Misoprostol for open myomectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised control trials.

BACKGROUND: Excessive blood loss is a significant risk of myomectomy with the potential need for hysterectomy. OBJECTIVE: To study the effectiveness of preoperative misoprostol compared with placebo at open myomectomy on intra- and postoperative outcomes. SEARCH STRATEGY: PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, MEDLINE and EMBASE. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised control studies of women undergoing open myomectomy for symptomatic fibroids who were given either misoprostol or placebo preoperatively. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: The revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomised trials was used to assess the risk of bias. Primary outcomes were blood loss, drop in haemoglobin and need for blood transfusion. Secondary outcomes were operative time, postoperative pyrexia and length of postoperative stay. Pooled effect sizes with corresponding 95% CI were calculated using random effects models. Data were analysed using two statistical models for statistical reliability. RESULTS: Eight studies were included with a total of 385 patients, of which 192 received misoprostol. Preoperative misoprostol was significantly associated with lower blood loss by -170.32 ml (95% CI -201.53 to -139.10), lower drop in haemoglobin by -0.48 g/dl (95% CI -0.65 to -0.31), reduced need for blood transfusion (odds ratio [OR] -0.48, 95% CI -0.65 to -0.31), and a reduction in operative time by -11.64 minutes (95% CI -15.73 to -7.54). There was no difference in postoperative pyrexia or length of postoperative stay. CONCLUSION: Moderate- to high-quality studies have established that misoprostol minimises blood loss and need for blood transfusion at open myomectomy. This low-cost and readily available drug should be routinely administered prior to open myomectomy to improve clinical outcomes. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Use of misoprostol at open myomectomy reduces blood loss and need for blood transfusion with no impact on postoperative pyrexia.

Embryo migration following ART documented by 2D/3D ultrasound.

Embryos have traditionally been thought to implant at the exact site they are transferred during assisted reproductive technology (ART). The introduction of 2D/3D ultrasound has allowed for mapping of the transfer site using air bubbles as a surrogate marker of embryo location. This study's aim was to compare the location of embryo transfer (ET) on ultrasound to that of embryo implantation. We present four cases of ectopic pregnancy at four sites: tubal, cervical, interstitial and ovarian. We compare the site of implantation on 2D/3D ultrasound at six weeks of pregnancy to that of transfer as assessed on 2D/3D ultrasound. In all four cases, the embryo flash was visualised in the centre of the uterine cavity on ultrasound at ET. At six weeks of pregnancy, the uterine cavity was empty and an ectopic pregnancy was identified. The tubal and ovarian ectopics were managed surgically whilst the cervical and interstitial pregnancies were treated with systemic methotrexate. These cases demonstrate embryo implantation distal to the ultrasound-confirmed site of transfer. These cases provide visually compelling evidence of embryo migration following ET and lend support to the theory that ectopic pregnancy may occur as a result of embryo migration, rather than poor ET technique.