Vaginal Myomectomy Using the Dührssen (Longitudinal Median Cervical) Incision: A Case Series of 19 Patients.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To examine demographics and outcome measures of women having undergone vaginal excision of myomas through the Dührssen (longitudinal median cervical) incision. DESIGN: Prospective case series (Canadian Task Force classification II-3). SETTING: A London teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Nineteen patients with either a submucous myoma (type 1) located near the cervix or a pedunculated intracavity myoma (type 0), excised via the Dührssen incision. INTERVENTIONS: Dührssen (median longitudinal) incision on the anterior or posterior cervical lip. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Duration of procedures, intraoperative complications, estimated blood loss, length of stay, percent of patients discharged in 24 hours, and readmission rates were studied. Between 2009 and 2016, 19 women had their myomas (submucous type 1, n = 17; pedunculated intracavity type 0, n = 2) removed vaginally with the Dührssen incision. The median age at time of procedure was 46 years (range, 43-55), and the most common indication was menorrhagia, which occurred in 90% of cases. The median myoma size was 7 cm (range, 6-9), whereas the median duration of surgery was 60 minutes (range, 40-120). Anterior cervical incisions were performed in 60% of cases, and 20% of the patients received gonadotropins for medical debulking of the myomas before surgery. One patient sustained a bladder injury that occurred when making the anterior cervical incision. The median length of stay was 8 hours (range, 6-36) and the median estimated blood loss was 90 mL (range, 50-150). The median duration of follow-up was 4 years (range, .5-6), and no patients had symptoms that were attributable to the procedure. CONCLUSION: This is a useful technique that complements a minimally invasive surgeon's repertoire and is a viable alternative when hysteroscopic myomectomy is deemed unsuitable because of location and size of the myomas.

Cost effectiveness of enhanced recovery after surgery programme for vaginal hysterectomy: a comparison of pre and post-implementation expenditures.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery programmes were first conceived to optimise perioperative patient care and have been delivered by surgical specialities in the UK for over a decade. Although their safety and acceptability have been ratified in many surgical fields including gynaecology and colorectal surgery, the cost effectiveness of its implementation in benign vaginal surgery remains unclear. In this case-control study, the perioperative expenditure for 45 women undergoing vaginal hysterectomy at a North London teaching hospital after implementation of an enhanced recovery pathway was compared with 45 matched controls prior to implementation. Frequency of catheter use (84.4% vs. 95.6%) and median length of stay (23.5 vs. 42.9 h) were significantly lower following implementation of pathway (both p < 0.05). Although enhanced recovery patients were more likely to attend the accident and emergency department for minor symptoms following discharge (15.6% vs. 0%, p < 0.05), the inpatient readmission rate (6.7% vs. 0.0%, p > 0.05) was similar in both groups. Establishing the programme incurred additional expenditures including delivering a patient-orientated gynaecology 'school' and employing a specialist enhanced recovery nurse, but despite these, we demonstrated a saving of 15.2% (or £164.86) per patient. The cost efficiency savings, coupled with increased satisfaction and no rise in morbidity, offers a very attractive means of managing women undergoing vaginal hysterectomy. We believe that our data can be reproduced in other centres and recommend that the pathway be used routinely in women undergoing these procedures.

Application of uterine compression suture in association with intrauterine balloon tamponade ('uterine sandwich') for postpartum hemorrhage.

We evaluated in a prospective observational study the use of a 'uterine sandwich' technique (uterine compression sutures in association with intrauterine tamponade) in women who had had unsuccessful medical treatment for postpartum hemorrhage. Ten of the 11 patients had cesarean sections (complicated by placenta previa and uterine atony) and one had a normal delivery. The median estimated blood loss and units of blood transfused were 1500ml (range 750-4000ml) and two units (range 0-9), respectively. B-Lynch sutures were placed in two patients and Hayman's modification was used in nine. Bakri balloon tamponade was in place for a median of 22 hours (range 17-27 hours), while the median volume infused in the balloon was 300ml (range 150-350ml). The combined technique was successful in avoiding hysterectomy in all cases, and there was no documented postpartum morbidity. This is a simple and quick surgical technique that can be used to treat atonic postpartum hemorrhage, particularly in conjunction with placenta previa.

CIN III Diagnosed following Surgical Termination of Pregnancy.

We present a case of a 30-year-old mother of four who was incidentally diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) III following surgical termination of pregnancy. Five years previously a routine smear test had shown mild dyskaryosis but was never repeated. She was referred to colposcopy and, underwent loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) and subsequently vaginal hysterectomy. Without this incidental finding she would have undoubtedly developed cervical cancer. We discuss the deficiencies in current cervical cancer prevention strategies and termination of pregnancy services. We emphasise the importance of ensuring that patients with dyskaryosis are not lost to follow-up and we consider whether there should be clearer guidance on the value of histological examination of products of conception following termination of pregnancy.

Chronic abdominal pregnancy following rupture from a bicornuate uterus.

The authors report a rare occurrence of a chronic abdominal pregnancy secondary to a ruptured bicornuate uterus. It is unusual in that rupture of the uterine horn probably occurred 2 weeks prior to diagnosis. Management was laparotomy to remove the fetus with resection and repair of the uterus. Uterine anomalies, their imaging and diagnosis, as well as the patient's subsequent reproductive prognosis are discussed.

Ascites in the puerperium: a missed diagnosis of acute postpartum pancreatitis.

INTRODUCTION: Acute pancreatitis in pregnancy is often associated with severe morbidity. It is usually an antepartum problem occurring in late pregnancy. It rarely occurs in the postpartum period and when it does diagnosis can be difficult. CASE REPORT: We report a case of 'unexplained' ascites following ventouse delivery, diagnosed 6 weeks later as acute pancreatitis. CONCLUSION: Although it is rare, acute pancreatitis must be considered when evaluating patients presenting with abdominal pain and/or ascites in the postpartum period. Serum amylase may not always be elevated and early recourse to CT scan will facilitate diagnosis and allow for appropriate management.