Complications and their management in endometriosis surgery.

Endometriosis is a common chronic disease mostly seen in young women. Endometriosis surgery may be considered as rather challenging in gynecology. In this article, we tried to emphasize on basic concepts of endometriosis surgery, the best surgical method that should be applied and the complications and the management of the complications.

Iniencephaly: Prenatal diagnosis with postmortem findings.

Iniencephaly is a rare but almost always lethal neural tube defect with the following cardinal features: occipital bone defect, partial or total absence of cervicothoracal vertebrae and fetal retroflexion. Iniencephaly is associated with malformations of the central nervous system, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular system. Prenatally diagnosed cases of iniencephaly are rare because careful and early ultrasonographic evaluation is necessary. The present cases of iniencephaly were found to carry associated malformations such as atrioventricular septal defect and club foot. We present an iniencephaly prenatally diagnosed by sonography, in which therapeutic abortion was induced, with a review of the published literature.

Comparison of two forms of continuous combined hormone replacement therapy with respect to metabolic effects.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the metabolic effects of two frequently used continuous hormone replacement therapies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and forty-six menopausal women, aged between 41 and 57 years were enrolled in the present study. They were randomized to receive either estrogen + 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (CEE/MPA) or 1 mg 17 estradiol + 0.5 mg norethindrone acetate (E2/NETA). Women in group I (n = 139) and group II (n = 107) were followed up for 1 year and compared with respect to total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, VLDL, weight gain during this period. RESULTS: The basal and 12th month weight of the patients of two groups were not statistically different (P = 0.57 and P = 0.17, respectively, in the groups I and II). No changes were detected in the levels of triglycerides, HDL and VLDL, while total cholesterol (P = 0.01) and LDL (P = 0.003) levels significantly decreased in the CEE/MPA group. In group 2, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels showed no significant change, however, levels of HDL cholesterol (P = 0.001) increased and LDL (P = 0.001) and VLDL cholesterol (P = 0.006) decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: Administration of E2/NETA regimen has better results on lipid profile when compared to CEE/MPA regimen. No weight gain is recorded in E2/NETA group.

Effects of epidural analgesia using ropivacaine on the mother and the newborn during labor.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of epidural analgesia using 0.2% Ropivacaine on the mother, newborn and during labor. METHODS: This study was conducted at the Zeynep Kamil Obstetric, Gynecology, and Pediatric Research and Training Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, between July 2003 and April 2004. Eighty pregnant women of 37-41 weeks' gestation were enrolled in the study. Forty cases received epidural analgesia (group 1) and the control group composed 40 cases (group 2). Duration of labor, systolic and diastolic blood pressures at initial, 15th, 30th, 45th and 60th minutes, and number of breathing per minute, pulse rates, fetal heart rates and presence of motor block were recorded. Blood gas assessments from the umbilical cord, 1st and 5th minute Apgar scores were noted following the delivery. Way of delivery, adverse effects and complications of the epidural analgesia were recorded. RESULTS: Mean age of the cases was 24.79 +/- 4.72 years. Duration between full cervical dilation and delivery (phase 2) was significantly longer in group 1 (p<0.01). Sixty minutes systolic arterial pressure was significantly lower in group 1 (p<0.05). In group 1, diastolic arterial pressures at 15th, 45th, 60th minutes (p<0.01) and 30th minute (p<0.05) were significantly lower when compared to the initial values. No significant differences were recorded in terms of breathing rates, umbilical cord CO2, O2, pH levels and Apgar scores between the 2 groups. The most common adverse effect of epidural analgesia was sedation (59%). The second dose of Ropivacaine was needed in 24 (61.5%) cases in group 1. In group 1, 29 (74.4%) patients expressed their pleasure as very good regarding the epidural analgesia. CONCLUSION: Epidural analgesia, if administered by a specialist to a properly selected patient at proper time, leads to a comfortable delivery by relieving the pain. It can be performed safely after taking an informed consent.

The effects of oxidative stress on outcomes of assisted reproductive techniques.

PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of oxidative stress on pregnancy success by monitoring malondialdehyde levels in follicular fluid. METHODS: Forty five couples were enrolled in this prospective study. Following long protocol of GnRH analogues and r-FSH treatment, oocyte retrieval and intracytoplasmic sperm injection were performed. Malondialdehyde levels were assayed by thiobarbutiric acid reacting substances test. Student's t-test and chi(2) test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Patients were divided into two groups; group I (pregnancy positive, n = 20), group II (pregnancy negative, n = 25). There was no statistical significant difference in terms of age, infertility period, FSH levels on the third day, number of oocytes retrieved and fertilization rates between the two groups. Pregnancy rates were found to be decreasing in higher malondialdehyde levels. CONCLUSION: Malondialdehyde can be used as a marker of oxidative stress and a potential marker in predicting assisted reproductive techniques outcome.

Effects of two different regimens of continuous hormone replacement therapy on endometrial histopathology and postmenopausal uterine bleeding.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of frequently used two different regimens of combined continuous hormone replacement therapy; 0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) + 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and 1 mg 17beta estradiol (E2) + 0.5 mg norethindrone acetate (NETA), on endometrial histopathology and postmenopausal uterine bleeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and forty-six outpatient subjects aged 41-57 years were enrolled in the study conducted at the menopause clinic between November 2003 and November 2004. One hundred and thirty-nine patients were assigned to receive 0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogen + 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (CEE/MPA), whereas 107 patients were to receive 17beta estradiol + 0.5 mg norethindrone acetate (E2/NETA). Inclusion criteria of the study were: normal values of endometrial thickness at basal evaluation, women with intact uterus, at least 12 months of amenorrhea, normal vaginal smear, bilateral mammography and biochemical blood parameters. All women were questioned every 3 months for vaginal bleeding/spotting. Endometrial sampling was performed by Pipelle catheter in the 12th month of therapy. RESULTS: For the first 3 months, vaginal bleeding/spotting rate for the CEE/MPA group was 38.7%, whereas it was higher (45%) in the E2/NETA group. For the second 3-month period, vaginal bleeding/spotting frequencies were 41.1 and 37.8%, respectively. In the third 3-month period 30.6 and 29.6%, and in the fourth 3-month period, 18.5 and 12.5% of the patients reported vaginal bleeding or spotting. None of the results of endometrial sampling have shown findings of cancer histopathology. CONCLUSION: Compared to CEE/MPA regimen, E2/NETA therapy has not shown more favorable effects on postmenopausal bleeding abnormalities. Irregular endometrial proliferation was seen more with the E2/NETA regimen.