External validation of a model predicting de novo stress urinary incontinence after pelvic organ prolapse surgery.

AIMS: De novo stress urinary incontinence (SUI) may develop after surgical correction of advanced pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in otherwise continent women. Prediction of which women with POP will develop SUI after the prolapse is corrected is difficult. We aimed to externally validate a previously described prediction model for de novo SUI after performing vaginal surgery for POP and to assess its clinical performance when used as a diagnostic test. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included all continent women with ≥ stage 2 POP according to the POP-Quantification System who underwent reconstructive surgery for symptomatic POP. Surgical correction for prolapse of the anterior and/or apical compartment was performed using native tissue or vaginal mesh repair. Seven parameters of the prediction model including age at surgery, number of vaginal births, body mass index, preoperative stress test, previous continence procedure history, urine leakage associated with a feeling of urgency, and diagnosis of diabetes for each patient was provided from the medical records, and the predicted probability of de novo SUI after POP surgery was calculated. The primary outcome used to validate the prediction model was the presence of SUI 1 year after surgery. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was generated to evaluate the predictive accuracy. A cut-off point of ≥ 50% was used to evaluate its clinical performance as a diagnostic test. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-five women were suitable for analysis. The rate of de novo SUI was 5.3%. The predictive accuracy of the model in our population using the area under the ROC curve was 0.56 (95% confidence interval = 0.35-0.77). Its performance as a diagnostic test was poor (positive likelihood ratio = 1.20 and negative likelihood ratio = 0.89). CONCLUSIONS: Our clinical validation of this model showed that it did not have good clinical performance. We need future prospective studies to identify and incorporate additional markers of de novo SUI to improve the prediction capacity.

Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures on the sexual functions of women treated for vaginismus (genitopelvic pain/penetration disorder).

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Female sexual function is influenced by the emotional and hormonal state. COVID-19 has been the major global health crisis of our time with high psychosocial impact. Vaginismus is a form of female sexual dysfunction and a subset of genitopelvic pain/penetration disorder in which any form of vaginal penetration is painful or impossible. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexual function of women treated for vaginismus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All women treated using dilators between 2018-2019 were included. Data obtained 3 months after comfortable penetration and during the pandemic via telephone interview were compared. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Golombok-Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used to evaluate sexual function and depression. Frequency of sexual intercourse and pain was compared using a visual analogue scale. RESULTS: Seventy-seven women were included. Mean duration of treatment and number of treatment sessions were 3.5 ± 2.6 months and 4.2 ± 2.6, respectively. There were significant improvements in the FSFI desire, arousal, orgasm, and pain subscales and total score and in the GRISS infrequency, noncommunication, avoidance, non-sensuality, and vaginismus subscales and total score during the pandemic. The GRISS dissatisfaction and anorgasmia subscales and BDI score significantly worsened. Mean frequency of sexual intercourse was 2.3 ± 1.8/week and did not change significantly. Pain scores decreased during the pandemic (2.7 ± 2.8) compared to post-treatment (6.2 ± 2.9). CONCLUSION: Although frequency of sexual intercourse was not affected and pain scores and FSFI total and subscale scores improved, satisfaction and orgasm were adversely affected, which may be attributed to increased stress and anxiety during the pandemic.

Loss of stromal CD73 expression plays a role in pathogenesis of polypoid endometriosis.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether CD73 had a role in the pathogenesis of polypoid endometriosis. METHODS: Our study included 15 cases of polypoid endometriosis, which were diagnosed between 2005 and 2019. Clinical findings were gathered from archive files of relevant clinics and pathology reports. All glass slides were re-examined for confirmation of the diagnosis and the detection of additional microscopic findings. An immunohistochemical examination was performed using anti CD73 antibodies in 15 cases of polypoid endometriosis, and also in a control group that contained 9 cases of endometrial polyps and 9 cases of ovarian conventional endometriosis. RESULTS: In addition to standard gynecologic operations, major non-gynecologic procedures had to be performed in 7 cases. In two cases, the surgical team comprised only general surgeons, and a misdiagnosis of carcinoma was made during the frozen section in one case. The majority of the cases displayed gross polypoid lesions that measured 0.7-13 cm. The most common sites were the ovary and rectosigmoid colon. Microscopically, all lesions exhibited a fibrovascular stroma reminiscent of endometrial stroma, whereas glandular features varied. Immunohistochemical examinations revealed a significant loss of CD73 expression in the stroma of polypoid endometriosis in contrast to the control cases, which retained stromal CD73 expression (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Both pathologists and surgeons performing abdominal surgeries should be aware of polypoid endometriosis because it mimics malignancy with its clinical, gross, and microscopic features. We also conclude that loss of stromal CD73 expression, due to its effect on the extracellular ATP/adenosine balance, may contribute to the pathogenesis of this rare form of endometriosis.

Validation of the Turkish version of the ICIQ-FLUTS, ICIQ-FLUTS long-form, ICIQ-LUTS quality-of-life, and ICIQ-FLUTS sexual functions.

AIMS: To enable the use of ICIQ-FLUTS, ICIQ-FLUTS-long-form (ICIQ-FLUTS-LF), ICIQ-LUTS-quality-of-life (ICIQ-LUTSqol), and ICIQ-FLUTS sexual functions (ICIQ-FLUTSsex) in Turkish speaking women, questionnaires were translated into Turkish and validity, reliability, and sensitivity to change were evaluated in women suffering from urinary incontinence (UI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Permissions were obtained from ICIQ Advisory Board, English versions of the questionnaires were initially translated into Turkish, then back-translated into English and translations were modified according to recommendations of ICIQ Advisory Board. Pilot testing was performed in 10 women. Validity (content/face validity and discriminant validity), reliability (test-retest reliability and internal consistency), and sensitivity to change were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 58 women with UI completed ICIQ-FLUTS, ICIQ-LUTSqol, and the ICIQ-FLUTS-LF, and 37 who were sexually active completed ICIQ-FLUTSsex. All women completed same questionnaires 15 days later. More than 90% of women thought that the questions were clear, unequivocal, and comprehensive. Missing data were less than 1% indicating adequate content/face validity. Cronbach's α coefficients were .933 (ICIQ-FLUTS), .979 (ICIQ-LUTSqol), .865 (ICIQ-FLUTS-LF), and .863 (ICIQ-FLUTSsex), representing adequate internal consistency. Kappa values and intraclass correlation coefficient for individual items were over 0.70, indicating adequate test-retest reliability. A total of 52 healthy volunteers completed ICIQ-FLUTS and ICIQ-FLUTS-LF, 30 completed ICIQ-LUTSqol, and 30 sexually active healthy volunteers completed ICIQ-FLUTSsex. All four questionnaires had good discriminant validity. Twenty-eight women with UI were analyzed 3 months after treatment. There was significant improvement in four questionnaires in correlation with pre- and posttreatment bladder diary results showing good sensitivity to change. CONCLUSION: Turkish versions of four ICIQ modules were shown valid and reliable and can be used in Turkish speaking women in the evaluation of UI.

Necrotizing Fasciitis Complicating Transobturator Tape Operation.

Midurethral slings (MUSs) have been used successfully for the last 20 years in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence and accepted as the gold standard surgical procedure. High success rates and minimal invasiveness of surgery are among the most important advantages, but sometimes serious complications can occur during or after surgery. Although serious complications are rare after widely performed transobturator tape (TOT) operation, awareness, early diagnosis, and aggressive management are essential as they can progress with serious morbidity and mortality. In order to reduce the infectious complications after MUS procedures, in addition to sterility of the operating theater and the operating equipment, the type of mesh used and the preparation of the surgical site are crucial. We aimed to pre-sent the successful management of a case of necrotizing fasciitis in a TOT patient.

Improvement in quality of life and pain scores after laparoscopic management of deep endometriosis: a retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: This is a retrospective cohort study that evaluates the postoperative pain findings of a consecutive series of laparoscopic surgeries for deep endometriosis (DE). METHODS: This multi-center retrospective cohort study was carried out in university hospitals (Istanbul, Turkey). Sixty-five patients diagnosed through bimanual gynecologic examination, gynecologic ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging-confirmed endometrioma and DE together; who underwent a laparoscopic surgery between 2013 and 2019 by a team of gynecologists, colorectal surgeons, and a urologist were retrospectively evaluated. The data were collected in a specific database and analyzed for postoperative pain outcomes through a comparison with preoperative symptoms scored using a visual analogue score (VAS), and the British Society of Gynecologic Endoscopy (BSGE) pelvic pain questionnaire. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients who met the criteria were included. The mean age of all patients was 35.0 ± 6.3 (range 22-50) years. The mean operative time was 121.3 ± 50.2 (range, 60-270) minutes. Preoperative and postoperative comparison of VAS scores for dysmenorrhea (8.57 vs. 2.91), dyspareunia (6.62 vs. 1.66), dyschezia (7.46 vs. 2.43), dysuria (5.67 vs. 1.34), chronic pelvic pain (4.11 vs. 1.22), and BSGE score (40.98 vs. 11.00) showed significantly reduced pain scores, respectively (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic management of DE is a valid treatment option in terms of reduced postoperative pain and increased quality of life according to pain score outcomes. To have more robust conclusions, a prospective cohort study with a larger sample size which evaluates patients who had segmental bowel resection and those who did not have segmental bowel resection is necessary.

Long-Term Follow-Up of a Patient with Spondylodiscitis after Laparoscopic Sacrocolpopexy: An Unusual Complication with a Review of the Literature.

Sacrocolpopexy is the gold standard treatment for apical compartment prolapse with reported success rates of 78-100%. Spondylodiscitis is a rare complication of sacrocolpopexy and includes a spectrum of spinal infections such as discitis, osteomyelitis, epidural abscess, meningitis, subdural empyema, and spinal cord abscess. Here we report a case of spondylodiscitis following laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy with long-term follow-up and discuss management of spondylodiscitis after abdominal sacrocolpopexy, with a review of the literature.

Pregnancy in liver transplant recipients: A single center outcomes.

AIM: Liver transplantation (LT) is the only effective treatment for the end-stage liver disease. Although pregnancy after LT is considered to be safe, these patients are difficult to manage for obstetricians. In this study, we aimed to determine maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnancies after LT. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of liver transplant recipients who had received prenatal care and delivered pregnancy at Istanbul University Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology January 2010 and January 2017. RESULTS: A total of eight pregnancies were identified during the study period. The mean age of the patients at the time of LT was 25.6 ± 5.3 years (range 19-36 years), and the mean age at conception was 30.1 ± 5.2 years (range 25-41 years). The mean interval between transplantation and conception was 54.2 ± 18.6 months (range 24-82 months). There was no a miscarriage or a stillbirth was observed in any of patients. Mean birth week was 37.2 ± 2.1 weeks and mean birthweight was 2852 ± 562 g (range 2150-3470 g). Three of eight deliveries (37.5%) occurred before 37 gestational weeks. Preeclampsia was detected in one patient, one pregnancy was complicated by intrauterine growth retardation and one case with gestational diabetes mellitus. Mean postnatal follow-up period was 3.2 ± 2.4 years (range 1-7 years) and all of the babies were healthy. Graft rejection occurred in one patient after delivery. CONCLUSION: More favorable pregnancy outcomes can be achieved with a multidisciplinary team and satisfactory counseling is mandatory either preconception and through the pregnancy to reduce maternal-fetal risks.

Impact of laparoscopic ovarian detorsion on ovarian reserve.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate ovarian reserve after laparoscopic ovarian detorsion in patients with ovarian torsion. METHODS: From February 2014 to September 2015, a total of 11 patients with ovarian torsion underwent laparoscopic detorsion. These 11 patients were eligible for study, and ovarian reserve was assessed on serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and by antral follicle count preoperatively, and in postoperative months 1 and 3. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 25.4 ± 5.5 years. Although mean antral follicle count on the operated side was slightly lower than on the contralateral side at 1 month postoperatively (P > 0.05), at 3 months postoperatively there was no difference in mean antral follicle count between the operated and contralateral sides (P > 0.05). There was no significant change in serum AMH level at 1 and 3 months postoperatively compared with the preoperative level (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic detorsion of twisted ovary is a safe procedure to preserve ovarian function, and does not impair ovarian reserve according to antral follicle count and AMH during the course of follow-up.

Comparison of 2 Methods of Vaginal Cuff Closure at Laparoscopic Hysterectomy and Their Effect on Female Sexual Function and Vaginal Length: A Randomized Clinical Study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of the laparoscopic approach versus the vaginal route for the management of vaginal cuff closure during total laparoscopic hysterectomy on female sexual function in premenopausal patients with benign gynecologic conditions. DESIGN: A prospective study with a randomized, double-blind design (Canadian Task Force Classification I). SETTING: A university hospital. PATIENTS: Patients who were scheduled to have total laparoscopic hysterectomy because of benign conditions. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to vaginal cuff closure via the vaginal route versus the laparoscopic approach. The study included a total of 70 patients; 34 underwent the laparoscopic approach in the management of vaginal cuff closure, and 36 underwent the vaginal route. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Female sexual function and vaginal length were measured. The duration of total surgery was significantly shorter in the laparoscopic approach group compared with the vaginal route group (112.2 ± 36.5 vs 122.7 ± 53.6, p < .05). The total Female Sexual Function Index scores preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively were similar between the laparoscopic approach and vaginal route groups (all p > .05). Vaginal lengths 3 months postoperatively were significantly longer in the laparoscopic approach group compared with the vaginal route group (8.39 ± 0.90 vs 7.34 ± 1.17, p < .05). The duration of cuff closure was significantly shorter in the vaginal route group compared with the laparoscopic approach group (8.92 ± 2.23 vs 7.51 ± 2.5, p < .05). Preoperative vaginal lengths were significantly longer in comparison with 3 months postoperatively both in the laparoscopic approach and the vaginal route groups (all p < .05). The preoperative total Female Sexual Function Index scores were significantly higher in comparison with 3 months postoperatively both in the laparoscopic approach and the vaginal route groups (all p < .05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that the laparoscopic approach for vaginal cuff closure might be preferable because of better postoperative vaginal length and a shorter duration of total surgery time.

A Valuable Option in the Management of Female Recurrent Stress Urinary Incontinence: Re-Adjustable Sling (Remeex Sling System).

INTRODUCTION: This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of adjustable slings in the treatment of recurrent stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after mid-urethral sling (MUS) failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was performed among women with recurrent SUI at the Urogynecology Division of Istanbul School of Medicine between February 2010 and March 2015. All women were preoperatively evaluated with detailed urogynecologic evaluations, which included pelvic examination, Q-tip test, pad test, urodynamic studies and a compilation of the Kings Health Questionnaire (KHQ). Postoperative follow-up was performed at 1, 6 and 12 months and annually thereafter. Our primary outcome was objective cure and patient's satisfaction with treatment. Secondary outcomes included perioperative complications and adverse events. RESULTS: Nineteen women were included in the study. The patients' mean age was 55.3 ± 6.9 years (range 43-66 years). The median follow-up time was 20.7 ± 14.0 months (range 6-55 months). The overall cure and improvement rates were 84.2 and 10.5%, respectively. In the satisfaction questionnaire, 15 (79%) patients responded that they were very satisfied and 3 (15.7%) were moderately satisfied. Sling tension re-adjustment was needed during follow-up in 1 patient (5.3%), 13 months after the initial surgery. The preoperative mean KHQ score was 545.9 ± 243.0 and changed to 237.0 ± 217.5 (p < 0.05). Postoperative complications were slight and easily manageable. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent SUI is a challenging condition in urogynecology. The Regulation Mechanical External (Remeex) system has been found to be effective in the treatment of recurrent SUI after MUS failure with acceptable adverse effects. The Remeex system has the advantage of re-adjustment as a valuable option in the long-term management of patients.

Evaluation of the diagnostic role of transvaginal ultrasound measurements of endometrial thickness to detect endometrial malignancy in asymptomatic postmenopausal women.

PURPOSE: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of endometrial thickness measurements of transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) in asymptomatic postmenopausal women in the detection of endometrial malignancy. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study in a university hospital was undertaken with 276 consecutive asymptomatic postmenopausal women undergoing dilatation and curettage (D&C) and hysteroscopy for an incidental finding of thickened endometrium (≥4 mm) between 2003 and 2012. Different endometrial thickness cutoff values were tested on the basis of a pathologic report with carcinoma conditions (endometrial hyperplasia with atypia and endometrial carcinoma). RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 59.8 ± 9.0 years. The mean duration of menopause was 11.2 ± 8.9 years. The final pathology diagnoses included 107 (38.8 %) patients with polyps, 42 (15.2 %) with atrophic endometrium, 39 (14.1 %) with estrogen exposure, and 19 (6.9 %) with normal endometrium. With regard to carcinoma conditions, nine patients (3.3 %) had endometrial hyperplasia with atypia and eight patients (2.9 %) had endometrial carcinoma. The area under the ROC curve was 0.52 (95 % CI 0.44-0.57), which indicated a poor accuracy of endometrial thickness of TVUS for carcinoma conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Routine use of endometrial thickness measurement with TVUS does not seem to be an effective diagnostic tool for endometrial cancer because it has a low diagnostic performance in asymptomatic postmenopausal women. Further prospective studies are required to assess the endometrial thickness measurement with TVUS as a screening method in these women.

Combination of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy is associated with improved survival at early stage type II endometrial cancer and carcinosarcoma.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to describe the impact of postoperative adjuvant treatment modalities and identify risk factors associated with recurrence and survival rates in women diagnosed with early stage type II endometrial cancer and carcinosarcoma. METHODS: In this retrospective study, patients diagnosed with early stage (stages I-II) carcinosarcoma and type II endometrial cancer were reviewed. All women underwent comprehensive surgical staging. Postoperative treatment options of chemotherapy (CT), radiotherapy (RT), observation (OBS) and chemotherapy-radiotherapy (CT-RT) combination were compared in terms of recurrence and survival outcome. RESULTS: In CT-RT treatment arm, recurrence rate was found as 12.5% and this result is significantly lower than the other treatment approaches (P = 0.01 CT alone: 33.3%, RT alone: 26.7%, OBS: 62.5%). Three-year disease free survival(DFS) rate and overall survival (OS) rate were statistically higher for the group of women treated with combination of CT-RT (92-95%) compared to the women treated with RT alone (65-72%), treated with CT alone (67-74%) and women who received no adjuvant therapy (38-45%). The multivariate analysis revealed that carcinosarcoma histology was associated with shortened DFS and OS (P = 0.001, P = 0.002). On the other hand, being at stage Ia (P = 0.01, P = 0.04) and receiving adjuvant treatment of CT-RT combination (P = 0.005, P = 0.002) appeared to lead to increased DFS and OS rates. CONCLUSIONS: We identified that a combination treatment of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is superior compared to other postoperative adjuvant treatment approaches concerning PFS, OS and recurrence rates in stages I-II of type II endometrial cancers and uterine carcinosarcoma.

Fetal nasal bone hypoplasia in the second trimester: Comparison of diagnostic methods for predicting trisomy 21 (Down syndrome).

PURPOSE: The aim of this prospective observational study was to identify the best method for use in diagnosing fetal nasal bone (NB) hypoplasia in the second trimester as a means of predicting trisomy 21 (Down syndrome). METHODS: The NB length (NBL), NBL percentiles, and NBL multiple-of-median (MoM) values and the biparietal diameter-to-NBL ratios were calculated and compared in an attempt to identify the best predictive method and most appropriate cutoff value. Predictive values for several cutoff points were calculated. Receiver operating characteristic curves at a fixed 5% false-positive rate were used to compare the four methods. RESULTS: NBL measurements were obtained from 2,211 (95.6%) of a total of 2,314 fetuses. Data from 1,689 of those 2,211 fetuses were used to obtain reference ranges, derive a linear regression equation, and calculate NBL percentiles and MoM values. Using a fixed 5% false-positive rate, we found 25.5% sensitivity for NBL (95% confidence interval [CI], 15-39.1) and 23.5% sensitivity for NBL percentiles (95% CI, 13.4-37), NBL MoM values (95% CI, 13.4-37), and biparietal diameter-to-NBL ratios (95% CI, 13.4-37). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that all four methods can be used in the second trimester for diagnosing fetal NB hypoplasia as a means of predicting trisomy 21 because their predictive values are similar at a fixed 5% false-positive rate. For simplicity of use, we recommend using 3 mm as the NBL cutoff value.

Recurrent pyoderma gangrenosum after cesarean delivery successfully treated with vacuum-assisted closure and split thickness skin graft: a case report.

We describe the case of a 32-year-old woman (gravidity: 4; parity: 2) who underwent cesarean delivery at 37 weeks of gestation and presented with dehiscence and infection of the surgical wound. She had a history of wound infection and dehiscence of the scar from a previous cesarean delivery and dehiscence in the dorsal side of her left hand at the site of intravenous catheterization. The patient was initially diagnosed with a skin infection and later with pyoderma gangrenosum. No evidence of any underlying disease was found. The lesions were treated with systemic corticosteroids and azathioprine, but the lesions were unresponsive to treatment. This complicated case of pyoderma gangrenosum after cesarean delivery, which initially mimicked wound infection, was successfully treated with vacuum-assisted closure and split-thickness skin graft. This synergistic approach with vacuum-assisted closure could be an important treatment option for aggressive and slow-healing lesions.

Randomized trial of long-term effects of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation on chronic pelvic pain.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term effects of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) on quality of life in women with chronic pelvic pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three women with chronic pelvic pain were randomized into PTNS (n = 16) or control (n = 17) groups. In PTNS group, weekly PTNS in 30-min sessions for 12 weeks was performed whereas the control group received no stimulation. Present pain intensity-visual analog scale (PPI-VAS), short-form McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ), and SF-36 were used at baseline, 12-week, and 6-month follow-up for the evaluation of pain intensity and quality of life. RESULTS: Two women (12.5 %) were cured, 7 (43.8 %) were much improved, 6 (37.5 %) were the same and 1 (6.3 %) was worse after PTNS. Two women (11.8 %) were improved, 10 (58.8 %) were the same, and 5 (29.4 %) were worse in the control group. Mean PPI-VAS of PTNS group at baseline, 12 weeks, and 6 months was 8.4 ± 1.1, 3.8 ± 3.5 and 4.5 ± 3.7, respectively. There was a significant improvement in PPI-VAS scores of PTNS group whereas no change was observed in the control group. There was a slight increase in the PPI-VAS scores of the PTNS group at 6-month, but the difference was not statistically significant. There was significant improvement in all domains of SF-MPQ and SF-36 in PTNS group with continuing effects at 6 months whereas no significant change was observed in the control group. CONCLUSION: PTNS is a minimally invasive treatment method that leads to decrease in pain severity and improvement in quality of life in women with chronic pelvic pain with effects continuing at 6 months.

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction after hysterectomy in a patient with Friedreich ataxia.

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction is a rare complication of gynecological surgery. Despite the complete description of this condition, diagnosis remains difficult and is often delayed. Due to delay in diagnosis and existence of serious comorbid illnesses, morbidity and mortality approaches higher levels. Early recognition of signs and symptoms of this condition and prompt accurate management are vital to prevent serious mortality. Here, we report a case of acute colonic pseudo-obstruction after total abdominal hysterectomy in a patient with known Friedreich ataxia.

Stage-related outcome after fetoscopic laser ablation in twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.

AIM: To review the perinatal outcome of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) treated with fetoscopic laser coagulation in a developing country with detailed analysis according to the stage of the syndrome. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 85 TTTS cases treated with fetoscopic laser coagulation at the Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment Unit of Istanbul Faculty of Medicine between January 2006 and March 2013. RESULTS: The surgical failure rate was 5.8% (5/85). Among all the cases of the total cohort, only 1 fetus survived in 27 pregnancies (31.8%), and both fetuses survived in 22 pregnancies (25.9%). In 49 pregnancies (57.6%) at least one fetus survived at the end of the neonatal period. The overall survival and live birth rates were 41.8% (71/170) and 56.4% (96/170), respectively, and they significantly decreased as the stage of disease increased. Delivery occurred before 32 weeks of gestation in 54 (63.5%) pregnancies. Logistic regression analysis showed that gestational age at delivery was the only independent factor, and the risk of nonsurvival significantly decreased with increasing age. CONCLUSION: Based on our experience, the outcome of fetoscopic laser coagulation of the placental anastomoses for TTTS became worse as the Quintero stage of the disease advanced.

Bipolar cord coagulation in the management of complicated monochorionic twin pregnancies.

AIM: To report our experience in selective termination of monochorionic twin pregnancies with bipolar cord coagulation and to analyze the pregnancy outcomes and complications based on the indication of the procedure. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 71 complicated monochorionic pregnancies treated with bipolar cord coagulation between August 2006 and March 2013. RESULTS: The rates of live birth and survival up to 28 days after birth were 73.2% (52/71) and 63.4% (45/71), respectively. The highest rates of survival up to 28 days after birth were in the procedures with an indication of selective intrauterine growth restriction, while the lowest rates of survival were recorded with the indication of twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence and discordant anomaly. However, there were no statistically significant differences in the live birth and perinatal survival rates among the four different groups of indications. CONCLUSION: The survival rate of bipolar cord coagulation in complicated monochorionic pregnancies such as twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence, selective intrauterine growth restriction and discordant anomaly was 63% in our series.

Successful pregnancy after presurgical uterine artery embolization in the management of a very large cervical myoma: A case report.

Although fibroids are the most common benign tumors of the uterus in women of reproductive age, cervical fibroids are rarely seen. Since cervical fibroids are located deep in the pelvis, the incidence of complications in surgery is high. Among these complications bleeding is the most common, due to poor access to myoma, difficulty in suturing and repair, and distortion of vital neighboring structures. Each case should be managed individually to minimize bleeding. To decrease bleeding in patients who wish to retain their fertility, intraoperative interventions include vasoconstrictors such as vasopressin and adrenaline, uterotonics such as oxytocin, misoprostol or ergometrines, uterine artery clamping, internal iliac artery balloon occlusion catheters, and tourniquets; preoperative interventions include gonadotropin releasing-hormone analogues and uterine artery embolization. We present a case of a 40-year-old woman who had a large cervical myoma and a desire for future fertility. To overcome technical difficulties and reduce intraoperative bleeding during myomectomy, presurgical uterine artery embolization was performed. The patient conceived spontaneously after the operation and a healthy baby was delivered by cesarean section.