In-bag morcellation.

In-bag morcellation seems to be a viable alternative to open power morcellation and offers the advantage of minimal to no spillage of tissue or fluids during morcellation. We report our initial experience and technique using this approach.

Intercoat (Oxiplex/AP gel) for preventing intrauterine adhesions after operative hysteroscopy for suspected retained products of conception: double-blind, prospective, randomized pilot study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Oxiplex/AP gel (Intercoat) in reducing intrauterine adhesion formation after hysteroscopic treatment because of retained products of conception (RPOC). DESIGN: Prospective double-blind, randomized, controlled pilot study (Canadian Task Force classification I). SETTING: Tertiary medical center. PATIENTS: All women who underwent hysteroscopic treatment because of RPOC at our institution between September 2009 and June 2012 were invited to participate. After operative hysteroscopy, participants were randomized to either have their uterine cavity filled with Oxiplex/AP gel (study group, n = 26) or not (control group, n = 26). INTERVENTIONS: Diagnostic office hysteroscopy to assess for adhesion formation was performed after 6 to 8 weeks. Findings were graded according to the American Fertility Society classification. Rates of subsequent pregnancy in the 2 groups were assessed. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Intraoperative complication rates were similar between the 2 groups. There were no postoperative complications after Oxiplex/AP gel application. Moderate to severe adhesions developed in 1 woman (4%) in the study group and 3 (14%) in the control group (p = .80). During follow-up of 20 months (range, 2-33 months), 7 women (27%) in the treatment group conceived, compared with 3 (14%) in the control group (p = .50). CONCLUSION: Intrauterine application of Oxiplex/AP gel after hysteroscopic removal of RPOC is safe. In this small sample, the difference in the rate of intrauterine adhesions was not statistically significant. A larger study would enable further establishment of the safety and efficacy of use of this gel.

Hysteroscopic management of retained products of conception: meta-analysis and literature review.

OBJECTIVE: Hysteroscopic removal of retained products of conception (RPOC) may allow complete removal of RPOC and decreased rates of intrauterine adhesions (IUA) when compared to the traditional blind curettage. The aim of this meta-analysis is to examine the current evidence regarding the use of hysteroscopy for treatment of RPOC. STUDY DESIGN: A literature search was conducted in December 2012 using MEDLINE and ClinicalTrials. The study selection criteria were use of the standard hysteroscopic technique for removal of RPOC in 5 or more cases, in any study design. We reviewed 11 studies, of which 5 retrospective studies met the selection criteria (comprising 326 cases). The rates of incomplete RPOC removal, surgical complications, post-operative IUA and subsequent pregnancies were abstracted and weighted events rates using a fixed meta-analysis model were calculated. RESULTS: Only one study compared the rates of IUA following hysteroscopy and curettage, precluding a meta-analysis comparison of the two techniques. There were no cases of incomplete RPOC removal. Three perioperative complications occurred (uterine perforation, infection, and vaginal bleeding). IUA on follow-up hysteroscopy were found in 4/96 women (weighted rate of 5.7%, 95% CI 2.4%, 13.0%). Of the 120 women desiring a subsequent pregnancy 91 conceived (weighted rate of 75.3%, 95% CI 66.7%, 82.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The lack of traditional curettage comparison groups in most studies precludes the conclusion that hysteroscopy is superior to traditional curettage, but this procedure does appear to have low complication rates, low rates of IUA, and high rates of subsequent pregnancies.

Vaginal müllerian cyst: an unusual cause of vaginal bleeding in a 16-month-old girl.

BACKGROUND: Vaginal bleeding in premenarchal girls is always abnormal and its source must be identified for appropriate management. Examination under anesthesia and vaginoscopy are commonly employed for evaluation of the vagina as a source of bleeding, and the examination may occasionally reveal vaginal pathology. CASE: A 16-month-old otherwise healthy girl presented with spotting. Exam under general anesthesia and vaginoscopy revealed a 1-cm polypoid-like lesion overlying the posterior vaginal wall which was excised using the hysteroscope. Pathology revealed a benign Müllerian cyst. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: Vaginal findings of causes of premenarchal bleeding such as Mullerian cysts may be diagnosed and treated with the vaginoscopic approach.

Clinical, surgical, and histopathologic outcomes following failed medical abortion.

OBJECTIVE: To address the consequences of surgical curettage following failed medical abortion. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was performed in a tertiary gynecologic department. The case group comprised 104 women who underwent surgical curettage following failed medical abortion; the control group included 104 women who underwent early surgically induced abortion. Clinical characteristics and surgical findings were examined. The extent of inflammation was quantified following immunohistochemical staining for cell-surface markers characteristic of T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and macrophages. The extent of necrosis was evaluated morphologically. RESULTS: Abnormal findings during surgical curettage were significantly more prevalent among women in the case group than in the control group (10.6% versus 1.9%; P=0.019). The most frequent abnormality in the case group was the presence of intimately adherent products of conception, necessitating sharp curettage. The extent of inflammation (represented by increased numbers of T and B lymphocytes) was greater in the case group than in the control group (P=0.046 and P=0.001, respectively), as was the extent of necrosis (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Curettage following failed medical abortion harbors particular difficulties, which may be attributed to an inflammatory response. The long-term consequences of curettage following failed medical abortion warrant further investigation.

Oophoropexy to prevent adnexal torsion: how, when, and for whom?

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of oophoropexy in obviating recurrent torsion and its possible long-term effects. DESIGN: Case series and review of the literature (Canadian Task Force classification III). SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: Women who underwent oophoropexy for recurrent torsion of normal adnexa between 2003 and 2008. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Retrieved information included the indication for oophoropexy, surgical methods, recurrence, and follow-up. Seven women underwent oophoropexy during the study period because of recurrent torsion of normal adnexa. One additional patient had experienced 3 torsion events of cystic adnexa. Surgical methods included suturing of the ovary to the pelvic sidewall or to the round ligament and plication of the utero-ovarian ligaments. Recurrence occurred in 1 of 6 patients for whom follow-up was available. All 6 patients reported spontaneous menstruation, and 2 conceived spontaneously and gave birth. Ultrasound at long-term follow-up (9-58 months) demonstrated normal ovaries. CONCLUSION: Oophoropexy seems to be efficacious in preventing recurrent torsion. It is our impression that plication of the utero-ovarian ligaments has advantages over other approaches insofar as surgical feasibility and anatomical conservation.

Does intraoperative spillage of benign ovarian mucinous cystadenoma increase its recurrence rate?

OBJECTIVE: To report a higher than estimated recurrence rate of benign mucinous cystadenomas after complete resection of the first one, and to assess potential risk factors for recurrence after complete surgical excision. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively reviewed all cases of women who underwent either laparoscopic or laparotomic removal of benign mucinous adnexal cysts by either adnexectomy or cystectomy in our institution between 1996 and 2006. RESULTS: Included were the data of 42 women who fulfilled study entry criteria. Three of them (7.1%) underwent a second operation because of a recurrence of the lesion. A significantly higher rate of women who had cyst recurrence had undergone cystectomy as opposed to adnexectomy (P < .05). Intraoperative rupture of cysts during cystectomy was also significantly associated with cyst recurrence (P < .03). CONCLUSION: Mucinous cystadenoma recurrence is apparently not as rare as reported in the literature. Intraoperative cyst rupture and cystectomy instead of adnexectomy emerged as being two risk factors for recurrence.