Abdominal Wall Thickness at Palmer's Point and Distance to Adjacent Structures across the Body Mass Index Spectrum.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Studies delineating left upper quadrant (LUQ) anatomy across a range of body mass indices are lacking. We aimed primarily to compare, between nonobese and obese women, abdominal wall thickness and the distance from the LUQ to key structures. In addition, we aimed to characterize LUQ anatomy in underweight women. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: A tertiary academic medical institution. PATIENTS: Sixty women (30 nonobese, 30 obese) aged 18 years and older who underwent abdominal imaging from October 1, 2018, to December 31, 2018. INTERVENTIONS: Computed tomography imaging of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Abdominal wall thickness at the LUQ was significantly greater in obese (4.3 ± 1.7 cm) than nonobese patients (2.4 ± 1.7 cm) (p <.001), as were distances to all key structures (aorta, vena cava, spleen, stomach, pancreas, liver, left kidney, and pelvis) (p ≤.02). On average, all structures, with the exception of stomach and liver, were >10 cm (the length of a typical insufflation needle) away from the LUQ insertion point in obese women. In underweight women, the aorta, spleen, stomach, pancreas, and liver were all within 10 cm of the LUQ insertion point. Within the obese and nonobese group, abdominal wall thickness at the LUQ was significantly greater than at the umbilicus (p <.001). Body mass index was more strongly correlated with abdominal wall thickness at the LUQ (r = 0.84; p <.001) than at the umbilicus (r = 0.69; p <.001) (p = .007 for comparison). CONCLUSION: This study highlights special anatomic considerations for LUQ access in obese and underweight patients. In obese women, abdominal wall thickness may be greater at this site than at the umbilicus and the liver and stomach remain within reach of an insufflation needle. The increased working distance from the LUQ to the pelvis in obese patients may necessitate specialized instruments if this site is used during surgery. In underweight women, the aorta, in addition to many other structures, is within reach of commonly used entry devices.

Social media utilization, preferences, and patterns of behavior in patients with gynecologic pelvic pain.

BACKGROUND: Social media is increasingly becoming a health resource for people suffering from complex and debilitating health conditions. A comprehensive understanding of how and why social media and the Internet are used among patients with chronic gynecologic pain will allow for the intentional development and incorporation of web-based tools into patient care plans. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether gynecologic patients with pain are more likely to use social media and the Internet to understand and manage their condition than those without pain. The survey was designed to explore how gynecologic patients with and without pain use and interact with social media and other web-based health resources and the clinical, personal, and demographic factors influencing these behaviors. STUDY DESIGN: Patients presenting with a new complaint to a gynecologist at 1 of 6 Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery-affiliated hospital systems were screened, consented, and assigned to pain and no-pain groups. Participants were surveyed about social media and Internet use, symptoms, bother, physician selection, motivation, trust, and demographic information. Survey responses were compared using the Fisher exact tests, odds ratios, and risk ratios from standard tabular analysis, univariate or multivariate tests of means, and regression analyses, as appropriate. RESULTS: Of 517 participants included in the study, 475 (92%) completed the survey, 328 (69.1%) with pain and 147 (30.9%) without pain. Study participants in the pain group reported more than double the odds of using social media than those without pain (37.8% vs 19.7%; odds ratio, 2.47; 95% confidence interval, 1.54-3.96) and triple the odds of using the Internet (88.4% vs 69.4%; odds ratio, 3.37; 95% confidence, 2.04-5.56) to understand or manage their condition. Participants with pain were more likely than those without pain to engage in social media at a higher level (3.5 vs 1.7 on a scale of 0 to 10; P<.0001), be motivated by interpersonal elements of online engagement (Hotelling's T2=37.3; P<.0001), prefer an interactive component to their online health resource (35.6% vs 24.3%; risk ratio, 1.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-2.20; P=.0433), be influenced by others in their choice of a gynecologist (0.37 vs 0.32 on a scale of 0 to 1; P=.009), use social media as a coping tool (38.3% vs 17%; P=.0001), trust information found on social media (31.4% vs 16.7%; P=.0033), and trust other women with the same condition, informal health resources, and personal sources more and doctors and formal health resources less (P=.0083). Participants in both groups reported higher levels of social media engagement with higher levels of symptom bother (28% increase in engagement with every doubling of bother level (P<.0001). CONCLUSION: Patients with gynecologic pain were more likely than those without pain to use social media and the Internet to understand and manage their condition. Patients with pain engaged in and trusted social media at a higher level, with engagement rising directly with bother level.

Post-ablation tubal sterilization syndrome: Does route of sterilization matter?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence of clinical post-ablation tubal sterilization syndrome among women who underwent abdominal (i.e., peripartum or laparoscopic) vs hysteroscopic permanent contraception in addition to endometrial ablation. STUDY DESIGN: This study was a retrospective cohort study conducted at an academic medical center. We included women (N = 188) who successfully underwent both endometrial ablation and permanent contraception between 2005 and 2017. Forty-one women underwent hysteroscopic permanent contraception and 147 underwent abdominal (i.e., peripartum or laparoscopic) permanent contraception. The primary outcome was the prevalence of clinical post-ablation tubal sterilization syndrome, as defined by new or worsening cyclic pelvic pain after completion of both procedures. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of the syndrome was 19.1% (34 of 178 women who followed up), with no detected difference between those who underwent hysteroscopic (6 of 38, 15.8%) vs abdominal permanent contraception (28 of 140, 20.0%, p = 0.55). In multivariate regression modeling, when adjusted for race, parity, gynecologic pathologies, hormonal medication use, and the presence of baseline pain (both pelvic and non-pelvic) only younger patient age was marginally associated with increased odds of the syndrome (aOR 1.85, 95% CI 1.01- 3.45, p = 0.05), while abdominal as compared to hysteroscopic permanent contraception was not (aOR 1.29, 95% CI 0.59-2.84, p = 0.53). Of the 28 patients with clinical post-ablation tubal sterilization syndrome who underwent hysterectomy and/or salpingectomy as treatment for their pain, none showed signs of hematosalpinx or hematometra at the time of surgery or on final pathology. CONCLUSION: We did not find evidence that route of permanent contraception affects the risk of post-ablation tubal sterilization syndrome development. Younger patients may be at higher risk of this syndrome.

Conservative management of bladder endometriosis with acute renal failure.

Endometriosis involving the bladder is rare, but generally has a severe presentation with prominent lower urinary tract symptoms and can progress to renal failure. As endometriosis has a significant effect on quality of life and fertility, treatment plans must be centered on the patient's symptoms, expectations, and priorities. We present a case of a 37-year-old African American female with advanced bladder endometriosis and consequent renal failure, who desired to avoid extensive surgery and maintain her fertility. This case highlights the importance of shared decision making in balancing disease management with patient autonomy.

Incidence and risk factors for chronic pelvic pain after hysteroscopic sterilization.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of and preoperative risk factors for developing pelvic pain after hysteroscopic sterilization using the Essure microinserts. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: University medical center. PATIENTS: A total of 458 patients who underwent hysteroscopic sterilization using Essure between January 1, 2005, and June 30, 2012. INTERVENTION: Hysteroscopic sterilization using Essure. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The incidence of acute pelvic pain after hysteroscopic sterilization was 8.1%, and of persistent pain at 3 months after the procedure was 4.2%. The range of presence of pain was 1 to 469 days (mean, 56 days). Of patients who developed chronic pelvic pain after the procedure, 75% reported it within 130 days of the procedure. Patients with previous diagnoses of any chronic pain (chronic pelvic pain, chronic low back pain, chronic headache, and fibromyalgia) were more likely to report both acute pain (odds ratio, 6.81; 95% confidence interval, 2.95-15.73) and chronic pain (odds ratio, 6.15; 95% confidence interval, 2.10-18.10) after hysteroscopic sterilization. CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic pain may develop after hysteroscopic sterilization. Patients with a diagnosis of preexisting chronic pain may be at increased risk of developing pelvic pain after the procedure. Fifty percent of new pelvic pain after Essure placement will resolve within 3 months.

Hysteroscopic sterilization success in outpatient vs office setting is not affected by patient or procedural characteristics.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine factors associated with hysteroscopic sterilization success and whether it differs between the operating room and office settings. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: Major university medical center. PATIENTS: Six hundred thirty-eight women who underwent hysteroscopic sterilization between July 1, 2005, and June 30, 2011. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Data collected included age, body mass index, previous office procedures, previous cesarean section, and presence of myomas or retroverted uterus. Place of surgery, experience of surgeon, insurance type, bilateral device placement, compliance with hysterosalpingography, and confirmation of occlusion were also recorded. Bivariate analysis of patient characteristics between groups was performed using χ(2) and independent t tests, and identified confounders and associated variables. Multivariate analysis was performed using logistic regression to assess for association and to adjust for confounders. Procedures were performed in the operating room (57%) or in the office (43%). There was no association between success in bilateral device placement or occlusion and any patient characteristic, regardless of surgery setting. Private insurance, patient age, and performance of procedures in the office setting were positively associated with likelihood of compliance with hysterosalpingography. CONCLUSION: Successful device placement and tubal occlusion are independent of patient age, body mass index, or setting of the procedure. Association between insurance type and completing hysterosalpingography illustrates an important public health problem. Patients who fail to undergo hysterosalpingography to confirm tubal occlusion may unknowingly be at risk of pregnancy and increased risk of ectopic pregnancy.

Vaginal cancer: the experience from 2 large academic centers during a 15-year period.

OBJECTIVE: Limited data regarding the natural history, management, and prognosis of vaginal cancer exist owing to the relative disease rarity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed at 2 institutions to identify women receiving treatment for vaginal cancer between 1990 and 2004. Demographics, risk factors, histology, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, treatment, and treatment-related complications were recorded. Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) version 9.2 was used. RESULTS: A total of 110 patients were identified in the 2 university databases. Median age was 63 years (range = 36-93 years), and 84% were white; 73% had squamous cell carcinoma, 40% were ever users of tobacco, and 64% had no abnormal Pap smear results. Of the patients, 83% had early-stage (I or II) disease. Treatment varied by stage with increasing use of radiation with advancing stage. Recurrence was 24%, 32%, and 53% for stage I, II, and III/IV disease, respectively. After a median follow-up of 21 months, progression-free survival was 59, 35, and 23 months for stage I, II, and III/IV disease, respectively. Overall survival was 106, 58, and 34 months for stage I, II, and III/IV disease, respectively. Age greater than 60 years (p = .0339; hazard ratio [HR] = 2.162), advanced stage (p = .0004; HR = 2.475), and tobacco use (p = .0004; HR = 1.02) were negatively associated with survival. Thirty percent developed a significant complication (fistula, stricture, cystitis, or proctitis), and 21% developed a vesicovaginal and/or rectovaginal fistula. There was no association of fistula development with age, stage, tobacco use, histological finding, or treatment history (including radiation therapy). CONCLUSIONS: Age, stage, and tobacco abuse seem to be negatively associated with survival in vaginal cancer. However, no risk factors were associated with fistula development.

Decreased incidence of vaginal cuff dehiscence after laparoscopic closure with bidirectional barbed suture.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To estimate whether a new surgical technique is associated with lower incidence of postoperative breakdown of the vaginal cuff after laparoscopic hysterectomy or trachelectomy, compared with previous methods of closure. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study, Canadian Task Force Classification II-3. SETTING: Tertiary-care university-based teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Patients who underwent laparoscopic vaginal closure after removal of the uterus and/or cervix by members of a subspecialty gynecologic laparoscopy division from January 2007 to January 2010 (n = 387). INTERVENTIONS: Use of bidirectional barbed suture for laparoscopic vaginal cuff closure. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 387 patient records were reviewed. The incidence of vaginal cuff dehiscence among those with other methods of closure was 4.2%, while there were no cases of dehiscence among those who had closure with bidirectional barbed suture (p = .008). Postoperative bleeding (OR 2.3, 95% C.I. 1.3-3.9), presence of granulation tissue (OR 1.9, 95% C.I. 0.92-3.9), and cellulitis (OR 4.6, 95% C.I. 1.0-21.1) all occurred more frequently in patients without barbed suture closure. CONCLUSION: Dehiscence of the vaginal cuff after laparoscopic closure is a rare but important complication in gynecologic surgery. Use of bidirectional barbed suture eliminated the problem in our first year of experience with the technique. We also observed a decreased incidence of other common problems of the vaginal cuff. This method is easy to learn and inexpensive and does not require advanced skills such as laparoscopic knot-tying.