The efficacy of early office hysteroscopy in preventing intrauterine adhesions after abortion: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Intrauterine adhesions (IUA) are a challenging clinical problem in reproductive infertility. The most common causes are intrauterine surgery and abortions. We aimed to investigate whether early second-look office hysteroscopy can prevent IUA. METHODS: A single-center, prospective, two-armed, randomized controlled trial was designed to explore the efficacy of early office hysteroscopy after first-trimester induced abortion (suction dilatation and curettage [D&C]) and to further analyze fertility outcomes. Women aged 20-45 years undergoing suction D&C and desiring to conceive were recruited. Between October 2019 and September 2022, 66 women were enrolled, of whom 33 were allocated to group A (early hysteroscopy intervention). The women in intervention group A were planned to receive 2 times of hysteroscopies (early and late). In group B, women only underwent late (6 months post suction D&C) hysteroscopy. RESULTS: The primary outcome was the IUA rate assessed using office hysteroscopy 6 months after artificial abortion. Secondary outcomes included menstrual amount/durations and fertility outcomes. In intervention group A, 31 women underwent the first hysteroscopy examination, and 15 completed the second. In group B (late hysteroscopy intervention, 33 patients), 16 completed the hysteroscopic exam 6 months after an artificial abortion. Twenty-one women did not receive late hysteroscopy due to pregnancy. The IUA rate was 16.1% (5/31) at the first hysteroscopy in group A, and no IUA was detected during late hysteroscopy. Neither group showed statistically significant differences in the follow-up pregnancy and live birth rates. CONCLUSIONS: Early hysteroscopy following suction D&C can detect intrauterine lesions. IUA detected early by hysteroscopy can disappear on late examination and become insignificant for future pregnancies. Notably, the pregnancy outcomes showed a favorable trend in the early hysteroscopy group, but there were no statistically significant differences. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov , ID: NCT04166500. Registered on 2019-11-10. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04166500 .

Systematic evaluation of the efficacy of treatments for cesarean scar pregnancy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is a type of ectopic pregnancy associated with severe complications, including significant hemorrhage, the potential need for hysterectomy, and life-threatening risks. Currently, two classification methods exist for CSP: Vial (type Ia and IIa) and Chinese Expert's Consensus (type Ib, type IIb, and type IIIb). However, these methods have limitations in guiding the selection of appropriate treatment plans for CSP. The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of various treatments for CSP within our clinic. METHOD: Our study included 906 patients with CSP from January 2013 to December 2018. The chi-squared test and logistic analysis were used to compare the clinical characteristics. The median and interquartile range (IQR) was calculated. We also analyzed whether preoperative application of methotrexate (MTX) could improve surgical outcomes and the relevant characteristics of misdiagnosed CSP patients. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in gestational age, gestational sac diameter, gestational sac width, gestational sac area, remnant myometrial thickness, vaginal bleeding and preoperative hemoglobin levels (p < 0.001) but not in the incidence of residual tissue (p = 0.053). The other factors (intraoperative blood loss, hemoglobin decline, first hemoglobin after operation, total hospital stay, hospital stay after operation, transfusion and duration of catheter drain) were significantly different (p < 0.001). For type Ia and type Ib CSP, 39.3% and 40.2% of patients were treated with dilatation and curettage (D&E) under ultrasound, respectively. For type IIa and type IIIb CSP, 29.9% and 62.7% of patients were treated with laparotomy, respectively. There were no differences in surgical methods, residual tissue and reoperation between the MTX and non-MTX groups (p = 0.20), but liver damage, hospital stay and pain perception were more remarkable in the MTX group. It is noteworthy that 14% of the patients were misdiagnosed with an intrauterine pregnancy. The incidence of misdiagnosis in type IIa CSP patients was higher than that in type Ia CSP patients (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: For type I CSP patients, D&E under ultrasound or D&E under hysteroscopy should be recommended. For type IIIb CSP patients, operative resection should be used. It is currently difficult to choose the appropriate treatment methods for type IIa or type IIb CSP patients.

Salmonella hvittingfoss, a rare case of postoperative endometritis: A case report and review of the literature.

Key clinical message: Microbiological diagnosis of endometritis and appropriate antibiotic treatment based on the antibiogram is essential. We should remain critical about the potential etiologic pathogens, especially when traveling abroad and during pregnancy. Therefore, it is essential to obtain cultures prior to the administration of antibiotics. Abstract: We present a case of postoperative endometritis in a patient with incomplete miscarriage, who underwent dilatation and curettage. Blood, cervical and stool cultures revealed the presence of Salmonella hvittingfoss. Gynecological postoperative infections with Salmonella spp. are rare according to the current literature.

Does repetitive dilatation and curettage or hysteroscopic biopsy in patients treated with progestins for endometrial hyperplasia or carcinoma affect subsequent fetomaternal outcomes? A population-based study using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of repeated dilatation and curettage or hysteroscopic biopsy on fetomaternal outcomes in patients receiving progestin treatment for endometrial hyperplasia or early-stage carcinoma. METHOD: This was a population-based study using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database between 2009 and 2017 of women who gave birth and had a history of endometrial hyperplasia and early-stage carcinoma treated with progestins. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) reflecting the association between repeated procedures and fetomaternal outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 6956 women with 8690 deliveries were identified. Compared with those who had two or fewer procedures, women who received more than two procedures had a significantly higher risk for cervical insufficiency (aOR, 5.09 [95 CI, 2.31-11.24]). Furthermore, women who had more than two procedures were prone to have adverse neonatal outcomes, including Apgar score < 7 at 1 min (aOR, 1.97 [95% CI, 1.13-3.43]) and 5 min (aOR, 3.11 [95% CI, 1.33-7.23]) and preterm delivery <32 weeks (aOR, 2.86 [95% CI, 1.50-5.45]). CONCLUSION: Undergoing more than two procedures was associated with subsequent maternal cervical insufficiency, preterm delivery <32 weeks, and low neonatal Apgar score. Health care providers should be aware of the potential risks and balance the benefits and harms of repeated procedures.

D&C has the best concordance between preoperative and postoperative grades among morbidly obese endometrial cancer patients.

AIM: Endometrial cancer is diagnosed by obtaining uterine biopsies by pipelle, dilatation and curettage (D&C), or hysteroscopy. In 15%-25% of the cases, the preoperative and postoperative grades do not match. This discrepancy may carry significant clinical and prognostic consequences. We aimed to assess how body mass index (BMI) affects preoperative and postoperative grade mismatches and whether biopsy methods mitigate this effect. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients with endometrial cancer who underwent surgery at our center between 2014 and 2022. We stratified patients into six classes of BMI based on the WHO classification. Preoperative and postoperative grades were compared for concordance with regards to patient BMI and sampling method. RESULTS: A total of 158 patients were included, diagnosed by pipelle (n = 99), hysteroscopy (n = 15), or D&C (n = 44). For all methods, every unit increase in BMI increased the odds of having a gap between histology grades by 5.2%. In the pipelle group, the odds of a larger gap between the histology grades was 62% higher than that of women in the other groups. Among the D&C group, the odds of having a bigger difference between histology grades were 91.8% lower compared to the other groups. Patients with BMI over 30 had nearly 50% discrepancy when diagnosed with pipelle or hysteroscopy, but less than 10% with D&C. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing BMI is associated with decreasing concordance between preoperative and postoperative grades in endometrial cancer, especially when it exceeds 30. This effect is much less pronounced, however, when the diagnostic method is D&C.

Reflexões da pandemia de COVID-19: a tomada de decisão médica na abordagem terapêutica pós-aborto em dois hospitais públicos do Distrito Federal / Reflections of the COVID-19 pandemic: medical decision-making in the post-abortion therapeutic approach in two public hospitals in the Federal District, Brazil / Reflexiones de la pandemia de COVID-19: toma de decisiones médicas en el abordaje terapéutico postaborto en dos hospitales públicos del Distrito Federal, Brasil

Objetivo: identificar possíveis alterações da tomada de decisão médica para esvaziamento uterino pós-aborto de primeiro trimestre no cenário da COVID-19em dois hospitais públicos do Distrito Federal. Metodologia: abordagem qualitativa, que usou dois procedimentos metodológicos­documental e entrevistas­,cuja coleta de dados ocorreu entre maio e junho de 2022. No hospital A, coletou-se, em 25 registros consecutivos do livro do centro cirúrgico, a técnica de esvaziamento uterino pós-aborto prevalecente em 2020. No hospital B, coletou-se o mesmo dado em 48 prontuários clínicos, 23 de 2019 e 25 de 2020. As entrevistas semiestruturadas foram realizadas com onze profissionais de saúde: três médicos, quatro enfermeiros e quatro técnicos de enfermagem, lotados na obstetrícia/centro cirúrgico de cada hospital. Resultados: ambos os hospitais, no recorte temporal do estudo de 2019 a 2020, dispuseram de insumos para a eleição por quaisquer das técnicas de esvaziamento uterino. No hospital A, em 2020, a tomada de decisão médica foi 100% pela aspiração manual intrauterina. Em2019, no hospital B, a eleição foi 100% pela dilatação e curetagem; em 2020, período da COVID-19, apesar da dilatação e curetagem manter-se prioritária em 78% dos casos, notabilizou redução em relação a 2019. Evidenciou-se, ainda, no hospital B um maior quantitativo de atendimentos e internações de mulheres em processo de pós-aborto, se comparado como período anterior à COVID-19. Conclusão: o fator determinante para a tomada de decisão médica em ambos os hospitais é a aptidão técnica do médico para a abordagem eleita.

Objective: to discern potential shifts in medical decision-making regarding the selection of uterine evacuation techniques post-abortion in the first trimester within the context of the COVID-19 scenario at two public hospitals in the Federal District. Methods: employing a qualitative approach, the study utilized two methodological procedures - documents and interviews. Data collection occurred between May and June of 2022. At Hospital A, prevalent post-abortion uterine evacuation techniques in 2020 were obtained from 25 consecutive records sourced from the surgical center book. At Hospital B, similar data was collected from 48 clinical records, encompassing 23 from 2019 and 25 from 2020. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven health professionals, including three doctors, four nurses, and four nursing technicians, working in the obstetrics/surgical center of each hospital. Results: during the study period (2019 and 2020), both hospitals maintained supplies for adopting various uterine evacuation techniques. In Hospital A in 2020, medical decision-making predominantly favored manual intrauterine aspiration. Conversely, in 2019 at Hospital B, dilation and curettage were the preferred technique in 100% of cases, and despite remaining a priority in 78% of cases in 2020 during the COVID-19 period, there was a noticeable reduction compared to 2019. Hospital B also witnessed a heightened number of consultations and hospitalizations of women in the post-abortion process during the COVID-19 period compared to the pre-pandemic period. Conclusion: the pivotal factor influencing medical decision-making in both hospitals is the technical proficiency required for executing the chosen uterine evacuation technique.

Objetivo: identificar posibles cambios en la toma de decisiones médicas al elegir la técnica de evacuación endouterina después de un aborto en el primer trimestre en el escenario COVID-19en dos hospitales públicos del Distrito Federal. Metodología:enfoque cualitativo, que utilizó dos procedimientos metodológicos, documentos y entrevistas, cuya recolección de datos se realizó entre mayo y juniode 2022. En el hospital A se recogió la técnica de evacuación endouterina postaborto prevalente en el año 2020 en 25 registros consecutivos del libro del centro quirúrgico, en el hospital B se recogieron los mismos datos en 48 historias clínicas, 23 del 2019 y, 25 del año 2020. Se realizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas a once profesionales de la salud: tres médicos, cuatro enfermeras y cuatro técnicos de enfermería, trabajando en el centro obstetricia/quirúrgico de cada hospital. Resultados:ambos hospitales en el período de estudio, 2019 y 2020, contaron con insumos disponibles para elegir cualquiera de las técnicas de evacuación endouterina. En el hospital A, en 2020, la toma de decisiones médicas se basó en la aspiración intrauterina manual. En 2019, en el hospital B, la elección fue del 100% para dilatación y legrado; En 2020, durante el período COVID-19, a pesar de que la dilatación y el legrado siguieron siendo una prioridad en el 78% de los casos, hubo una reducción notable en relación a 2019. En el hospital B, también hubo un mayor número de consultas y hospitalizaciones de mujeres en proceso postaborto, en comparación con el período anterior al COVID-19. Conclusión: el factor determinante para la toma de decisiones médicas en ambos hospitales es la capacidad técnica para realizar la técnica elegida.

Comparison of the clinical efficacy of surgical versus medical method for first trimester pregnancy termination in Iran: A quasi-experimental research.

BACKGROUND: The surgical and medical options for management of pregnancy termination procedures are acceptable in practice but differ in clinical efficacy, costs, and patient experiences, and deciding what the best method is not clear always. This study aimed to compare clinical efficacy, outcomes, and patient acceptance of dilatation and curettage (D and C) versus medical abortion using misoprostol for first trimester of gestation in Iranian context. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, multicenter, quasi-experimental research conducted from July 2021 to January 2022. The primary outcomes were the rate of composite complications or complete abortion. Data were analyzed with SPSS 18 using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, analysis of variance and non-parametric tests. Secondary outcomes were quality of life using EQ5D questionnaire, estimated blood loss, pelvic infection, pain level, hospital stay, and acceptability of intervention and relative risk as the effect size. RESULTS: Finally, 168 patients were included in this study. The composite complication rate among medical abortion patients is significantly more than that of surgical abortion patients (39.3% vs. 4.76%). The relative risk calculated 8.25 (3.05-22.26 CI). Medical abortion patients have experienced higher levels of ongoing bleeding, pain, and symptoms of pelvic infection. The higher level of acceptance has been reported by surgical group patients in comparison to the medical group patients (85.7% vs. 59.5%). Quality of life scores for surgical and medical group estimated 0.6605 and 0.5419, respectively. CONCLUSION: Surgical method of abortion using D and C is a very safe and highly successful option in comparison to the medical method using misoprostol alone and is associated with better clinical outcomes, acceptance, and quality of life in first trimester of pregnancy among Iranian women.

Five-year retrospective review of ultrasound-guided manual vacuum aspiration for first-trimester miscarriage.

INTRODUCTION: Manual vacuum aspiration is increasingly accepted as an alternative to medical or surgical evacuation of the uterus after first-trimester miscarriage. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of ultrasound-guided manual vacuum aspiration (USG-MVA) in the management of first-trimester miscarriage. METHODS: This retrospective analysis included adult women with first-trimester miscarriage who underwent USG-MVA in Hong Kong between July 2015 and February 2021. The primary outcome was the efficacy of USG-MVA in terms of complete evacuation of the uterus, without the need for further medical or surgical intervention. Secondary outcomes included tolerance of the entire procedure, the success rate of karyotyping using chorionic villi, and procedural safety (ie, any clinically significant complications). RESULTS: In total, 331 patients were scheduled to undergo USG-MVA for first-trimester miscarriage or incomplete miscarriage. The procedure was completed in 314 patients and well-tolerated in all of those patients. The complete evacuation rate was 94.6% (297/314), which is similar to the rate (98.1%) achieved by conventional surgical evacuation in a previous randomised controlled trial in our unit. There were no major complications. Samples from 95.2% of patients were suitable for karyotyping, which is considerably higher than the rate of suitable samples (82.9%) obtained via conventional surgical evacuation in our previous randomised controlled trial. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided manual vacuum aspiration is a safe and effective method to manage first-trimester miscarriage. Although it currently is not extensively used in Hong Kong, its broader clinical application could avoid general anaesthesia and shorten hospital stay.

Hysteroscopic biopsy compared with endometrial curettage to assess the preoperative rate of atypical hyperplasia underestimating endometrial carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the rate of atypical hyperplasia (AH) underestimating endometrial cancer (EC) comparing endometrial biopsy (EB) accomplished by hysteroscopic biopsy with dilatation and curettage (D&C). Second, to compare the two techniques to foresee EC grading. METHODS: This trial was based on the findings of two Gynecological Departments within the same Public Utility, sharing pathological service and database but routinely performing EB under hysteroscopic visualization (group A) or hysteroscopy followed by D&C (group B). We retrieved the clinical data of patients showing EC on hysterectomy throughout a 10-year period. The accuracy of hysteroscopic-view diagnosis and EB pathology were compared, having the pathologic findings of hysterectomy as reference. RESULTS: A total of 161 patients met the inclusion criteria. Among these, 109 and 52 were included in groups A and B, respectively. In group A, 32.1% of patients underwent EB in an out-patient setting. To foresee EC, hysteroscopic view showed a sensitivity of 82.5% and 70.2% in groups A and B, respectively (P = 0.019). An underestimation of EC diagnosed as AH on EB was found in 20 patients (12.4%). Among these, 18 (16.5%) and 2 (3.8%) were included in groups A and B, respectively (P = 0.022). In group A, a fault diagnosis of AH resulted higher when EB was performed as out-patient setting (P = 0.006). EB allowed the grading of EC in 73.3% and 90.3% of patients in groups A and B, respectively. The agreement was 73.7% and 85.1%, leading to moderate (κ = 0.56) and good (κ = 0.77) "κ" coefficient of concordance for groups A and B, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: EB performed by D&C lowers the rate of AH underestimating concurrent EC and improves the grading agreement when compared with hysteroscopic sampling.

Results of Endometrial Sampling in a Tertiary Hospital.

AIM: This study aims to investigate the results of endometrial sampling in a tertiary hospital according to age and symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 505 patients who underwent endometrial sampling due to various reasons in our tertiary hospital in the last six months were included in our study, and the pathological results of endometrial sampling were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean age of 505 patients was 45.03 + 7.40 (19-74) years, and 91.5% of the indications were premenopausal abnormal uterine bleeding and 8.5% were postmenopausal bleeding. The most common pathological result of all age groups was proliferative endometrium (37.6%), and the least was the endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (0.2%). In 9.3% of patients, the result was insufficient material. Of the patients, 88.7% had no additional organic pathology. A total of 30 (5.9%) patients have undergone surgery after endometrial sampling. CONCLUSION: It should be kept in mind that despite the pathological result may be insufficient rarely, endometrial sampling should be performed as the first choice in abnormal uterine bleeding.

Hysteroscopic management of molar pregnancy: A series of 36 cases.

Background: Hydatidiform Mole (HM) is the most common form of gestational trophoblastic disease. Dilatation and curettage is the classical treatment of this affection. Hysteroscopic resection (HsR) is an alternative for the treatment of intra-uterine pathology. Objective: To describe the feasibility of HsR for the management of HM. Result: Case series of patients who had a complete or partial HM confirmed by histological examination of the trophoblastic tissue resected by operative hysteroscopy between 2007 and 2019. After approval of our ethics committee, we evaluated 36 patients who underwent hysteroscopic resection for molar pregnancy. Histological analysis showed partial HM in 28 patients (77.8%) and complete HM in 8 (22.2%). Main surgical complications were uterine perforation in one patient and glycine resorption in 10 patients with two cases of hyponatremia corrected by standard treatment. We performed an ultrasound control 1 month after the intervention in 19 patients (52.8%) as they had slow decrease of HCG or bleeding complaints and found retained product of conception (RPOC) in six patients (16.7%). Conclusion: This first report on a small number of patients demonstrate that hysteroscopic resection is a feasible procedure for the management of molar pregnancy. Direct visualization of the procedure helps the surgeon to control the resection. Further studies are mandatory to compare this technique with D&C in term of RPOC and fertility outcomes as it remains the standard treatment.

Choice of anesthetic technique for dilation and curettage for indication of pregnancy loss.

We hypothesized that patients at our hospital who received general anesthesia as the initial anesthetic technique for dilation and curettage for loss of pregnancy during the first or second trimesters would have a higher estimated blood loss compared to patients who had sedation. We searched our electronic medical record system for patients who had a dilation and curettage for the indication of loss of pregnancy during the first or second trimesters from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2021. A total of 165 (72%) and 64 (28%) patients had general anesthesia and sedation, respectively, as the initial anesthetic technique. Patients who had general anesthesia and sedation had estimated blood loss interquartile ranges of 50 to 500 mL and 30 to 100 mL, respectively (P < 0.01). A multivariate model that controlled for gestational age and location of procedure found that the odds ratio of patients receiving sedation for dilation and curettage in the labor and delivery suite was 7.24 (95% confidence interval 2.92, 17.94; P < 0.01) compared to the main operating room. Dilation and curettage that used sedation was associated with a lower estimated blood loss and was more likely to be performed in the labor and delivery suite.

Uterine perforation during intrauterine procedures and its management.

OBJECTIVE: Uterine perforation is a potential, not rare complication of all intrauterine procedures and may be associated with injury of surrounding organs and structures. The incidence, risk factors, possible prevention, dia-gnosis, management and impact on future reproduction is reviewed here. METHODS: Systematic review of available sources on the topic was carried out using the PubMed database and textbooks of Czech authors. CONCLUSION: Some risk factors that make access to the uterine cavity difficult may be prevented, however, others remain unpreventable. For patients in whom the perforation occurred during sondage, dilatation or insertion of blunt and cold instrument, without significant bleeding and who are hemodynamically stable, observation is recommended rather than immediate abdominal exploration. The exception are young women planning pregnancy in whom endoscopic suture is indicated. Abdominal exploration is required in patients who have been injured by electrosurgical or sharp device, laser, vacuum curette, who are hemodynamically unstable or show signs of severe bleeding or visceral injury.

Endometrial carcinoma in asymptomatic post-menopausal women with a thickened endometrium and its influencing factors - A cross-sectional study.

Background: A thickened endometrium upon trans-vaginal ultrasound in asymptomatic post-menopausal women always poses a clinical dilemma. Objectives: To investigate the frequency of endometrial malignancies by histopathological examination and identify the associated factors influencing the thickened endometrium in asymptomatic post-menopausal women. Methods: In trans-vaginal ultrasonography, we enrolled 72 asymptomatic post-menopausal women with a thickened endometrium (>5 mm). Dilatation and curettage were performed for all cases, and the specimen was sent for histopathological examination. According to the data distribution, all the continuous variables were stated as mean ± standard deviation/median (inter-quartile range), categorical variables were expressed in frequency, and percentage will be compared using the Chi-square test/Fisher exact test. Results: In our study, most of the women were multipara. The age of post-menopausal women ranged from 46 to 68 years, and the mean duration of menopause was 8.10. The most common histological findings were benign in 72.22% of the cases. We identified pre-malignant and malignant lesions of the endometrium in 18.05% and 9.72% of the cases, respectively. To predict the condition of the lesion, we noticed no definite cut-off value of endometrial thickness to indicate the state of the lesion. We observed that none of the patient's characteristics showed a significant difference with a thickened endometrium. Conclusion: We observed an increased frequency of endometrial pathology irrespective of the presence or absence of risk factors. The result of this study is justified enough for the need of further evaluation of a thickened endometrium in asymptomatic post-menopausal women.

Acquired uterine arteriovenous malformation following dilation and curettage: a case report.

Arteriovenous malformation of the uterus is a rare encounter with sporadic incidence. They are usually acquired following events like dilation and curettage or abortions. It should always be considered as a diagnostic possibility in women presenting with torrential vaginal bleeding. We report a case of 24-years-old woman presenting with excessive bleeding following dilation and curettage. She was diagnosed with an acquired uterine arteriovenous malformation after conducting Doppler angiography. She was meticulously managed by performing uterine artery embolization. Embolization technique for uterine arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is generally used in fewer crisis circumstances as well as in emergency situations. Management by selective arterial embolization reduces the morbidity of surgery and hospital stay.

Acquired uterine arterio-venous malformation post molar pregnancy suction-curettage: 2 case reports.

INTRODUCTION: Acquired uterine AVM is an abnormal and non-functional connection between uterine arteries and veins. It is reported as a consequence of uterine trauma as curettage procedures, pelvic surgery. CASES PRESENTATION: The authors report 2 cases of uterine AVM post suction-curettage procedure on molar pregnancy incidentally discovered in ultrasound screening in the usual follow-up of this disease, diagnosed in the Department of Maternity of Mother and Child University Hospital Abderrahim Harouchi of Casablanca. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Uterine AVMs are extremely rare and should be considered in cases of heavy and persistent uterine bleeding. Uterine AVMs are either acquired or, more rarely, congenital, due to abnormal differentiation of the primary vascular structures during embryogenesis. The invasive technique allows confirmation of the diagnosis and identification of the major feeding vessels when embolization may be indicated as a treatment option. CONCLUSION: Acquired uterine arteriovenous malformation is the result of uterine trauma; it presents as uterine bleeding through the vagina that can be life threatening, the rarity of the condition makes it difficult to diagnose, however the evolution of investigative techniques helps in the diagnostic process.

Estimation of median effective effect-site concentration (EC50) during target-controlled infusion of propofol for dilatation and curettage - A prospective observational study.

Background and Aims: Propofol is the drug of choice for sedation in daycare procedures due to its pharmacokinetic properties. Propofol delivery using target-controlled infusion (TCI) pump reduces adverse effects like hypotension and apnoea. In this study, we estimated the median effective effect-site concentration of propofol in patients undergoing dilatation and curettage. Methods: Patients of the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status class I-III, aged 40-70 years, undergoing elective dilatation and curettage were recruited for the study. All patients received 1 µg/kg fentanyl and 20 mg lignocaine. The first patient received an effect-site concentration of propofol at 4 µg/mL with TCI Schneider pharmacokinetic model. Failure was defined as patient movement at any time during the procedure. According to the 'BiasedCoin Design' up-and-down sequential method, the response of the previous patient determined the effect-site concentration of propofol of the next patient. The study was terminated once forty patients completed the procedures successfully. Probit analysis was used to determine EC50. Results: Fifty-three patients were recruited for the study. The various effect-site concentrations of propofol EC50, EC90, and EC95 in providing sedation for dilatation and curettage were 3.38 µg/mL, 4.29 µg/mL, and 4.60 µg/mL, respectively. The incidence of hypotension and apnoea were comparable among the various concentrations of propofol. The mean duration of the propofol infusion was 20 ± 2.86 min. The time to recovery from propofol sedation was 6.97 ± 1.76 min. Conclusion: A median effective effect-site concentration of 3.38 µg/mL of propofol is required to prevent patient movement during uterine dilatation and curettage.

Intrathecal Fentanyl With a Paracervical Block Is Safe and Effective for Elective Termination of Pregnancy in a Patient With Primary Pulmonary Hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) in pregnancy, irrespective of etiology, is associated with significant maternal morbidity and mortality. This case describes a novel approach to providing anesthesia for a hemodynamically fragile patient. It demonstrates the careful planning and weighted decision-making that is required when approaching a parturient with severe pulmonary hypertension. The patient's previous pulmonary artery catheterization showed right ventricular systolic pressure of 78 mmHg and pulmonary artery pressure of 78/20 mmHg. The patient presented with worsening dyspnea and a decision was made to proceed with the termination of pregnancy via dilatation and curettage (D&C). Anesthesia was conducted with combined intrathecal fentanyl with a paracervical block using lidocaine 2%. The patient had a complication of post-procedure hemorrhage secondary to uterine atony that required careful monitoring and judicious use of uterotonic medications. A decision was made to use oxytocin due to its favorable effect profile compared to other uterotonic medications. We hope this anesthesia technique will aid in the future management of these challenging cases.

The cost of post-abortion care (PAC): a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Despite the increasing trend of Postabortion Care (PAC) needs and provision, the evidence related to its cost is lacking. This study aims to review the costs of Postabortion Care (PAC) per patient at a national level. METHODS: A systematic review of literature related to PAC cost published in 1994 - October 2020 was performed. Electronic databases such as PubMed, Medline, The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were used to search the literature. Following the title and abstract screening, reporting quality was appraised using the Consolidates Health Economic Evaluation (CHEERS) checklist. PAC costs were extrapolated into US dollars ($US) and international dollars ($I), both in 2019. RESULTS: Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. All studies reported direct medical cost per patient in accessing PAC, but only three of them included indirect medical cost. All studies reported either average or range of cost. In terms of range, the highest direct cost of PAC with MVA (Medical Vacuum Aspiration) services can be found in Colombia, between $US50.58-212.47, while the lowest is in Malawi ($US15.2-139.19). The highest direct cost of PAC with D&C (Dilatation and Curettage), services is in El Salvador ($US65.22-240.75), while the lowest is in Bangladesh ($US15.71-103.85). Among two studies providing average indirect cost data, Uganda with $US105.04 has the highest average indirect medical cost, while Rwanda with $US51.44 has the lowest. CONCLUSIONS: Our review shows variability in the cost of PAC across countries. This study depicts a clearer picture of how costly it is for women to access PAC services, although it is still seemingly underestimated. When a study compared the use of UE (Uterine Evacuation) method between MVA and D&C, it is confirmed that MVA treatments tend to have lower costs and potentially reduce a significant cost. Therefore, by looking at both clinical and economic perspectives, improving and strengthening the quality and accessibility of PAC with MVA is a priority.