Risk factors for relaparotomy after a cesarean delivery: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Relaparotomy following a cesarean delivery (CD) is an infrequent complication, with inconsistency regarding risk factors and indications for its occurrence. We therefore aimed to determine risk factors and indications for a relaparotomy following a CD at a single large tertiary center. METHODS: A retrospective case-control single-center study (2013-2023). We identified all women who had a relaparotomy up to six weeks following a CD (study group). Maternal characteristics, obstetrical and surgical data were compared to a control group in a 1:2 ratio. Controls were women with a CD before and immediately after each case in the study group, who did not undergo a relaparotomy. Included were CDs occurring after 24 gestational weeks. CD performed at different centers and indications for repeat surgery unrelated to the primary surgery (e.g., appendicitis) were excluded. Logistic regression was used to adjust for potential confounders. RESULTS: During the study period, 131,268 women delivered at our institution. Of them, 28,280 (21.5%) had a CD, and 130 patients (0.46%) underwent a relaparotomy. Relaparotomies following a CD occurred during the first 24 h, the first week, and beyond the first week, in 59.2%, 33.1%, and 7.7% of cases, respectively. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, relaparotomy was significantly associated with Mullerian anomalies (aOR 3.33, 95%CI 1.08-10.24, p = 0.036); uterine fibroids (aOR 3.17, 95%CI 1.11-9.05,p = 0.031); multiple pregnancy (aOR 4.1, 95%CI 1.43-11.79,p = 0.009); hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (aOR 3.46, 95%CI 1.29-9.3,p = 0.014); CD during the second stage of labor (aOR 2.54, 95%CI 1.15-5.88, p = 0.029); complications during CD (aOR 1.62, 95%CI 1.09-3.21,p = 0.045); and excessive bleeding during CD or implementation of bleeding control measures (use of tranexamic acid, a hemostatic agent, or a surgical drain) (aOR 2.23, 95%CI 1.29-4.12,p = 0.012). Indications for relaparotomy differed depending on the time elapsed from the CD, with suspected intra-abdominal bleeding (36.1%) emerging as the primary indication within the initial 24 h. CONCLUSION: We detected several pregnancy, intrapartum, and intra-operative risk factors for the need for relaparotomy following a CD. Practitioners may utilize these findings to proactively identify women at risk, thereby potentially reducing their associated morbidity.

Routine Automated Assessment Using Surgical Intelligence Reveals Substantial Time Spent Outside the Patient's body in Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgeries.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the use of surgical intelligence to routinely and automatically assess the proportion of time spent outside of the patient's body (out-of-body-OOB) in laparoscopic gynecological procedures, as a potential basis for clinical and efficiency-related insights. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of videos of laparoscopic gynecological procedures. SETTING: Two operating rooms at the Gynecology Department of a tertiary medical center. PARTICIPANTS: All patients who underwent laparoscopic gynecological procedures between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2022 in those two rooms. INTERVENTIONS: A surgical intelligence platform installed in the two rooms routinely captured and analyzed surgical video, using AI to identify and document procedure duration and the amount and percentage of time that the laparoscope was withdrawn from the patient's body per procedure. RESULTS: A total of 634 surgical videos were included in the final dataset. The cumulative time for all procedures was 639 hours, of which 48 hours (7.5%) were OOB segments. Average OOB percentage was 8.7% (SD = 8.7%) for all the procedures and differed significantly between procedure types (p < .001), with unilateral and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomies showing the highest percentages at 15.6% (SD = 13.3%) and 13.3% (SD = 11.3%), respectively. Hysterectomy and myomectomy, which do not require the endoscope to be removed for specimen extraction, showed a lower percentage (mean = 4.2%, SD = 5.2%) than the other procedures (mean = 11.1%, SD = 9.3%; p < .001). Percentages were lower when the operating team included a senior surgeon (mean = 8.4%, standard deviation = 9.2%) than when it did not (mean = 10.1%, standard deviation = 6.9%; p < .001). CONCLUSION: Surgical intelligence revealed a substantial percentage of OOB segments in laparoscopic gynecological procedures, alongside associations with surgeon seniority and procedure type. Further research is needed to evaluate how laparoscope removal affects postoperative outcomes and operational efficiency in surgery.

Apoptosis versus necrosis in tubal ectopic pregnancies following Methotrexate.

Methotrexate administration for the treatment of tubal ectopic pregnancies has been shown to cause tubal mass enlargement. Our hypothesis was that, by administrating Methotrexate, a local necrotic reaction occurs, leading to hematoma formation and eventually fallopian tube rupture. Salpingectomy specimens were collected, analysed and divided into three equal groups: patients who received Methotrexate but who ultimately failed medical treatment, patients who had a viable ectopic pregnancy and patients with a self-resolving ectopic pregnancy that were operated due to other medical indications. The specimens were dyed using the Cleaved Caspase-3 (Asp175) Rabbit mA. Specimens were divided into three equal groups and analysed. The patients in self-resolving ectopic pregnancy group were older and had more pregnancies. Rates of apoptosis were found to be less than 1% per slide. Necrosis was not evident in any of the pathological specimens. It seems Methotrexate administration does not lead to a significant tubal necrotic reaction. Further studies are required.

Effect of BMI change on recurrence risk in patients with endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to explore the effect of body mass index (BMI) change on cancer recurrence risk during the routine surveillance of endometrial cancer patients. METHODS: Data on patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma that had a staging procedure and continued follow-up was retrospectively collected. We compared patients' BMI at time of surgery and during the last clinic follow-up. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to examine the effect of predictors on BMI change and the risk of recurrence. RESULTS: A total of 211 patients were included in the final analysis. The majority of patients had stage I disease (n=176, 89%) and endometrioid histology (n=178, 86%). Median follow-up time was 53.4 (standard deviation (SD) 40) months. The mean BMI was 30.4 kg/m2 (interquartile range (IQR) 25-34) at surgery compared with 30.9 kg/m2 (IQR 26-36) at last follow-up (p<0.001). The BMI increase was most pronounced in patients with endometroid histology that recurred, 31.6 (IQR 24-35) kg/m2 at surgery compared with 33.5 (IQR 27-36) kg/m2 at last follow-up (p=0.016). On multivariate analysis, age and BMI change were the only predictors that were significantly associated with the risk of recurrence (overall response (OR 1.07 (0.99-1.14), p=0.05, OR 1.37 (1.12-1.67), p=0.002, respectively). CONCLUSION: Patients with endometroid endometrial cancer that had an increase in BMI during follow-up were at an increased risk for cancer recurrence compared with patients that did not change or had a decrease in BMI.

Primary Resectoscopic Treatment of First-Trimester Miscarriage.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the feasibility and safety of resectoscopic treatment for uterine evacuation of first-trimester miscarriage. METHODS: A single-centre prospective study performed between April 2021 and October 2021 at a university-affiliated tertiary medical centre. Patients diagnosed with early miscarriage of up to 12 weeks from the last menstrual period were eligible for participation. Recruited patients underwent hysteroscopic uterine evacuation under general anaesthesia by a Versapoint 2 bipolar resectoscope 24Fr (Johnson and Johnson, Germany). RESULTS: A total of 15 patients were recruited for the study. The procedural characteristics as well as intra- and postoperative adverse events were recorded. The mean duration of the procedure was 14.3 ± 3.7 minutes. The achievement of complete evacuation was recorded in all cases, and no adverse events occurred during any procedure. Post-procedure follow-up 6 weeks after treatment was conducted by office hysteroscopy in 10 women and by ultrasonography in 4 women. One woman had conceived prior to her scheduled follow-up visit. In total, 2 (13.3%) cases of retained products of conception were diagnosed during office hysteroscopy and they were removed by the "see-and-treat" technique without anaesthesia. The diagnosis was confirmed pathologically. No intrauterine adhesions were detected and none of the women required a second hysteroscopy under anaesthesia due to retained products of conception. CONCLUSIONS: Hysteroscopic evacuation of first-trimester miscarriage by a standard resectoscope is a safe and feasible technique.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Uptake in Israel.

OBJECTIVE: Isolation and school closure during the COVID-19 pandemic could decrease human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake and potentially increase future HPV-related morbidity among unvaccinated populations. The aim of our study was to investigate HPV vaccination rates in Israel during the pandemic. METHODS: The HPV vaccination rates were compared before and during the COVID-19 pandemic years (2020-2021). Data regarding HPV vaccination between 2015 and 2021 were extracted from the Israeli Ministry of Health online reports. Vaccination rates were compared with other childhood vaccines, given at similar ages. Israeli HPV vaccination rates were further compared with England and Australia, which have an established vaccination infrastructure. RESULTS: The average Israeli coverage of first-dose HPV vaccine was 60.2%, with significant variations from 2015 to 2021. During the pandemic years, first-dose vaccine coverage increased compared with the 3 previous years. The pandemic had also no apparent influence on other childhood vaccine uptake, even though adolescents in Israel missed many school days during this time. Average vaccine uptake in England and Australia was significantly higher than Israel ( p = .009); however, first-dose vaccination rates decreased considerably in England during 2020, to a nadir of 59%. The pandemic had little effect on HPV vaccination rates in Australia. CONCLUSIONS: Despite many school days missed, the COVID-19 pandemic did not result in a decrease in HPV vaccine uptake in Israel. The pandemic could prove a good opportunity to further educate the public regarding the importance of whole-population vaccination programs. Implementing catch-up vaccination programs may bridge "vaccination gaps" that may be caused by future pandemics.

Expectant vs medical management for retained products of conception after medical termination of pregnancy: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the rise of medical treatments for the termination of pregnancy, to date, no prospective trial has evaluated the efficacy of misoprostol in treating retained products of conception after induced termination of pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare medical management with misoprostol with expectant management for retained products of conception after first-trimester medical termination of pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: This was an open-label randomized controlled trial conducted at a university-affiliated tertiary medical center. Consenting consecutive women who underwent a routine 3-week follow-up evaluation after medical termination of pregnancy and had a sonographic suspicion of retained products of conception, defined as sonographic evidence of intrauterine remnant (>12 mm) with a positive Doppler flow, were recruited. The participants were randomized into a medical treatment group (800 µg of sublingually administered misoprostol) or expectant management. They all underwent repeat ultrasound scans every 2 weeks until a maximum of 6 weeks, and those suspected of persistent retained products of conception were referred to operative hysteroscopy. The primary endpoint was successful treatment defined as no need for surgical intervention because of persistent retained products of conception within 8 weeks from pregnancy termination. RESULTS: There was no marked difference in demographic characteristics between the study groups. The median sonographically demonstrated retained product length was 20 mm (interquartile range, 17-25) in the medically managed group compared with 20 mm (interquartile range, 17-26) in the expectantly managed group (P=.733). Treatment succeeded in 42 of 68 women (61.8%) in the medically managed group compared with 36 of 63 women (57.1%) in the expectantly managed group (relative risk, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 0.74-1.70; P=.590). There was no difference in adverse outcomes between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: There was no clinically meaningful advantage for medical treatment with misoprostol compared with expectant management after first-trimester medical termination of pregnancy in women with suspected retained products of conception. Surgical intervention can be avoided in up to 60% of women who are managed expectantly for 8 weeks of follow-up.

The Effect of Cervical Conization on Women's' Sexual Function and Psychological Health, A Prospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of cervical dysplasia and subsequent conization of the uterine cervix might affect women's' sexual health. AIM: To assess the effect of cervical conization on women's sexual function and psychological wellbeing. METHODS: Patients undergoing conization of the cervix were assessed before, and 6 months after conization. Assessment of sexual distress and function was done using the female sexual distress scale-revised (FSDS-r) and the female sexual function inventory (FSFI), respectively. Risk for anxiety and depression, was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: FSDS-r, FSFI and HADS scores before and after conization RESULTS: From October 2018 to March 2021, 55 patients undergoing cervical conization were recruited. No significant differences were found in FSDS-r scores before and after conization. An equal number of patients indicated having sexual distress (29 patients, 53%, before and after conization, P=1.0). No significant changes were noticed on any FSDS domains or the total FSDS score before and after conization, (26.8 vs. 26.0, p=0.461). The percent of patients that indicated an overall sexual dysfunction, increased from 49 percent before conization, to 59 percent after conization, P=0.388. A high percent of patients indicated signs of anxiety on the HADS questionnaire, both before and after conization (49% and 47%, respectively). The median anxiety and depression scores did not change after conization, p=1.0. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: A high percent of patients undergoing conization suffer from sexual distress, sexual dysfunction and general anxiety, both before and after conization. The conization procedure itself did not seem to effect questionnaire scores. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: This was a prospective cohort, with comprehensive assessment of female sexual and psychological wellbeing after conization. Not all subjects reported sexual intercourse prior to questionnaire completion. CONCLUSION: Gynecologists should be aware of the psychological and sexual effect of the diagnosis and treatment of cervical pre-cancerous lesions, patients should be counselled accordingly. Michaan N, Loboda N, Ochshorn I, et al., The Effect of Cervical Conization on Women's' Sexual Function and Psychological Health, A Prospective Observational Study. J Sex Med 2022;19:257-262.

Incidence of endometrial carcinoma in patients with endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia versus atypical endometrial polyp.

ObjectiveOur study's primary aim was to compare the incidence of endometrial carcinoma in patients with a presurgical diagnosis of endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia confined to the endometrium (EIN-E) versus endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia confined to a polyp (EIN-P). Our secondary aim was to examine the difference in pathological features, prognostic risk groups and sentinel lymph node involvement between the two groups. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study between January 2014 and December 2020 in a tertiary university-affiliated medical center. The study considered the characteristics of women who underwent hysterectomy with sentinel lymph node dissection for endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN). We compared EIN-E diagnosed by endometrial sampling via dilatation curettage or hysteroscopic curettage vs EIN-P. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess risk factors for endometrial cancer. RESULTS: Eighty-eight women were included in the study, of those, 50 were women with EIN-P (EIN-P group) and 38 were women with EIN following an endometrial biopsy (EIN-E group).The median age was 57.5 years (range; 52-68) in the EIN-P group as compared with 63 years (range; 53-71) in the EIN-E group (p=0.47). Eighty-nine percent of the women in the EIN-E group presented with abnormal uterine bleeding whereas 46% of the women in the EIN-P group were asymptomatic (p=0.001). Pathology results following hysterectomy revealed concurrent endometrial carcinoma in 26% of women in the EIN-P group compared with 47% of women in the EIN-E group (p=0.038). Multivariate analysis showed that endometrial cancer was significantly less common in the EIN-P group (overall response (OR)=0.3 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.1-0.9, p=0.03). Eighty-four percent of cancers were grade one in the EIN-P group compared with 50% in the EIN-E group (p=0.048). CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent endometrial cancer is less frequent with EIN-P than with EIN-E. The high incidence of endometrial carcinoma in both groups supports the current advice to perform hysterectomy for post-menopausal women. Our data does not support performing sentinel lymph node dissection for EIN-P that was completely resected. The benefit of sentinel lymph node dissection for women with pre-operative EIN-E is yet to be determined.

Recurrent Ovarian Torsion: Risk Factors and Predictors for Outcome of Oophoropexy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for recurrent ovarian torsion and evaluation of the efficacy of oophoropexy techniques. DESIGN: Case control study. SETTING: Tertiary university-affiliated medical center. PATIENTS: A total of 79 women with recurrent ovarian torsion (study group) were matched with 158 women with a single episode of ovarian torsion (control group). INTERVENTIONS: Laparoscopic detorsion and oophoropexy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Demographic data, clinical characteristics, ultrasound characteristics, surgical findings, surgical procedures, and torsion recurrence rates were analyzed and compared between the 2 groups between 2001 to 2020. RESULTS: There was an inverse association between women's age and the risk of recurrent torsion (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-0.96, p = .003). Moreover, in women younger than 20 years, the risk of recurrent event was substantially higher (aOR, 5.0; 95% CI, 1.56-6.15, p = .007). In addition, the absence of ovarian pathology was associated with increased risk for recurrent torsion (aOR, 14.3; 95% CI, 6.15-33.42; p <.001). Oophoropexy was performed in 46 women in the study group. The risk of recurrent torsion after oophoropexy was 30%. A long duration of pain before admission was associated with oophoropexy failure (37.5 ± 6.3 hours vs 11.7 ± 6.0 hours, p = .003). No single fixation procedure was superior to the others in terms of therapeutic success. CONCLUSION: Recurrent ovarian torsion is more common in young women with a normal-appearing ovary. Oophoropexy is a safe procedure with a risk of retorsion in 30% of the patients. We found no advantage for one fixation technique over the others.

Reproductive Outcomes and Overall Prognosis of Women with Asherman's Syndrome Undergoing IVF.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of Asherman syndrome (AS) following hysteroscopic adhesiolysis on reproductive outcomes and the time to achieve pregnancy in women with infertility undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Tertiary university-affiliated medical center. PATIENTS: Fifty-one infertile women who were treated for AS and underwent IVF (study group) matched for age and etiology of infertility with non-AS controls at a 1:1 ratio. INTERVENTIONS: Medical records search, chart review, and phone survey were used to assess reproductive outcomes. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A multivariate logistic regression analyses was used to assess live birth, accounting for patient age at stimulation cycle start, parity, number of embryos transferred, and endometrial thickness. A survival analysis was performed to assess the times that had lapsed from interventions to conception. The study group of 51 women included 38 (74.5%) with moderate to severe disease. The mean number of embryo transfers per woman was similar for the study and control groups (4.9 ± 4.6 vs 6.22 ± 4.3, respectively, p = .78). The controls had a significantly higher mean endometrial thickness before embryo transfer (8.7 ± 1.8 mm vs 6.95 ± 1.7 mm, p = .001). The overall time to achieve live birth was significantly longer in women with AS (p = .022). In a logistic regression analysis, the presence of moderate to severe AS was shown to be an independent factor for achieving a live birth (adjusted odds ratio 0.174, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.032-0.955, p = .004). Women with AS who had live births had a significantly thicker mean endometrial thickness (8.2 ± 1.4 mm vs 6.9 ± 1.2, p = .001). CONCLUSION: Moderate and severe AS has a detrimental effect on reproductive performance in infertile women. Endometrial thickness is an important predictor for live births among women with AS who undergo IVF.

Assessing the effectiveness of empiric antimicrobial regimens in cases of septic/infected abortions.

INTRODUCTION: Infected abortion is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate surgical and medical interventions. We aimed to assess the common pathogens associated with infected abortion and to test the microbial coverage of various empiric antimicrobial regimens based on the bacteriological susceptibility results in women with infected abortions. METHODS: A retrospective study in a single university-affiliated tertiary hospital. Electronic records were searched for clinical course, microbial characteristics, and antibiotic susceptibility of all patients diagnosed with an infected abortion. The effectiveness of five antibiotic regimens was analyzed according to bacteriological susceptibility results. RESULTS: Overall, 84 patients were included in the study. The mean age of patients was 32.3(SD ±â€¯5.8) years, and the median gestational age was 15 (IQR 8-19) weeks. Risk factors for infection were identified in 23 patients (27.3%), and included lack of medical insurance (n = 12), recent amniocentesis/chorionic villus sampling or fetal reduction due to multifetal pregnancies (n = 10). The most common pathogens isolated were Enterobacteriaceae (35%), Streptococci (31%), Staphylococci (9%) and Enterococci (9%). The combination of intravenous ampicillin, gentamicin and metronidazole showed significant superiority over all the other tested regimens according to the susceptibility test results. Piperacillin-tazobactam as an empiric single-agent drug of choice and provided a superior microbial coverage, with a coverage rate of 93.3%. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of ampicillin, gentamicin, and metronidazole had a better spectrum of coverage as a first-line empiric choice for patients with infected abortion.

Complicated Clinical Course and Poor Reproductive Outcomes of Women with Tubo-Ovarian Abscess after Fertility Treatments.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical course and surgical and fertility outcomes of patients diagnosed with tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) after fertility treatment. DESIGN: Parallel case series over 10 consecutive years (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, a tertiary university-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty-seven women who were diagnosed with TOA after fertility treatments (in vitro fertilization and intrauterine insemination) were compared with 313 women who were diagnosed with TOA not associated with fertility treatments during the same time period. INTERVENTION: Medical records search, chart review, and phone survey were used to assess clinical course and surgical and reproductive outcomes. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Women with TOA after fertility treatments had significantly higher inflammatory markers upon admission compared with the nonfertility treatment group (mean white blood cell count, 16.1 × 1000/mm3 [standard deviation [SD], ±4.3] vs 13.8 × 1000/mm3 [SD, ±6.3], p = .001, respectively; and mean C-reactive protein, 149 mg/L [SD, ±78.3] vs 78.2 mg/L [SD, ±68.5], p = .001, respectively). In addition, TOA after fertility treatments was associated with a significantly higher surgical intervention rate and a more complicated clinical course, as evidenced by a shorter time interval from admission to surgery (2.1 days vs 3.2 days, p = .01), higher rates of antibiotic failure, higher conversion rate from laparoscopy to laparotomy (14.2% vs 3.2%, p = .005), increased perioperative complications rate (25.0% vs 3.8%, p = .0001), and a longer hospitalization stay (7.2 days vs 4.8 days, p = .01). Clinical pregnancy rate per cycle in women with TOA after fertility treatments was 9%, and 1 case of live birth was recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that TOA after fertility treatment has a substantial effect on the clinical course and surgical outcome. Prophylactic antibiotic treatment before ovum retrieval and deferral of embryo transfer should be considered in patients at risk of infection.

Surgical Intervention in Patients with Tubo-Ovarian Abscess: Clinical Predictors and a Simple Risk Score.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To identify the clinical characteristics associated with surgical intervention in patients with tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: Tertiary university-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: Three hundred thirty-five patients were diagnosed with TOA based on sonographic and clinical criteria. Patients who underwent surgical intervention were compared with patients managed conservatively. INTERVENTION: Electronic medical records were used to identify patients who were diagnosed with TOA between 2007 and 2015. All patients received the same antibiotic regimen upon admission. The data extracted included microbial and pathologic reports. Clinical characteristics such as disease severity and outcomes were compared. The clinical predictors available on patient admission for surgical intervention were identified retrospectively. A logistic regression was used to determine the independent predictors of treatment failure. A risk score was created by giving a nominal weight to each predictor. The score was validated by a random bootstrap analysis. An additional validation cohort that consisted of patients diagnosed with TOA during the 2 years after the original study period was applied to the final score. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The following variables of patients who underwent surgical intervention in comparison with those successfully treated and were enrolled into the score analysis differed significantly: age at admission (odds ratio [OR], 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-3.5), mean leukocytosis at admission (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3-3.6), ultrasonographic measurement of abscess diameter (OR, 3.6 95% CI, 2.0-6.3), and the presence of bilateral abscess (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3-3.9). Risk groups A, B, C, and D were positively correlated with the need for surgical intervention. Those in the highest risk group D had an antibiotic failure rate of 92%, as compared with those with the lowest risk group, in which there was a 20% risk of antibiotic failure. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic treatment failure for TOA can be predicted on patient admission using a novel risk assessment score.

Fertility outcomes in patients with tubo-ovarian abscesses after an oocyte retrieval: a longitudinal cohort analysis.

PURPOSE: To determine the impact of pelvic inflammation caused by tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) on ovarian response to stimulation. METHODS: This retrospective longitudinal cohort analysis that was carried out in a tertiary university-affiliated medical center included 15 women with TOA during in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. The ovarian response to stimulation and the pregnancy rate were compared in two subsequent cycles, the initial IVF cycle that was complicated by TOA after oocyte retrieval (first treatment cycle) and the following IVF treatment (second treatment cycle) that occurred within a period of a year from the first cycle. RESULTS: The mean number of retrieved oocytes was significantly higher in the first IVF cycle compared to the second cycle (8.1 ± 3.2 vs. 5.4 ± 2.5, P = .003], corresponding to a 30% reduction in ovarian response to gonadotropin stimulation. Fertilization rates were significantly lower in the second cycle (4.1 ± 2.9 vs. 2.9 ± 1.7, P = .015). Twelve women (80%) reached embryo transfer in the first cycle compared to 14 women (93.3%) in the second cycle. The mean number of transferred embryos was similar between the two cycles. There were no clinical pregnancies following the first cycle, and only one patient (6.6%) had a clinical pregnancy in the second treatment cycle. CONCLUSIONS: TOA following fertility treatment has a detrimental effect on ovarian function. The pregnancy rate in the immediate period following TOA is poor. Current data for recommending the deferral of fertility treatment following a TOA episode are insufficient, calling for more studies to address these issues.

Constraining Baryon-Dark-Matter Scattering with the Cosmic Dawn 21-cm Signal.

The recent detection of an anomalously strong 21-cm signal of neutral hydrogen from cosmic dawn by the EDGES low-band radio experiment can be explained if cold dark matter particles scattered off the baryons draining excess energy from the gas. In this Letter we explore the expanded range of the 21-cm signal that is opened up by this interaction, varying the astrophysical parameters as well as the properties of dark matter particles in the widest possible range. We identify models consistent with current data by comparing to both the detection in the low-band region and the upper limits from the EDGES high-band antenna. We find that consistent models predict a 21-cm fluctuation during cosmic dawn that is between 3 and 30 times larger than the largest previously expected without dark matter scattering. The expected power spectrum exhibits strong baryon acoustic oscillations imprinted by the velocity-dependent cross section. The latter signature is a conclusive evidence of the velocity-dependent scattering and could be used by interferometers to verify the dark matter explanation of the EDGES detection.

Hydrosalpinx Sclerotherapy Before In Vitro Fertilization: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

The presence of a hydrosalpinx has been shown to impair the outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. This outcome can be improved by removing the hydrosalpinx; however, there are some concerns regarding its feasibility and safety, especially in women with previous surgeries and dense adhesions. The purpose of our meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of hydrosalpinx aspiration with or without sclerotherapy on the risk of recurrence and the IVF outcome compared with salpingectomy or no intervention. We performed an electronic-based search using PubMed, Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, Google Scholar, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Our main outcome measures were the recurrence rate, fertility outcome, and adverse events. Ten studies were included in our review. The overall recurrence rates of hydrosalpinx aspiration with or without sclerotherapy were 21.7% to 30.5% and 21.8% to 32.5%, respectively. There was no difference in the clinical pregnancy or miscarriage rate between hydrosalpinx sclerotherapy and salpingectomy. When compared with salpingectomy, hydrosalpinx aspiration only was associated with a significantly lower clinical pregnancy rate and higher miscarriage rate. Compared with no intervention, hydrosalpinx aspiration resulted in significantly higher clinical pregnancies rates but a similar miscarriage rate. We conclude that hydrosalpinx sclerotherapy before IVF improves the fertility outcome and can be used as an alternative to salpingectomy.

Relationship between Catamenial Pneumothorax or Non-catamenial Pneumothorax and Endometriosis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of women presenting with catamenial pneumothorax and compare them with those with noncatamenial pneumothorax. DESIGN: A case-control study (Canadian Task Force II-2). SETTING: A multicenter study. PATIENTS: Forty-two women with pneumothorax: 21 women had catamenial pneumothorax (study group), and 21 were age-matched women with noncatamenial pneumothorax (control group). INTERVENTIONS: All patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopy and pleural biopsy. We also evaluated the presence and stage of pelvic endometriosis in 16 women with catamenial pneumothorax who had undergone laparoscopic surgery. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The number of known episodes of catamenial pneumothorax before treatment was between 2 and 8 episodes. Symptoms were mainly chest pain and shortness of breath; 1 patient had hemoptysis. The prevalence of right-sided pneumothorax was 95.2% in the study group and 57.1% in the control group (p = .004). Besides 2 cases with complete collapse of the right lung, most of the cases in the study group had apical pneumothorax. Pelvic endometriosis was found in 15 of 16 women (93.7%), mainly stage 3 or 4, and thoracic endometriosis in 12 of 20 women (60%). None of the patients in the control group had thoracic endometriosis. CONCLUSION: Thoracic endometriosis is found in over half of women with catamenial pneumothorax but absent in those with noncatamenial pneumothorax. Right apical pneumothorax is predominant in women with catamenial pneumothorax. Endometriosis plays an important role in the mechanism of catamenial pneumothorax.

The effect of endometrial injury on implantation and clinical pregnancy rates.

AIM: To assess the effect of endometrial scratching (ES) on in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer outcome (IVF-ET) Materials and methods: Retrospective matched case control study including all fresh IVF cycles performed between January 2006 and December 2012 at an academic IVF center. ES with an endometrial biopsy catheter was performed in the cycle preceding the index IVF cycle. Patients (n = 238) were pair matched with controls according to age, number of previous failed IVF cycles and number of embryos transferred. RESULTS: Demographic and cycle characteristics were comparable in all of the following: age, number of previous cycles, number of collected oocyte, number of embryos transferred and quality of transferred embryos. Implantation, clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates were comparable in both groups (28%, 34% and 18.4% vs 30%, 40.3% and 29%, in ES group and controls, respectively). Logistic regression analysis found no significant association between ES and pregnancy rate. CONCLUSIONS: Mechanical endometrial stimulation did not improve implantation and pregnancy rates. Furthermore, no factors that may predict which patients could benefit from ES were identified. Further prospective studies are warranted to evaluate possible benefits in different subsets of patients such as patients with recurrent implantation failures.

Adnexal Torsion in Postmenopausal Women: Clinical Presentation and Risk of Ovarian Malignancy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical presentation, operative outcome, and incidence of malignancy in postmenopausal women who were diagnosed with adnexal torsion. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: Tertiary university-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: Postmenopausal women diagnosed with adnexal torsion between 1995 and 2014 (study group) were reviewed and compared with 220 premenopausal patients diagnosed with adnexal torsion during the same time period. INTERVENTION: Demographic data, clinical signs and symptoms, and intra- and postoperative characteristics were compared between the 2 groups. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: During the study period 44 postmenopausal women were diagnosed with adnexal torsion. Continuous dull pain was the most common presenting symptom in the postmenopausal group (57%), whereas acute-onset sharp pain was the predominant symptom in the premenopausal group (86%). The time interval from admission to surgery was significantly longer in the postmenopausal group (24 vs 6 hours, p < .001). Laparoscopic surgery was performed in 84.5% of the cases in the premenopausal group, whereas it was carried out in only 50% of cases in the postmenopausal group (p < .001). Four women in the postmenopausal group were diagnosed with malignancy, whereas only 1 case of malignancy was found in the premenopausal group (9% vs .4%, respectively; p = .003). CONCLUSIONS: Adnexal torsion in postmenopausal women is an uncommon event with a unique presentation. Because ovarian malignancy is not an uncommon finding in this group of patients, preparation for more extensive surgery should be contemplated.