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Background: Transvaginal Hydro Laparoscopy (THL) is known as a minimal invasive procedure allowing endoscopic exploration of the female pelvis. Objective: To evaluate the possibilities of the THL as a tool for early diagnosis and treatment of minimal endometriosis. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of a consecutive series of 2288 patients referred for fertility problems to a tertiary centre for reproductive medicine was undertaken. Mean duration of infertility was 23.6 months (SD ±11-48), mean age of patients was 31.25 (SD± 3.8y). With normal findings at clinical and ultrasound examination patients underwent, as part of their fertility exploration, a THL. Main outcome measures: Evaluation of feasibility, identified pathology and pregnancy rate. Results: Endometriosis was diagnosed in 365 patients (16%); the localisation was higher on the left side (n=237) than on the right side (n=169). Small endometriomas, with diameters between 0.5 and 2 cm, were present in 24.3% (right side in 31, left side 48 and bilateral 10). These early lesions were characterised by the presence of active endometrial like cells and a pronounced neo-angiogenesis. Destruction of the endometriotic lesions with bipolar energy resulted in an in vivo pregnancy rate (spontaneous/IUI) of 43.8% (CPR after 8 months: spontaneous 57.7%; IUI/AID 29.7%). Conclusion: THL allowed in a minimally invasive way an accurate diagnosis of the early stages of peritoneal and ovarian endometriosis with the possibility of offering treatment with minimal damage. What is new?: This is the largest series reporting the usefulness of THL for the diagnosis and treatment of peritoneal and ovarian endometriosis in patients without obviously visible preoperative pelvic pathology.
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BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the added value of transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy (THL) in the investigation of the infertile patient. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study, based on records from 01/09/2006 to 30/12/2019 was undertaken in a tertiary care infertility centre. THL was performed in 2288 patients. These were patients who were referred for endoscopic exploration of the female pelvis as part of their infertility investigation. In 374 patients with clomiphene-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), ovarian capsule drilling was also performed. The outcome objectives of this study included the evaluation of the added diagnostic value of THL as well as the feasibility and safety of the visual inspection of the female pelvis using this technique. RESULTS: Of the 2288 procedures failed access to the pouch of Douglas occurred in in 23 patients (1%). The complication rate was 0.74%, due to bowel perforations (n= 13) and bleeding (n= 4) requiring laparoscopy. All bowel perforations were treated conservatively, with 6 days of antibiotics, and no further complications occurred. Findings were normal in 49.8% of patients. Endometriosis was diagnosed in 366 patients (15.9%); adhesions were present in 144 patients. CONCLUSIONS: THL is a minimally invasive procedure, with a low complication and failure rate, providing an accurate visual exploration of the female pelvis in a one-day hospital setting. When indicated, minimally invasive surgery is possible in the early stages of endometriosis and for ovarian capsule drilling in patients with clomiphene-resistant PCOS.
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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of tolterodine in children with an overactive bladder, treated in a single incontinence centre. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a database of a total of two hundred and fifty-six patients (175 boys and 81 girls, age range 3 years to 17 years, mean age 8.33 years) with urodynamically confirmed bladder overactivity was performed. All children received tolterodine tartrate (dose range of 0.5-4 mg orally). In group I (n=205) tolterodine tartrate replaced anticholinergic drugs (AC) (oxybutinin chloride or oxyphencyclimin hydrochloride). A subgroup of patients switched because of intolerance due to serious adverse events (60.4%) or because of lack of improvement in micturition variables (39.6%). In group II tolterodine was prescribed as initial therapy (n=51). Tolerability was assessed by a standardised questionnaire on adverse events at every outdoor clinic visit. Efficacy assessment was based on micturition diary variables, mean change of maximum bladder capacity and number of incontinence episodes/24 h. RESULTS: The mean treatment time was 9.32 months with a range from 1.5 months to 23.4 months. The final dose was 0.1mg/kg orally daily divided into two doses. In group I central nervous system disorders (81%) were the most common adverse events, 26.2% showed flushing, 12.2% accommodation problems and 25.2% had gastrointestinal complaints (constipation, encopresis, abdominal pain). Withdrawal of the non-selective antimuscarinic drug resulted in total recovery from adverse events. Introduction of tolterodine in group I and II caused no serious adverse events. Nine patients (3.5%) reported side-effects and only two discontinued treatment. There were no reports of flushing, troubles of visual accommodation, hyperpyrexia. In group I we observed a mean decrease in urgency by 38.7%, a mean increase in maximal bladder capacity by 33.6% and the number of incontinence episodes decreased by 64.8%. In group II we observed equivalent values with a significant (p<0.001) change in maximal bladder capacity (49.7%), incontinence episodes (64.8%) and micturition episodes/24 h. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this retrospective analysis suggest that tolterodine is well tolerated in children and offers an effective treatment for urinary symptoms due to overactive bladder. Tolterodine is superior to non-selective antimuscarinic drugs, with respect to adverse events, allowing more compliance and more effective treatment in children.