Effectiveness of Mechanical Bowel Preparation Before Robot-assisted Laparoscopic Gynecologic Surgery: a Randomized, Single-Blind, Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this randomized controlled trial is to compare the effect of bowel preparation using only oral polyethylene glycol electrolyte (PEG) solution vs. oral polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution (PEG) combined with mechanical sodium phosphate (NaP) enema on the surgical field visualization in patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic gynecologic procedures. METHODS: Participants were randomized to either a single oral PEG solution or an oral PEG solution combined by mechanical NaP enema. The intraoperative visualization of the surgical field, the ease of manipulation of the bowels and overall difficulty level of the surgery were evaluated by the surgeon using a self-administered questionnaire. After the surgery, the patients completed a survey assessing postoperative gastrointestinal discomfort. RESULTS: 114 women were enrolled and randomized to oral PEG solution only group (n=48), and oral PEG plus mechanical NaP enema group (n=66). 42 women in oral PEG only group and 59 oral PEG plus NaP enema group completed the study. There was no difference in intraoperative visualization, or overall difficulty of the operation between the two groups, and bowel manipulation was easier in the oral PEG only group. Also, there was no difference in operating time between the groups. The patients' level of gastrointestinal discomfort after the surgery was not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Routine use of mechanical NaP enema before robot-assisted laparoscopic gynecologic surgery is not recommended, because it has no additional benefit regarding intraoperative visualization or the surgical level of difficulty over oral bowel preparation methods.

Comparison of the Right and Left Femur Bone Mineral Densities in Postmenopausal Women.

OBJECTIVES: Bone mineral density (BMD) is measured in the hip and posteroanterior spine; moreover, according to the 2019 International Society for Clinical Densitometry guidelines, unilateral hip can be used. This study aimed to determine whether there is a difference between the BMD of both the femurs in postmenopausal women. METHODS: A total of 343 postmenopausal women were enrolled in this study from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2019 at a single tertiary hospital. By using the Hologic® Horizon W DXA System, the femur and spine BMD was measured; BMD was recorded in g/cm². Following regions were analyzed in both the femurs: the femur neck, the trochanter area, and total femur. RESULTS: Mean age at imaging was 62 ± 9.7 years, and significant difference in the total BMD of both the femurs (P = 0.003) was observed. In secondary analysis, patients with osteoporosis showed significant contralateral BMD discrepancies in trochanter and total proximal femur BMD (P = 0.041 and P = 0.011, respectively). However, in women with normal BMD, no significant difference between the right and left femur BMD was observed. Furthermore, measurement of solely the unilateral hip can lead to a 16.9% of underdiagnosis in postmenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, it is necessary to check BMD in both hips, particularly in patients suspected of osteoporosis.

The Estimated Prevalence and Incidence of Endometriosis With the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC): A National Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: The incidence and prevalence of endometriosis remain unclear due to diagnostic difficulties. Especially, there has been little information regarding the population-based epidemiology of endometriosis. The purpose of this study is to estimate the prevalence and incidence of endometriosis in Korea based on the health insurance claims data. METHODS: This study is a retrospective cohort study using the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort, which correspond to approximately 1 million Korean populations from 2002 to 2013. Patients aged 15-54 years were selected, and the prevalence and incidence of endometriosis were estimated by time and age groups. RESULTS: The age-adjusted prevalence rate of endometriosis also increased from 2.12 per 1,000 persons (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.01-2.24) in 2002 to 3.56 per 1,000 persons (95% CI, 3.40-3.71) in 2013. The average adjusted incidence showed no statistically significant increase. However, the age-specific incidence of the 15-19 and 20-24 years age groups increased significantly from 0.24 and 1.29 per 1,000 persons in 2003 to 2.73 and 2.71 per 1,000 persons in 2013 (R2 = 0.93 and 0.77, P < 0.001), while the incidence rate of the age group 40-44 and 45-49 years decreased from 2.36 and 1.72 per 1,000 persons in 2003 to 0.81 and 0.27 per 1,000 persons in 2013 (R2 = 0.83 and 0.89, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The prevalence and incidence of endometriosis in Korean women were lower than that of previous reports in high-risk population studies. Furthermore, we found a significant increase in the diagnosis of endometriosis in younger age groups.