Comparison of Costs, Re-Intervention Rates, and Length of Hospital Stay for Three Uterus Sparing Interventions for Uterine Fibroids: A 2-Year Retrospective Claims Analysis.

Purpose: To describe two-year post-operative outcomes, and healthcare utilization of three uterus-sparing interventions used to treat women with intramural and/or subserosal uterine fibroids. Subjects and Methods: This was a post-market, randomized, prospective, multi-center, longitudinal, interventional, and comparative clinical study to evaluate the costs and health outcomes of LAP-RFA vs the standard uterine conserving technologies (myomectomy and UAE) for the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids in women who desire uterine conservation. For this RCT study, 54 subjects were randomized on a 1:1 ratio across the three procedures and followed out to two years. Their results were compared to retrospective US insurance claims from the IBM MarketScan® Commercial Database from 2017-2020 for 96,854 women who underwent a uterus-sparing procedure for fibroids. Results: Mean ambulatory surgical center costs and the mean out-patient hospital costs were lowest for LAP-RFA ($13,134 and $14,428) and highest for UAE ($28,214 and $19,131). The total two-year re-intervention rate of any subsequent procedure (AM, LM, LAP-RFA, or UAE) was lowest in AM group (0%) followed by LM (4.2%), LAP-RFA (11%), and UAE (33%). Mean peri-operative reintervention costs and the mean reintervention total costs were $2429 and $5939 for LAP-RFA, $2122 and $8368 for LM, $4410 and $11,942 for AM, and $8113 and $46,692 for UAE subjects. In the RCT study, the average length of hospital stay was significantly less for the LAP-RFA group subjects (8.2 hours) in contrast to both the laparoscopic myomectomy group subjects (16.0 hours) and the abdominal myomectomy group subjects (33.6 hours). Despite the small numbers, two-year reintervention rates followed a similar pattern as the IBM MarketScan data. Conclusion: In comparing these three non-invasive approaches, LAP-RFA was associated with the lowest peri-operative cost, and UAE was associated with the highest peri-operative cost. Further studies are needed to assess the cost, effectiveness, and subject satisfaction with each procedure.

Racial disparities between measures of area deprivation and financial toxicity, and uterine volume in myomectomy patients.

BACKGROUND: At time of myomectomy, a surgical procedure to remove uterine fibroids, Black women tend to have larger uteri than White women. This makes Black patients less likely to undergo a minimally invasive myomectomy which has been shown to have less postoperative pain, less frequent postoperative fever and shorter length of stay compared to abdominal myomectomies. The associations between individual financial toxicity and community area deprivation and uterine volume at the time of myomectomy have not been investigated. METHODS: We conducted a secondary data analysis of patients with fibroids scheduled for myomectomy using data from a fibroid treatment registry in [location]. We used validated measures of individual-level Financial Toxicity (higher scores = better financial status) and community-level Area Deprivation (ADI, high scores = worse deprivation). To examine associations with log transformed uterine volume, we used linear regression clustered on race (Black vs. White). RESULTS: Black participants had worse financial toxicity, greater deprivation and larger uterine volumes compared with White participants. A greater Financial Toxicity score (better financial status) was associated with lower uterine volume. For every 10 unit increase in Financial Toxicity, the mean total uterine volume decreased by 9.95% (Confidence Interval [CI]: -9.95%, -3.99%). ADI was also associated with uterine volume. A single unit increase in ADI (worse deprivation) was associated with a 5.13% (CI: 2.02%, 7.25%) increase in mean uterine volume. CONCLUSION: Disproportionately worse Financial Toxicity and ADI among Black patients is likely due to structural racism - which now must be considered in gynecologic research and practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

Postoperative Ovarian Vein Thrombosis and Treatment with Direct Oral Anticoagulant.

Postoperative ovarian vein thrombosis (OVT) is a rare complication following hysterectomy. Due to its ambiguous presentation, most frequently presenting as a fever with no known source and lower quadrant abdominal pain, OVTs are commonly diagnosed incidentally on computed tomography as a low-attenuation thrombus in place of the ovarian vein. The cornerstones of OVT treatment include anticoagulation and antibiotic therapy; however, there are no current guidelines to inform provider decision-making regarding specific anticoagulant agents, dosing, or length of therapy. We present a patient with a history of deep-vein thrombosis, who presented to the emergency department with OVT following a laparoscopic hysterectomy. She was treated with apixaban, a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC), and experienced repeated episodes of vaginal bleeding and hematoma expansion. We present this case to instill a high index of suspicion for OVT after laparoscopic hysterectomy, and to discuss the role of DOACs in patients with thromboembolic disease and concurrent bleeding.

E-Z Point: A New Safe and Reproducible Laparoscopic Entry in the Left Upper Quadrant Using a Veress Needle.

Background: Over half of all fatal complications occur during primary laparoscopic entry. In our practice, we developed a novel modification of closed LUQ entry at Palmer's point and designated it "E-Z" entry. Aims: To evaluate the risks and safety of left subcostal entry, a technique we have designated 'E-Z' entry at our institution. Settings and Design: A retrospective chart review was conducted at a tertiary care medical centre of patients who underwent laparoscopic procedures by a single surgeon known to perform left subcostal entry for the last 10 years, using the E-Z entry technique. Materials and Methods: Retrospective chart review and description of surgical technique. Statistical Analysis Used: Simple descriptive statistics and univariate two-group comparisons. Results: One hundred ninety-eight laparoscopic cases were identified as performed by a single surgeon in the last 10 years: 149 underwent umbilical entry and 49 underwent E-Z entry. The average number of previous abdominal surgeries was higher in the E-Z entry group compared to the umbilical group, 1.3 versus 0.5, respectively (P = 0.003). The umbilical entry group had no complications. One complication was noted with the E-Z entry technique, in which the Veress needle was noted to perforate the liver capsule but was managed expectantly. Conclusion: We propose the E-Z entry technique for Veress needle entry as an ergonomic and easily reproducible entry technique in the left upper quadrant in the setting of suspected intraperitoneal adhesions.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of progestogen use for maintenance tocolysis after preterm labor in women with intact membranes.

BACKGROUND: The use of progestogens for maintenance tocolysis remains controversial, with randomized controlled trials having conflicting results on their efficacy. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the use of progestational agents for maintenance tocolysis after preterm labor in a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. SEARCH STRATEGY: Electronic databases were searched for reports published before December 2014. Keywords included "tocolysis," "progesterone," "preterm labor," "17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone," and "vaginal progesterone." SELECTION CRITERIA: Only randomized controlled trials involving progestational agents for maintenance tocolysis were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Outcomes were analyzed on an intent-to-treat basis and meta-analysis was performed where appropriate. Relative risks and mean differences with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. MAIN RESULTS: Four studies (362 women) were included. There were no significant differences between progestational agents and placebo/no treatment in terms of delivery before 34weeks or before 37weeks of pregnancy, time from randomization to delivery, and respiratory distress syndrome. Progestogens were associated with an increase in the neonatal birth weight (mean difference 203.32g, 95% confidence interval 110.85-295.80; P=0.032). CONCLUSIONS: The current evidence does not support the routine use of progestational agents for maintenance tocolysis after an episode of preterm labor.

Intra-abdominal saline irrigation at cesarean section: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the evidence guiding intraoperative saline irrigation at cesarean sections. METHODS: We searched "cesarean sections", "pregnancy", "saline irrigation" and "randomized clinical trials" in ClinicalTrials.gov, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, AJOL, MEDLINE, LILACS and CINAHL from inception of each database to April 2015. The primary outcomes were predefined as intraoperative nausea and emesis. The pooled results were reported as relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI). RESULTS: Three randomized trials including 862 women were analyzed. Intraoperative saline irrigation was associated with a 68% increased risk of developing intraoperative nausea (RR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.36-2.06), 70% increased risk of developing intraoperative emesis (RR = 1.70, 95% CI 1.28-2.25), 92% increased risk of developing post-operative nausea and 84% increased risk of using anti-emetics post-operatively (RR = 1.84, 95% CI 0.21-2.78) when compared with controls. There were no significant differences between intraoperative saline irrigation and no treatment for post-operative emesis (RR = 1.65, 95% CI 0.74-3.67), estimated blood loss, time to return of gastrointestinal function, postpartum endometritis (RR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.64-1.40), urinary tract infection and wound infection. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative saline irrigation at cesarean delivery increases intraoperative and post-operative nausea, requiring increasing use of anti-emetics without significant reduction in infectious, intraoperative and postpartum complications. Routine abdominal irrigation at cesarean section is not supported by current data.