Frozen Pelvis Surgical Strategy in 10 Steps.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To describe a 10-step strategy to treat severe endometriosis with a frozen pelvis by laparoscopy. DESIGN: Educational video. SETTING: University Hospital of Strasbourg, France. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was a 33-year-old nulliparous woman suffering from endometriosis. Because of pain and a desire for pregnancy, she was scheduled for surgery. After setting the patient in gynecologic position, we used a uterine manipulator to facilitate exposure. We assessed the global situation and discovered a frozen pelvis. To treat the myoma, the surgeon should use traction and countertraction as much as possible. We started with the caecum and sigmoid detachment. Then we performed a bilateral ureterolysis. Once the ureters were identified, we could perform safely the adhesiolysis of the bowel from the uterus. The adnexas could be freed and suspended with a T-Lift device to facilitate exposure. After identifying the utero sacral ligament, we opened the para rectal fossa, leading to the opening of the recto vaginal space. The anatomy was then restored, and we could define the specific surgical strategies. CONCLUSION: Frozen pelvis is a situation where anatomy is distorted. The surgeon should find anatomic landmarks to restore anatomy and to establish specific strategies adapted to the patient.

Resection of Bronchogenic Cysts in Symptomatic Versus Asymptomatic Patients: An Outcome Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The natural evolution of bronchogenic cysts (BCs) is unpredictable. Although most surgeons agree that symptomatic BCs should be resected, questions remain regarding the optimal management of asymptomatic mediastinal cysts. We present a case series of BCs to compare patients who underwent preventive operation with those who underwent surgical procedure after symptom onset. METHODS: This 15-year multicenter retrospective study included 114 patients (32 children and 82 adults). Data on clinical history, pathology, mean hospital stay, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and associated intraoperative procedures were analyzed separately for symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. RESULTS: A total of 53 asymptomatic patients (46.5%) were compared with 61 symptomatic patients (53.5%). There were significantly more adults in the symptomatic group than in the asymptomatic group (48 vs 34 patients, P < .05). A thoracoscopic approach was used in 88 patients (77%), with 7 conversions to thoracotomy (9%), all in symptomatic patients. There were significantly more additional procedures (20% vs 4%, P = .01) and more intraoperative complications (20% vs 4%, P = .01) in symptomatic patients, but postoperative complications between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients were similar. The postoperative length of stay was significantly longer in symptomatic patients (5.71 days vs 4 days, P < .001). Pathologic examination found significantly more inflammatory reactions in symptomatic patients. CONCLUSION: Early surgical management of BCs may be recommended to prevent symptomatic complications, which are unpredictable and whose management is more complicated in advanced BCs. Surgery can be performed with a thoracoscopic approach, which is easier and safer when the cyst is small and uncomplicated.