Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Ovarian Cystectomy during Pregnancy.

The use of robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS) in gynecologic oncology is rising rapidly; however, the role of this modality in obstetrics has not been widely investigated. During pregnancy, the surgical management of adnexal masses is traditionally approached via laparotomy or laparoscopy. RALS offers a minimally invasive approach secondary to improved instrument dexterity and precision, 14-fold magnification, and 3-D imaging. For the pregnant patient, this translates into minimal manipulation of the gravid uterus, quicker recovery times, and potentially decreased maternal and fetal morbidity. Here we report six cases in which the da Vinci robotic surgical system (Intuitive Surgical Incorporated, Sunnyvale, CA) was used to perform an ovarian cystectomy during pregnancy. Pathology in all cases returned benign and each patient continued pregnancy without complications of surgery. In centers with the resources and adequately trained physicians, RALS offers the obstetric patient a safe and less invasive alternative to laparotomy or conventional laparoscopy. Although the advantages of robotic surgery are many, the limitations of this modality remain elevated equipment costs as well as the time investment necessary to train physicians.

Incidental finding of pseudomyxoma peritonei at primary cesarean section.

Primary appendiceal carcinoma is extremely rare and is found in approximately 1% of appendectomy specimens. When cancer is present, the most frequent histology is mucinous adenocarcinoma. Neoplasms of the appendix that secrete mucin such as adenocarcinoma may rupture, leading to intraperitoneal seeding of the peritoneum and producing the clinical picture of pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP). PMP is characterized by mucin-producing neoplastic cells that have seeded the peritoneum from the ruptured viscous and continue to secrete copious amounts of gelatinous material that accumulates in the abdomen producing the characteristic "jelly belly." A review of the medical literature revealed no cases of PMP diagnosed at time of cesarean section. A previously healthy gravida 5, para 3 underwent cesarean section. Upon opening of the peritoneum, copious amounts of gelatinous, yellow-tinged mucoid material was noted. A general surgeon was consulted, and grossly necrotic-appearing appendix was noted. The patient underwent appendectomy with right hemicolectomy. Pathology showed well-differentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix. PMP is associated with gastrointestinal and ovarian carcinomas. Although somewhat rare, these cancers may occur in pregnancy. Because nonspecific abdominal pain and increasing abdominal girth are common in pregnancy, patients' complaints may go ignored. Early diagnosis of a potentially life-threatening disease requires that clinicians expand the differential diagnosis and consider the possibility of a malignant neoplasm presenting in the pregnant female.

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic placement of transabdominal cerclage during pregnancy.

Cervical incompetence treated with transabdominal cerclage can carry significant morbidity with the need for sequential laparotomies and necessitating prolonged postoperative recovery. Laparoscopic transabdominal cerclage placement has been described but has significant limitations with only two-dimensional depth perception and limited dexterity. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS) is rapidly gaining acceptance in gynecologic surgery. RALS has reportedly been used for placement of an interval transabdominal cerclage. We report the first two cases where the da Vinci robot was used during pregnancy for placement of abdominal cerclage. Two women were successfully treated with robotic-assisted laparoscopic placement of transabdominal cerclage in pregnancy. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic transabdominal cerclage placement is less invasive and is effective not only as an interval procedure but also during pregnancy, offering the patient an alternative to the traditional laparotomy with quicker recovery time.

Elective appendectomy at the time of cesarean delivery: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare postoperative morbidity in patients who underwent cesarean delivery with and without elective appendectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Subjects who underwent cesarean delivery were assigned randomly by computer-generated randomization to either standard cesarean delivery or cesarean delivery with appendectomy. Primary variables that were measured were operative times and markers of morbidity. Secondary outcome was appendiceal pathologic condition. RESULTS: Ninety-three subjects whose condition required cesarean delivery from July 2002 to May 2006 were enrolled (control subjects, 48; active subjects, 45). Operative time in the study group was increased by 8.8 minutes (P < or = .028). Postoperative morbidity findings were similar. Pathologic evaluation revealed 9 abnormalities that included acute appendicitis in 2 patients. CONCLUSION: Elective appendectomy at the time of cesarean delivery does not increase inpatient morbidity. Consideration can be given safely to elective appendectomy at the time of cesarean delivery in selected cases, such as women with palpable fecaliths and/or an abnormal appearing appendix, a history of pelvic pain, endometriosis, or anticipated intraabdominal adhesions.

Elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein, umbilical vein varix, and mesenchymal dysplasia: are they related?

OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: Variceal dilatation of the umbilical vein is a rare vascular anomaly of the umbilical cord. We present a patient case where dilatation of the umbilical vein was associated with an elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein on prenatal testing and mesenchymal dysplasia on pathological evaluation of the placenta. RESULTS: Alterations in the villous structure of the placenta as in mesenchymal dysplasia may lead to increased placental permeability causing an elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein on antenatal testing. CONCLUSION: Abnormal testing should be an indication for close evaluation of the placenta and placental structures, as well as the fetus.

A survey of Spanish language services among L&D units in Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia.

Over the past few years, we have noticed in our obstetrics residency program at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga that Hispanic women delivered by our service have become the majority of patients in our care. While the Hispanic population in Tennessee made up only 2.2 percent of the total state population in 2000, certain regions have seen large increases in immigrant population and Latina women accounted for 30 percent of our deliveries at the Baroness Erlanger Campus in 2003. Specifically, the number of women who speak little-to-no English has risen dramatically, forcing the hospital and all employees to expand efforts to communicate with patients in Spanish.

Episiotomy versus fetal manipulation in managing severe shoulder dystocia: a comparison of outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: In severe shoulder dystocia, when initial maneuvers fail, either episiotomy or fetal manipulation (Rubin, Woods' screw, or posterior arm release) is recommended. We sought to compare maternal and neonatal outcomes between severe shoulder dystocia deliveries managed with episiotomy versus fetal manipulation. STUDY DESIGN: We identified severe shoulder dystocia deliveries from three databases: all shoulder dystocia deliveries (1993-2003 and 1994-1997) from two teaching institutions and litigated cases of shoulder dystocia-associated permanent brachial plexus palsy from multiple U.S. institutions. Pair-wise comparisons were made among three groups of deliveries: those managed by fetal manipulation without episiotomy (fetal manipulation-only), those managed by episiotomy without fetal manipulation (episiotomy-only), and those managed with both (episiotomy + fetal manipulation). Rates of brachial plexus palsy, neonatal depression, and anal sphincter trauma were compared among groups using chi 2 , with significance at P < .05. RESULTS: Among episiotomy-only, 13 of 22 (59.1%) sustained brachial plexus palsy, compared with 20 of 57 (35.1%) among fetal manipulation-only (P = .05). Twenty-eight of 48 (58.3%) in episiotomy + fetal manipulation had brachial plexus palsy, which did not differ from episiotomy-only (P = .95) but was higher than fetal manipulation-only (P = .02), suggesting that the addition of episiotomy conferred no benefit in averting neonatal injury. Anal sphincter trauma was significantly more common among episiotomy-only and episiotomy + fetal manipulation, compared with fetal manipulation-only. CONCLUSION: In severe shoulder dystocia, if fetal manipulation can be performed without episiotomy, severe perineal trauma can be averted without incurring greater risk of brachial plexus palsy.

Intrapartum risk factors for permanent brachial plexus injury.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare maternal, neonatal, and second stage of labor characteristics in shoulder dystocia deliveries that result in permanent brachial plexus injury with shoulder dystocia deliveries that result in no injury. STUDY DESIGN: Our cases were culled from a database of deliveries that resulted in permanent brachial plexus injuries and matched to control cases that were taken from a database of consecutive shoulder dystocia deliveries from one hospital. Deliveries that resulted in injury were excluded from the control cases; those cases with no recorded shoulder dystocia were excluded from the cases. Matching was for birth weight (+/-250 g), parity, and diabetic status. Rates of precipitous and prolonged second stage, operative delivery, neonatal depression, and average number of shoulder dystocia maneuvers used were compared between the two groups with chi(2) test, Fisher exact test, and the Student t test; a probability value of <.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: There were 80 matched patients, of which 26 patients were nulliparous and 11 patients were diabetic. Mothers of the uninjured group were younger than those of the injured group (23.7+/-6.2 years vs 27.4+/-5.1 years, P<.001). The injured group had a significantly higher rate of 5-minute Apgar scores of <7 (13.9% vs 3.8%, P=.04). Differences in maternal weight, body mass index, height, race, gestational age, average number of maneuvers, head-to-body delivery interval, operative delivery rate, prolonged second stage rate, precipitous second stage rate, and sex were not significant between groups. The rates of precipitous second stage for both groups (28.0% injured and 35.0% uninjured) were more than triple the rates of prolonged second stage (9.5% injured and 11.3% uninjured). CONCLUSION: No characteristic of second-stage of labor predicts permanent brachial plexus injury. Precipitous second stage is the most prevalent labor abnormality that is associated with shoulder dystocia.

Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2: effects on renin secretion and expression in fetal lambs.

The importance of prostaglandins in the regulation of the renin-angiotensin system during development is not known. These experiments were conducted to examine the effects of prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors on basal and isoproterenol-induced plasma renin concentration and renin gene expression in the late-gestation fetal lamb. Eighteen lamb fetuses ranging in gestational age from 129 to 138 days underwent surgical insertion of femoral arterial and venous catheters under general endotracheal anesthesia. After a period of recovery, animals underwent an infusion of isoproterenol after administration of a saline bolus (control experiments); 24-48 h later a second study was performed after administration of NS-398, a cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitor, or saline for a second control study. Administration of COX-2 inhibitor significantly reduced baseline plasma renin levels and attenuated responses in fetal renin secretion to isoproterenol infusions. Renal cortical cells from animals receiving COX-2 inhibitor had significantly lower levels of renin mRNA compared with animals receiving only saline. Renal cortical cells in culture from animals receiving only saline exhibited increased levels of renin mRNA when treated with isoproterenol, forskolin, or IBMX. Only forskolin increased renin mRNA levels in renal cortical cells in culture from animals receiving COX-2 inhibitor. We conclude that prostaglandins play a stimulatory role in the regulation of the renin-angiotensin system and are necessary for beta-adrenergic stimulation of renin secretion and gene expression in the late-gestation fetal lamb.