The "Trick" Knot-A Modified Technique of the Removable "Shoelace" Knot for Temporary Ligation of the Uterine Artery at Its Origin.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the "trick" knot, a technique of temporary ligation of the uterine artery at origin, a modification of the previously published "shoelace" knot. DESIGN: A video demonstration. SETTING: A private hospital. INTERVENTION: Bilateral uterine arteries at origin are exposed after dissection of the peritoneum over the triangle formed by the round ligament, the infundibulopelvic ligament, and the pelvic sidewall [Video 1]. A 60-cm long free polyglactin absorbable suture with preformed knots at each end is introduced around the skeletonized uterine artery. Using a single throw, the "trick" knot is made by pulling out a loop of thread. The end is cut short, and the same suture is used to similarly ligate the other uterine artery. Each knot thus formed has a free end and a knotted end. Laparoscopic myomectomy is performed. On completion of the procedure, the knot is released by pulling the free end, restoring the blood supply to the uterus. CONCLUSION: Bilateral uterine artery ligation, although an effective method to curb bleeding during a laparoscopic myomectomy, when performed permanently, may lead to undesirable outcomes in women who wish to preserve fertility [1-3]. Methods for temporary ligation of the uterine artery at origin, such the removable vascular clips, are thus regarded justifiable [4]. In contrast to the removable "shoelace" knot, which uses a loop to make a throw, the technique of performing the "trick" knot mimics the steps of forming a regular intracorporeal knot [5]. This makes the latter technically easier and hence faster to perform, while still being as economic and reproducible as the former.

Role of 3D Coronal Ultrasound in Diagnosis of Accessory and Cavitated Uterine Mass: A rare Mullerian Anomaly.

Accessory and cavitated uterine mass is rare developmental Mullerian anomaly. There is a non-communicating uterus-like mass that occurs contiguously along wall of uterus often underdiagnosed and needs expertise to identify. To raise awareness, provide information about this pathology and emphasize role of coronal 3D ultrasound in its diagnosis. A 28-year-old married female presented with dysmenorrhea and chronic pelvic pain. On ultrasound, a homogeneously isoechoic mass was noted in right lateral wall of uterus with central echogenicity. On 3D reconstruction, the main uterine cavity was normal and both cornu were visualized without any recognized Mullerian anomaly. No communication with the main endometrial cavity seen. On laparoscopy, mass was located under right round ligament insertion. Sectioning revealed chocolate colored fluid. ACUM is non-communicating uterus-like mass. It resembles uterus both macroscopically and microscopically. It represents a cavitated mass lined by endometrial glands and stroma surrounded by irregular smooth muscle cells. Criterias for diagnosing ACUM are (1) accessory cavitated mass located under round ligament; (2) normal uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries (3) surgical case with excised mass and pathological examination; (4) accessory cavity lined by endometrium with glands and stroma; (5) chocolate-brown fluid contents. On ultrasound, they appear solid isoechoic masses with central cystic areas separate from ovaries. 3D reconstruction can be used to rule out Mullerian anomaly. ACUM is a rare surgically treatable cause of dysmenorrhea, often underdiagnosed due to lack of knowledge about entity. 3D ultrasound can be highly accurate in making the diagnosis.

Temporary Ligation of the Uterine Artery at Its Origin Using a Removable "Shoelace" Knot.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate a technique of temporary ligation of the uterine artery at its origin. DESIGN: A step-by-step demonstration of the surgery in an instructional video. SETTING: A private hospital in Mumbai, India. INTERVENTION: The peritoneum over the pelvic side wall was dissected bilaterally to expose the uterine arteries at their origins. Using a polyglactin absorbable suture, a double thread loop was used to create a removable "shoelace" knot (Video 1). Both uterine arteries were ligated in this manner. The myomectomy was completed uneventfully, and the myoma bed was sutured in 2 layers using polyglactin sutures. Once suturing was completed, the shoelace knot was untied by simply pulling one end of the thread to restore blood supply to the uterus. Intraoperative blood loss was 30 mL, and the total operation time was 120 minutes. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic ligation of the uterine arteries at their origin is known to reduce intraoperative blood loss [1,2]. However, in patients desiring future fertility, the effect of permanent ligation of these vessels bilaterally remains under study [3-5]. The removable "shoelace" knot is a low-cost, readily available alternative to metallic titanium clips that requires no special surgical expertise to implement.

Pisat's Visual Vasopressor Injection Needle: A New Device for Increasing Patient Safety in Laparoscopic Myomectomy.

Introduction: The use of vasopressin and other vasoconstrictive agents to reduce blood loss during laparoscopic myomectomy significantly reduces blood loss and operative time. However, serious cardiovascular complications following the use of intra-myometrial injection of vasopressin solution have also been reported. Most of these side effects are believed to be due to inadvertent intravascular injection of vasopressin solution. Aims and Objectives: To describe a new design of an injection needle, Pisat's Visual Vasopressor Injection Needle (VVIN), that can be used during laparoscopic myomectomy to minimise the incidence of an inadvertent intravascular injection of a vasoconstrictor solution. Results: A total of 53 patients who underwent laparoscopic myomectomy at various hospitals in Mumbai, India, were studied over a period of two years. Out of these, 23 patients were operated upon using a standard 5-mm laparoscopic injection needle, and 30 patients were operated upon by using a VVIN. Out of the 23 patients in whom a regular needle was used, four patients (17.39%) demonstrated a significant (over 20 percent of pre-injection value) but transient elevation in pulse and blood pressure readings at 1-min post-injection. This gradually returned to baseline at 10 min after the injection. None of the 30 patients in whom VVIN was used after confirming a negative aspiration demonstrated any significant change in post-injection pulse or blood pressure recordings. Conclusions: Using a VVIN during a laparoscopic myomectomy enables the surgeon to detect an inadvertent vascular puncture very early, even in a small calibre blood vessel, and with much more sensitivity than a regular needle. This increases patient safety during the intra-myometrial injection of a vasoconstrictive agent during myomectomy and reduces the incidence of catastrophic complications.

Pisat's Visual Vasopressor Injection Needle: An Innovative Tool for Increasing Patient Safety in Laparoscopic Myomectomy.

INTRODUCTION: The use of vasopressin and other vasoconstrictive agents to reduce blood loss during laparoscopic myomectomy significantly reduces blood loss and operative time. However, serious cardiovascular complications following the use of intramyometrial injection of vasopressin solution have also been reported. Most of these side effects are believed to be due to inadvertent intravascular injection of vasopressin solution. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To describe a new design of an injection needle. Pisat's visual vasopressor injection needle (VVIN) can be used during laparoscopic myomectomy to minimise the incidence of an inadvertent intravascular injection of a vasoconstrictor solution. RESULTS: A total of 53 patients who underwent laparoscopic myomectomy at various hospitals in Mumbai, India were studied over a period of two years. Out of these, 23 patients were operated upon using a standard 5 mm laparoscopic injection needle, and 30 patients were operated on by using a VVIN. Out of the 23 patients in whom a regular needle was used, four patients (17.39%) demonstrated a significant (over 20% of pre-injection value), but transient, elevation in pulse and blood pressure readings at one minute post injection. This gradually returned to baseline at 10 minutes after the injection. None of the 30 patients in whom VVIN was used after confirming a negative aspiration demonstrated any significant change in post-injection pulse or blood pressure recordings. CONCLUSIONS: Using a VVIN during a laparoscopic myomectomy enables the surgeon to detect an inadvertent vascular puncture very early, even in a small calibre blood vessel, and with much more sensitivity than a regular needle. This increases patient safety during the intramyometrial injection of a vasoconstrictive agent during myomectomy and reduces the incidence of catastrophic complications.