial agglutination (19.8%; n=127), tubal diverticula (6.9%; n=44), accessory tube (2.0%; n=13), and tubal accessory ostium (1.9%; n=12). Fimbrial phimosis was the least common abnormality (0.3%; n=2). The prevalence of subtle fallopian tube abnormalities was significantly higher among infertile patients (188/375, 50.1%) than those without history of infertility (69/267, 25.8%, ᶍ2=38.332, P=0.000). 209 patients were diagnosed with endometriosis during surgery, and the prevalence of subtle abnormalities was significantly higher in the endometriosis group than in those without endometriosis (61.2%, [128/209] vs. 29.8% [129/433], ᶍ2=58.086, P=0.000).

Conclusions: Higher prevalence of subtle tubal abnormalities suggests that they may contribute to infertility. They are highly related to endometriosis and indicate fimbrial abnormalities of endometriosis.

What is new?: This is the largest multicentre study to investigate the subtle distal fallopian tube abnormalities in infertile women. Compared to previous studies, this study includes the main subtle distal abnormalities and the control group patients without a history of infertility.

Background: The #Enzian classification represents a system to describe endometriotic lesions during surgery. Its use is well established in correlating ultrasound and surgical findings.

Objectives: To describe interobserver reproducibility of ultrasound use and symptom correlation with compartments involved using #Enzian classification.

Materials and methods: Two experienced operators performed transvaginal sonography (TVS) in 52 patients affected by pelvic endometriosis. A rate agreement was determined. A further 200 women with endometriotic TVS signs, with no previous surgery and not taking any hormonal therapy, were staged by one of three different operators according to the #Enzian (compartments A, B, C, O, T, FA, FB, FI, FU, FO). Statistical analysis compared all the compartments, as single or associated, with single or combined symptoms (dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, heavy menstrual bleeding - HMB, bowel symptoms).

Main outcome measures: Evaluation of the reproducibility of #Enzian classification in assessing pelvic endometriosis among different operators using TVS, and of possible associations between symptoms and specific #Enzian compartments.

Results: Excellent agreement between the two operators in evaluating almost all the compartments (k >0.8) was observed. Dysmenorrhea did not correlate with any specific compartment. We observed a significant association between dyspareunia and B compartment (p=0.02). HMB is associated with FA (p=0.02). Bowel symptoms were associated with B (p=0.02). Combining more symptoms, we observed more significant associations with different compartments.

Conclusions: #ENZIAN classification is reproducible in the evaluation of pelvic endometriosis. Some symptoms are correlated to specific ultrasound signs of the disease.

What is new?: An accurate evaluation of symptoms could guide TVS examination to detect specific endometriotic lesions and establish the best management for the patients.

Background: Robotic-assisted hysterectomy (RAH) is a widely accepted minimally invasive approach for uterus removal. However, as RAH is typically performed in the umbilical region, it usually results in scars in cosmetically suboptimal locations. This is the first case of RAH with cervicosacropexy performed below the bikini line, using the new Dexter robotic system™.

Objectives: The aim of this article is to show the surgical steps of the first RAH with cervicosacropexy performed below the bikini line with the new Dexter robotic system™ (Distalmotion), and furthermore assess the feasibility of this approach using this robotic platform.

Materials and methods: A 43-year-old woman with uterine adenomyosis and recurrent uterine prolapse underwent a robotic-assisted subtotal hysterectomy with cervicosacropexy, performed below the bikini line, using the Dexter robotic system™, at the Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein (UKHS) in Kiel, Germany.

Main outcome measures: Perioperative data, surgical approach specifics, objective, and subjective outcomes of this new approach.

Results: The procedure was performed without intra-operative complications; estimated blood loss was 10 ml. Operative time was 150 minutes, console time 120 minutes, total docking time 6 minutes. Dexter performed as expected; no device-related issues or robotic arm collisions occurred. The patient did not require pain medication and was released on the second postoperative day.

Conclusion: RAH performed below the bikini line using the Dexter robotic system™ is a feasible, safe, and adequate procedure. These initial results should be confirmed and further extensively refurbished with larger patient cohorts, and functional and psychological outcomes need further investigation.

Breast cancer screening by mammography is widely used. The diagnostic accuracy is limited, with a positive predictive value of 16%. Therefore, a stepwise investigation, with repeat mammography and confirmation by pathology, is usually proposed. Although this stepwise investigation intends to avoid overtreatment, the many false positives result in unnecessary fear and diagnostic surgery in many women. The false negatives are not known since these women have not been investigated. Given the estimated low risk of missing breast cancer and the slow growth, repeating a screening mammography every two years is sufficient. The false positive screening results, increase with breast density, and breast density increases when hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is given. It, therefore, is suggested to use clinical judgment and stop HRT for 3 to 6 months before repeating the mammography instead of starting immediately a stepwise investigation in all women.

Background: Regardless of the technique used, extraction of the uterus is a crucial step in hysterectomy. There is currently no scoring system to predict its feasibility.

Objectives: Our main objective was to determine a predictive score of uterine extraction feasibility to optimise surgical planning of total hysterectomy. As secondary objectives, we examined the correlation between uterine volume predicted by preoperative ultrasound and the final weight of the surgical specimen and analysed the impact of the uterine extraction modality on operative and hospitalisation times.

Materials and methods: We defined a Uterine Extraction Score (UES) based on the ratio between uterine sizes and vaginal access. This score was retrospectively applied to a cohort of 178 patients who were hysterectomised for benign conditions between January 2019 and December 2022.

Main outcome measures: The UES allows identification of three groups of decreasing feasibility of vaginal extraction, symbolised by traffic light colours: green - vaginal extraction without morcellation, orange -vaginal extraction with morcellation, red - abdominal morcellation by mini-laparotomy or primary laparotomy.

Results: The results show that the UES--predicted, and the observed routes of extraction concord in 92% of cases. There is a strong correlation between estimated volume and final uterine weight. Uterine morcellation lengthens the operative time and the hospital stay.

Conclusions: The UES seems to be a reliable tool to predict the route of uterine extraction in total hysterectomy.

What is new?: The development of a new scoring system empowers surgeons with decisive information to enhance perioperative outcomes.

Background: Our study aimed to create a novel technique using n-butyl cyanoacrylate (n-BCA) for minimal access simulation training on cadavers in deep endometriosis excision.

Objectives: A step-by-step video demonstration of using n-BCA in cadavers to simulate deep endometriosis. This technique is integrated into training sessions using cadavers aimed at enhancing surgical proficiency for deep endometriosis procedures.

Material and methods: Video article describing using n-BCA in cadavers as a simulation model.

Result: This technique has been used in a hands-on cadaveric training course, and positive feedback supports the recommendation to incorporate this technique.

Conclusion: Utilizing a human cadaver model proves beneficial for enhancing understanding of deep pelvic innervation. Implementing n-BCA in these cadaver dissections demonstrates both reproducibility and safety. This approach significantly contributes to refining surgical expertise in the excision of deep infiltrating endometriosis.

Background: The LAparoscopic Versus Abdominal hysterectomy (LAVA) randomised controlled trial comparing laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH) and abdominal hysterectomy (AH) closed prematurely on the grounds of futility. Here we identify the challenges faced and lessons learnt.

Objectives: To explore the views and experiences of clinical/research staff in order to understand how these might act as barriers to trial participation and recruitment.

Materials and methods: Review of the trial progress and collation of the views and experiences of clinical/ research staff on all aspects of the trial. Data were collected from transcribed conversations, email, phone, or video conferencing interactions and analysed descriptively.

Main outcome measures: Site set-up milestones, recruitment rates and reasons provided by clinical/research staff for site's declining to participate. Opinions, preferences and experiences of clinicians/researchers and challenges to participation and recruitment.

Results: The mean time from initial site contact to opening was 253 days and 68 days to randomise their first participant. 265 patients were screened from 13 sites over 13 months, 154 were eligible, and 75 (59%) were randomised. Of the 53 not randomised, 23 (43%) women preferred LH whilst 6 (11%) preferred AH. The main reasons given for failure to recruit or activate set-up in the 21 sites open or in set-up, were lack of research/ clinical capacity imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of clinician equipoise.

Conclusions: The main reasons for the LAVA trial failure were lack of equipoise amongst surgeons and the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical/research services.

What is new?: Surgeons' preference for laparoscopic hysterectomy is not shared by most patients. Many patients prefer an open hysterectomy to a laparoscopic one.

Adhesions are a frequent, clinically relevant, and often costly complication of surgery that can develop in any body location regardless of the type of surgical procedure. Adhesions result from surgical trauma inducing inflammatory and coagulation processes and to date cannot be entirely prevented. However, the extent of adhesion formation can be reduced by using good surgical technique and the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, haemostats, and barrier agents. Strategies are needed in the short-, medium- and longer-term to improve the prevention of adhesions. In the short-term, efforts are needed to increase the awareness amongst surgeons and patients about the potential risks and burden of surgically induced adhesions. To aid this in the medium- term, a risk score to identify patients at high risk of adhesion formation is being developed and validated. Furthermore, available potentially preventive measures need to be highlighted. Both clinical and health economic evaluations need to be undertaken to support the broad adoption of such measures. In the longer- term, a greater understanding of the pathogenic processes leading to the formation of adhesions is needed to help identify effective, future treatments to reliably prevent adhesions from forming and lyse existing ones.

Background: Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory oestrogen-dependent disease. It is characterised by elevated inflammatory markers in the peritoneal milieu with subsequent adhesiogenesis. Nowadays, excisional, and ablative surgeries are considered the main treatment of endometriosis, and adhesiolysis is being performed almost routinely during these procedures. Postoperative adhesion formation is a significant concern for many surgeons, especially as endometriosis patients are assumed to be predisposed to adhesiogenesis. In order to minimise adhesiogenesis after endometriosis surgery, the usage of different barrier methods have been discussed in the literature. Recent studies aim to investigate the effect of potato starch preparations on adhesion formation in endometriosis patients.

Objectives: We aim to describe the findings of a second-look laparoscopy on patients who received a starch-based anti-adhesive agent.

Materials and methods: We present a retrospective case series that included the medical, surgical, and histopathologic data of three patients.

Main outcome measures: Intraperitoneal adhesion formation and peritoneal inflammation.

Results: All three patients had de-novo adhesions during the second-look laparoscopy. Pathological examination revealed noncaseating granulomatosis of the peritoneum in all patients.

Conclusion: The use of potato starch-based agents as a peritoneal adhesion prophylaxis in laparoscopic endometriosis surgery could lead to granulomatous peritoneal inflammation. Correct application by avoiding powder remnants through complete rinsing and transformation to gel seems to be an important factor to avoid this adverse effect.

What is new?: We aim to highlight that potato starch-based anti-adhesive agents similar to the one used in this study could be a cause of adhesiogenesis and peritoneal inflammation.