Sexual Function following Laparoscopic versus Transvaginal Closure of the Vaginal Vault after Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Trial by the Italian Society of Gynecological Endoscopy Using a Validated Questionnaire.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The effect of the different types of vaginal cuff closures on posthysterectomy sexual function has not been investigated in depth. We evaluated if there is a difference between transvaginal versus a laparoscopic closure after total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) on female sexual function, using a validated questionnaire. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a prospective randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Three academic research centers. PATIENTS: Women consenting to telephone interviews on their sexual life before and after undergoing TLH were included. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to a laparoscopic or transvaginal approach for vaginal cuff closure at the end of TLH for benign indications. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A validated questionnaire (the Female Sexual Function Index [FSFI]) was used to explore sexuality before and after the operation. Of the 1408 patients enrolled in the primary study, 400 patients were asked to complete the questionnaire. Of them, 182 (41.4%) were eligible and accepted enrollment in the present analysis. No difference was found in terms of pre- and postoperative FSFI scores between groups. Patients with a low preoperative FSFI score (<26.55) had a significantly higher likelihood of having a postoperative sexual disorder (p <.001). Women who received bilateral adnexectomy before menopause and those with postoperative vaginal cuff hematoma had a significantly lower postoperative FSFI score (p = .001 and p = .04, respectively). After multivariable analysis, both variables maintained at least a tendency toward an association with a lower postoperative FSFI score (odds ratio, 2.696; 95% confidence interval, 1.010-7.194; p = 0.048 and p = 0.053; odds ratio, 13.2; 95% confidence interval, .966-180.5, respectively). CONCLUSION: Transvaginal and laparoscopic cuff closures after TLH have similar sexual postoperative outcomes. A patient with sexual problems before TLH is more likely to have a low FSFI score postoperatively. Premenopausal patients undergoing bilateral ovariectomy and those with postoperative vaginal cuff hematoma have a worse postoperative sexual life. (Clinicaltrials.gov, protocol number NCT02453165, registration date May 25, 2015.).

SF-36 preoperative interest of predicting improvement of quality of life after laparoscopic management of minimal endometriosis.

THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To study preoperative thresholds of the SF-36 components above which we can predict a high risk of failure in order to improve the quality of life after surgery for patients with minimal endometriosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Design: prospective and multicenter observational study between February 2004 and 2011. PATIENTS: 167 patients with operated minimal endometriosis. SETTING: for the Physical Component Summary (PCS) or the Mental Component Summary (MCS) subscales of the SF-36 questionnaire, an improvement defined by an increase of 5 points. INTERVENTION: evaluation by the SF-36 questionnaire the week before and one year after surgery. MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS: Success of surgery measured by an improvement in both components. We found significantly different initial variables between patients with improvement and those without: initial MCS score (P=0.0003), initial PCS score (P<0.0001) and dyspareunia (P=0.004). Multivariate analysis revealed only two significant variables. Initial MCS higher than 40 (OR=4.6) and initial PCS higher than 50 (OR=10.6) are risk factors for failure of improvement after surgery. CONCLUSION: Surgery is seldom a good treatment for improving QOL in minimal endometriosis. We set two thresholds for SF-36, 50 for PCS and 40 for MCS: above there is a very high risk of failure (86% of failure in our population). Under, the risk of failure remains high (54.3%). CANADIAN TASK FORCE CLASSIFICATION OF STUDY DESIGN: Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control studies, preferably from more than one center or research group.

[Effects of early intervention of second-look office hysteroscopy in the prevention of adhesion reformation for moderate-severe Asherman's syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of different time interval in the prevention of adhesion reformation after hysteroscopic adhesiolysis for moderate-severe Asherman's syndrome. METHODS: A total of 125 women with moderate-severe Asherman's syndrome undergoing hysteroscopic division of intrauterine adhesion were enrolled into this retrospective cohort study. All patients underwent second-look hysteroscopy after a certain period of the first hysteroscopic adhesiolysis, and the operation would be performed again if any adhesion existed. According to the different time interval of hysteroscopy examination, they were divided into 3 groups: A: < 1 month (n = 50), B:1-2 months (n = 39), C >2 months (n = 36). The effect of hysteroscopic adhesiolysis was evaluated by American Fertility Society (AFS) score. RESULTS: The AFS score decreased significantly after hysteroscopic adhesiolysis in each group and the normal uterine rate was up to 64.8%. The median of decreased AFS score and normal uterine rate were as follows:group A:7 point and 78%, group B:7 point and 66.7%, group C:5 point and 44.4%. And groups A and B achieved significantly (P < 0.01) greater reductions in the adhesion score than that of group C. The median time of recovery to normal uterine cavity were 1.64, 2.75 and 5.26 months in each group and great differences existed among them (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The time interval of second-look hysteroscopy less than 1 month offers a better prognosis in the prevention of adhesion reformation for moderate-severe Asherman's syndrome.

[Hysterectomy: indications and advantages of the vaginal route in Mali]. / Hystérectomie: indications et avantages de la voie vaginale au Mali.

The purpose of this report was to determine the frequency of hysterectomy and describe its indications and outcomes. A retrospective, descriptive study related to active hysterectomy of was conducted at the reference health centre of commune V in Bamako, Mali from January 1st, 2004 to December 31st, 2008. All hysterectomy patients with complete medical files were included. A total of 172 files were identified including 152 that were complete. Hysterectomy accounted for 1.38% of all interventions during the study period. The procedure was carried out in emergency in 0.14% and electively in 13.39%. Mean patient age was 47.9 +/- 11.7 years; 89 patients were older than 45 years. The indications for hysterectomy were complicated uterine fibroids in 82 patients, genital prolapse in 44, adenomyosis in 10, obstetrical hysterectomy in 13 and cervical dysplasia in 3. The abdominal route was used in 100 patients (65.8%) and the vaginal rout in 52 (34.2%). The duration of the procedure and hospital stay was longer after hysterectomy by the abdominal (p<0.05). Perioperative complications were observed in 17% of patients after abdominal hysterectomy versus 7.69% after vaginal hysterectomy. Two maternal deaths due to hemorrhagic shock were observed after obstetrical hysterectomy. Hysterectomy is a frequent intervention that is not without complication risks. Choice of route depends on the indication and skill of the operator. Although endoscopic surgery is still difficult to perform in developing countries, development of vaginal hysterectomy is necessary to reduce perioperative complications.

Robotic versus standard laparoscopy for the treatment of endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare robot assisted laparoscopic platform to standard laparoscopy for the treatment of endometriosis. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort controlled study. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENT(S): Seventy-eight reproductive aged women. INTERVENTION(S): Robot assisted or standard laparoscopy for the treatment of endometriosis between January 2008 and January 2009. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Operative time, estimated blood loss, hospitalization time, intraoperative and postoperative complications. RESULT(S): Seventy-eight patients underwent treatment of endometriosis, 40 by robot assisted laparoscopy and 38 by standard laparoscopy. The two groups were matched for age, body mass index (BMI), stage of endometriosis, and previous abdominal surgery. Mean operative time with the robot was 191 minutes (range 135-295 minutes) compared with 159 minutes (range 85-320 minutes) during standard laparoscopy. There were no significant differences in blood loss, hospitalization, intraoperative or postoperative complications. There were no conversions to laparotomy. CONCLUSION(S): Both robot assisted laparoscopic and standard laparoscopic treatment of endometriosis have excellent outcomes. The robotic technique required significantly longer surgical and anesthesia time, as well as larger trocars.

Are we underutilizing Palmer's point entry in gynecologic laparoscopy?

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience using Palmer's point entry in women undergoing gynecologic laparoscopic surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SETTING: University teaching hospital, London, United Kingdom. PATIENT(S): We reviewed all patients who underwent laparoscopic gynecologic surgery under the care of the senior author between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2008. INTERVENTION(S): Gynecologic laparoscopic surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Indications, incidence, success, and complications of using Palmer's entry. RESULT(S): Three hundred eighty-five patients underwent laparoscopic surgery. We used umbilical entry in 249 (64.6%) and Palmer's entry in 136 (35.4%). In almost three fourths of cases, the indications for using Palmer's point were previous laparotomy or the presence of large uterine fibroids. The next most common reasons for choosing Palmer's point were known documentation of intra-abdominal adhesions from prior laparoscopies, large ovarian cysts, and hernias or hernia repairs. Entry via Palmer's point was successful in all but two cases (98.5%), and there were no entry-related complications. CONCLUSION(S): Our experience shows that laparoscopic entry using the left upper quadrant is safe with a low failure rate. Because the vast majority of gynecologic laparoscopies are done using subumbilical entry, it seems that Palmer's entry is underused by many gynecologists, despite it being safer in patients at risk of underlying adhesions and more appropriate in the presence of a large pelvic mass or a nearby hernia.

Reproductive outcome after hysteroscopic septoplasty in patients with septate uterus--a retrospective cohort study and systematic review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Septate uterus, one of the most common forms of congenital uterine malformations, negatively affects female reproductive health. METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study, we evaluated the reproductive outcome after hysteroscopic septoplasty in 64 women with septate uterus and primary or secondary infertility. We performed a systematic review of studies evaluating the reproductive outcome after hysteroscopic septoplasty. RESULTS: Sixty-four women underwent hysteroscopic septoplasty. In 2/64 (3%) women, intraoperative uterine perforation occurred. Complete follow-up was available for 49/64 (76%) patients. Mean follow-up time was 68.6+/-5.2 months. The overall pregnancy rate after hysteroscopic septoplasty was 69% (34/49). The overall life birth rate (LBR) was 49% (24/49). The mean time interval between surgery and the first life birth was 35.8+/-22.5 months. Including our own data, we identified 18 studies investigating the effect of septoplasty on reproductive outcome in 1501 women. A pooled analysis demonstrated that hysteroscopic septoplasty resulted in an overall pregnancy rate of 60% (892/1501) and a LBR of 45% (686/1501). The overall rate of intra- and postoperative complications was 1.7% (23/1324) and the overall rate of re-hysteroscopy was 6% (79/1324). CONCLUSIONS: In women with septate uterus and a history of infertility, hysteroscopic septoplasty is a safe and effective procedure resulting in a pregnancy rate of 60% and a LBR of 45%.

Tratamiento quirúrgico de las malformaciones uterinas / Surgical treatment of uterine malformations

Se analizan los antecedentes clínicos de 29 pacientes portadoras de malformaciones uterinas controladas y tratadas en la Unidad de Fertilidad del Servicio y Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología del Hospital Clínico Regional Dr. Guillermo Grant B. de Concepción entre enero 1978 y mayo de 1990. El tipo de malformación uterina más frecuente correspondió al útero septo con 19 casos (65,5%) y con menor frecuencia útero bicorne 7 casos (24,1%) y útero didelfo 3 casos (10,4%). Se destaca la altísima frecuencia (92,8%) de pérdidas fetales (abortos y partos pretérmino) en este grupo de pacientes. Se practicó corrección quirúrgica en 24 pacientes. En 18 casos con útero septo se efectuó en 13 operación de Tompkins y en 5 operación de Jones. En 6 casos de útero bicorne se realizó en 5 operación de Strassman y en una paciente extirpación de un hemicuerpo rudimentario no comunicado. En el grupo de pacientes con seguimiento adecuado, se alcanza un 84,6%de niños vivos después de efectuar la metroplastía; comparado con un 24%antes del tratamiento quirúrgico. Se concluye, que a pesar de no contar con histeroscopía como alternativa de tratamiento del útero septo, nuestras pacientes se han visto beneficiadas de su infertilidad con los tratamientos quirúrgicos de sus anomalías uterinas

[Vaginal hysterectomy of the non-prolapsed uterus. Toward rehabilitation]. / L'hystérectomie vaginale de l'utérus non prolabé. Pour une réhabilitation.

The main steps to be carried out in the operation of vaginal hysterectomy when the uterus is not prolapsed are overall the same as when vaginal hysterectomy is carried out for prolapse: separation of the bladder from the uterus, opening of the Pouch of Douglas, dividing the utero-sacral ligaments, opening the vesico-uterine pouch, dividing the cardinal ligaments, delivering the fundus of the uterus, freeing the uterine cornua and reperitonealisation. All the same, for each step there are numerous different details to be carried out. Careful attention to all these modifications make it easier to remove a non mobile uterus or one that is markedly enlarged. When the definite advantages of this technique, which is unfortunately insufficiently practised in France, are understood it is the operation of choice rather than the abdominal approach whenever a vaginal approach is possible, which it is in the large majority of cases.