Oral, Vaginal, and Stool Microbial Signatures in Patients With Endometriosis as Potential Diagnostic Non-Invasive Biomarkers: A Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify a microbial signature for endometriosis for use as a diagnostic non-invasive biomarker. DESIGN: Prospective cohort pilot study. SETTING: Nepean Hospital and UNSW Microbiome Research Centre, Australia. POPULATION: Sixty-four age- and sex-matched subjects (n = 19 healthy control (HC); n = 24 non-endometriosis (N-ENDO) and n = 21 confirmed endometriosis (ENDO)). All study participants, besides healthy controls, underwent laparoscopic surgical assessment for endometriosis, and histology was performed on excised lesions. METHODS: Oral, stool and, vaginal samples were self-collected at a single time point for healthy controls, and preoperatively for patients undergoing laparoscopy. Samples underwent 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, followed by bioinformatics analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Compositional differences between cohorts as identified by diversity analyses, and differentially abundant microbial taxa, as identified by LEfSE analysis. RESULTS: The composition of the oral (adjusted p = 0.003), and stool (adjusted p = 0.042) microbiota is different between the three cohorts. Differentially abundant taxa are present within each cohort as identified by LEfSE analysis. Particularly, Fusobacterium was enriched in the oral samples of patients with moderate/severe endometriosis. CONCLUSIONS: Taxonomic and compositional differences were found between the microbiota in the mouth, gut and, vagina of patients with and without endometriosis and healthy controls. Fusobacterium was enriched in patients with moderate/severe endometriosis. Fusobacterium is noted as a key pathogen in periodontal disease, a common comorbidity in endometriosis. These findings suggest a role for the oral, stool and, vaginal microbiome in endometriosis, and present potential for microbial-based treatments and the design of a diagnostic swab.

Non-Invasive Imaging Techniques for Diagnosis of Pelvic Deep Endometriosis and Endometriosis Classification Systems: An International Consensus Statement.

The International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG) and International Deep Endometriosis Analysis (IDEA) group, the European Endometriosis League (EEL), the European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (ESGE), the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), the International Society for Gynecologic Endoscopy (ISGE), the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL) and the European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) elected an international, multidisciplinary panel of gynecological surgeons, sonographers and radiologists, including a steering committee, which searched the literature for relevant articles in order to review the literature and provide evidence-based and clinically relevant statements on the use of imaging techniques for non-invasive diagnosis and classification of pelvic deep endometriosis. Preliminary statements were drafted based on review of the relevant literature. Following two rounds of revisions and voting orchestrated by chairs of the participating societies, consensus statements were finalized. A final version of the document was then resubmitted to the society chairs for approval. Twenty statements were drafted, of which 14 reached strong and three moderate agreement after the first voting round. The remaining three statements were discussed by all members of the steering committee and society chairs and rephrased, followed by an additional round of voting. At the conclusion of the process, 14 statements had strong and five statements moderate agreement, with one statement left in equipoise. This consensus work aims to guide clinicians involved in treating women with suspected endometriosis during patient assessment, counseling and planning of surgical treatment strategies.

Sonomorphologic Changes in Colorectal Deep Endometriosis: The Long-Term Impact of Age and Hormonal Treatment.

PURPOSE: The progression of deep endometriosis (DE) in women of reproductive age is highly variable. This study aimed to analyze the sonomorphological changes of rectal endometriosis over long periods of time and the influence of hormonal treatment. METHODS: This retrospective study included premenopausal women with rectal DE treated conservatively between 2002 and 2021. The lesion length and thickness of the nodule were evaluated at regular intervals over time. We created statistical models with mixed effects to identify potential factors influencing lesion progression and regression. RESULTS: 38 patients were monitored over a mean period of 7.2 (± 4.2) years with a mean of 3.1 (± 2.1) check-ups within the observation period. We detected a significant increase in lesion length until the end of the fourth decade of life. In addition, we found a substantial decrease in the length and thickness of the nodule depending on the length of hormonal treatment. CONCLUSION: In conservatively managed patients with rectal endometriosis, without hormonal therapy, lesion size can exhibit a moderate increase up to the end of the fourth decade of life, after which it appears to stabilize. This increase does not follow a linear pattern. Hormonal therapy is crucial in impeding further progression, resulting in either a cessation or a regression of lesion growth.

Temporal and external validation of the algorithm predicting first trimester outcome of a viable pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Symptoms like vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain in early pregnancy can create anxiety about potential miscarriage. Previous studies have demonstrated ultrasonographic variables at the first trimester transvaginal scan (TVS) which can assist in predicting outcomes by 12 weeks gestation. AIM: To validate the miscarriage risk prediction model (MRP) in women who present with a viable intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) at the primary ultrasound. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multi-centre diagnostic study of 1490 patients was performed between 2011 and 2019 for retrospective external and 2017-2019 for prospective temporal validation. The reference standard was a viable pregnancy at 12 + 6 weeks. The MRP model is a multinomial logistic regression model based on maternal age, embryonic heart rate, logarithm (gestational sac volume/crown-rump length (CRL)) ratio, CRL and presence or absence of clots. RESULTS: Temporal validation data from 290 viable IUPs were collected: 225 were viable at the end of the first trimester, 31 had miscarried and 34 were lost to follow-up. External validation data from 1203 viable IUPs were collected at two other ultrasound units: 1062 were viable, 69 had miscarried and 72 were lost to follow-up. Temporal validation with a cut-off of 0.1 demonstrated: area under the curve (AUC) of 0.8 (0.7-0.9), sensitivity 66.7%, specificity 83.9%, positive predictive value (PPV) 35.7%, negative predictive value (NPV) 94.9%, positive likelihood ration (LR+) 4.1 and negative LR (LR-) 0.4. External validation demonstrated: AUC 0.7 (0.7-0.8), sensitivity 44.9%, specificity 90.4%, PPV 23.3%, NPV 96.2%, LR+ 4.6 and LR- 0.6 (0.4-0.7). CONCLUSION: The MRP model is not able to be used in real time for counselling, and management should be individualised.

Inter-observer reproducibility of the 2021 AAGL Endometriosis Classification.

BACKGROUND: Inter-observer agreement for the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL) 2021 Endometriosis Classification staging system has not been described. Its predecessor staging system, the revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine (rASRM), has historically demonstrated poor inter-observer agreement. AIMS: We aimed to determine the inter-observer agreement performance of the AAGL 2021 Endometriosis Classification staging system, and compare this with the rASRM staging system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A database of 317 patients with coded surgical data was retrospectively analysed. Three independent observers allocated AAGL surgical stages (1-4), twice. Observers made their own interpretation of how to apply the tool in the first staging allocation. Consensus rules were then developed for a second staging allocation. RESULTS: First staging allocation: odds ratio (OR) (and 95% CI) for observer 1 to score higher than observer 2 was 8.08 (5.12-12.76). Observer 1 to score higher than observer 3 was 12.98 (7.99-21.11) and observer 2 to score higher than observer 3 was 1.61 (1.03-2.51). This represents poor agreement. Second staging allocation (after consensus): OR for observer 1 to score higher than observer 2 was 1.14 (0.64-2.03), observer 1 to score higher than observer 3 was 1.81 (0.99-3.28) and observer 2 to score higher than observer 3 was 1.59 (0.87-2.89). This represents good agreement. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that in its current format the AAGL 2021 Endometriosis Classification staging system has poor inter-observer agreement, not superior to the rASRM staging system. However, performance improved when additional measures were taken to simplify and clarify areas of ambiguity in interpreting the staging system.

Treatment of rectosigmoid endometriosis by laparoscopic reverse submucosal dissection (LRSD): The Sydney partial thickness discoid excision technique.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic reverse submucosal dissection (LRSD) is a standardised surgical technique for removal of rectosigmoid endometriosis which optimises the anatomical dissection plane for excision of endometriotic nodules. AIM: This cohort study assesses the outcomes of the first cohort of women treated by LRSD, for deeply infiltrating rectosigmoid endometriosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary outcomes assessed were complication rate as defined by the Clavien-Dindo system, and completion of the planned LRSD. Secondary outcomes include mucosal breach, specimen margin involvement, length of hospital admission, and a comparison of pre-operative and post-operative pain, bowel function and quality of life surveys. These included the Endometriosis Health Profile Questionnaire (EHP-30), the Knowles-Eccersley-Scott Symptom Questionnaire (KESS) and the Wexner scale. RESULTS: Of 19 patients treated, one required a segmental resection. The median length of hospital admission was two days (range 1-5) and no post-operative complications occurred. Median pain visual analogue scales (scale 0-10) were higher prior to surgery (dysmenorrhoea 9.0, dyspareunia 7.5, dyschezia 9.0, pelvic pain 6.0) compared to post-surgical median scores (dysmenorrhoea 5.0, dyspareunia 4.0, dyschezia 2.0, pelvic pain 4.0) at a median of six months (range 4-32). Quality of life studies suggested improvement following surgery with pre-operative median EHP-30 and KESS scores (EHP-30: 85 (5-106), KESS score 9 (0-20)) higher than post-operative scores (EHP-30: 48.5 (0-80), KESS score: 3 (0-19)). CONCLUSION: This series highlights the feasibility of LRSD with low associated morbidity as a progression of partial thickness discoid excision (rectal shaving) for the treatment of rectosigmoid deep infiltrating endometriosis.

A core outcome set for trials in miscarriage management and prevention: An international consensus development study.

OBJECTIVE: To develop core outcome sets (COS) for miscarriage management and prevention. DESIGN: Modified Delphi survey combined with a consensus development meeting. SETTING: International. POPULATION: Stakeholder groups included healthcare providers, international experts, researchers, charities and couples with lived experience of miscarriage from 15 countries: 129 stakeholders for miscarriage management and 437 for miscarriage prevention. METHODS: Modified Delphi method and modified nominal group technique. RESULTS: The final COS for miscarriage management comprises six outcomes: efficacy of treatment, heavy vaginal bleeding, pelvic infection, maternal death, treatment or procedure-related complications, and patient satisfaction. The final COS for miscarriage prevention comprises 12 outcomes: pregnancy loss <24 weeks' gestation, live birth, gestation at birth, pre-term birth, congenital abnormalities, fetal growth restriction, maternal (antenatal) complications, compliance with intervention, patient satisfaction, maternal hospitalisation, neonatal or infant hospitalisation, and neonatal or infant death. Other outcomes identified as important were mental health-related outcomes, future fertility and health economic outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This study has developed two core outcome sets, through robust methodology, that should be implemented across future randomised trials and systematic reviews in miscarriage management and prevention. This work will help to standardise outcome selection, collection and reporting, and improve the quality and safety of future studies in miscarriage.

External Validation of the "2021 AAGL Endometriosis Classification": A Retrospective Cohort Study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Externally validate the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL) staging system against surgical complexity and compare diagnostic accuracy with revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine (rASRM) stage, as was done in original publication. DESIGN: Retrospective, diagnostic accuracy study. SETTING: Multicenter (Sydney, Australia). PATIENTS: A total of 317 patients (January 2016-October 2021) were used in the final analysis. INTERVENTIONS: A database of patients with coded surgical data was analyzed. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Three independent observers assigned an AAGL surgical stage (1-4) as the index test and surgical complexity level (A-D) as the reference standard. Results from the most accurate of the 3 observers were used in the final analysis. The weighted kappa score for the overall performance of AAGL stage and rASRM to predict AAGL level was 0.48 and 0.48, respectively (no difference). This represents weaker agreement with AAGL level than was observed in the reference paper, which reported a weighted kappa of 0.62. Diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value) for stage 1 to predict level A was 98.5%, 64.3%, 66.3%, and 98.3%; stage 2 to predict level B 31.2%, 90.5%, 27.0%, and 92.1 %; stage 3 to predict level C 12.3%, 94.1%, 59.3%, and 60.7%; stage 4 to predict level D 95.65%, 88.10%, 38.60%, and 99.62%. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for A vs B/C/D (cut point 9) was 0.87, A/B vs C/D (cut point 16) was 0.78, and A/B/C vs D (cut point 22) was 0.94. CONCLUSION: There was weak to moderate agreement between AAGL stage and AAGL surgical complexity level. Across all key indicators, the AAGL system did not perform as well in this external validation, nor did it outperform rASRM as it did in the reference paper. Results suggest the system is not generalizable.

Judging Urgency in 343 Ectopic Pregnancies Prior to Surgery - The Importance of Transvaginal Sonographic Diagnosis of Intraabdominal Free Blood.

OBJECTIVES: Assessing urgency in ectopic pregnancies (ECP) remains controversial since the disorder covers a large clinical spectrum. Severe conditions such as acute abdomen or hemodynamic instability are mostly related to intra-abdominal blood loss diagnosed as free fluid (FF) on transvaginal sonography (TVS). The aims of the current study were to investigate the value of FF and to assess other potentially predictive parameters for judging urgency. METHODS: Retrospective cohort analysis on prospectively collected cases of proven ECP (n = 343). Demographics, clinical and laboratory parameters, and findings on TVS and laparoscopy (LSC) were extracted from the digital patient file. FF on TVS and free blood (FB) in LSC were evaluated. Low urgency was defined as FB (LSC) < 100 ml and high urgency as FB (LSC) ≥ 300 ml. The best subset of variables for the prediction of FB was selected and predictors of urgency were evaluated using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: Clinical symptoms, age, ß-HCG, hemoglobin (HB) preoperative, and FF were examined in multivariate analysis for the cutoff values of 100 ml and 300 ml. FF was the only independent predictor for low and high urgency; HB preoperative was only significant for high urgency offering marginal improvement. ROC analysis revealed FF as an excellent discriminatory parameter for defining low (AUC 0.837, 95% CI 0.794-0.879) and high urgency (AUC 0.902, 95 % CI 0.860-0.945). CONCLUSION: Single assessment of FF on TVS is most valuable for judging urgency. However, the exact cutoff values for a low- and high-risk situation must still be defined.

The appendix in endometriosis.

BACKGROUND: In the most severe stage of endometriosis, Stage IV, intestinal involvement is common. The true prevalence of endometriotic disease of the appendix in this population is not well described. A macroscopically normal looking appendix may harbour endometriosis. AIMS: Our study aims to assess the role of routinely performing appendicectomy in Stage IV endometriosis surgery, and the histopathological prevalence of true appendiceal endometriosis in this population. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of women undergoing surgery for Stage IV endometriosis between 2018 to 2022 in a tertiary public hospital in New South Wales, Australia. Patient demographics, age and post-operative complications were retrospectively retrieved from hospital medical records. Inclusion criteria were women with Stage IV endometriosis who underwent routine appendicectomy as part of their endometriosis surgery. Exclusion criteria were women who did not have Stage IV endometriosis, those who had cancer surgery or emergency surgery for endometriosis. The primary outcome of this study was to determine the incidence of appendiceal endometriosis. Secondary outcomes included post-operative complications and length of stay. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients were included. The mean age was 36 years. All patients also underwent bowel resection for colorectal endometriosis. There were 35.8% who had confirmed appendiceal endometriosis on histopathology. Post-operative complications included port site infections, colitis, urinary tract infection and ureteric injury. There were no complications related to appendicectomy. Mean length of stay was 4.4 days. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic appendicectomy can be safely performed at time of laparoscopic surgical excision of Stage IV endometriosis and should be routinely considered in a subset of Stage IV endometriosis patients with colorectal involvement undergoing surgery.

Comparison of #Enzian classification and revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine stages for the description of disease extent in women with deep endometriosis.

STUDY QUESTION: How is endometriosis extent described by the #Enzian classification compared to the revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine (rASRM) stages in women undergoing radical surgery for deep endometriosis (DE)? SUMMARY ANSWER: The prevalence and severity grade of endometriotic lesions and adhesions as well as the total number of #Enzian compartments affected by DE increase on average with increasing rASRM stage; however, DE lesions are also present in rASRM stages 1 and 2, leading to an underestimation of disease severity when using the rASRM classification. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Endometriotic lesions can be accurately described regarding their localization and severity by sonography as well as during surgery using the recently updated #Enzian classification for endometriosis. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This was a prospective multicenter study including a total of 735 women between January 2020 and May 2021. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Disease extent in women undergoing radical surgery for DE at tertiary referral centers for endometriosis was intraoperatively described using the #Enzian and the rASRM classification. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: A total of 735 women were included in the study. Out of 31 women with rASRM stage 1, which is defined as only minimal disease, 65% (i.e. 20 women) exhibited DE in #Enzian compartment B (uterosacral ligaments/parametria), 45% (14 women) exhibited DE in #Enzian compartment A (vagina/rectovaginal septum) and 26% (8 women) exhibited DE in #Enzian compartment C (rectum). On average, there was a progressive increase from rASRM stages 1-4 in the prevalence and severity grade of DE lesions (i.e. lesions in #Enzian compartments A, B, C, FB (urinary bladder), FU (ureters), FI (other intestinal locations), FO (other extragenital locations)), as well as of endometriotic lesions and adhesions in #Enzian compartments P (peritoneum), O (ovaries) and T (tubo-ovarian unit). In addition, the total number of #Enzian compartments affected by DE lesions on average progressively increased from rASRM stages 1-4, with a maximum of six affected compartments in rASRM stage 4 patients. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Interobserver variability may represent a possible limitation of this study. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The #Enzian classification includes the evaluation of DE in addition to the assessment of endometriotic lesions and adhesions of the ovaries and tubes and may therefore provide a comprehensive description of disease localization and extent in women with DE. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): No funding was received for this study. All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

A consensus-based core feature set for surgical complexity at laparoscopic hysterectomy.

BACKGROUND: There are no current standardized and accepted methods to characterize the surgical complexity of a laparoscopic hysterectomy. This leads to challenges when trying to understand the relationship between the patient and the surgical features and outcomes. The development of core feature sets for laparoscopic hysterectomy studies would enable future trials to measure the similar meaningful variables that can contribute to surgical complexity and outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop a core feature set for the surgical complexity of a laparoscopic hysterectomy. STUDY DESIGN: This was an international Delphi consensus study. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify the features that were reported in studies on laparoscopic hysterectomy complexity. All the features were presented for evaluation and prioritization to key experts in 3 rounds of online surveys. A priori consensus criteria were used to reach agreement on the final outcomes for inclusion in the core feature set. RESULTS: Experts represented North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Most of them had fellowship training in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. Sixty-four potential features were entered into round 1. Experts reached a consensus on 7 features to be included in the core feature set. These features were grouped under the following domains: 1) patient features, 2) uterine features, and 3) nonuterine pelvic features. The patient features include obesity and other nonobesity comorbidities that alter or limit the ability of a surgeon to perform the basic or routine steps in a laparoscopic hysterectomy. The uterine features include the size and presence of fibroids. The nonuterine pelvic features include endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and adhesions (bladder-to-uterus, rectouterine pouch, and other adhesions). CONCLUSION: Using robust consensus science methods, an international consortium of experts has developed a core feature set that should be assessed and reported in all future studies that aim to assess the relationship between the patient features and surgical outcomes of laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Effectiveness of ultrasound for endometriosis diagnosis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Endometriosis is a chronic benign gynaecological condition characterized by pelvic pain, subfertility and delay in diagnosis. There is an emerging philosophical shift from gold standard histopathological diagnosis through laparoscopy to establishing diagnosis through noninvasive imaging. RECENT FINDINGS: The ENZIAN classification system was updated in 2021 to be suitable for both diagnostic imaging and laparoscopy. The accuracy of transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) in diagnosing endometriosis varies depending on location of the lesion. A recent international pilot study found that when ultrasound is performed in accordance with the IDEA consensus, a higher detection of deep endometriosis is seen, with an overall sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 79% compared with direct surgical visualization. SUMMARY: Although ultrasound can detect adenomyosis, deep endometriosis and endometriomas, it is not possible to reliably detect superficial endometriosis. In the instance of a negative ultrasound with persistence of symptoms despite medical therapy, laparoscopy should be considered for diagnosis and treatment.

An Ultrasound-based Prediction Model to Predict Ureterolysis during Laparoscopic Endometriosis Surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To develop a model, including clinical features and ultrasound findings, to predict the need for ureterolysis (i.e., dissection of the ureter) during laparoscopy for endometriosis. DESIGN: A retrospective observational study of patients who had undergone transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) according to the International Deep Endometriosis Analysis consensus and subsequent laparoscopy ± excision of endometriosis between January 2017 and February 2021 was conducted. SETTING: Sydney Medical School Nepean, University of Sydney, Nepean Hospital, and Blue Mountains Hospital, New South Wales, Australia. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANT: 177 patients. INTERVENTION: The demographic, clinical, TVS, and intraoperative data were extracted through electronic clinical records. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Multicategorical decision-tree and baseline models were built to choose the variables most correlated to the outcome under study. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed on the binary classification. Based on our results, we selected the variables performing with significant statistical differences (p <.05). During the study period, 177 consecutive patients were recruited and divided into 2 subgroups, ureterolysis (51.4%) and nonureterolysis (48.6%). Ureterolysis was noted in 87.5% of patients in which the left ovary was immobile (p <.001) and in 82.5% in which the right ovary was fixed (p <.001). For patients with right uterosacral ligament (USL) deep endometriosis (DE), ureterolysis was performed in 96.2% patients (p <.001) and 64.6% (p = .043) for left USL DE. Among patients with bowel DE, the proportion of patients undergoing ureterolysis was 95.5% (p <.001). The prognostic variables used in the final model to predict ureterolysis included dyschezia, absence of ovarian mobility, presence of right or left USL DE, and presence of bowel DE on TVS. According to the developed model, the baseline risk for performing ureterolysis is 20% in our sample. The overall model performance demonstrated an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.82. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that it is possible to predict the need for ureterolysis with clinical and sonographic data. Furthermore, patients presenting with a combination of the variables of our model (dyschezia, ovarian immobility, USL, and bowel DE lesions) have a high risk of ureterolysis. In contrast, patients without these features have a low risk (approximately 20%) of needing ureterolysis.

Ovarian Immobility at Transvaginal Ultrasound: An Important Sonographic Marker for Prediction of Need for Pelvic Sidewall Surgery in Women With Suspected Endometriosis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether ovarian fixation at transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) is a marker for a need for laparoscopic pelvic sidewall surgery (ie, ureterolysis or dissection of adhesions involving the pelvic sidewall). The relationship between ovarian immobility at TVU with respect to endometriosis staging using the revised American Fertility Society (r-AFS) classification was also evaluated. METHODS: Retrospective diagnostic accuracy study was performed in a tertiary referral hospital and two private hospitals. Sixty-six women with pelvic pain underwent detailed TVU preoperatively followed by laparoscopic endometriosis surgery. TVU ovarian mobility findings (ie, mobile versus fixed ovary) were compared to surgical findings, the need for laparoscopic pelvic sidewall surgery and r-AFS score (I-IV). RESULTS: Complete ultrasound and surgical data were available for 66 of 77 (86%) women. Twenty-six of 66 (40%) had isolated superficial peritoneal endometriosis, 15 of 66 (23%) had ovarian endometrioma (OE), 13 of 66 (20%) had pelvic deep endometriosis (DE). Twenty-seven of 66 (41%) had ovarian fixation at TVU. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of ovarian fixation at TVU for the prediction of need for laparoscopic pelvic sidewall surgery was 71%, 61%, 86%, 85%, and 62%, respectively (P = .0002). Ovarian fixation at TVU was significantly associated with the presence of ipsilateral OE, pouch of Douglas obliteration, pelvic DE nodules, and r-AFS stage III/IV (moderate/severe) endometriosis (all P-values <.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ovarian fixation at TVU appears to be a marker for moderate/severe endometriosis and the need for laparoscopic pelvic sidewall surgery. This sign may be a valuable "red flag" for identifying women at increased risk of requiring an advanced laparoscopic surgeon, and in turn, improve surgical planning.

Periodontitis and Preeclampsia in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: A conflicting body of evidence suggests localized periodontal inflammation spreads systemically during pregnancy inducing adverse pregnancy outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to specifically evaluate the relationship between periodontitis and preeclampsia. METHODS: Electronic searches were carried out in Medline, Pubmed, Embase, Lilacs, Cochrane Controlled Clinical Trial Register, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Google Scholar with no restrictions on the year of publication. We identified and selected observational case-control and cohort studies that analyzed the association between periodontal disease and preeclampsia. This meta-analysis was conducted following the PRISMA checklist and MOOSE checklist. Pooled odds ratios, mean difference, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using the random effect model. Heterogeneity was tested with Cochran's Q statistic. RESULTS: Thirty studies including six cohort- and twenty-four case-control studies were selected. Periodontitis was significantly associated with increased risk for preeclampsia (OR 3.18, 95% CI 2.26 - 4.48, p < 0.00001), especially in a subgroup analysis including cohort studies (OR 4.19, 95% CI 2.23 - 7.87, p < 0.00001). The association was even stronger in a subgroup analysis with lower-middle-income countries (OR 6.70, 95% CI 2.61 - 17.19, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Periodontitis appears as a significant risk factor for preeclampsia, which might be even more pronounced in lower-middle-income countries. Future studies to investigate if maternal amelioration of periodontitis prevents preeclampsia might be warranted.

DIFFERENTIAL IMPACT OF PERIODONTAL TREATMENT STRATEGIES DURING PREGNANCY ON PERINATAL OUTCOMES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different periodontal treatment strategies during pregnancy on perinatal outcomes. STUDY SELECTION: This systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines to assess the effect of mouthwash in addition to scaling and root planning (SRPM) on pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight, gestational age, and birth weight. Pooled risk ratios (RR), mean differences (MD), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using the random effect model. RESULTS: Twenty trials involving 5938 participants, including thirteen trials comparing scaling and root planning (SRP) and seven trials comparing SRPM with control groups. SRPM was associated with reduced risk of preterm birth (RR = 0.37; 95%CI = 0.16-0.84; P = .017; I2=93.26%; P < .001; number needed to treat (NNT): 3), low birth weight (RR = 0.54; 95%CI = 0.40-0.74; P < .0001; I2 = 0%; P = .46; NNT: 13), increased gestational age (MD = 0.78; 95%CI: 0.19-1.37; P = .009; I2 = 87.15%; P < .001), and birth weight (MD = 121.77; 95%CI = 3.19-240.34; P = .044; I2 = 80.68%; P < .001). There were no statistically significant differences in the analysis of SRP group, except for the increased birth weight (MD = 93.85; 95% CI = 3.27-184.42; P = .042; I2 = 84.11%; P < .001). CONCLUSION: Using mouthwash in addition to scaling and root planning (SRPM) for the treatment of periodontal disease during pregnancy significantly improves perinatal outcomes.

Surgical interventions for the management of chronic pelvic pain in women.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a common gynaecological condition accounting for 20% of all gynaecological referrals. There are wide ranges of causes with overlapping symptomatology, therefore the management of the condition is a formidable challenge for clinicians. The aetiology of CPP is heterogeneous and in many cases, no clear diagnosis can be reached. It is in this scenario that the label of chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) can be applied. We defined women with CPPS as having a minimum duration of pain of at least 6 months, including with a diagnosis of pelvic congestion syndrome, but excluding pain caused by a condition such as endometriosis. Many surgical interventions have been tried in isolation or in conjunction with non-surgical interventions in the management with variable results. Surgical interventions are invasive and carry operative risks. Surgical interventions must be evaluated for their effectiveness prior to their prevalent use in the management of women with CPPS. OBJECTIVES: To review the effectiveness and safety of surgical interventions in the management of women with CPPS. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Group (CGF) Specialised Register of Controlled Trials, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase and PsycINFO, on 23 April 2021 for any randomised controlled trials (RCT) for surgical interventions in women with CPPS. We also searched the citation lists of relevant publications, two trial registries, relevant journals, abstracts, conference proceedings and several key grey literature sources. SELECTION CRITERIA: RCTs with women who had CPPS. The review authors were prepared to consider studies of any surgical intervention used for the management of CPPS. Outcome measures were pain rating scales, adverse events, psychological outcomes, quality of life (QoL) measures and requirement for analgesia. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently evaluated studies for inclusion and extracted data using the forms designed according to Cochrane guidelines. For each included trial, we collected information regarding the method of randomisation, allocation concealment, blinding, data reporting and analyses. We reported pooled results as mean difference (MDs) or odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) by the Mantel-Haenszel method. If similar outcomes were reported on different scales, we calculated the standardised mean difference (SMD). We applied GRADE criteria to judge the overall certainty of the evidence. MAIN RESULTS: Four studies met our inclusion criteria involving 216 women with CPP and no identifiable cause. Adhesiolysis compared to no surgery or diagnostic laparoscopy We are uncertain of the effect of adhesiolysis on pelvic pain scores postoperatively at three months (MD -7.3, 95% CI -29.9 to 15.3; 1 study, 43 participants; low-certainty evidence), six months (MD -14.3, 95% CI -35.9 to 7.3; 1 study, 43 participants; low-certainty evidence) and 12 months postsurgery (MD 0.00, 95% CI -4.60; 1 study, 43 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Adhesiolysis may improve both the emotional wellbeing (MD 24.90, 95% CI 7.92 to 41.88; 1 study, 43 participants; low-certainty evidence) and social support (MD 23.90, 95% CI -1.77 to 49.57; 1 study, 43 participants; low-certainty evidence) components of the Endometriosis Health Profile-30, and both the emotional component (MD 32.30, 95% CI 13.16 to 51.44; 1 study, 43 participants; low-certainty evidence) and the physical component of the 12-item Short Form (MD 22.90, 95% CI 10.97 to 34.83; 1 study, 43 participants; low-certainty evidence) when compared to diagnostic laparoscopy. We are uncertain of the safety of adhesiolysis compared to comparator groups due to low-certainty evidence and lack of structured adverse event reporting. No studies reported on psychological outcomes or requirements for analgesia. Laparoscopic uterosacral ligament ablation or resection compared to diagnostic laparoscopy/other treatment We are uncertain of the effect of laparoscopic uterosacral ligament/nerve ablation (LUNA) or resection compared to other treatments postoperatively at three months (OR 1.26, 95% CI 0.40 to 3.93; 1 study, 51 participants; low-certainty evidence) and six months (MD -2.10, 95% CI -4.38 to 0.18; 1 study, 74 participants; very low-certainty evidence). At 12 months post-surgery, we are uncertain of the effect of LUNA on the rate of successful treatment compared to diagnostic laparoscopy. One study of 56 participants found no difference in the effect of LUNA on non-cyclical pain (P = 0.854) or dyspareunia (P = 0.41); however, there was a difference favouring LUNA on dysmenorrhea (P = 0.045) and dyschezia (P = 0.05). We are also uncertain of the effect of LUNA compared to vaginal uterosacral ligament resection on pelvic pain at 12 months (MD 2.00, 95% CI 0.47 to 3.53; 1 study, 74 participants; very low-certainty evidence). We are uncertain of the safety of LUNA or resection compared to comparator groups due to the lack of structured adverse event reporting. Women undergoing LUNA may require more analgesia postoperatively than those undergoing other treatments (P < 0.001; 1 study, 74 participants). No studies reported psychological outcomes or QoL. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: We are uncertain about the benefit of adhesiolysis or LUNA in management of pain in women with CPPS based on the current literature. There may be a QoL benefit to adhesiolysis in improving both emotional wellbeing and social support, as measured by the validated QoL tools. It was not possible to synthesis evidence on adverse events as these were only reported narratively in some studies, in which none were observed. With the inadequate objective assessment of adverse events, especially long-term adverse events, associated with adhesiolysis or LUNA for CPPS, there is currently little to support these interventions for CPPS.

The #Enzian classification: A comprehensive non-invasive and surgical description system for endometriosis.

Advances in preoperative diagnostics as well as in surgical techniques for the treatment of endometriosis, especially for deep endometriosis, call for a classification system, that includes all aspects of the disease such as peritoneal endometriosis, ovarian endometriosis, deep endometriosis, and secondary adhesions. The widely accepted revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine classification (rASRM) has certain limitations because of its incomplete description of deep endometriosis. In contrast, the Enzian classification, which has been implemented in the last decade, has proved to be the most suitable tool for staging deep endometriosis, but does not include peritoneal or ovarian disease or adhesions. To overcome these limitations, a comprehensive classification system for complete mapping of endometriosis, including anatomical location, size of the lesions, adhesions and degree of involvement of the adjacent organs, that can be used with both diagnostic and surgical methods, has been created through a consensus process and will be described in detail-the #Enzian classification.

Rectal Shaving for Bowel Endometriosis by Laparoscopic Reverse Submucosal Dissection for Easier, Safer and More Complete Excision of Disease.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To demonstratefull-thickness excision of the affected muscularis along the submucosal plane. DESIGN: Stepwise demonstration of LRSD technique with narrated video footage. SETTING: LRSD takes advantage of the submucosal layer of the bowel wall and uses it as an easier line of excision for rectal endometriosis compared with the very difficult traditional line of excision of irregular disease-muscularis interface. The expansion of the submucosal layer by the injection separates the affected muscularis away from the mucosa, making it safer to excise the lesion with less chance of entering the bowel lumen. Excision of disease is more complete with LRSD because the full-thickness excision of the muscularis layer includes the healthy deep muscularis, which will form the disease-free deep excision margin. INTERVENTION: This video will highlight anatomic and technical aspects of LRSD including the following key steps: 1. Mobilization of diseased bowel segment 2. Submucosal injection 3. Circumferential incision of the muscularis 4. Submucosal dissection along the submucosal plane 5. Bowel wall integrity test 6. Muscularis defect repair CONCLUSION: Rectal shaving by LRSD appears to be easier, safer, and more complete in excision of bowel endometriosis than the classical rectal shaving technique. This modification requires further evaluation to confirm its potential in the surgical management of rectosigmoid deep infiltrative endometriosis.