Outcomes of robotic and laparoscopic surgery for benign gynaecological disease: a systematic review.

Benign gynaecological diseases are usually treated with minimally invasive approaches. Robotic surgery seems an alternative to laparoscopic surgery. No definitive conclusions have yet been made regarding comparison of robotic versus laparoscopic surgery for benign diseases. In this scenario, we performed a systematic review in order to assess the advantages and disadvantages of laparoscopy versus robotic surgery and conclude whether laparoscopy should be replaced by robotic surgery for the treatment of benign gynaecological conditions, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) Statement. We included 64 studies: no significant difference was observed regarding overall complication rate; no significant benefit of robotic approach was demonstrated regarding length of hospital stay and conversion to laparotomy; furthermore, robotic surgery is more easily used by non-experienced surgeons, while it is more expensive and characterised by longer operative time. In conclusion, current evidence indicates neither statistically significant nor clinically meaningful differences in surgical outcomes between robotic and laparoscopic surgeries for benign gynaecological diseases. Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? Benign gynaecological diseases are usually treated with minimally invasive approaches. Nevertheless, no definitive conclusions have yet been made regarding comparison of robotic versus laparoscopic surgery for benign diseases.What do the results of this study add? No significant difference was observed regarding overall complication rate; no significant benefit of robotic approach was demonstrated regarding length of hospital stay and conversion to laparotomy; furthermore, robotic surgery is more easily used by non-experienced surgeon, while it is more expensive and characterised by longer operative time.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Robotic surgery should not replace laparoscopy for the treatment of benign gynaecological conditions; in addition, gynaecologic surgeon should offer robotic surgery for benign diseases only after a proper counselling and a balanced decision-making process involving the patient.

Left flank pain during pregnancy with an unpredictable etiology: think of nonhemorrhagic adrenal infarction.

Abdominal pain is the most presenting complaint during pregnancy with multiple etiologies. The diagnosis could be unpredictable. We present a case of 36-year-old pregnant woman gravida 10 para 7 abortus 2 at 36 + 5 weeks of gestation presenting twice for an increasing left abdominal pain, not relieved despite analgesics. She was delivered for severe oligohydramnios. After delivery, she was found to have a left adrenal infarction on computed tomography scan. She was found to have two mutations of the gene MTHFR 677CC. Our presented case should remind physicians to consider the presence of thromboembolic state during pregnancy. The diagnosis of adrenal infarction should be among the differentials of an ambiguous flank pain that is resilient to medical therapy. Diagnosis in a pregnant patient can be easily confirmed with MRI, after which anticoagulation should be started and the workup for hypercoagulable state investigated.