Retrospective single-surgeon study of outcomes after laparoendoscopic single-site cholecystectomy and sigmoidectomy.

PURPOSE: Laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery is performed through a single port but requires a larger incision than conventional laparoscopy, which theoretically increases the risk of laparoscopic port hernia. Our primary objective is to determine the trocar site hernia rate among our patients. METHODS: This retrospective study is based on the analysis of demographic, intraoperative, and postoperative data of 219 patients who underwent cholecystectomy or sigmoidectomy by LESS surgery between December 1st, 2009 and November 30th, 2012. RESULTS: Cholecystectomy and sigmoidectomy LESS surgery were performed on 190 and 29 patients, respectively. Three patients developed a trocar site hernia within a median follow-up time of 34.7 months. Eleven patients were obese, 20 had a history of abdominal surgery, and 20 had a preoperative umbilical hernia but none of them developed a trocar site hernia, neither did the 11 subsequently pregnant women. Significant association was found between preoperative umbilical hernia and early complications including incisional cellulitis and hematoma. CONCLUSIONS: A rate of 1.4% of trocar site hernia was observed in our study population. This rate is similar to the one reported after conventional laparoscopy. Peri-umbilical incision, longer than that with conventional laparoscopy, allowed better preexisting hernia handling, made anatomical closing easier among obese patients, and facilitated specimen extraction thus limiting traumatic operations.

[Salpingo-oophorectomy by laparoendoscopic single-site surgery for everybody]. / L'annexectomie par cœlio-chirurgie mono-trocart pour tous.

OBJECTIVES: To study the adnexectomy by laparoendoscopic single-site surgery with conventional laparoscopic instruments, we standardised the technique of salpingo-oophorectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, all patients with adnexectomies from June 2010 to January 2014 were included. Laparoendoscopic single-site adnexectomy with conventional instruments is described step by step in order to make it available for the majority of gynecologic surgeons. Laparoconversions and complications are also noted. RESULTS: We realized 42 bilateral salpingo-oophorectomies, 16 single salpingo-oophorectomy. The average operative time was 45min (15-120) with negligible blood losses. There were no laparoconversions and very few complications. After 15-20 adnexectomies, the procedure took less and less time. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Adnexectomy by laparoendoscopic single-site surgery procedure with conventional laparoscopic instruments is easily reproducible with standardized steps and has many advantages.

[Day case laparoscopic sacral colpopexy for genital prolapse]. / Prise en charge ambulatoire de la promontofixation laparoscopique pour prolapsus génital.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the feasibility of day case laparoscopic sacral colpopexy with the help of a fast tracking protocol. METHODS: Three motivated patients suffering from external cystocele have been strictly selected from September 2011 to October 2011 according to criteria such as Body Mass Index, ASA score, comorbidities et French day case rules. Laparoscopic sacral colpopexies consisted in anterior and posterior polyesther meshes sutured with non-resorbable wires. We are used to proceed through a SILS(©) unique ombilical port. We have used standard and straight laparoscopic instruments and laparoscope. The bladder catheter has been removed two hours after surgery, the patients have been encouraged to stand up and they have received a light meal before Chung score has been quoted. The patients have been discharged in the evening before 7 pm. RESULTS: The patients are 65, 67 and 66 years old, two of them had a past history of pelvic surgery. We did not deplore any complication during the procedure, no blood loss, no laparoscopic conversion (additional trocar); the procedures durations were 92, 120 and 124 min. These three patients have not been readmitted. Clinical examination has been scheduled between 6 and 8 weeks after surgery. We did not describe any pelvic or parietal complication, no early recurrence. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated here the feasibility in good security conditions of day case laparoscopic sacral colpopexy for genital prolapse. A fast tracking protocol is essential and selecting the patients is required.

[Feasibility of laparoendoscopic single-site surgery in gynecology with conventional laparoscopic instruments]. / Faisabilité de la cœliochirurgie gynécologique par mono-trocart avec instruments droits standards.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the safety and efficacy of single-port access for laparoscopic surgery in gynecology with conventional laparoscopic instruments. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, we report our experience with 90 patients who underwent Single Port Access (SPA) laparoscopic surgery for gynecologic pathology with the use of the SILS(®) Port Multiple Instrument Access Port (Covidien(®), Mansfield, MA). RESULTS: We realised 15 ovarian cystectomies, 30 salpingo-oophrectomies with 14 one side, 9 lysis of adhesions, 7 distal tubal repairs, 6 salpingectomy, 8 other procedures. The mean surgical time is 47 min (25-120). One conversion to conventional laparoscopy and one in laparotomy were performed. The mean duration stay is 2 days [1-3]. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: SPA in gynecology is feasible with conventional laparoscopic instruments. SPA surgery represents the newest frontier in minimally invasive surgery.

[Medical treatment of ectopic pregnancy: a randomized clinical trial comparing metotrexate-mifepristone and methotrexate-placebo]. / Traitement médical des grossesses extra-utérines: un essai clinique randomisé comparant méthotrexate-mifépristone et placebo-méthotrexate.

BACKGROUND: Medical treatment of ectopic pregnancy is widespread. To increase the efficacy of methotrexate, combination with mifepristone has been proposed. METHODS: We performed a large prospective multicentre double-blind sequential randomized trial in order to compare the efficacy of methotrexate and mifepristone (600 mg given orally) versus methotrexate and placebo. RESULTS: Two hundred twelve ectopic pregnancies were randomized. There was no significant difference in the initial characteristics between the 2 groups. There was no significant difference in the success rate of medical treatment between the methotrexate-mifepristone (n=113) and the methotrexate-placebo group (n=99): 79.6% (90/113) vs 74.2% (72/97) respectively, RR [95% CI]: 1.07 [0.92-1.25], p=0.41. However, there was a quantitative interaction between progesterone level and effect of treatment: when progesterone level was 10 ng/l, the efficacy of the combination of mifepristone and methotrexate was significantly higher than the combination of methotrexate and placebo, with a 83.3% success rate (15/18) vs 38.5% (5/13) respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study failed to demonstrate any benefit of the addition of mifepristone to methotrexate. By contrast, the quantitative interaction between treatment effect and base line serum progesterone suggested that this combination could be reserved to ectopic pregnancies associated with high serum progesterone concentrations.

[Spontaneous abortions of first trimester pregnancy: is uterine aspiration still in line?]. / Les avortements spontanés du 1er trimestre de grossesse: l'aspiration utérine est-elle toujours de mise?

Spontaneous abortions of first trimester pregnancy is a frequent pathology in gynecology (more than 10% of clinical pregnancy). Since the mid of twentieth century, the gold standard of evacuation of spontaneous abortion is manual vacuum aspiration most of the time under general anesthesia. This method is used in France for all miscarriages after 7 weeks' gestation at the sonography (about 40,000 women in 1999) but complications are not rare. The vaginal sonography and new medical management changes the view. We can now use expectative management or medical management with misoprostol and/or mifepristone. We summarise the current literature and propose a randomised multicentric control trial.

Chromosomal defects and associated malformations in fetal cleft lip with or without cleft palate.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the incidence, associated features including chromosomal defects in fetuses, with cleft lip and/or palate and assess the need for karyotyping. METHODS: Retrospective study of 62 cases of prenatally diagnosed facial cleft lip and/or palate in a tertiary fetal medicine unit between January 1991 and December 1999. Chromosome analysis was performed in all fetuses with associated ultrasound findings and in 14 (39%) fetuses with isolated facial clefts. RESULTS: Associated abnormalities were detected in 26 (42%) of the 62 fetuses of which 22 (35%) fetuses had multiple other abnormalities. Central nervous system abnormalities and limb malformations were the most common. Three fetuses had genetic syndromes confirmed after birth. All fetuses with isolated clefts were chromosomally normal, whereas 15 of the 26 with additional abnormalities (58 or 24% of the total group) had chromosomal defects (eight cases of trisomy 13, five of trisomy 18, one unbalanced translocation between chromosomes 7 and 8, and one deletion 4p-). All 22 women who chose not to undergo fetal karyotype analysis delivered phenotypically normal infants. There were five midline clefts; each of them was associated with additional sonographic findings and four were associated with holoprosencephaly. CONCLUSION: Isolated facial clefting is not associated with an increased risk for chromosomal defect. Amniocentesis is recommended when facial cleft is found in association with additional ultrasonographic abnormalities as it is unnecessary for isolated clefts.

[Maternal anxiety induced by prenatal diagnostic techniques: detection and management]. / Anxiété maternelle induite par les techniques de diagnostic prénatal: reconnaissance et prise en charge.

Recent improvement in the screening for chromosomal defects, in particular the widespread use of ultrasonography and maternal biochemistry, is leading to a high number of fetal invasive tests (amniocentesis or chorion villus sampling). An increased level of anxiety in the pregnant women, which may sometimes continue until the postnatal period, is believed to be due to these prenatal diagnosis procedures. Maternal anxiety originates in the doubts related to fetal integrity and pregnancy outcome after information of a positive biochemical screening or visualisation of an ultrasound marker of chromosomal abnormality. Each specialist involved in prenatal care should take special attention to this, because of at least two reasons. First, anxiety may reduce maternal well being during pregnancy. Second, because it could have deleterious effects on parent to infant relationships. Without any intention of lowering the positive aspects of prenatal diagnosis, it appears essential to consider the negative effects anxiety may have on both parents. From our own experience and the conclusion of previous reported studies, we suggest some measures to reduce the level of maternal anxiety related to prenatal diagnosis: (i) improvement in the quality and transparency of information offered to pregnant women; (ii) training and involvement in psychological and emotional care for each member in the medical team; (iii) special and systematic psychological care for the "high risk" pregnant women regarding anxious disorders.

Does paraaortic lymphadenectomy have a benefit in the treatment of ovarian cancer that is apparently confined to the ovaries?

We conducted a retrospective review of all epithelial ovarian carcinoma patients with disease that is apparently confined to the ovaries who were treated in the Obstetric and Gynecologic Hospital of the University of Tours. In our hospital, no lymphadenectomies for such epithelial ovarian carcinoma patients are carried out. We studied the survival of these patients that were operated upon from 1 December 1975 until 1 August 1997. 43 epithelial ovarian carcinoma patients were studied; 22 were stage Ia, 1 was stage Ib and 20 were stage Ic. The average age was 58 years (range 27-86 years). 5% (2/43) developed recurrent disease and the rates of disease-free and overall survival after 5 years were 83% and 90.3% respectively. These results are very close to those described in literature for patients who underwent paraaortic and pelvic lymphadenectomy. As no series to date has demonstrated the benefit of paraaortic lymphadenectomy on survival and we know that paraaortic lymphadenectomy increases morbidity, we think it reasonable to propose surgery without lymphadenectomy for the treatment of early ovarian epithelial cancer patients whose disease is apparently confined to the ovaries.