A randomized controlled trial of 2 techniques of salpingectomy during cesarean delivery.

BACKGROUND: Total salpingectomy during benign gynecologic surgery is recommended after completion of childbearing to reduce the risk of developing ovarian cancer. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess operating time and complication rates of "traditional" salpingectomy using the "Knot and Cut" technique, compared with bipolar salpingectomy for sterilization at the time of cesarean delivery. STUDY DESIGN: This was a randomized controlled trial. Women undergoing planned cesarean delivery who desired sterilization were randomized to traditional salpingectomy or bipolar salpingectomy. The bipolar salpingectomy was performed using the LigaSure Precise. The primary outcome was the surgical time of the salpingectomy procedure. Secondary outcomes included total cesarean delivery time and associated bleeding parameters. We estimated that 42 patients would provide 80% power and a 2-sided alpha of 0.05 to identify a 10-minute difference in the primary outcome. RESULTS: A total of 26 women were randomized to bipolar salpingectomy and 25 to traditional salpingectomy. Baseline demographic characteristics were similar between the groups. Six procedures were converted from traditional to bipolar salpingectomy, and 2 traditional salpingectomies failed. The surgical time (16.16±9.53 vs 5.19±3.57 minutes; P<.001), estimated blood loss (928.08±414.66 mL vs 677.15±380.42 mL; P=.029), and need for blood transfusion (20% vs 0%; P=.016) were significantly greater in the traditional salpingectomy than in the bipolar salpingectomy group. The cesarean delivery time was similar (88.92±17.87 vs 88.23±19.85 minutes; P=.89). Hospitalization time was significantly longer following traditional salpingectomy than bipolar salpingectomy (5.24±2.27 vs 3.92±2.01 days; P=.034). CONCLUSION: "Traditional" salpingectomy is associated with longer surgical and hospitalization time, and greater blood loss and risk of blood transfusion compared with "bipolar" salpingectomy. In practices in which "bipolar" salpingectomy is available, it should be preferred over alternative methods of salpingectomy.

The impact of radiation therapy on vaginal biomechanical properties.

OBJECTIVE: In women with cervical cancer (CC), treatment with radiation causes changes in vaginal biomechanical properties, anatomy and function. The aims of the current study were to objectively assess effects of radiotherapy (RT) on vaginal elasticity, wall mobility and contraction strength; and to evaluate associations of these changes with sexual function. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective cohort study was approved by our Institutional Review Board. Between May 2018 and June 2020, women with CC who were candidates for RT were eligible to participate. Participants underwent vaginal tactile imaging (VTI) evaluation and were asked to fill the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire at the time of first RT session and at a 6-month post-treatment follow up visit. Women who underwent radical hysterectomy, or had pelvic side-wall, pelvic or distant organ metastasis were not included. RESULTS: A total of 25 women with locally advanced CC were included in the final analysis. The mean age was 39 ± 2.7 years, the mean BMI was 24.8 ± 2.2 kg/m2 and the median parity was 2 (range: 1-5). Following RT, the mean scores for vaginal elasticity and vaginal tightening were significantly lower than at pre-treatment: 11.3 ± 2.5 vs. 28.3 ± 9, P < 0.0001 and 2.6 ± 0.7 vs. 16.7 ± 3, P < 0.0001, respectively. Following RT, significant decreases were demonstrated in vaginal wall mobility and pelvic muscle contraction strength: from 1.77 ± 0.34 to 0.36 ± 0.15, P < 0.0001 and from 2.55 ± 0.48 to 0.52 ± 0.23, P < 0.0001, respectively. Compared to pre-treatment, post-RT vaginal length was significantly shorter (3.30 ± 0.22 vs. 7.64 ± 0.63, P = 0.0023) and sexual intercourse frequency significantly lower: 1 (range 1-2) vs. 2 (range 1-4), P = 0.014). The mean total FSFI score was significantly lower following RT (6.7 ± 1 vs. 14.5 ± 2.7, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Women with locally advanced CC who have been treated with RT exhibit persistent vaginal biomechanical changes that compromise sexual activity and result in considerable distress.

Transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic versus conventional vaginal hysterectomy with uterosacral ligament suspension for apical compartment prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare surgical and short-term postoperative outcomes of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) versus conventional vaginal (CV) uterosacral ligament suspension (USLS) surgery. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 135 patients who underwent hysterectomy with USLS via CV (n = 70) or via vNOTES (n = 65). Patients' baseline characteristics, surgical characteristics, and surgical outcomes were retrieved. The primary outcome was total operative time. Secondary outcomes include intra- and post-operative complications. RESULTS: Salpingectomy was performed in all vNOTES procedures and in only 27 % of conventional vaginal procedures (p < 0.005). Compared to the conventional vaginal procedures (n = 65), the vNOTES (n = 70) showed lower mean operative time and mean anesthesia time (101.4 ± 22.3 vs 125.5 ± 27.6 min and 141.4 ± 29.6 vs. 174.0 ± 32.9 min, respectively); and slightly longer median hospital stay (3 [range 2-4] vs. 2 [range 2-4] days, p < 0.05). Compared to women who underwent conventional vaginal hysterectomy with USLS, women who underwent vNOTES hysterectomy with USLS had lower incidences of intraoperative complications (6% vs. 18 %, p < 0.05) and intraoperative ureteral obstruction (0% vs. 8%, p < 0.05); and less estimated blood loss (58 ± 68 ml vs. 143 ± 87 ml, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: vNOTES hysterectomy with USLS is associated with reduced incidence of intraoperative complications, shorter surgical and anesthesia time, and slightly longer hospital stay, compared to the traditional vaginal surgical approach. Post-operative complications during hospital stay were similar and infrequent following the two procedures.

Vaginal Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser Treatment and Changes in Vaginal Biomechanical Parameters.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vaginal fractional carbon dioxide (CO2 ) laser treatment has emerged in the past two decades as a non-surgical option for vaginal tightening. Mounting evidence supports the effectiveness and safety of this treatment for female sexual dysfunction. A newly developed vaginal tactile imaging (VTI) technique accurately evaluates the biomechanical parameters of the female pelvic floor and vagina, including tissue elasticity, pelvic support, and pelvic muscle function in high definition. In the current study, we evaluated changes in objective biomechanical parameters using VTI, following vaginal CO2 laser treatment for vaginal tightening and sexual dysfunction. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort between June 2018 and January 2020. Inclusion criteria were vaginal looseness, decreased local sensation during sexual intercourse, and sexual dysfunction. All the participants were treated with a vaginal carbon dioxide laser. They underwent a gynecological evaluation based on the Vaginal Health Index (VHI) and sexual function assessment according to the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Vaginal biomechanical parameters were assessed by VTI. Initial evaluations were performed at the pre-treatment consult visit, 1 week prior to the first treatment and at a 6-month post-treatment follow-up visit. RESULTS: Twenty-five women were included in the final analysis. Compared with baseline, the post-treatment mean scores for vaginal elasticity and tightening were higher (54.8 ± 5.2 vs. 41.5 ± 6.3, P = 0.0027 and 1.97 ± 0.25 vs. 1.32 ± 0.31, P = 0.0014, respectively). Post-treatment increases were demonstrated in pelvic muscle contraction strength (25.9 ± 3.5 vs. 16.5 ± 4.2, P = 0.0011) and in reflex pelvic muscle contraction (2.93 ± 0.44 vs. 2.12 ± 0.47, P = 0.0022); the mean FSFI and VHI scores were higher following treatment (28.47 ± 1.73 vs. 21.12 ± 1.58, P = 0.036 and 19.15 ± 1.27 vs. 11.6 ± 0.97, P = 0.0032). CONCLUSIONS: The quantification of vaginal biomechanical parameters using VTI technology offers objective evidence of the beneficial effect of vaginal CO2 laser treatment. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

The impact of vaginal hysterectomy and uterosacral ligament suspension on vaginal elasticity and sexual function.

OBJECTIVE: Hysterectomy for benign indications has profound effects on both anatomical and physiological pelvic floor and vaginal properties. Vaginal tactile imaging (VTI) enables the quantification of pelvic floor and vaginal biomechanical properties; this enables objective evaluation of various pelvic floor functions. The purposes of this study were to evaluate via VTI, the changes in vaginal elasticity, mobility and strength, before and after hysterectomy by transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) and high utero-sacral ligament suspension (USLS); and to assess associations with sexual function. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effect of these procedures on vaginal elasticity and sexual function. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective cohort study included women who underwent hysterectomy by vNOTES and USLS for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). All the women underwent both pre- and postoperative VTI and sexual function evaluation. Vaginal elasticity and wall mobility, and the contraction strength and tone of levator muscles, were measured prior to and 6 months following surgery using VTI. RESULTS: A total of 23 women, mean age 56.5 years, with stage 3-4 POP participated. Vaginal elasticity increased from 27.3 ± 8.8 to 34.8 ± 12 (P < 0.05) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) scores increased from 22.17 ± 1.62 to 28.66 ± 1.51 (P < 0.05). No correlation was observed between these results. A statistically significant decrease in the mobility of the anterior vaginal wall was demonstrated, from 7.98 ± 10.6 to 0.83 ± 7.5 (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: VTI showed improvements in vaginal elasticity, mobility and FSFI scores following hysterectomy and POP repair performed by vNOTES.

The Efficacy and Safety of CO2 Laser Treatment for Sexual Function and Vaginal Laxity Improvement in Pre-Menopausal Women.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vaginal laxity lacks standardized diagnosis and severity criteria. It is considered as a subjective complaint that reflects decreased sexual satisfaction due to vaginal loosening. Treatment modalities have included physiotherapy and plastic surgery. Recently, laser treatments have also gained popularity as a means of relieving gynecological complaints such as pelvic organ prolapse, stress urinary incontinence, and genitourinary syndrome of menopause. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of CO2 laser treatment in women for whom a decrease in sexual sensation during intercourse and vaginal loosening were their primary complaints. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this prospective study, women with reported vaginal laxity and decreased sensation during intercourse were recruited from the Sexual Dysfunction Clinic in our health care campus. Each participant received three outpatient treatments with laser therapy, according to the same protocol. Treatment efficacy was assessed by changes in the Vaginal Health Index (VHI) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). RESULTS: Overall, 84 pre-menopause women, with a mean age of 47.7 years, were included in the study. Mean VHI and FSFI were increased significantly at 3 months post-treatment and decreased again at 6 months post-treatment: 11.8 ± 1.6, 13.5 ± 1.1, and 11.8 ± 1.2, respectively, P = 0.013; and 21.3 ± 1.7, 29.9 ± 1.6, and 22.5 ± 1.8, respectively, P = 0.022. The rate of sexual intercourse doubled during the period of maximal treatment effect (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: CO2 laser treatment has both a statistically and clinically significant effect on participants' complaints and sex-life, which wanes by 6 months post-treatment. Laser therapy seems to be safe in the short term, with no serious adverse events reported in the current study. Further studies are warranted to determine the long-term safety and the efficacy of maintenance laser treatments. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Feasibility and Learning Curve of Transvaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery for Hysterectomy and Uterosacral Ligament Suspension in Apical Compartment Prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe our experience with transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) uterosacral ligament suspension (USLS) and to evaluate the learning curve of mastering the skills to operate this procedure. METHODS: This is a prospective study of the first 35 vNOTES hysterectomy and USLS surgeries performed between October 2018 and April 2019 at Rambam Health Care Campus (Israel) (n = 26) and Imelda Hospital (Belgium) (n = 9). The primary outcome was surgical time. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative bleeding, length of hospitalization, pain during the first 24 hours postoperative pain, and the need for analgesia, intraoperative, and postoperative adverse events. RESULTS: The median age was 55 years (range, 40-81). The median operative time was 113 minutes (range, 89-233). For the procedures performed at Rambam, total operative time decreased from the first 13 to the following 13: from 149 minutes (range, 89-233 minutes) to 103 (89-170) (<0.001); Pearson correlation demonstrated a moderate negative significant correlation of surgery duration with surgeon experience (rho = -0.445, P < 0.001). The median estimated blood loss was 30 mL (20-200). The median hospital stay was 2 days (1-3). There were no intraoperative adverse events. The median visual analogue scale score for pain assessment during the first 24 hours after surgery was 1 (range, 1-3). CONCLUSIONS: vNOTES USLS is a feasible procedure that showed marked improvement in surgical performance in a short period, as evidenced by the decrease in surgical time and the low rate of minor associated perioperative complications. Outcomes of long-term follow-up should be investigated.

Raynaud's phenomenon as a presenting manifestation of ovarian cancer: A case report.

Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is characterized by episodes of vasospasm affecting the hands and feet. Paraneoplastic RP, as a single presenting symptom is rarely seen in cases of ovarian cancer (OC), and thus may lead to misdiagnosis. We present a case of paraneoplastic RP in a patient with high-grade serous OC. A 66-year-old female presented with dyspnea and bilateral peripheral cyanosis involving her fingers. CA125 was elevated (423 U/mL). CT revealed a pleural effusion on the left side, suspicious omental lesions and ascites. Omental biopsy and pleural cytology demonstrated high-grade serous OC. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (carboplatin/paclitaxel) resulted in objective improvement in finger ischemia and complete regression of vasospastic features. However, the patient's disease was refractory to post-surgical treatment and eventually she deceased of multiple organ failure. To conclude, RP may be a presenting symptom of OC. It is important to determine the underlying disease and develop an effective treatment strategy.

Robotic Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Hysterectomy for Benign Indications.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The Hominis surgical system is a novel robot-assisted system, designed specifically for robotic vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (RvNOTES). We presented our experience of the first 30 RvNOTES hysterectomies assessing the feasibility and safety of this technology. DESIGN: A two-center prospective study. SETTING: Academic tertiary referral centers. The ethics committees approved the study in both centers. PATIENTS: Thirty women with benign indication for hysterectomy. INTERVENTION: RvNOTES hysterectomy performed by the Hominis surgical system. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary outcome of the study was the rate of conversion to open or conventional laparoscopic approaches. Secondary outcomes included intra- and postoperative adverse events, operative time, estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, and 6-week follow-up assessment. A total of 15 women were enrolled at each site. The median age was 59 years (range: 37-79) and the median body mass index was 25.4 kg/m2 (range: 17.6-40.0). Twenty-four women (80%) had comorbidities. All the procedures were completed successfully without conversion to open abdominal, traditional vaginal, or conventional laparoscopic surgery. No intraoperative complications were observed. Median blood loss and procedure duration were 50 mL (range: 20-400) and 57 minutes (range: 24-88), respectively. Postoperative pain was minimal, with a median visual analog scale of 3 (range: 1-5) for the first 24 hours following surgery. The median hospital stay was 3 days (range: 2-8). According to the treating physicians' evaluations, the vaginal cuff was fully healed in all patients at the 6-week postoperative follow-up visit. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first publication of robot-assisted vaginal hysterectomy using the Hominis surgical system. The positive results of this study show this new technology to be a safe and effective tool for vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, enabling surgeons to operate vaginally with the known advantages of robotic modality.

Vaginal progesterone treatment for the prevention of preterm birth and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: A case-control study.

INTRODUCTION: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is associated with a distinctive maternal pruritus, abnormal liver function tests, raised serum total bile acids, and increased rates of adverse fetal outcomes, including intrauterine fetal death. Progesterone has been implicated in the pathogenesis of ICP. We aimed to evaluate whether the incidence of ICP is altered in women receiving long-term daily vaginal progesterone, indicated for a short cervical length. STUDY DESIGN: A matched 1:3 case-control study of pregnant women between January 2014 and January 2019. Study cases included pregnant women with the diagnosis of ICP. Control cases were women without ICP. The primary outcome was the rate of vaginal progesterone treatment among the groups. RESULTS: The use of vaginal progesterone throughout pregnancy was higher in the ICP group compared with the control group (8/174 [4.6 %] versus 6/522 [1.1 %], respectively, P = 0.03, odds ratio 4 [95 % confidence interval 1.4-11.7]). CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women treated with long-term vaginal progesterone preparations for the prevention of preterm birth are at increased risk of developing ICP. In the presence of pruritus during pregnancy, we recommend an early consultation and diagnostic test to confirm or rule-out ICP.

Transvaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (vNOTES) for omentectomy - A case series.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) has been applied massively in the gynecological field in recent years. The aim of the current study is to present the surgical technique of vNOTES omentectomy and to evaluate the feasibility of this procedure. METHODS: A case series study of the first 5 vNOTES omentectomy procedures performed for surgical staging of suspicious early stage ovarian cancer, at Rambam Health Care Campus (Israel) and Imelda Hospital (Belgium) between November 2018 and August 2019. Sociodemographic and clinical data were retrieved from patients' electronic charts. Primary points of interest included intra-operative bleeding, length of surgery, length of hospitalization, and surgical complications. RESULTS: The median age was 61 years (range 50-72), and the median BMI was 27 kg/m2 (range 23-33). All the operations were carried out to completion through the vaginal GelPOINT, without insertion of an assistant abdominal trocar or conversion to another surgical approach. The median omentectomy time was 45 min (range: 39-52). The median estimated intraoperative blood loss was 150 ml (range: 20-200). The median hospital stay was 2 days (range: 1-3). CONCLUSIONS: vNOTES is a feasible technique for omentectomy in early stage ovarian cancer, with low rates of complications and improved cosmetic results.

Transvaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic (vNOTES) Hysterectomy Learning Curve: Feasibility in the Hands of Skilled Gynecologists.

BACKGROUND: During Transvaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (vNOTES) the surgeon operates exclusively through a single vaginal entry point, leaving no external scarring. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the learning curve of vNOTES hysterectomy by experienced gynecologists based on surgical times and short-term outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of the first 25 vNOTES hysterectomy surgeries performed from July to December 2018 at Rambam Health Care Campus by a single surgeon. The primary outcome was hysterectomy time. Secondary outcomes included intra-operative bleeding, length of hospitalization, postoperative pain, and need for analgesia. Socio-demographic and clinical data were retrieved from patient electronic medical charts. RESULTS: Median age was 64.5 years (range 40-79). Median hysterectomy time was 38 minutes (range 30-49) from the first cut until completion. Comparisons between median hysterectomy time in the first 10 hysterectomies and in the 15 subsequent procedures demonstrated a significant decrease in median total time: 45 minutes (range 41-49) vs. 32 minutes (range 30-38), respectively (P = 0.024). The median estimated intraoperative blood loss decreased from 100 ml (range 70-200) in the first 10 hysterectomies to 40 ml (range 20-100) in the subsequent procedures (P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: vNOTES hysterectomy is feasible by an experienced gynecologist, with an exponential improvement in surgical performance in a short period as expressed by the improvement in hysterectomy time, low complication rates, negligible blood loss, minimal post-surgical pain, fast recovery, and short hospitalization. vNOTES allows easier and safer access to adnexal removal compared to conventional vaginal surgery.

Robotic laparoendoscopic single-site compared with robotic multi-port sacrocolpopexy for apical compartment prolapse.

BACKGROUND: Sacrocolpopexy is a commonly performed procedure for repair of apical compartment prolapse. A Y-shaped mesh is attached to the prolapsed cervix or vagina and suspended to the anterior longitudinal ligament of the sacrum. In addition to conventional laparoscopic and multi-port robotic routes, the robotic laparoendoscopic single-site approach has emerged as a viable, feasible, and widely applicable minimally invasive approach to sacrocolpopexy. OBJECTIVE: To compare robotic laparoendoscopic single-site with multi-port robotic sacrocolpopexy for women with either utero-vaginal or vaginal apical prolapse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this single-center randomized controlled trial, 70 women at Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantitative stages 2-4 were assigned randomly to undergo sacrocolpopexy by robotic laparoendoscopic single-site or multi-port robotic approaches from August 2017 to November 2018. Of 35 women randomized to each group, 32 underwent sacrocolpopexy. Operating time was the primary outcome of the trial. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative bleeding, length of hospitalization, pain during the first postoperative 24 hours (according to a 0-10 visual analogue scale), need for analgesics, and intraoperative and postoperative adverse events. At 6 weeks and 6 months after surgery, patients underwent a physical examination according to Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantitative measurements, to assess the anatomical success of the surgery. The Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 and Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual-12 questionnaires were administered prior to surgery and at 6-month follow-up. The Patient Scar Assessment Questionnaire and the Activity Assessment Scale were administered at 6 weeks and 6 months after the surgery. Exclusion criteria included contraindication to general anesthesia, a history of prior sacrocolpopexy, suspicious adnexal masses, suspicious thickened endometrium, and morbid obesity (body mass index of 40 kg/m2 or more). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 58.4 years. More than half of the patients (54%) had stage III prolapse. Mean total operative times were 181.3 ± 32.6 and 157.5 ± 42 minutes for robotic laparoendoscopic single-site and multi-port robotic sacrocolpopexy, respectively; the difference was 23.8 minutes (95% confidence interval, 4.2-43.4, P = .018). The mean differences in duration between the procedures were as follows: 29.8 minutes, 95% confidence interval, 9.2-50.4, P = .005 for anesthesia time; 33.1 minutes, 95% confidence interval, 16.5-49.7, P < .0001 for console time; 8.6 minutes, 95% confidence interval, 1.1-16.3, P = .025 for supracervical hysterectomy time; 8.3 minutes, 95% confidence interval, 1.8-14.8, P = 0.03 for mesh suturing and fixation to the promontory; and 4.7 minutes, 95% confidence interval, 1.5-7.7, P = .004 for peritoneum suturing. Statistically significant differences were not observed between the groups in regard to estimated blood loss, intraoperative complications, and demand for analgesics during hospital stay. Quality-of-life parameters were similar. Patients' assessments of their scars were more favorable in the robotic laparoendoscopic single-site group. CONCLUSION: For sacrocolpopexy, the operative time was longer for the robotic laparoendoscopic single-site than for the multi-port robotic approach. Both approaches are feasible, and short-term outcomes, quality-of-life parameters, and anatomic repair are comparable. Our results are generalizable only to the specific robotic platforms used in the study.

An Efficient Single-session Spatial Skill Trainer for Robot-assisted Surgery: A Randomized Trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To introduce and examine a single session of spatial skill training as an efficient means of improving surgical suturing performance in robot-assisted surgery. DESIGN: A randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: A tertiary university medical center in Israel. PARTICIPANTS: A purposive sample composed of 41 residents with no robotic suturing skills. INTERVENTIONS: A computer-based simulator training of spatial skills. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Participants were randomly assigned to training (n = 21: mean age of 34 years [standard deviation (SD) = 1.92]) and control (n = 20: mean age of 32 years [SD = 3.17]) conditions. The training group underwent a session of spatial skills training, whereas the control group engaged in a neutral activity. After 1 participant was lost to the follow-up of the posttraining performance test, data of 40 participants were analyzed. Robotic suturing task performance with the da Vinci Skills Simulator (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA) was evaluated using the da Vinci Skills Simulator built-in measure of "excess tissue piercing" and an expert rating of "tissue tearing." The mean number of excess tissue piercing after training (but not after the neutral activity) was significantly lower than before training (3.25 [SD = 1.996] vs 6.75 [SD = 3.68], respectively; p <.001), reflecting an improvement of 52% (decreasing the mean number of excess tissue piercing in a single suture by 3.5 excess piercing trials). After the interventions, the extent of tissue tearing was rated lower in the training group (p = .01), and there was no change in the control group (p = .14). CONCLUSION: We showed the efficiency of a training approach that focuses on spatial skills critical in robot-assisted surgery. We showed that surgeons who received a 1 session spatial skill training with a cognitive spatial skill trainer immediately improved the performance of a robotic suturing task compared with surgeons who did not receive such training.

A Case of Recurrent Vulvar Carcinoma With Cardiac Metastasis: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

A 67-yr-old female patient was diagnosed with squamous cell vulvar carcinoma and treated with a radical vulvectomy and bilateral sentinel lymphadenectomy. Three months after the surgery, the patient presented with local recurrence and underwent surgical excision of the mass, followed by chemotherapy. Eight months later, the patient was admitted due to weakness and pleural effusion. The patient underwent a chest computed tomography and echocardiogram, which revealed a large mass in the right ventricle penetrating into the pericardium and an additional mass residing on the tricuspid valve. She underwent a pericardial biopsy, and the pathology revealed a moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma metastasis. The patient was admitted thereafter in the oncological department for additional chemotherapy treatment. Because of a rapid deterioration in the patient's condition, only palliative treatment was given, and the patient died shortly after. Secondary cardiac tumors are very rare and have not been extensively studied in oncology. Therefore, optimal management is not entirely clear. It is extremely rare for vulvar cancer to metastasize to the heart, and only a handful of cases have been reported in the literature.

Geographic variation of hysterectomy rates in the Israeli health care system during the years 2007-2016.

BACKGROUND: In 2014 the OECD published a report regarding inter-regional variation of hysterectomies in 13 countries including Israel. Variance in hospital admission rates were also reported. The Israeli Ministry of Health has set as one of its main goals the reduction in differences in health care, particularly between the country's periphery and central regions. These variations may reflect differences in characteristics, resource allocation, and medical staff employment, expertise and training. The advances in technology in the last decades including laparoscopic and robotic surgeries and the variance in their implementation emphasize the great regional variance. The aim of this study was to examine hysterectomy trends in the past decade with emphasis on regional differences. METHODS: The study is based on information maintained by the Israeli Ministry of Health and portrays the trend in hysterectomy rates as a factor of indication, surgical approach and length of hospitalization as collected from the years 2007-2016. RESULTS: Inter-regional significant differences were found between the 7 regions of Israel, though there was a clear trend toward a national 11-24% decrease in hysterectomy rates. A 2-4 time increase in laparoscopic hysterectomies was observed. There was a clear country-wide trend toward shortening hospital stay from 5 to 4 days in total. CONCLUSIONS: Hysterectomy rates have declined in the past decade due to the implementation of new technologies allowing earlier diagnosis and minimally invasive surgery on top of offering alternative, non-surgical treatment modalities. Uneven allocation of resources and manpower allowing technology implementation and optimal medical services may have contributed to the findings.

Single-port versus multi-port robotic sacrocervicopexy: Establishment of a learning curve and short-term outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the learning curves, surgical outcomes and complications of multi-port access robotic-assisted laparoscopic sacrocervicopexy (MP-RSC) to single-port robotic access (SP-RSC) for vaginal apex prolapse. METHODS: A retrospective study of the first 52 MP-RSC procedures compared with the first 52 SP-RSC procedures performed at one medical center. Primary outcomes were intraoperative bleeding, operative time, and hospitalization. Secondary outcomes were surgical complications. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in mean operative times between the MP-RSC and SP-RSC procedures: 206.5 ±â€¯39.4 and 187.8 ±â€¯46.2, respectively, P = 0.028. The mean estimated intraoperative blood loss was 35 [20-87.5] ml and 20 [10-47.5] ml, respectively, P = 0.008. Respective mean operative times decreased from the first 15 to the subsequent 15 cases: in the MP-RSC group from 224.2 ±â€¯43.2 to 198.4 ±â€¯36.3 min, P = 0.088, and in the SP-RSC group from 222.4 ±â€¯53.1 to 161.3 ±â€¯28.2 min, P < 0.001. The subsequent 22 cases showed different trends. Hospitalization (days) and level of pain at 24 h postoperative, according to a 1-10 point visual analogue scale, did not differ. Adverse events were rare in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: MP-RSC and SP-RSC are feasible and the short term outcomes and learning curves for both procedures are comparable.

Transvaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Hysterectomy and Apical Suspension of the Vaginal Cuff to the Uterosacral Ligament.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) offers similar advantages of traditional vaginal surgery including no incisional pain as well as a better cosmetic outcome. Furthermore, vNOTES allows the surgeon to overcome the limited surgical space and lack of exposure when using the traditional vaginal instrumentation. Vaginal uterosacral ligament suspension subsequent to vaginal hysterectomy has the advantages of a mesh-free, minimally invasive approach for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse. The objective of this video is to demonstrate a surgical technique and a few tips and tricks for vNOTES hysterectomy and uterosacral ligament suspension. DESIGN: Stepwise demonstration of the vNOTES technique for hysterectomy and vaginal apical suspension to the uterosacral ligament with narrated video footage. SETTING: An academic tertiary referral center. The ethics committee ruled that approval was not required for this study. PATIENTS: A 53-year-old woman. INTERVENTIONS: vNOTES hysterectomy and apical suspension to the uterosacral ligament. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A 53-year-old woman (gravida 5, para 4) presented with Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification System stage III symptomatic uterine prolapse. The patient was selected to be operated on via a vaginal port. The video presents some tips and tricks to aid the surgeon to perform this surgery in a safe and timely manner using the vaginal GelPOINT system (Applied Medical, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA). CONCLUSION: vNOTES for repair of POP by uterosacral ligament suspension via a vaginal port is a feasible technique with promising cosmetic results. This technique allows the surgeon to expose the ureter well and lower the risk of ureteric injury. Additionally, this approach avoids mesh complications and should also decrease the risk of abdominal wound infection because of the absence of incisions on the abdomen.