Uterine fibroid size modifications during pregnancy and puerperium: evidence from the first systematic review of literature.

PURPOSE: The influence of pregnancy on uterine fibroid size still remains an unsolved dilemma. Basing on current knowledge, physicians are not able to inform patients about the likelihood of uterine fibroids to modify their size during pregnancy. Study aim was to summarize available evidence concerning the size modifications of uterine fibroids during each trimester of pregnancy and during puerperium. METHODS: The review was reported following the PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42017071117). A literature search was conducted in electronic database (PubMed, Embase, Sciencedirect, the Cochrane library and Clinicaltrials.gov) until July 2017. All studies evaluating fibroids' changes during pregnancy and puerperium by ultrasound or magnetic-resonance-imaging were included. Descriptive characteristics of studies and patients were collected. The modifications of uterine fibroid diameter and volume were the outcome measures. RESULTS: Concerning the first trimester of pregnancy, all authors reported a significant growth of uterine fibroids. Contradictory evidence was found about uterine fibroid modifications during the second and third trimesters, mainly supporting a slowdown during mid pregnancy and a subsequent size reduction during late pregnancy. Concerning the overall modifications during pregnancy and puerperium, poor evidence quality suggests that uterine fibroids do not modify their volume/slightly enlarge during pregnancy and subsequently reduce in size during puerperium. CONCLUSIONS: Uterine fibroids seem to be subject to a non-linear trend of modifications during pregnancy and puerperium, which may vary from myoma to myoma. Adequate evidence supports uterine fibroid systematic enlargement during the first trimester of pregnancy, while inconsistent evidence is available about the changes of uterine fibroids during second and third trimesters. In addition, the overall modifications of myomas during pregnancy and puerperium remain unclear.

Laparoscopic uterine artery bipolar coagulation plus myomectomy vs traditional laparoscopic myomectomy for "large" uterine fibroids: comparison of clinical efficacy.

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic myomectomy is the uterus-preserving surgical approach of choice in case of symptomatic fibroids. However, it can be a difficult procedure even for an experienced surgeon and can result in excessive blood loss, prolonged operating time and postoperative complications. A combined approach with laparoscopic uterine artery occlusion and simultaneous myomectomy was proposed to reduce these complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the combined laparoscopic approach in women with symptomatic "large" intramural uterine fibroids, compared to the traditional laparoscopic myomectomy alone. METHODS: Prospective nonrandomized case-controlled study of women who underwent a conservative surgery for symptomatic "large" (≥ 5 cm in the largest diameter) intramural uterine fibroids. The "study group" consisted of women who underwent the combined approach (laparoscopic uterine artery bipolar coagulation and simultaneous myomectomy), while women who underwent the traditional laparoscopic myomectomy constituted the "control group". A comparison between the two groups was performed, and several intraoperative and postoperative outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: No significant difference in the overall duration of surgery between women of the "study group" and "control group" emerged; however, a significantly shorter surgical time for myomectomy was observed in the "study group". The intraoperative blood loss and the postoperative haemoglobin drop were significantly lower in the "study group". No difference in the postoperative pain between groups emerged, and the postoperative hospital stay was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic uterine artery bipolar coagulation and simultaneous myomectomy is a safe and effective procedure, even in women with symptomatic "large" intramural uterine fibroids, with the benefit of a significant reduction in the intraoperative blood loss when compared to the traditional laparoscopic myomectomy.

Salpingectomy before assisted reproductive technologies: a systematic literature review.

Salpingectomy is largely used in case of hydrosalpinx in infertile women scheduled for assisted reproductive technologies (ART), whereas there is no consensus on its role in absence of hydrosalpinx. The current is a systematic literature review to collate all available evidence regarding salpingectomy as fertility enhancement procedure before ART in infertile patients. Our primary endpoint was to assess the impact of the surgical procedure on ovarian reserve, and secondary outcomes were to evaluate its benefits and harms on ART outcomes. We identified 29 papers of which 16 reporting data on the impact of tubal surgery on ovarian reserve and 24 (11 previously included) on ART outcomes. Available data suggested an absence of variation in ovarian reserve markers after unilateral salpingectomy while contradictory results were reported for bilateral surgery. Considering ART outcomes, data reported a significant improvement in ongoing pregnancy/live-birth rate in treated subjects without significant reduction in ovarian response to gonadotropin stimulation. In case of tubal disease, a surgical approach based on unilateral salpingectomy may be considered safe, without negative effects on ovarian reserve and ovarian response to controlled ovarian stimulation whilst having a positive effect on pregnancy rate. Data regarding bilateral salpingectomy and ovarian reserve are conflicting. Further trials are needed to confirm both the benefits of salpingectomy before ART and the safety of bilateral salpingectomy on ovarian reserve, and to clarify the role of uni- or bilateral surgery in case of tubal blockage without hydrosalpinx.

Preventive and Therapeutic Role of Dietary Inositol Supplementation in Periconceptional Period and During Pregnancy: A Summary of Evidences and Future Applications.

Although inositol dietary deficiency in the general population has not been demonstrated at the serum level, several findings are emerging regarding the impact of inositol supplementation in periconceptional period and in early phases of pregnancy. We are aimed to summarize all experimental (murine in vivo and in vitro murine embryo studies) and clinical (human) evidences regarding the role of inositol in the prevention and treatment of folate-resistant embryo neural tube defects (FR-NTDs) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We also collected all information regarding the effect that inositol supplementation may have in the metabolic reassessment of early and late pregnancy in order to draw evidence-based conclusions and suggest further studies defining the potential therapeutic role of this molecule in human reproduction. The systematic review of literature clearly showed that inositol supplementation in preconceptional period and in early phase of pregnancy reduces the risk of developing GDM in patients at increased risk. Furthermore, continued intake during pregnancy improves the metabolic status of affected patients, but further studies are needed to confirm this end point. All women at risk of FR-NTDs assuming inositol from the periconceptional period until late pregnancy are reported to have healthy newborns without any significant complications linked to inositol supplementation.

Sonographic assessment of placental location: a mere notional description or an important key to improve both pregnancy and perinatal obstetrical care? A large cohort study.

During a standard obstetrical sonogram, the assessment of placental location (PL) is often limited to a mere notional description without formulating any association to possible implications on pregnancy and childbirth. The aim of the study was to speculate if different sites of PL may have a role in influencing fetal presentation-(FP) at birth and if certain pregnancy-complications may be more closely associated with one rather than with another PL. We conducted an observational-prospective-cohort study on pregnant women referred to the Ob/Gyn Unit of Padua University for routine third-trimester ultrasound scan. For all eligible patients we evaluated the correlation between sites of PL and perinatal maternal/fetal outcomes. Non-cephalic presentation was found in 1.4% of anterior, 8.9% of posterior, 6.2% of fundal and 7.2% of lateral insertions. FP at the beginning of the third trimester as opposed to presentation at birth was concordant in 90.3% of anterior, 63.3% of posterior and 76.5% of lateral insertions. Considering only non-cephalic fetuses we observed a decreasing probability for spontaneous rotation in the following lies: 88% anterior-PL, 80% posterior-PL, 77% lateral-PL, and 70% fundal-PL. Patients with posterior-PL (significantly associated with previous-CS) had a significantly higher CS-rate (due to previous-CS and breech-presentation). Significant differences were found in terms of gestational-hypertension and fresh-placental-weight between different sites of PL. In conclusion our data showed that an understanding of the role that PL plays in influencing the incidence of certain maternal-fetal conditions may assist Clinicians in improving perinatal maternal/fetal outcomes.

Subtotal versus total laparoscopic hysterectomy: could women sexual function recovery overcome the surgical outcomes in pre-operatory decision making?

PURPOSE: Hysterectomy is the most common surgical procedure performed in gynecology and, in over 95% of the cases, does not necessarily require the removal of the uterine cervix to be completed successfully. In clinical practice, however, less than 20% of gynecologists offer patients the possibility to express a personal preference concerning the choice between total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) and laparoscopic subtotal hysterectomy (LSH). The aim of this study is to compare patients who have undergone TLH versus LSH for benign uterine diseases in terms of intra-operative/peri-operative surgical outcomes and short-term recovery of sexual function. METHODS: We performed an observational, retrospective study on 478 women who underwent hysterectomy for benign uterine disease at Gyn/Ob Clinic, Department of Women's and Children's Health of Padua University between January 2003 and December 2012. Surgical data were recorded. We investigated and compared outcomes between the two groups of patients (TLH vs LSH) in terms of the following: surgical complications rate, post-operative therapy, women satisfaction and sexual activity recovery. RESULTS: We found that operating time and length of hospital stay were significantly lower in patients who underwent LSH. A higher rate of post-operative fever was reported in the TLH treatment group although antibiotic prophylaxis was implemented in a similar fashion for both groups. At 60-70 days following surgery, women of LSH group reported a greater ease in recovery of sexual function as opposed to those who underwent TLH. CONCLUSIONS: The advantages and potential drawbacks of both procedures need to be discussed with women presenting with benign disease. LSH is a reasonable option for women, representing both an excellent minimally invasive approach in a proper clinical setting and an appropriate procedure for those women who prefer conservative surgery.