Automatic Smoke Analysis in Minimally Invasive Surgery by Image-Based Machine Learning.

INTRODUCTION: Minimally Invasive Surgery uses electrosurgical tools that generate smoke. This smoke reduces the visibility of the surgical site and spreads harmful substances with potential hazards for the surgical staff. Automatic image analysis may provide assistance. However, the existing studies are restricted to simple clear versus smoky image classification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We propose a novel approach using surgical image analysis with machine learning, including deep neural networks. We address three tasks: 1) smoke quantification, which estimates the visual level of smoke, 2) smoke evacuation confidence, which estimates the level of confidence to evacuate smoke, and 3) smoke evacuation recommendation, which estimates the evacuation decision. We collected three datasets with expert annotations. We trained end-to-end neural networks for the three tasks. We also created indirect predictors using task 1 followed by linear regression to solve task 2 and using task 2 followed by binary classification to solve task 3. RESULTS: We observe a reasonable inter-expert variability for tasks 1 and a large one for tasks 2 and 3. For task 1, the expert error is 17.61 percentage points (pp) and the neural network error is 18.45 pp. For tasks 2, the best results are obtained from the indirect predictor based on task 1. For this task, the expert error is 27.35 pp and the predictor error is 23.60 pp. For task 3, the expert accuracy is 76.78% and the predictor accuracy is 81.30%. CONCLUSIONS: Smoke quantification, evacuation confidence, and evaluation recommendation can be achieved by automatic surgical image analysis with similar or better accuracy as the experts.

In the thicket of fears, doubts, and murky facts: some reflections on treatment modalities for endometriosis-associated pain.

Endometriosis-associated pain can be managed by either surgery or hormonal therapy. The final decision as to which treatment modality to take is based on efficacy and possible complications of different treatment modalities, risk of recurrence, and the patient's wishes and preferences. But in the thicket of fears, doubts, and murky facts, the choice may ultimately be the trade-off between irrational fears and ignorance versus scientific evidence. We elaborate some pros and cons of the two treatment modalities and highlight some notable downsides of hormonal therapy, in particular the possible yet unquantified risk of long-term hormonal therapy for malignant transformation, perhaps with the only exception of combined oral contraceptives. Thus, when discussing with patients, we advocate the approach of discussing the advantages and disadvantages of all treatment options in detail, accounting for the known pros and cons with a full understanding of the predictive irrationality of human beings. For endometriosis-associated pain, surgery is definitely not a failure of medicine but, rather, a viable option, especially given the recently surfaced undercurrent of wariness and dissatisfaction with the current hormonal drugs among patients with endometriosis. Above all, there is a pressing need to fill the knowledge gap of perioperative interventions intended to reduce the risk of recurrence and to fulfill the demand for the development of safe and efficacious non-hormonal therapeutics.

IL-10 is not anti-fibrotic but pro-fibrotic in endometriosis: IL-10 treatment of endometriotic stromal cells in vitro promotes myofibroblast proliferation and collagen type I protein expression.

STUDY QUESTION: Is interleukin-10 (IL-10) anti-fibrotic in endometriosis? SUMMARY ANSWER: IL-10 is not anti-fibrotic but pro-fibrotic in endometriosis, because IL-10 treatment of endometriotic stromal cells in vitro promotes myofibroblast proliferation and collagen type I protein expression. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: We previously showed that persistent activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) via IL-6 trans-signaling promotes fibrosis of endometriosis. Studies showed marked anti-fibrotic effects of IL-10 via the STAT3 signaling pathway, which is generally considered to be anti-inflammatory, in various organs. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Endometrial and/or endometriotic samples of 54 patients who had histological evidence of deep endometriosis, and endometrial samples from 30 healthy fertile women were analyzed. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: The effects of IL-10/STAT3 signaling as well as inhibition of STAT3 activation by knockdown of STAT3 gene on the pro-fibrotic phenotype in endometrial and endometriotic stromal cells in vitro were investigated. Then, the effects of various time points of IL-10 treatment in combination with transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 and/or IL-6/soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) on the profibrotic phenotype of endometrial and endometriotic stromal cells were investigated. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: IL-10 induced pro-fibrotic phenotype (cell proliferation, collagen type I synthesis, α-smooth muscle actin positive stress fibers and collagen gel contraction) of endometriotic stromal cells. Knockdown of STAT3 gene decreased the IL-10 induced pro-fibrotic phenotype of endometriotic stromal cells. In contrast, IL-10 had no significant effects on pro-fibrotic phenotype of endometrial stromal cells of healthy women. Sequential IL-10 treatment with or without TGF-ß1 and/or IL-6/sIL-6R induced persistent activation of STAT3 and significantly increased proliferation of myofibroblasts (cells with α-smooth muscle actin positive stress fibers) and protein expression of collagen type I in endometriotic stromal cells. TGF-ß1 and/or IL-6/sIL6RIL-6/sIL6R treatment significantly increased tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1) protein expression, whereas IL-10 had no significant effects. Knockdown of STAT3 gene significantly decreased the TGF-ß1 and/or IL-6/sIL6R induced TIMP1 protein expression. In contrast, pre-treatment with IL-10 before TGF-ß1 and/or IL-6/sIL-6R treatment and sequential IL-10 treatment with or without TGF-ß1 and/or IL-6/sIL-6R significantly decreased proliferation of fibroblasts (cells without α-smooth muscle actin positive stress fibers) and collagen type I protein expression in endometrial stromal cells of healthy women. LARGE SCALE DATA: N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Given the large number of complex interactions and signaling pathways of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators that are involved in the pathophysiology of endometriosis, the present study investigated only a very small portion of the whole. Further in vivo studies are required to validate the present findings. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Inflammatory mediators in the pathophysiology of endometriosis have been extensively investigated as potential therapeutic targets. However, the present study showed that anti-inflammatory signals of IL-10 and IL-6 through persistent STAT3 activation may promote endometriosis fibrosis. Therapeutic strategies, such as suppression of 'inflammation', might dysregulate the cross-regulation of 'pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators', leading to detrimental effects in patients with endometriosis, such as fibrosis. To develop new, but not deleterious, therapeutic strategies, studies are required to investigate whether, how and what 'anti-inflammatory mediators' along with pro-inflammatory mediators are involved in individual patients with endometriosis. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This study was supported in part by KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG (Tuttlingen, Germany). The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

SurgAI3.8K: A Labeled Dataset of Gynecologic Organs in Laparoscopy with Application to Automatic Augmented Reality Surgical Guidance.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We focus on explaining the concepts underlying artificial intelligence (AI), using Uteraug, a laparoscopic surgery guidance application based on Augmented Reality (AR), to provide concrete examples. AI can be used to automatically interpret the surgical images. We are specifically interested in the tasks of uterus segmentation and uterus contouring in laparoscopic images. A major difficulty with AI methods is their requirement for a massive amount of annotated data. We propose SurgAI3.8K, the first gynaecological dataset with annotated anatomy. We study the impact of AI on automating key steps of Uteraug. DESIGN: We constructed the SurgAI3.8K dataset with 3800 images extracted from 79 laparoscopy videos. We created the following annotations: the uterus segmentation, the uterus contours and the regions of the left and right fallopian tube junctions. We divided our dataset into a training and a test dataset. Our engineers trained a neural network from the training dataset. We then investigated the performance of the neural network compared to the experts on the test dataset. In particular, we established the relationship between the size of the training dataset and the performance, by creating size-performance graphs. SETTING: University. PATIENTS: Not available. INTERVENTION: Not available. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The size-performance graphs show a performance plateau at 700 images for uterus segmentation and 2000 images for uterus contouring. The final segmentation scores on the training and test dataset were 94.6% and 84.9% (the higher, the better) and the final contour error were 19.5% and 47.3% (the lower, the better). These results allowed us to bootstrap Uteraug, achieving AR performance equivalent to its current manual setup. CONCLUSION: We describe a concrete AI system in laparoscopic surgery with all steps from data collection, data annotation, neural network training, performance evaluation, to final application.

Persistent activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 via interleukin-6 trans-signaling is involved in fibrosis of endometriosis.

STUDY QUESTION: Is activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) via interleukin-6 (IL-6) trans-signaling involved in fibrosis of endometriosis? SUMMARY ANSWER: Persistent activation of STAT3 via IL-6 trans-signaling is involved in fibrosis of endometriosis. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Our previous study showed that sustained low-grade inflammation promotes a fibrotic phenotype in endometriotic stromal cells. However, the underlying mechanisms of the establishment of non-resolving, low-grade inflammation in endometriosis remain to be clarified. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Endometrial and/or endometriotic samples of 60 patients who had histological evidence of deep endometriosis and endometrial samples from 32 healthy fertile women were analyzed. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: The effects of priming with ligands of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 2, 3 and 4 on secretion of inflammatory mediators (tumor necrosis factor-α, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand-10 [CXCL-10], IL6 and IL-10) after a second challenge with TLR ligands in endometrial and endometriotic stromal cells were investigated. Then, the effects of IL-6/soluble (s) IL-6 receptor (R)/STAT3 signaling, as well as inhibition of STAT3 activation by knockdown of STAT3 or pharmacological inhibition (S3I-201), on the pro-fibrotic phenotype in endometrial and endometriotic stromal cells in vitro were investigated. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Priming with TLR ligands for 4 h had no significant effects, whereas 24 h of priming significantly decreased secretion of IL-6, after a second challenge in endometrial stromal cells of healthy women. In endometriotic stromal cells, whereas 24 h of priming had no significant effects, priming with TLR ligands for 4 h significantly increased secretion of IL-6 after a second challenge. IL-6/soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) induced a pro-fibrotic phenotype (cell proliferation, collagen type I synthesis, α-smooth muscle actin positive stress fibers, cell migration and collagen gel contraction) as well as nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation of endometriotic stromal cells. In contrast, IL-6/sIL-6R had no significant effects on either a pro-fibrotic phenotype or NF-κB activation of endometrial stromal cells of healthy women. Stimulation with transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 and/or IL-6/sIL-6R for 1 h and 48 h activated STAT3, but induced very low or no suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) 1 and 3 protein expression in endometriotic stromal cells. In endometrial stromal cells of healthy women, IL-6/sIL-6R-induced STAT3 and SOCS1/3 expression at 1 h, whereas no STAT3 activation was detected at 48 h. Knockdown of STAT3 gene or S3I-201 (a STAT3 inhibitor) decreased the IL-6/sIL-6R-induced pro-fibrotic phenotype as well as NF-κB activation and TGF-ß1-induced cell proliferation of endometriotic stromal cells. LARGE SCALE DATA: N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: In vivo studies are required to confirm the present in vitro results. However, it remains challenging to mimic non-resolving chronic inflammation in animal models, as active inflammation can resolve spontaneously. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Dysfunction of negative regulators of IL-6/sIL-6R/STAT3 signaling may cause persistent activation of STAT3 in endometriosis. Since STAT3 activation in the endometrium is essential for successful embryo implantation, treatment with STAT3 inhibitors would not be appropriate for women wishing to conceive. However, targeting impaired negative regulation of IL-6/sIL-6R/STAT3 signaling may still represent a promising avenue for the treatment of endometriosis. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This study was supported in part by the KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG (Tuttlingen, Germany). There are no conflicts of interest.

Laparoscopic management of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy: a phase II prospective multicenter non-randomized trial (the CILOVE study).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility and safety of the laparoscopic approach after neoadjuvant chemotherapy among selected chemosensitive patients with advanced ovarian cancer. METHODS: The CILOVE study was a phase II prospective non-randomized multicenter study. It aimed to enroll 47 women with unresectable disease at the time of initial diagnosis (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IV and/or diffuse extensive carcinomatosis for advanced FIGO stage IIIC or patients unfit to withstand radical primary surgery), in response to chemotherapy and fit to undergo laparoscopy. RESULTS: Among the 48 patients enrolled in the trial, 44 (92%) patients underwent exploratory staging laparoscopy and, as a result, 41 patients were eligible for cytoreductive surgery. Among them, 32 were intended to be managed by laparoscopy and nine patients were managed by laparotomy. The conversion rate to laparotomy was 9.4% (3/32) and the reasons were multiple surgical adhesions (n=1), miliary carcinomatosis and adhesion to the intraperitoneal mesh (n=1), and poor laparoscopic evaluation of transverse colon involvement (n=1). All except one patient had optimal cytoreduction (97% complete cytoreduction, 3% incomplete cytoreduction (residual tumor <2.5 mm)). The median operative time was 267 min (range 146-415) and the median estimated blood loss was 150 mL (range 0-500). Two patients had intra-operative complications: one diaphragm rupture that was repaired during laparoscopy and one bradycardia. Six patients experienced early post-operative complications (<1 month), but there were no grade 3 and 4 complications (3 infections, 1 lymphoedema, 2 hemorrhage). After cytoreductive laparoscopy, the percentage of patients without progression at 12 months was 87.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Interval ovarian cytoreduction by a laparoscopic approach is safe and feasible for patients with a favorable response to chemotherapy. With the widespread use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the management of advanced ovarian cancer, a minimally invasive approach may be a potential option.

SurgAI: deep learning for computerized laparoscopic image understanding in gynaecology.

BACKGROUND: In laparoscopy, the digital camera offers surgeons the opportunity to receive support from image-guided surgery systems. Such systems require image understanding, the ability for a computer to understand what the laparoscope sees. Image understanding has recently progressed owing to the emergence of artificial intelligence and especially deep learning techniques. However, the state of the art of deep learning in gynaecology only offers image-based detection, reporting the presence or absence of an anatomical structure, without finding its location. A solution to the localisation problem is given by the concept of semantic segmentation, giving the detection and pixel-level location of a structure in an image. The state-of-the-art results in semantic segmentation are achieved by deep learning, whose usage requires a massive amount of annotated data. We propose the first dataset dedicated to this task and the first evaluation of deep learning-based semantic segmentation in gynaecology. METHODS: We used the deep learning method called Mask R-CNN. Our dataset has 461 laparoscopic images manually annotated with three classes: uterus, ovaries and surgical tools. We split our dataset in 361 images to train Mask R-CNN and 100 images to evaluate its performance. RESULTS: The segmentation accuracy is reported in terms of percentage of overlap between the segmented regions from Mask R-CNN and the manually annotated ones. The accuracy is 84.5%, 29.6% and 54.5% for uterus, ovaries and surgical tools, respectively. An automatic detection of these structures was then inferred from the semantic segmentation results which led to state-of-the-art detection performance, except for the ovaries. Specifically, the detection accuracy is 97%, 24% and 86% for uterus, ovaries and surgical tools, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary results are very promising, given the relatively small size of our initial dataset. The creation of an international surgical database seems essential.

Surgical Technique for Endometrioma in 10 Steps.

OBJECTIVE: Laparoscopic cystectomy for endometrioma has the advantages of a minimally invasive approach. The standardization and description of the technique are the main objectives of this video. We described the surgery in 10 steps, which could help to make this procedure easier and safer. DESIGN: Step-by-step video demonstration of the technique. SETTING: A French university tertiary care hospital. INTERVENTION: Two standardized laparoscopic cystectomy were recorded to realize the video. The local institutional review board ruled that approval was not required because the video describes a technique and does not report a clinical case. This video presents a systematic approach to cystectomy for endometrioma clearly divided into 10 steps: (1) preoperative evaluation [1]; (2) diagnosis and exploration [2]; (3) adhesiolysis, mobilization of the ovary; (4) cyst rupture, exposition of the entry site; (5) identification of the cleavage plan; (6) endometrioma easy dissection; (7) endometrioma difficult dissection; (8) hemostasis, reconstruction of the ovary [3]; (9) exploration of the ovarian fossa; and (10) washing, extraction of the cyst [3,4]. CONCLUSION: Standardization of laparoscopic cystectomy for endometrioma could make this procedure easier and safer to perform. The 10 steps presented help to perform each part of the surgery in a logical sequence, making the procedure easier to realize. Moreover, the standardization of the surgical techniques may reduce the learning curve.

Termino-terminal Ureteral Laparoscopic Anastomosis in a Case of Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Laparoscopic termino-terminal ureteral anastomosis has all the advantages of a minimally invasive approach in addition to the treatment of the pathologic condition [1]. Ureteral deep endometriosis can lead to severe consequences, such as hydroureteronephrosis and renal failure [2,3]. The main objective of this video is to present our surgical strategy and technique for cases of ureteral deep infiltrating endometriosis, which could help surgeons to understand and perform this surgery in a safe way in patients. DESIGN: Video demonstration of the technique. SETTING: French university tertiary-care hospital. INTERVENTIONS: This video presents a termino-terminal laparoscopic ureteral anastomosis and shows our team's strategy for surgical treatment in a 42-year-old woman with deep infiltrating ureteral left endometriosis, with consequent stenosis and left hydroureteronephrosis. A full resection of the endometriotic ureteral nodule was performed, followed by a termino-terminal anastomosis of the ureter. The use of intravenous indocyanine green to assess the postanastomotic ureteral perfusion and its risk of leakage or fistula are described in the video [2-5]. CONCLUSION: Ureteral endometriosis can lead to severe consequences, and the surgical treatment can be difficult and, most times, incomplete. This video gives a detailed example of the strategy our team used to perform a termino-terminal ureteral laparoscopic anastomosis in a structured way.

Transobturator Vaginal Tape in 10 Steps.

OBJECTIVE: Transvaginal tension-free vaginal tape-obturator (TVT-O) is an effective surgical treatment for stress urinary incontinence in women [1]. A correct preoperative urodynamic study has a role in obtaining the best results. However, some complications still occur during and after this surgical procedure. These complications cause a high burden for patients, who frequently have to receive other invasive treatments subsequently. The main objective of this video is the standardization and accurate description of this surgical procedure while adding some tips and tricks. DESIGN: Step-by-step description of the technique through a video. SETTING: A French tertiary care teaching hospital. INTERVENTIONS: `The local institutional review board was consulted and ruled that approval was not required. Patients cannot be identified and they signed a written consent to use video-recording for research, scientific and teaching purposes. We provided this video of TVT-O procedures to identify more delicate steps of this surgical procedure to clarify managing them successfully. We assessed 10 rational steps in the procedure to standardize it. This video presents clearly the standardization of this technique in 10 steps: (1) patient's ergonomy, (2) anesthetic infiltration, (3) single vaginal incision, (4) creation of the pathway for device placement, (5) placement of the device, (6) check flat position of the tape, (7) obtain the correct tension of the mesh, (8) cut both lateral arms of the tape emerging from the skin, (9) urinary drainage to exclude stenosis, and (10) suture vaginal mucosa and skin. CONCLUSION: Together with an appropriate preoperative study, the standardization of this surgical procedure and the application of tips and tricks suggested could make this technique easier to learn for beginners [2] and could help experienced surgeons in reducing, as much as possible, the most frequent complications as well [3].

Laparoscopic Ovarian Dermoid Cystectomy in 10 Steps.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Laparoscopic cystectomy for ovarian teratomas has the advantages of a minimally invasive approach [1]. The standardization and description of the technique are the main objectives of this video (Video 1). We described the surgery in 10 steps [2], which could help make this procedure easier and safer. DESIGN: A step-by-step video demonstration of the technique. SETTING: A French university tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: Patients with ovarian teratomas with indication for laparoscopic cystectomy [3]. The local institutional review board ruled that approval was not required for this video article because the video describes a technique and does not report a clinical case. INTERVENTIONS: Standardized laparoscopic cystectomies were recorded to realize the video. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: This video presents a systematic approach to cystectomy for teratoma clearly divided into 10 steps: (1) planning of the surgery, (2) ergonomy and materials, (3) exploration and cytology, (4) prevention of peritoneal spillage [4], (5) mobilization of the ovary, (6) incision of the ovary, (7) dissection, (8) hemostasis, (9) exteriorization of the cyst, and (10) washing and exploration. CONCLUSION: Standardization of laparoscopic cystectomy for ovarian teratoma could make this procedure easier and safer to perform. The 10 steps presented help to perform each part of the surgery in a logical sequence, making the procedure ergonomic and easier to adopt and learn. Moreover, the standardization of the surgical techniques could reduce the learning curve.

Augmented Reality with Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Tractography during Laparoscopic Myomectomies.

Augmented reality is a technology that allows a surgeon to see key hidden subsurface structures in an endoscopic video in real-time. This works by overlaying information obtained from preoperative imaging and fusing it in real-time with the endoscopic image. Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and fiber tractography are known to provide additional information to that obtained from standard structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Here, we report the first 2 cases of the use of real-time augmented reality during laparoscopic myomectomies with visualization of uterine muscle fibers after DTI tractography-MRI to help the surgeon decide the starting point incision. In the first case, a 31-year-old patient was undergoing laparoscopic surgery for a 6-cm FIGO type V myoma. In the second case, a 38-year-old patient was undergoing a laparoscopic myomectomy for a unique 6-cm FIGO type VI myoma. Signed consent forms were obtained from both patients, which included clauses of no modification of the surgery. Before surgery, MRI was performed. The external surface of the uterus, the uterine cavity, and the surface of the myomas were delimited on the basis of the findings of preoperative MRI. A fiber tracking algorithm was used to extrapolate the uterine muscle fibers' architecture. The aligned models were blended with each video frame to give the impression that the uterus is almost transparent, enabling the surgeon to localize the myomas and uterine cavity exactly. The uterine muscle fibers were also displayed, and their visualization helped us decide the starting incision point for the myomectomies. Then, myomectomies were performed using a classic laparoscopic technique. These case reports show that augmented reality and DTI fiber tracking in a uterus with myomas are possible, providing fiber direction and helping the surgeon visualize and decide the starting incision point for laparoscopic myomectomy. Respecting the fibers' orientation could improve the quality of the scar and decrease the architectural disorganization of the uterus.

Identification of Predictive Factors in Endometriosis for Improvement in Patient Quality of Life.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate predictive factors for change in quality of life (QOL) between pre- and postoperative periods in patients with endometriosis. DESIGN: A prospective and multicenter cohort study. SETTING: Five districts including a tertiary referral center and private and general public hospitals. PATIENTS: Nine hundred eighty-one patients aged 15 to 50 years underwent laparoscopic treatment (preferred approach) for endometriosis between January 2004 and December 2012. INTERVENTIONS: Laparoscopic treatment for endometriosis. All revised American Fertility Society stages were included. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: QOL was evaluated using the 36-Item Short Form Survey questionnaire. Factors influencing changes for each 36-Item Shorty Form Survey domain score between t0 (before surgery) and 1 year after surgery were predicted on the basis of univariate and multivariable analyses. The effect size (ES) method was used to measure changes in QOL. Univariate analysis revealed that 47% of stage IV endometriosis patients presented an improvement in the postoperative Physical Component Summary (PCS) score (ES ≥ 0.8) versus 26%, 31.3%, and 27.5% of patients with stage I, II, and III, respectively (p <.001). Forty-four percent and 38% of patients with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) presented an improvement in postoperative PCS and Mental Component Summary scores (ES>0.8) versus 23% and 24% of patients without CPP, respectively (p <.001). Multivariable analysis (ES > 0.8 vs ES < 0) revealed that women with CPP were more likely to experience greater improvement in postoperative PCS and Mental Component Summary scores than women without CPP (relative risk [RR] = 2.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7-4.4; p <.001 and RR = 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2-2.8; p <.01, respectively). Accordingly, fertile patients were more likely to show higher rates of improvement in the postoperative PCS score than infertile patients (RR = 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1-3.1; p <.05). CONCLUSION: Patients presenting with severe endometriosis and who experience higher levels of pain are more likely to show improvement in QOL after surgery. CPP is the most significant independent predictive factor for changes in QOL scores.

What Is a Good Teaching Video? Results of an Online International Survey.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To analyze surgeon views on criteria for a good teaching video with the aim of determining guidelines. DESIGN: An online international survey using a self-developed questionnaire. SETTING: A French university tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: Three hundred eighty-eight participants answered an online questionnaire (154 women [40.53%] and 226 men [59.47%]). INTERVENTIONS: A questionnaire on the criteria for a good quality teaching surgery video was developed by our team and communicated via an online link. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The responses of 388 respondents were analyzed and highlighted the pedagogical benefits of teaching videos. The video duration may vary according to the type of media or surgical procedure but should not exceed 10 to 15 minutes for complex procedures. Providing information on the surgical setup (body mass index of the patient, Trendelenburg position degree, pressure of pneumoperitoneum, etc.) is essential. Surgical videos should be reviewed and divided into clearly defined steps with continued access to the entire nonmodified video for reviewers and be accessible on both educational and open platforms. Patient consent and relevant information should be made available. Reviews should include "bad procedure" videos, which are highly appreciated, especially by young surgeons. CONCLUSION: The many advantages of the video format, including availability and rising popularity, provide an opportunity to reinforce and complement current surgical teaching. To optimize use of this surgical teaching tool, standardization, updating, and ease of access of surgical videos should be promoted.

Minilaparoscopic Total Hysterectomy in Current Practice Feasibility and Benefits: A Unicentric, Randomized Controlled Trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether mini-instrumentation may be used for hysterectomy (HT) by all surgeons (assistants and seniors) without increasing the operative time or altering surgeon working conditions. DESIGN: A unicenter, randomized controlled, single blind, parallel, noninferiority trial comparing 2 surgical techniques. SETTING: A tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Thirty-two patients undergoing HT for a benign gynecologic disease were enrolled in this study in our center between April 2, 2015, and June 1, 2018. Sixteen patients were randomized in group A and 16 patients in group B. INTERVENTIONS: HT with bilateral annexectomy or ovarian conservation using 3-mm instruments (group A) or conventional 5-mm instruments (group B). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Concerning the primary outcome, the operative time for the HT 3-mm group was 128 minutes (range, 122-150 minutes) versus 111 minutes (range, 92-143 minutes) for the HT 5-mm group (i.e., δ = 17 [90% confidence interval, -6 to 39]), with rejection of the noninferiority threshold at 35 minutes. Thirty-one percent of HTs initially performed using 3-mm instruments were completed with conventional instruments. HTs performed with mini-instruments required more concentration (p = .02) with surgeons reporting higher levels of frustration (p = .009) and sense of failure (p = .006). Patients tend to experience greater satisfaction regarding scars with a significant difference noted during the postoperative visit both for scar pain (1 vs 4 patients with moderate pain [30-50 mm on the Patient Scar Assessment Scale) in the HT 3-mm group and the HT 5-mm group, respectively) and scar firmness (p = .021; 3 vs 7 patients with moderate firmness [30-50 mm on the Patient Scar Assessment Scale] in the HT 3-mm group and the HT 5-mm group, respectively). CONCLUSION: Total minilaparoscopic HT appears inferior to standard laparoscopy in terms of operative time and surgeon working conditions; only the short-term cosmetic appearance was in favor of the 3-mm approach.

Use of Augmented Reality in Gynecologic Surgery to Visualize Adenomyomas.

Augmented reality (AR) is a surgical guidance technology that allows key hidden subsurface structures to be visualized by endoscopic imaging. We report here 2 cases of patients with adenomyoma selected for the AR technique. The adenomyomas were localized using AR during laparoscopy. Three-dimensional models of the uterus, uterine cavity, and adenomyoma were constructed before surgery from T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, allowing an intraoperative 3-dimensional shape of the uterus to be obtained. These models were automatically aligned and "fused" with the laparoscopic video in real time, giving the uterus a semitransparent appearance and allowing the surgeon in real time to both locate the position of the adenomyoma and uterine cavity and rapidly decide how best to access the adenomyoma. In conclusion, the use of our AR system designed for gynecologic surgery leads to improvements in laparoscopic adenomyomectomy and surgical safety.

Laparoscopic Resection of Diaphragmatic Endometriosis in 10 Steps.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Laparoscopic resection of diaphragmatic endometriosis has the advantages of a minimally invasive approach [1]. The standardization and description of the technique are the main objectives of this video. We described the procedure in 10 steps to make it easier and safer. DESIGN: A step-by-step video demonstration of the technique (Video 1). SETTING: A French university tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: Patients with diaphragmatic endometriosis confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging [2]. The local institutional review board ruled that approval was not required for this video article because the video describes a technique and does not report a clinical case. INTERVENTION: There are no guidelines on the surgical treatment of diaphragmatic endometriosis [3]. We propose a laparoscopic approach using a right lateral access with the patient in the left lateral decubitus position [4]. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: This video presents the procedure divided into the following 10 steps: step 1, set up; step 2, patient position; step 3, installation of the trocars; step 4, releasing the liver; step 5, exposure of the diaphragmatic endometriosis; step 6, making a diaphragmatic defect; step 7, exploring the thoracic cavity; step 8, resection of diaphragmatic endometriosis; step 9, inserting the suction catheter; and step 10, closing the diaphragmatic defect. CONCLUSION: Standardization of laparoscopic resection of diaphragmatic endometriosis could make this procedure easier and safer to perform. The left lateral decubitus position helps to have complete exposure of the right diaphragmatic muscle and endometriosis. We presented 10 steps to help perform each part of the surgery in logical sequence, making the procedure ergonomic and easier to adopt and learn [5]. Standardization of laparoscopic techniques could help to reduce the learning curve.

Laparoscopic Management of an Intrauterine Fallopian Tube Incarceration After Curettage for a Non-progressing Pregnancy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To report and demonstrate a case of a laparoscopic repair of an intrauterine fallopian tube incarceration as complication of curettage. DESIGN: A step-by-step explanation of the surgery using video (instructive video) (Canadian Task Force classification III). SETTING: University Hospital Estaing, Clermont-Ferrand, France. PATIENT: A 29-year-old woman experiencing a nonevolving pregnancy at 8 weeks underwent curettage. After 9 months, she complained of abnormal vaginal discharge. Ultrasound evaluation showed a right parauterine mass. She reported a maternal medical history of ovarian cancer in a context of Lynch syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a right hydrosalpinx 12 mm in diameter, with a suspect fimbriae lesion of the tube and a 7-mm endometriosis nodule of the uterine torus. INTERVENTION: We decided to explore the fallopian tube by laparoscopy and to perform hysteroscopy. A fallopian tube incarceration was suspected during hysteroscopy: a defect of the uterine wall was observed, through which there was protrusion of a tubal fimbriae. The laparoscopic view of the pelvis confirmed incarceration of the right fallopian tube through the uterine wall. It was carefully extracted out of the uterine defect, and the uterine wall defect was repaired with an X-point using Monocryl 1. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A tubal patency test was performed, which was positive on both sides. Because phimosis responsible for the hydrosalpinx had been treated, salpingectomy was not performed. CONCLUSION: Curettage for miscarriage or undesired pregnancy is not exempt from complications, such as hemorrhage, simple perforation, and infection. Intrauterine fallopian tube incarceration is uncommon but can affect fertility. This diagnosis is important to avoid destruction of the fimbriae and necrosis of the tube and also to reduce the risk of ectopic pregnancy.

Patient Quality of Life and Symptoms after Surgical Treatment for Endometriosis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of surgical treatment of endometriosis on quality of life and pain over a 3-year period of postoperative follow-up. DESIGN: Prospective and multicenter cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: Five districts including a tertiary referral center and private and general public hospitals. PATIENT: Patients (n = 981), aged 15 to 50years, underwent laparoscopic treatment (preferred approach) for endometriosis between January 2004 and December 2012. INTERVENTION: Laparoscopic treatment for endometriosis. All revised American Fertility Society stages were included. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The mean visual analog scale score for dysmenorrhea fell from 5.3 ± 3.7 (time 0) to 2.6 ± 3.3 at 6 months, and 2.3 ± 3.3 at 36 months of follow-up (p <.001). Mean visual analog scale scores for chronic pelvic pain and dyspareunia fell from 2.6 ± 3.5 and 2.7 ± 3.2, respectively, before surgery to 1.4 ± 2.5 and 1.1 ± 2.2 at 6 months and then 1.3 ± 2.5 and 1.2 ± 2.3 at 36 months of follow-up. The Short Form 36-Item survey analysis revealed the greatest increases linked to physical domains (i.e., bodily pain and role limitations) from 54.6 ± .9 and 63.3 ± 1.3, respectively, at time 0 to 74.4 ± .9 and 81.9 ± 1.1 at 6 months of follow-up (p <.001), with scores subsequently remaining stable. Among mental domains the most favorable results involved social functioning and role limitations due to emotional problems, which increased from 66 ± .8 and 65.7 ± 1.3 at time 0 to 75.6 ± .9 and 77.4 ± 1.3 at 6 months of follow-up, respectively (p <.001), with scores remaining stable over time. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of endometriosis improves pelvic and sexual pain postoperatively in many women with endometriosis. Improvement later plateaus and remains stable, allowing patients to experience the beneficial effects over a period of years.

Augmented reality in a tumor resection model.

BACKGROUND: Augmented Reality (AR) guidance is a technology that allows a surgeon to see sub-surface structures, by overlaying pre-operative imaging data on a live laparoscopic video. Our objectives were to evaluate a state-of-the-art AR guidance system in a tumor surgical resection model, comparing the accuracy of the resection with and without the system. Our system has three phases. Phase 1: using the MRI images, the kidney's and pseudotumor's surfaces are segmented to construct a 3D model. Phase 2: the intra-operative 3D model of the kidney is computed. Phase 3: the pre-operative and intra-operative models are registered, and the laparoscopic view is augmented with the pre-operative data. METHODS: We performed a prospective experimental study on ex vivo porcine kidneys. Alginate was injected into the parenchyma to create pseudotumors measuring 4-10 mm. The kidneys were then analyzed by MRI. Next, the kidneys were placed into pelvictrainers, and the pseudotumors were laparoscopically resected. The AR guidance system allows the surgeon to see tumors and margins using classical laparoscopic instruments, and a classical screen. The resection margins were measured microscopically to evaluate the accuracy of resection. RESULTS: Ninety tumors were segmented: 28 were used to optimize the AR software, and 62 were used to randomly compare surgical resection: 29 tumors were resected using AR and 33 without AR. The analysis of our pathological results showed 4 failures (tumor with positive margins) (13.8%) in the AR group, and 10 (30.3%) in the Non-AR group. There was no complete miss in the AR group, while there were 4 complete misses in the non-AR group. In total, 14 (42.4%) tumors were completely missed or had a positive margin in the non-AR group. CONCLUSIONS: Our AR system enhances the accuracy of surgical resection, particularly for small tumors. Crucial information such as resection margins and vascularization could also be displayed.