Comparison of Postoperative Complications Between Laparoscopic Myomectomy and Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare postoperative complications of laparoscopic myomectomy (LM) with total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH). A secondary outcome examined whether complications differ by age. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: A multicenter academic healthcare system. PATIENTS: Individuals > 18 years old undergoing LM from 2011 to 2021 or TLH for benign indications from 2020 to 2021. INTERVENTIONS: LM or TLH. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: There were 1178 patients in the LM group and 1304 in the TLH group. Patients who underwent LM were younger, more often premenopausal, nonsmokers, with lower body mass index, lower preoperative hemoglobin, larger uterine size, and lower American Society of Anesthesiologists class. LM had longer operative times (154.1 ± 74.5 vs 145.9 ± 70.5 min, p <.0001), higher use of intraoperative hemostatic agents (25% vs 9.1%, p <.0001), and higher estimated blood loss (222.7 ± 313.0 vs 87.4 ± 145.9 mL, p <.0001) than TLH. Postoperatively, LM was associated with fewer surgical site infections (3.1% vs 5.8%, p <.0001), readmissions within 30 days (2.0% vs 5.6%, p <.0001), or emergency department visits within 90 days (10.9% vs 14.4%, p = .008). LM were more likely to be admitted 24 hours postoperatively (5.9% vs 3.4%, p = .0023) or receive a blood transfusion within 30 days (4.0% vs 1.0%, p <.0001). Variables associated with increased risk of postoperative complications were tobacco use, American Society of Anesthesiologists class > 3, preoperative anemia, estimated blood loss ≥ 150 mL, and specimen weight > 250 g. Logistic regression demonstrated that operative time ≥185 minutes was most strongly associated with 24-hour admission postoperatively (odds ratio [OR] = 12.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.71-45.27). In individuals ≤ 37 years of age, the LM group was less likely than the TLH group to experience surgical site infection (OR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.14-0.62) or present to the emergency department (OR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.26-0.63). CONCLUSION: In this large cohort of patients, both LM and TLH had low rates of postoperative complications, but the complications differed for each approach. In appropriate surgical candidates, either approach may be offered based upon patients' goals.

Effect of Immediate Loop Electrode Excisional Procedure for High-Grade Cervical Cytology in an Urban Academic Clinic Setting.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine whether treating all patients older than 25 years with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) Paps with immediate loop electrode excisional procedure (LEEP) improves rates of receiving indicated treatment and evaluating whether this practice results in overtreatment (defined by excisional pathology less than cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study at an urban, Medicaid-based clinic, which evaluated women older than 25 years with HSIL Pap results seen from June 2011 to December 2016. In June 2013, the clinic practice was restructured and management of HSIL Pap results in patients older than 25 years was standardized to immediate LEEP procedure, without intermediate colposcopic examination. Our primary outcome is the number of women who received LEEPs before and after this clinical practice change. The secondary outcome evaluated the number of women who received overtreatment. The χ test with a p value of 0.05 as significant was used to compare the results between groups. RESULTS: Twenty-three (82%) of the 28 women treated before clinical practice change received indicated treatment, with 19 receiving LEEPs. Twenty-four (96%) of the 25 women treated after the clinical practice change received indicated LEEPs (p = .11). Seven (37%) of the 19 women in the initial group had LEEP pathology results less than CIN 2, whereas only 4 (17%) of the 24 women in the immediate LEEP group had results less than CIN 2 (p = .13). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a standardized management of HSIL Pap with immediate LEEP did not statistically increase the amount of patients who received indicated LEEPs; however, implementation of this practice did not result in overtreatment.

Evaluation of additive effect of quantitative fetal fibronectin to cervical length for prediction of spontaneous preterm birth among asymptomatic low-risk women.

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to evaluate the possible additive effect of quantitative fetal fibronectin to transvaginal ultrasound cervical length measurement between 18(0/7) and 23(6/7)  weeks for prediction of spontaneous preterm birth at <37(0/7)  weeks among asymptomatic low-risk women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective observational study was performed of asymptomatic women with singleton gestations between 18(0/7) and 23(6/7)  weeks and no prior spontaneous preterm birth. Women with multiple gestations, rupture of membranes, vaginal bleeding, intercourse or vaginal exam within 48 h of enrollment were excluded. Physicians were blinded to the quantitative fetal fibronectin levels, but the cervical length measurements were made available. The primary outcome was spontaneous preterm birth at <37(0/7)  weeks. RESULTS: Of the 528 asymptomatic low-risk women who were prospectively enrolled, 36 (6.82%) had spontaneous preterm birth at <37(0/7)  weeks. Using the receiver-operating characteristic curve, fetal fibronectin value of ≥5 ng/mL was identified as the optimal cut-off for predicting spontaneous preterm birth at <37(0/7)  weeks. As compared with cervical length ≥20 mm alone, with the use of cervical length ≤20 mm or quantitative fetal fibronectin ≥5 ng/mL as screening criteria for prediction of spontaneous preterm birth at <37(0/7)  weeks; sensitivity improved from 11.11 to 61.11%, specificity decreased from 99.59 to 55.08%, positive predictive value decreased from 66.67 to 9.05%, negative predictive value marginally improved from 93.87 to 95.09% and predictive accuracy decreased from 93.56 to 55.49%. CONCLUSIONS: Although the sensitivity improved, other predictive statistics and predictive accuracy did not improve by the addition of mid-trimester quantitative fetal fibronectin to cervical length measurement. Therefore, addition of mid-trimester quantitative fetal fibronectin to cervical length measurement cannot be recommended at this time for prediction of spontaneous preterm birth at <37(0/7)  weeks in asymptomatic low-risk women.

Evaluation of additive effect of quantitative fetal fibronectin to cervical length for prediction of spontaneous preterm birth among asymptomatic high-risk women.

Objective: To determine if quantitative fetal fibronectin (qFFN) in addition to transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) cervical length (CL) measurement between 180/7 and 236/7 weeks would be predictive of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) at <350/7 weeks among asymptomatic high-risk women as defined by those with prior sPTB > 200/7 weeks.Material and methods: A prospective observational study of asymptomatic women with singleton gestations between 180/7 and 236/7weeks and one or more prior SPTB was performed. Women at their anatomy scan who opted into universal CL screening were enrolled. At enrollment, a vaginal speculum exam was performed to collect cervico-vaginal fluid from the posterior fornix using fetal fibronectin (FFN) swab. These women were then followed until delivery. Women with multiple gestations, rupture of membranes, vaginal bleeding, intercourse, or vaginal exam within 48 h of enrollment were excluded. Physicians were blinded to the qFFN levels, but the CL measurements were made available. The primary outcome was sPTB < 350/7 weeks.Results: Of the 105 asymptomatic women with prior sPTB who were prospectively enrolled, 19 (18.1%) had recurrent sPTB < 370/7 weeks. None of the sPTB were iatrogenic. Using receiver-operating characteristic curves, qFFN ≥ 10 ng/mL had the highest sensitivity with subsequent lowest false negative rate, while FFN ≥ 50 ng/mL was identified as being the best balance of sensitivity and false positive rate for predicting sPTB < 350/7 weeks. As compared with CL ≤ 25 mm alone, with the use of CL ≤ 25 mm or qFFN ≥ 50 ng/mL as screening criteria for prediction of SPTB < 350/7 weeks, sensitivity improved from 18.2 to 63.6%, specificity decreased from 96.8 to 82.1%, positive predictive value (PPV) decreased from 40.0 to 29.2%, negative predictive value (NPV) marginally improved from 91.1 to 95.1%.Conclusion: In women with singleton gestations with prior SPTB, qFFN can be used as an adjunct to triage patients who are found to have a shortened cervix. Sensitivity and NPVs improved with the addition of qFFN to TVU CL screening alone in women with singleton gestations with prior SPTB. However, specificity and PPVs decreased.