Intraperitoneal instillation versus wound infiltration for postoperative pain relief after cesarean delivery: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

AIM: To compare local anesthetic wound infiltration with intraperitoneal instillation of local anesthetic for analgesia after cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. METHODS: This study was conducted on 150 pregnant women undergoing elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. Spinal anesthesia was performed with 7 mg isobaric bupivacaine and 15 µcg fentanyl. The patients were randomized into three groups of 50 patients each: Group local anesthetic wound infiltration (LWI): 20 ml local anesthetic solution (10 ml 0.5% bupivacaine and 10 ml 2% lidocaine mixture) was administered subcutaneous wound infiltration at the end of surgery prior to skin closure and 20 ml saline was instilled into the uterine peritoneal area before fascia closure. Group intraperitoneal local anesthetic (IPLA): 20 ml local anesthetic solution (10 ml 0.5% bupivacaine and 10 ml 2% lidocaine mixture) was instilled into the uterine peritoneal area and 20 ml saline was administered subcutaneous wound infiltration. Group Placebo: 20 ml saline was instilled into the uterine peritoneal area and 20 ml saline was administered local subcutaneous wound infiltration. Pain scores at rest and on movement, total fentanyl consumption at 24 h, maternal satisfaction, and the time to first analgesic request were recorded. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was observed in the postoperative pain scores at rest at 2, 12, and 24 h (p = 0.314, 0.343, and 0.735, respectively) and on movement at 12 and 24 h (p = 0.318 and 0.642, respectively) between the groups. The pain scores on movement at 2 h were significantly lower in Group IPLA compared with Group Placebo (p = 0.047). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of total fentanyl consumption and the time to first analgesic request. CONCLUSION: The use of intraperitoneal instillation of bupivacaine and lidocaine reduces early the pain score on movement in women undergoing cesarean section under spinal anesthesia.

The association between protein levels in 24-hour urine samples and maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnant women with preeclampsia.

Objective: Hypertensive diseases of pregnancy are one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal mortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between protein levels in 24-hour urine samples and maternal and perinatal outcomes in preeclamptic patients. Material and Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted with pregnant women who were diagnosed with preeclampsia (PE) and delivered in our clinic between 2010 and 2018. Patients were divided into those with a proteinuria value below 300 mg/24 h (non-proteinuria), proteinuria value between 300-2000 mg/24 h (mild proteinuria), proteinuria value between 2000-5000 mg/24 h (severe proteinuria) and proteinuria value >5000 mg/24 h (massive proteinuria) and were compared in terms of maternal and perinatal outcomes. Demographic characteristics (age, body mass index in kg/m2, gravidity), PE-related clinical symptoms (epigastric pain, neurological and respiratory symptoms), laboratory findings (24 h protein level, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, platelet count and creatine levels) were recorded in all patients. Results: A total of 1,379 patients meeting the study criteria were included. There were 315 (23%) patients in the non-proteinuria group, 704 (51%) in the mild proteinuria group, 234 (17%) patients in the severe group and 126 (9%) patients in the massive proteinuria group. The massive proteinuria group was found to have the highest rates of maternal and prenatal complications. The Apgar score, umbilical cord pH value, birth weight, gestational week at delivery, intrauterine growth restriction and intrauterine fetal death were significantly higher in the massive proteinuria group. Conclusion: Our data showed that the degree of proteinuria appears to be associated with maternal, fetal and neonatal outcomes among women diagnosed with PE. Women with proteinuria of >5000 mg/24 hours had notably poorer natal outcomes.

Does intravenous lidocaine added to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce pain during colposcopy? A prospective randomized double-blind study.

OBJECTIVES: In recent years, lidocaine infusion for pain management during long operations is becoming more widespread in anesthesiology practice. However, only a limited number of studies have reported the intravenous use of lidocaine for short-term interventions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of intravenous lidocaine use in pain management during colposcopic cervical biopsy and endocervical curettage (ECC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients between the ages of 18 and 65 years with abnormal cytological findings or who were determined to be human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive were included in this randomized double-blind study. The lidocaine group (Group L, n = 30) was intravenously administered 50 mg dexketoprofen + 1.5 mg/kg lidocaine in 10 mL saline for 3 min 30 min before the procedure. The control group (Group C, n = 30) was intravenously administered 50 mg dexketoprofen in 10 mL saline for 3 min, 30 min before the procedure. During the procedure, pain scores were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS). In addition, patients, operator satisfaction and duration of procedure were assessed. RESULTS: There were no differences in the demographic data of the groups. Pain scores during biopsy and ECC were significantly lower in Group L than in Group C (p < 0.001). The duration of the procedure was significantly shorter in Group L than in Group C (5.00 ± 0.78 vs 6.12 ± 1.16, respectively; p < 0.001). Patient and operator satisfaction were significantly higher in Group L than in Group C (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous lidocaine administration can be used as an alternative approach to reduce pain and increase operator and patient satisfaction during colposcopy-directed biopsy and ECC procedures in office settings.

May human epididymis 4 protein play a role in the etiopathogenesis of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome?

AIM: Hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome is an extremely advanced form of preeclampsia. Currently, there is no parameter or marker to predict this syndrome; however, it is emphasized that vascular endothelial damage and abnormal immune responses can be the possible etiologies of HELLP syndrome. It is known that human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) is a protease inhibitor and previous studies have shown that HE4 protein levels are increased in many malignancies and inflammatory conditions. Considering that metalloproteinases may also play a role in endothelial damage, which is thought to be involved in the etiopathogenesis of HELLP syndrome, we thought that HE4 protein, which is a protease inhibitor, may be associated with vascular damage. We aimed to investigate the relationship between HELLP syndrome and HE4 protein and to identify a biomarker that can be utilized in the diagnosis of HELLP syndrome. STUDY DESIGN: In this study, 40 patients with HELLP syndrome and 40 healthy pregnant women with similar characteristics without HELLP syndrome were compared. RESULTS: When the results were evaluated, no statistically significant difference was found between serum HE4 protein levels in patients with HELLP syndrome and patients without HELLP syndrome in this study (p: 0.29). CONCLUSION: HE4 protein has no field of use in obstetrics yet. In our study, we aimed to find a new biomarker to identify patients with HELLP syndrome. However, we could not find any statistically significant difference in terms of HE4 protein levels between patients with and without HELLP syndrome. Our study is an important study as it is the first study aiming to use HE4 protein in obstetrics.

Management of patients with urinary tract endometriosis by gynecologists

Objective: The aim was to report the postoperative outcomes of urinary tract endometriosis (UTE), which is a form of deep, infiltrative endometriosis, and to contribute to the literature by presenting our experience. Material and Methods: In the present study, patients who underwent surgery for endometriosis at our clinic between 2005 and 2019 and had a final pathological diagnosis of UTE were examined in detail. Patient information was retrospectively retrieved from the medical records. Data obtained pre-, peri-, and postoperatively were analyzed. Results: Mean age of the 70 patients included, according to the study criteria, was 32.73±7.09 years. Ureteral involvement alone was observed in 49% (n=34) of the patients, bladder involvement alone was observed in 24% (n=17) of the patients, and both bladder and ureteral involvement were observed in 27% (n=19) of the patients. Microscopic hematuria was detected in 16% (n=11) of the patients, whereas preoperative urinary tract findings, such as recurrent urinary tract infections, were detected in 19% patients (n=13). Of the patients, 56% (n=39) were identified with dyspareunia, 56% (n=39) with dysmenorrhea, and 30% (n=21) with pelvic pain. Visual analog scale score was significantly lower after the procedure (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Although postoperative results were typically considered positive, surgical method performed in deep infiltrative endometriosis should aim to preserve fertility, improve quality of life, and reduce the complication rate to a minimum.

Vesicovaginal fistula repair experiences in a single center high volume of 33 years and necessity of cystostomy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to retrospectively examine the patients who underwent surgical treatment for vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) repair in our clinic, to evaluate our surgical preferences, success, and treatment results, to compare these with the literature, and firstly to reveal the necessity of cystostomy and its effect on treatment success. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 1985 and 2018, a retrospective evaluation was performed on the records of 102 patients who underwent surgical treatment for VVF repair. All cases underwent a detailed physical examination and had their routine laboratory tests and imaging methods. In obese patients, a Foley catheter was moved into the bladder through the fistula tract, then inflated in order to push the vagina and bladder wall upwards. A transurethral catheter was used in all cases, and cystostomy was used in 58 (56.9%). RESULTS: The most common cause was prior hysterectomy for benign diseases in 35 (34.31%) cases. Among a total of 102 cases with for VVF, 95 (93.1%) were primary, 5 (4.9%) secondary, and 2 (1.9%) tertiary. The transvesical and O'Connor approaches (transabdominal) were performed in 61 (59.8%) and 41 (40.2%) cases, respectively. Transvaginal approach was not used in any of the cases. Cystostomy was applied in 58 (56.9%) of cases and not applied in 44 (43.1%). CONCLUSION: Complete excision of the fistula tract and sealing of the layers separately using the water-tight technique are extremely crucial factors to increase the success rate of VVF repair. In cases where good transurethral drainage is ensured, cystostomy is unnecessary and may increase the risk of infection.

Comparison of two natural tissue repair-based surgical techniques; sacrospinous fixation and uterosacral ligament suspension for pelvic organ prolapse treatment.

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE: The present study aims to compare the effectiveness and perioperative results of the natural tissue repair-based treatments sacrospinous fixation (SSF) and uterosacral ligament suspension (USLS) based on the preoperative Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification system (POP-Q). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of patients with stage ≥2 uterine prolapse between January 2011 and December 2016 were retrospectively examined. Preoperative POP-Q stages, demographic characteristics, perioperative results, and recurrence ratios in mid-term follow-up for patients were compared. RESULTS: Overall, 235 patients were determined according to our study's inclusion criteria. A total of 155 patients underwent vaginal hysterectomy and USLS (VH/USLS), whereas 80 patients underwent vaginal hysterectomy and SSF (VH/SSF). There were no significant differences between groups in terms of body mass index (BMI), age, and parity as well as cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. There was no significant difference in terms of anatomical success and clinical success rates in the postoperative follow-up period between both groups. (p = 0.588 and 0.692, respectively). However, the assessment of results based on preoperative stages of patients revealed that recurrence and anatomical failure were higher in the stage 4 group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that the main determinant factor in evaluating recurrence rates is preoperative POP-Q staging of the patient. Recurrence rates significantly increase with disease stage. Consistent with studies that do not report a clear superiority for USLS or SSF, we observed no significant differences between both procedures in terms of recurrence. The effectiveness of these procedures is similar. We believe that prospective, long-term follow-up studies with larger populations are required to accurately identify preoperative risk factors and compare them with mesh techniques.

A Novel Multimodal Treatment Method and Pilot Feasibility Study for Vaginismus: Initial Experience With the Combination of Sacral Erector Spinae Plane Block and Progressive Dilatation.

Background Genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder, commonly referred to as vaginismus, is a relatively common condition in women of childbearing age and has physical and psychological aspects. Various cognitive and behavioral therapies, dilatators, botulinum injections, and so on have been tried in the treatment. We hypothesize that the combination of sacral erector spinae plane (ESP) block and progressive dilatation treatment increases treatment quality. Methods We performed the sacral ESP block and progressive dilatation, which we added to multimodal treatment for resistant vaginismus cases. After the procedure, all patients were followed up during one menstrual cycle. They were recommended to have sexual intercourse on the day of the procedure. Results In 15 of our treatment-resistant cases, when we added the sacral ESP block, successful penetration after the first block was 73%. Pregnancy occurred in eight patients after the initial one-month follow-up. Four of the 15 patients needed a second block. Conclusions The sacral ESP block added to the multimodal treatment protocol significantly improves treatment quality.

The relationship between C-reactive protein, carbohydrate antigen 125, and hematological parameters to endometriotic nodule localization in pelvis.

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is a pelvic inflammatory process, and hormonal, environmental, and genetic factors play a role in its etiopathogenesis; especially, deep pelvic endometriosis exhibits an extensive anatomical distribution. In the present study, we evaluated the contribution of routinely measured hematological parameters to the diagnosis as the number of endometriotic nodule localization increases, when evaluated with C-reactive protein (CRP) and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 125. METHODS: The present study included patients with histopathologically confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis who underwent surgery at our hospital between January 2007 and December 2018. Their medical records were examined retrospectively. RESULTS: In total, 205 patients were included in the study, of which 129 patients (62.9%) with ovarian endometrioma and 76 patients (37.1%) with deep infiltrative endometriosis were assigned to Group 1 and Group 2, respectively, and the two groups were compared. Endometriotic nodules were observed in several localizations in 71 patients (34.6%) of the 205 patients with endometriosis. Pelvic nodules were grouped as per their four different localizations: uterosacral, recto-vaginal, bladder, and ureteral. Because the anatomical localization of endometriotic nodules increased in the pelvis, the variability in the levels of CA 125 and CRP as well as hematological parameters was examined. There were significant differences in hemoglobin (p < 0.036), CA 125 (p < 0.000), and CRP (p < 0.007) levels between patients with nodules in ≤2 localizations and those with nodules in ≥3 localizations. CONCLUSION: Our study included a total of 205 patients. There was a significant difference in the CRP, CA 125, and hemoglobin levels between Group 1 and Group 2, but it was concluded that coexistence of the endometriotic nodule had no effect on the other hematological parameters. For this purpose, prospective studies with a larger number of patients are needed.

Bilateral iliac artery aneurysm: A rare cause of postpartum recurrent hemorrhage.

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a critical health problem that may result in maternal death. In cases of impaired maternal hemodynamics, several surgical therapies such as hypogastric artery ligation or postpartum hysterectomy may be employed to control the bleeding. A 30-year-old multiparous patient who had given birth via spontaneous vaginal delivery had undergone hysterectomy and then hypogastric artery ligation due to postpartum hemorrhage. The patient was referred to our clinic due to uncontrolled bleeding and she experienced recurrent episodes of massive hemorrhage during her follow-up in our clinic. Pelvic angiography performed by interventional radiologists to detect the bleeding focus revealed arteriovenous fistula and aneurysm in the right internal iliac artery and incomplete ligation of the left internal iliac artery. The bleeding was controlled by selective embolization through coiling of the fistula in the right internal iliac artery and branches of the left uterine artery. PPH is still an important cause of maternal mortality and vascular structural anomalies must be borne in mind in cases with delayed onset.

Incidence of occult malignancies identified during hysterectomies performed for benign indications.

OBJECTIVE: Hysterectomy is a commonly performed gynaecological procedure worldwide. Although most hysterectomies are performed for benign indications, the possibility of an unexpected malignancy in the final pathology results should be considered. The aim of our study was to investigate the evaluation and management of patients who underwent hysterectomy for benign reasons but were diagnosed with a malignancy in the final pathology results. METHODS: We retrospectively examined the medical records of patients who underwent hysterectomy for benign indications between 2011 and 2017, and recorded the information obtained from these patient files. RESULTS: In total, 1050 patients who underwent hysterectomy for benign indications were included in the study. Among these patients, 127 underwent hysterectomy for uterine prolapse, 230 for uterine myoma, 223 for treatment-resistant menometrorrhagia, 150 for treatment-resistant menometrorrhagia and uterine myoma, 61 for endometriosis, 108 for ovarian cysts, 45 for endometrial polyps, and 106 for treatment-resistant menometrorrhagia and ovarian cysts. In 13 of these patients, malignancy was unexpectedly identified via the final pathology results. Seven of these patients had sarcoma, three had cervical cancer, two had ovarian cancer, and one had metastasis of a haematological malignancy. CONCLUSION: Malignancy was identified in 13 of the 1050 patients included in our study. The incidence of unexpected malignancy in these patients who underwent hysterectomies performed for benign indications was determined to be 1.23%. Seven of these 13 patients had sarcoma. Our results demonstrate the absence of reliable data for preoperative detection of sarcoma.

Comparison of the harmonic scalpel with scissors in women who experience obturator nerve injury during lymph node dissection for gynaecological malignancies.

OBJECTIVES: Lymphadenectomy is crucial for accurate staging in most gynecological malignancies. Serious complications can occur during the surgery. The present study aimed to present the early and late findings associated with obturator nerve injury, which is rarely observed during lymphadenectomy but can result in serious sequela if not noticed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The files of the patients who underwent lymphadenectomy at our clinic between 2012 and 2018 were examined. Patients with obturator nerve incisions were identified retrospectively. RESULTS: In total, 287 women patients underwent lymphadenectomy at our clinic between 2012 and 2018. Examination of surgical notes revealed that nine patients underwent obturator nerve incisions using a scissor or a harmonic scalpel (energy- activated ultrasonic scissors). With respect to management of obturator nerve damage, no significant difference was found between the use of a harmonic scalpel and scissors (p < 1.000) and the trendelenburg and lithotomy positions (p < 0.167). In addition, no significant difference was found between laparoscopy and laparotomy in terms of surgical type (p < 0.167). At 6 months post-operatively, sensory-motor examinations and EMG findings of the patients were completely normal. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeries performed for gynaecological malignancies have high mortality and morbidity rates. Moreover, in the event of a complication such as nerve damage during laparoscopy, successful management of the complication before the patient undergoes laparotomy allows the patient to continue benefitting from the advantages of the laparoscopy. The results of our study show that these high-risk surgeries should be performed in advanced and well-equipped medical centres by teams experienced in gynaecological oncology.

Use of vacuum-assisted closure in massive puerperal genital hematoma.

Puerperal genital hematomas are rare but life-threatening complications of obstetric emergencies. A pregnant patient (39 weeks) underwent a mediolateral episiotomy during a vaginal delivery. An afterbirth hematoma (approximately 20 cm in diameter) was evacuated, but the use of a vacuum-assisted wound closure system was applied after the sutures opened on the 7th postoperative day. On the 10th day of the vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) application, the wound was completely closed. VAC is an alternative treatment modality that can drain an infection and increase the proportion of granulation tissue in humid and irregular surfaces such as the perineum.

Spontaneous Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome with FSH Receptor Gene Mutation: Two Rare Case Reports.

Development of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is very rare in a spontaneous ovulatory cycle and it is usually seen during pregnancy. In the etiology of OHSS, higher hCG (molar pregnancies or multiple pregnancies) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels have been accused. In recent years, some follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor (FSHR) gene mutations have been described in patients with OHSS in the first trimester with normal hCG levels. Herein, we report two cases of FSHR gene mutation during the investigation of the etiology of spontaneous OHSS. Although OHSS is typically associated with ovulation induction, it should be kept in mind that this condition may also develop in spontaneous pregnancies.

Serum endocan levels in endometrial and ovarian cancers.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian and endometrial carcinomas are the two most common malignancies of the female reproductive system. Endocan is a proteoglycan that is specific to vascular endothelial cells. Increased serum levels have been reported in some tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate serum endocan levels in cases of endometrial and ovarian cancer. METHODS: Levels of serum endocan were assessed in 27 patients with endometrial cancer and 20 with ovarian cancer, and in 38 control subjects with benign ovarian or endometrial disorders. Thirty-five healthy subjects were also included. Serum endocan levels were measured using a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum CA-125 levels were also measured in the patient and control groups. RESULTS: All patients had detectable serum endocan levels among endometrial and ovarian cancer groups except six cases. However, in the benign and healthy control groups, all endocan levels were undetectable except for two cases in the benign group and three in the healthy control group. Serum endocan levels were significantly higher in the entire patient group than in the controls (P<.0001 for both). Serum endocan levels in cases of endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer were higher than in both the control groups (P<.0001 for both). Evaluation of all groups revealed a positive correlation between serum CA-125 and endocan levels (r=.43, P<.0001). CONCLUSION: Although benign ovarian or endometrial disorders do not lead to expression of endocan, malignant cases can result in measurable endocan levels. This may be useful in differentiating benign and malign diseases of the endometrium or ovary.

The Effect of Controlled Reperfusion in the Prevention of Infertility Caused by Ischemia Induced in the Contralateral Ovary in Rats with Unilateral Ovariectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the effectiveness of controlled reperfusion (CR) on ovarian tissue malondialdehyde, total glutathione and 8-hydroxyguanine levels and infertility rates in a rat model of induced ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury with unilateral oophorectomy. METHODS: A total of 135 adult female albino Wistar rats were divided into 9 groups (n = 15 for each group): unilateral ovariectomy + ovarian I/R (OIR), unilateral ovariectomy alone (OEG), a sham operation group (SG), and unilateral ovariectomy + CR performed at different intervals (the clips were released 10 times for 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 or 1 s and closed again 10 times for 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 or 1 s; OCR-1-6, respectively). Five rats from each group were sacrificed, and their ovaries were removed. RESULTS: Higher ovarian tissue malondialdehyde and 8-hydroxyguanine levels and lower ovarian tissue total glutathione levels were found in the OIR group compared with the SG, OEG and OCR-4-6 groups. The number of rats giving birth during the study period was found to be similar among the SG (n = 8), OEG (n = 8) and OCR-6 (n = 7) groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that sterility and ovarian oxidative stress caused by I/R injury decreases in parallel to the shortening of CR duration.