How to measure size of tubal ectopic pregnancy on ultrasound.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the preoperative ultrasound parameters for assessing the size of tubal ectopic pregnancy that correlate best with findings at surgery. METHODS: This was a prospective study of all women attending our center who had a conclusive transvaginal ultrasound diagnosis of tubal ectopic pregnancy over a 10-month period. In each case, the total size of the ectopic pregnancy was measured by placing the calipers on the outer edges of the visible trophoblastic tissue. In ectopic pregnancies presenting with a well-defined gestational sac, the size of the celomic (chorionic) cavity was also measured using the inner borders of the trophoblastic ring as reference points. In women with signs of intra-abdominal bleeding, the size of the hematosalpinx and/or hemoperitoneum was measured. Surgeons were blinded to the ultrasound measurements and were asked to estimate the size of the ectopic pregnancy and the amount of hemoperitoneum intraoperatively. RESULTS: A total of 105 women were diagnosed with a tubal ectopic pregnancy on ultrasound examination, of whom 71 (67.6%) were managed surgically. A significant (P < 0.01) positive correlation was found between all ultrasound measurements and the size of the tubal ectopic pregnancy as reported during surgery. In the absence of hematosalpinx, the mean total outer diameter of the ectopic pregnancy had the highest positive correlation with the size of the tubal ectopic pregnancy at surgery (r = 0.65, P < 0.001). In cases complicated by hematosalpinx, the mean diameter of the tube was the only variable that correlated significantly with the estimated size of the ectopic pregnancy at surgery (P < 0.001). There was a significant positive association between the amount of hemoperitoneum on ultrasound and the estimated volume of intraperitoneal blood at surgery (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The mean size of a hematosalpinx and the total outer mean diameter of an ectopic pregnancy on ultrasound correlate better with the surgical findings than does the size of the celomic cavity. Our findings show that the standard approach of measuring the size of an intrauterine pregnancy on ultrasound should be adapted to include these additional measurements in women diagnosed with a tubal ectopic pregnancy. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Ovarian reserve as a predictor of cumulative live birth.

OBJECTIVES: Develop an up to date prediction model using recent cycle data and key pre-treatment predictor variables to estimate a couple's individualised probability of a cumulative live birth after one cycle of ovarian stimulation and transfer of all frozen embryos, before the first embryo transfer. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study. To estimate the cumulative live birth rate we only included couples who had used all embryos from their initial stimulation or achieved a live birth. We constructed a logistic regression model using live birth as a dependent variable and age group, duration of infertility, primary vs. secondary infertility, insemination method, cause of infertility, Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH), Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and antral follicle count (AFC) as our independent variables and used a backward elimination method to create the best fitting regression models to predict the probability of a cumulative live birth (p < 0.05 for elimination). RESULTS: There were 516 complete cycles of ovarian stimulation resulting in 357 livebirths giving a cumulative livebirth rate of 69.2 % (95 % CI 66.0-74.0). Women with a live birth had significantly lower median age (34 years [IQR 31-37] vs. 36 years [IQR 33-39], p = 0.01) and FSH (6.7 iu/L [IQR 5.8-7.9] vs. 7.4 iu/L [IQR 6.2-8.6] and a significantly higher median AMH (22.1 pmol/L [IQR 12.1-30.9] vs. 10.5 pmol/L [IQR 7.3-20.7], p = 0.01) and AFC (18 [IQR 12-26] vs. 12 [IQR 9-19], p = 0.01). The backward conditional logistic regression model retained age category, FSH category and AMH category as significant independent predictors. The area under the curve for this model was 0.68 (95 % CI 0.63 - 0.73). CONCLUSION: Our prediction model estimates a couple's individualised probability of achieving a live birth after their first complete cycle of IVF using all known pre-treatment predictors. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The study population were only those eligible for NHS funded IVF treatment which have strict ovarian reserve criteria. Exclusion of those with very low egg reserve is likely to influence the predictive capacity of out model. Furthermore, our model was developed using cycle data from one unit and thus its predictive capacity has not been assessed on an independent cohort of women. We therefore welcome external geographical validation of our model prior to its use in clinical practice.

Who is at risk of endometrial cavity breach at laparoscopic myomectomy?

BACKGROUND: Submucous and large intramural fibroids cause heavy menstrual bleeding and can negatively impact reproductive outcomes. Large submucous and non-cavity distorting fibroids need to be removed laparoscopically. One of the risks of a laparoscopic myomectomy is breaching the endometrial cavity and there have been suggestions that this increases the risk of intrauterine adhesions. The aim of this study was to examine the role of various demographic and pre-operative ultrasound variables at predicting the risk of endometrial cavity breach during laparoscopic myomectomy. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of women who underwent a laparoscopic myomectomy. Women who had more than one fibroid removed and women who did not have pre-operative ultrasound images available were excluded. The size of the fibroid, minimum distance from the endometrial cavity, surface area, intra-cavity surface area, protrusion ratio and extra-cavity size as well as the women's age, parity and pre-operative GnRH analogue use were recorded. The outcome measure was the breach of the endometrial cavity at myomectomy. Univariate analysis was performed to identify variables that are associated with a cavity breach. A logistic regression analysis was used to identify the most significant predictor of a breach. RESULTS: A total of 66 women were included in the study. From these, 10 women sustained a cavity breach. All pre-operative ultrasound variables, i.e. minimum distance of the fibroid from the cavity (p=0.001), protrusion ratio (p=0.001), total surface area (p=0.020), intra-cavity surface area (p=0.001), size (p=0.030) and extra-cavity size (p=0.001) were statistically different between the group that had a cavity breach and the group that did not. In a logistic regression model, protrusion ratio was selected as the best predictor of a breach (OR 1.22; 95% CI 1.10 - 1.37). All breaches occurred in women who were not given GnRH analogue. CONCLUSION: Identifying patients at increased risk of a cavity breach facilitates better individualized pre-operative counselling regarding the risk of a breach and the possibility of intrauterine adhesions. It will also trigger more intra-operative vigilance to minimize the risk of breaching the cavity and, subsequently, the risk of intrauterine adhesions if a breach does occur.

Medical jurisprudence in the local context.

Medical jurisprudence in the local context would require the examination of a wide area. This paper focuses on liability producing conduct arising from the providing of medical services, other than liability for criminal negligent conduct. It examines the circumstances in which the physician-patient relationship emerges, in medical jurisprudence as against practice by medical practitioners. Tort law is the dominant legal theory, and reference is made to some intentional and miscellaneous torts. Implied contracts creating the relationship are touched upon, besides the reference to vicarious liability. Insanity and diminished responsibility in the criminal law, particularly the issue of whether the status quo is satisfactory and reliance on medical reports for purposes of treatment under drug laws are examined. Where abortion is performed, the question whether the husband has any right to prevent his wife from having a lawful abortion is discussed in the local context. Some thoughts on the medical (therapy, education and research) Act 1972 are expressed in relation to the living body, the corpse and the parts of the human body. The patient's right to determination and information in the light of the above legislation is also discussed.