An update on treatment options for interstitial cystitis.

Interstitial cystitis or bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a chronic pelvic pain syndrome related to the urinary bladder. The ideal treatment should match as much as possible with the pathophysiologic causes of the IC/BPS, but the scarcely available evidence limits this approach, with the majority of available treatments that are primarily targeted to the control of symptoms. The treatment strategies have traditionally focused on the bladder, which is considered the primary end-organ and source of pain. Nevertheless, the growing body of evidence suggests a multifaceted nature of the disease with systemic components. In general, guidelines recommend the personalized and progressive approach, that starts from the more conservative options and then advances toward more invasive and combined treatments. The behavioral changes represent the first and most conservative steps. They can be combined with oral medications or progressively with intravesical instillation of drugs, up to more invasive techniques in a combined way. Despite the multiple available options, the optimal treatment is not easy to be found. Only further investigation on the etiopathogenetic mechanisms, taking into account the differences among subgroups, and the interaction between central and peripherical factors may allow providing a real improvement in the treatment and management of these patients.

Laparoscopic vs. open treatment of endometrial cancer in the elderly and very elderly: An age-stratified multicenter study on 1606 women.

Objective To investigate in depth the effect of increasing age on the peri-operative outcomes of laparoscopic treatment for endometrial cancer, compared to open surgery, with stratification of patients according to the different definitions of elderly age used in the literature. METHODS: Data of consecutive patients who underwent surgery for endometrial cancer staging at six centers were reviewed and analyzed according to surgical approach (laparoscopic or open), different definitions of elderly and very elderly age (≥65years, ≥75years, ≥80years), and class of age (<65; ≥65-<75; ≥75-80; ≥80years). Multivariable analysis to correct for possible confounders and propensity-score matching to minimize selection bias were used. RESULTS: A total of 1606 patients were included: 938 and 668 patients received laparoscopic and open surgery, respectively. With increasing age, fewer patients received laparoscopy (P<0.001 with ANOVA). The percentage of patients who received lymphadenectomy declined significantly in both groups for age ≥80years. Blood transfusions, incidence and severity of post-operative complications, and hospital stay were significantly lower among patients who had laparoscopy both in younger (<65years) and elderly (whether defined as ≥65 or ≥75years) patients, with no effect of age on any of the characteristics analyzed ( ANOVA: P>0.05). The same tendency was observed among very-elderly patients (≥80years). Multivariable and propensity score-matched analysis confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy for staging endometrial cancer retains its advantages over open surgery even in elderly and very-elderly patients. Our data strongly suggest that minimally-invasive surgery is advantageous even among subjects ≥80years.

Impact of endometriosis on surgical outcomes and complications of total laparoscopic hysterectomy.

PURPOSE: Total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) in the case of endometriosis may be extremely challenging. Our aim has been to analyze perioperative details and complications of TLH in women with vs. women without endometriosis. METHODS: Consecutive women who underwent TLH for endometriosis (endometriosis group) were compared with consecutive patients who had TLH for other conditions (controls) in terms of perioperative outcomes. Patients in the endometriosis group were analyzed, according to the severity of the disease. RESULTS: One-hundred and twelve women in the endometriosis group, 29 (25.9 %) with minimal-mild, and 83 (74.1 %) with moderate-severe stage disease (rAFS score), respectively, were compared with 572 controls. Conversion rate was 0.8 vs. 0.5 % (P = 0.51), and median operative time was 75 vs. 55 min (pxxx = x) in the endometriosis group vs. CONTROLS: Intraoperative complications were similar between groups (P = 0.56). Postoperative complications occurred in 10 (12.3 %) women in the endometriosis group vs. 12 (3.3 %) among the controls (P = 0.002). The severity of complications according to Clavien-Dindo classification system was higher in the endometriosis group (Clavien-Dindo >2: 7.5 vs. 1.9 %). The risk of organ lesions, urinary lesions, postoperative complications, and severe adverse events was significantly higher in women with moderate-severe endometriosis vs. CONTROLS: No differences between patients with minimal-mild endometriosis and controls were found. CONCLUSION(S): TLH in the case of endometriosis is associated with longer operative time and an almost fourfold increase in the risk and severity of complications compared with controls. In particular, the adjunctive risk of adverse events is specific for moderate/severe-stage disease but not for minimal/mild endometriosis.

Improving standard of care through introduction of laparoscopy for the surgical management of gynecological malignancies.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the impact on perioperative and medium-term oncologic outcomes of the implementation of laparoscopy into a preexisting oncologic setting. METHODS: Data from consecutive 736 patients undergoing surgery for apparent early stage gynecological malignancies (endometrial, cervical, and adnexal cancers) between 2000 and 2011 were reviewed. Complications were graded per the Accordion classification. Survival outcomes within the first 5 years were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Overall, 493 (67%), 162 (22%), and 81 (11%) had surgery for apparent early stage endometrial, cervical, and adnexal cancer. We assisted at an increase of the number of patients undergoing surgery via laparoscopy through the years (from 10% in the years 2000-2003 to 82% in years 2008-2011; P < 0.001 for trend); while the need to perform open surgery decreased dramatically (from 83% to 10%; P < 0.001). Vaginal approach was nearly stable over the years (from 7% to 8%; P = 0.76). A marked reduction in estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, blood transfusions as well as grade greater than or equal to 3 postoperative complications over the years was observed (P < 0.001). Surgical radicality assessed lymph nodes count was not influenced by the introduction of laparoscopic approach (P > 0.05). The introduction of laparoscopy did not adversely affect medium-term (within 5 years) survival outcomes of patients undergoing surgery for apparent early stage cancers of the endometrium, uterine cervix, and adnexa (P > 0.05 log-rank test). CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of laparoscopy into a preexisting oncologic service allows an improvement of standard of care due to a gain in perioperative results, without detriments of medium-term oncologic outcomes.

Laparoscopic hysterectomy in case of uteri weighing ≥1 kilogram: a series of 71 cases and review of the literature.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To present our experience with laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH) for uteri weighing 1 kilogram or more and to provide a systematic review of the available English literature. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis and review of the literature (Canadian Task Force Classification II-2). SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy. PATIENTS: All women in whom LH was attempted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Insubria for uteri weighing ≥1 kg were included in the present study. Demographic characteristics and perioperative details of patients were prospectively recorded in our institutional surgical database. We also performed a systematic review of the English literature to identify studies including at least 1 case of LH for uteri weighing ≥1 kg. INTERVENTIONS: Hysterectomy for uteri ≥1 kg was performed through a total laparoscopic approach with vaginal morcellation of the uterus in the majority of patients and transvaginal closure of the vaginal vault in all cases. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: LH was attempted in a total of 71 women. The median uterine weight was 1120 g (1000-2860 g). Three (4.2%) conversions to open surgery were needed. The median operative time and blood loss were 120 minutes (55-360 minutes) and 200 mL (10-1000 mL), respectively. No intraoperative and 2 (2.8%) postoperative complications occurred. Our review identified 6 studies reporting details of LH for uteri weighing ≥1 kg for a total of 62 patients; conversion to open surgery was necessary in 6 (9.7%) patients, and an additional 13 (21%) received a minilaparotomic incision to extract the uterus. The overall complication rate reported in the literature was 11.4%. CONCLUSION: LH represents a possibility even in cases of uteri weighing ≥1 kg. In a dedicated setting with high endoscopic experience, conversion and complication rates appear acceptable.

Electric motorized morcellator versus transvaginal extraction for myoma retrieval after laparoscopic myomectomy: a propensity-matched analysis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare surgery-related outcomes of electric motorized morcellator (EMM) and transvaginal extraction (TVE) for myoma retrieval after laparoscopic myomectomy. DESIGN: A retrospective propensity-matched analysis of prospectively collected data (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: A university teaching hospital. PATIENTS: One hundred women undergoing laparoscopic myomectomy. INTERVENTIONS: Laparoscopic myomectomy followed by myoma retrieval via TVE or EMM. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Fifty propensity-matched patient pairs (100 patients) undergoing laparoscopic myomectomy followed by myoma retrieval via TVE or EMM were studied. No significant differences were observed in baseline patient characteristics. Operative times were similar between groups (66 vs 73 minutes in the TVE and EMM group, respectively, p = .19). However, patients undergoing TVE experienced lower specimen retrieval time than patients undergoing extraction via EMM (5 [3-30] vs 7 [3-35] minutes, p < .001). Blood loss, transfusion, and complication rates were similar between groups. One retrieval-related complication occurred in the EMM group (bleeding from an incision using a morcellator requiring resuture). The need for an analgesic rescue dose was lower in the TVE group compared with patients in the EMM group (p = .03). Although overall satisfaction levels were similar between groups, TVE is related to higher cosmetic outcomes compared with EMM (9.5 [±0.6] vs 8.5 [±1], p < .001). CONCLUSION: TVE upholds the effectiveness of EMM, minimizing the operative time and potentially postoperative pain. Further large prospective studies are needed.

Nerve-sparing minilaparoscopic versus conventional laparoscopic radical hysterectomy plus systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy in cervical cancer patients.

AIM: To present our preliminary experience with nerve-sparing minilaparoscopic radical hysterectomy plus pelvic lymphadenectomy for the surgical treatment of cervical cancer and to compare outcomes with those of the conventional laparoscopic approach. METHODS: Data of 87 consecutive women who underwent minimally invasive surgery for early and locally advanced stage cervical cancer were prospectively collected. Ten women who underwent laparoscopic surgery using a nerve-sparing technique performed through 3-mm ancillary ports were compared with the 77 patients who had standard laparoscopic surgery previously with 3 sovrapubic 5-mm trocars. RESULTS: Minilaparoscopic radical hysterectomy was successfully accomplished in every case with no conversion to standard laparoscopy or open surgery. Two (2.6%) conversions to open surgery occurred in the conventional laparoscopy group. Surgical characteristics (operative time, estimated blood loss, and length of stay) and complication rate were similar between the 2 groups. No differences in the amount of parametrial and vaginal tissue removed were observed. The number of lymph nodes retrieved through minilaparoscopy was higher than conventional laparoscopy (30 [range = 26-38] vs 22 [range = 8-49]; P = .002). However, no difference was observed when the analysis was restricted to the last 10 conventional procedures (30 [range = 26-38] vs 29 [range = 24-49]; P = .81). CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that minilaparoscopic radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy is a feasible procedure if performed by skilled surgeons.

Non-syndromic monogenic female infertility.

Infertility is a significant clinical problem. It affects 8-12% of couples worldwide, about 30% of whom are diagnosed with idiopathic infertility (infertility lacking any obvious cause). In 2010, the World Health Organization calculated that 1.9% of child-seeking women aged 20-44 years were unable to have a first live birth (primary infertility), and 10.5% of child-seeking women with a prior live birth were unable to have an additional live birth (secondary infertility). About 50% of all infertility cases are due to female reproductive defects. Several chromosome aberrations, diagnosed by karyotype analysis, have long been known to be associated with female infertility and monogenic mutations have also recently been found. Female infertility primarily involves oogenesis. The following phenotypes are associated with monogenic female infertility: premature ovarian failure, ovarian dysgenesis, oocyte maturation defects, early embryo arrest, polycystic ovary syndrome and recurrent pregnancy loss. Here we summarize the genetic causes of non-syndromic monogenic female infertility and the genes analyzed by our genetic test.

A prospective case-control study on the impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on surgery-related outcomes of laparoscopic radical hysterectomy.

AIM: To investigate whether perioperative outcomes of class III/type C laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (LRH) for cervical cancer (CC) are influenced by neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data of consecutive patients, affected by locally advanced-stage CC, undergoing NACT plus LRH were matched 1:2 with consecutive patients, affected by early-stage CC who underwent LRH without NACT. RESULTS: Twenty and 40 patients underwent NACT with LRH and LRH aIone, respectively. Demographic characteristics were balanced between groups. Number of lymph nodes yielded, parametrial width and length of vaginal cuff were not influenced by preoperative administration of NACT. Patients undergoing NACT plus LRH experienced slightly higher blood loss (225 vs. 200 ml; p=0.05) than patients in the control group, but had a similar operative time and length of hospital stay. No between-group differences in transfusion and complications rates were observed (p>0.2). CONCLUSION: The administration of NACT does not affect the surgery-related outcomes of LRH.

Use of laparoscopy in older women undergoing gynecologic procedures: is it time to overcome initial concerns?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze temporal trends in adoption of laparoscopy in a cohort of older women (> or =70 y) undergoing gynecologic abdominal procedures and to assess operative outcomes compared with those of open procedures. METHODS: A prospective entered database was queried for all women aged 70 years or older undergoing surgery at our department during a 9-year period. Surgical outcomes were compared according to the type of surgical approach (laparoscopy vs open) and assessed over time. RESULTS: Two-hundred thirty-one women were identified. Of these, 116 underwent laparoscopic procedures, and 115 had open abdominal surgery. The study groups were similar with regard to demographics and preoperative variables. Conversion to laparotomy due to intervening complications occurred in one case (0.9%). Among women with early-stage gynecologic malignancies, overall and postoperative complications were lower in the laparoscopy group than in the open surgery group. Estimated blood loss and hospital stay were lower in the laparoscopy group than in the open surgery group, for both benign and malignant conditions. The annual proportion of laparoscopic cases has increased significantly during the study period from 12% in 2001 to 79.3% in 2007 (P for trend < 0.0001). No difference was found in operative time, number of lymph nodes harvested, and complication rates, when data of subsequent time periods were compared. CONCLUSIONS: Older women who undergo laparoscopy have a significantly shorter hospitalization and fewer complications compared with older women who undergo open surgery. Laparoscopy should be considered in all women in whom a gynecologic abdominal procedure is planned regardless of age.