Intraperitoneal instillation of bupivacaine for reduction of postoperative pain after laparoscopic hysterectomy: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect on postoperative pain of intraperitoneal instillation of dilute bupivacaine at the conclusion of laparoscopic hysterectomy. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Canadian Task Force classification I). SETTING: Tertiary care, urban, academic teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Women aged 18 to 65 years undergoing total or supracervical laparoscopic hysterectomy with or without salpingo-oophorectomy. INTERVENTION: Randomization to intraperitoneal instillation of bupivacaine vs normal saline solution at the conclusion of laparoscopic hysterectomy performed because of benign indications. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 160 patients consented to participate in the study and were randomized to receive either intraperitoneal instillation of 100 mg bupivacaine in 100 mL normal saline solution or 100 mL normal saline solution alone, at the conclusion of laparoscopic hysterectomy. Sixty seven of 77 patients (87%) in the treatment group and 73 of 80 patients (91%) in the placebo group completed the study. There were no significant differences in demographic profile, indication for hysterectomy, or number of previous surgeries between the two groups. All patients were prescribed a standardized routine postoperative analgesic regimen. Pain was measured by patient self-report using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) at 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. Mean VAS scores at all time points were between 2.0 and 4.3 and were highest in the first postoperative hour. VAS scores were not significantly different between the two groups at any time point. None of the measured secondary outcomes were significantly different between the bupivacaine and placebo groups, including total postoperative opioid analgesic use in morphine equivalents (23.2 mg vs 27.5 mg; p = .09), length of hospital stay in hours (23.3 vs 23.0; p = .49), patient satisfaction on a 10-cm VAS (9.0 vs 8.2; p = .12), and complication rates (9% vs 15%; p = .35). CONCLUSION: Intraperitoneal instillation of bupivacaine at the conclusion of laparoscopic hysterectomy does not reduce postoperative pain. Opioid analgesic use, length of hospital stay, overall patient satisfaction, and complication rates are also unchanged. Self-reported postoperative pain was low in both groups after this major gynecologic surgery performed laparoscopically.

Angiogenic factors and pregnant woman with new onset seizures.

BACKGROUND: In patients with new onset seizures during pregnancy, it can be challenging to differentiate between eclampsia and other etiologies. Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt1) is an antiangiogenic protein that is elevated in preeclampsia and eclampsia. CASE: A multiparous woman presented at 22 weeks gestation with seizures. The initial presentation was highly suspicious for eclampsia, but blood pressure and laboratory data were equivocal. Further investigation suggested primary seizure disorder. Serum sFlt1 was normal for gestational age, supporting the exclusion of eclampsia. CONCLUSION: History, physical exam, and traditional laboratory data are the mainstays of eclampsia diagnosis; however, sFlt1 may help clinicians when the diagnosis is uncertain at preterm gestational ages.

Fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery: a surgical skills assessment tool in gynecology.

OBJECTIVE: To describe our experience with the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) program as a teaching and assessment tool for basic laparoscopic competency among gynecology residents. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted at a single academic institution. Before the FLS program was introduced, baseline FLS testing was offered to residents and gynecology division directors. Test scores were analyzed by training level and self-reported surgical experience. After implementing a minimally invasive gynecologic surgical curriculum, third-year residents were retested. RESULTS: The pass rates for baseline FLS skills testing were 0% for first-year residents, 50% for second-year residents, and 75% for third- and fourth-year residents. The pass rates for baseline cognitive testing were 60% for first- and second-year residents, 67% for third-year residents, and 40% for fourth-year residents. When comparing junior and senior residents, there was a significant difference in pass rates for the skills test (P=.007) but not the cognitive test (P=.068). Self-reported surgical experience strongly correlated with skills scores (r-value=0.97, P=.0048), but not cognitive scores (r-value=0.20, P=.6265). After implementing a curriculum, 100% of the third-year residents passed the skills test, and 92% passed the cognitive examination. CONCLUSIONS: The FLS skills test may be a valuable assessment tool for gynecology residents. The cognitive test may need further adaptation for applicability to gynecologists.

Laparoscopic excision of ovarian remnants: retrospective cohort study with long-term follow-up.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical presentation, surgical and pathologic findings, and long-term outcomes after excision of ovarian remnants using a predominantly laparoscopic approach. DESIGN: Retrospective medical record review and long-term follow-up via telephone interview (Canadian Task Force classification II-3). SETTING: Large academic medical institution. PATIENTS: Thirty women who underwent excision of pathologically confirmed ovarian remnants by a single surgeon between 2001 and 2009. INTERVENTION: Excision of ovarian remnants, 29 at laparoscopy and 1 at laparotomy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of the 30 patients, 29 had pain and 1 had a persistent adnexal mass. Of the 29 patients who underwent preoperative ultrasonography, 26 (89.6%) had an adnexal mass on the side of previous salpingo-oophorectomy. Masses ranged in size from 0.8 to 7.4 cm in greatest diameter and most commonly contained debris-filled cysts. Intraoperatively, 29 excisions (96.7%) required retroperitoneal dissection, 27 (90.0%) required enterolysis, 28 (93.3%) required ureterolysis, and 20 (66.7%) required ligation of the uterine artery at its origin. All pathology reports confirmed ovarian tissue, often associated with endometriosis, corpus luteal cysts, and simple cysts. Four bowel injuries and 2 bladder injuries were laparoscopically repaired by the primary surgeon. Three patients required bowel resections by a general surgeon. Records from postoperative visits were available for 28 patients, of whom 17 (60.7%) reported resolution of pain, 9 (32.1%) reported improvement, and 2 (7.1%) reported persistent pain. Of the 18 women who returned written consent for the telephone interview, 11 (61.1%) reported resolution of pain, 5 (27.8%) reported improvement, and 2 (11.1%) reported persistent pain. CONCLUSION: While laparoscopic excision of ovarian remnants is feasible, the procedure almost always requires a retroperitoneal dissection and is associated with high risk of complications. Careful surgical planning and preparation are essential.

Mechanical bowel preparation for gynecologic laparoscopy: a prospective randomized trial of oral sodium phosphate solution vs single sodium phosphate enema.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of mechanical bowel preparation using oral sodium phosphate (NaP) solution vs single NaP enema on the quality of the surgical field in patients undergoing advanced gynecologic laparoscopic procedures. DESIGN: Single-blind randomized controlled trial (Canadian Task Force classification I). SETTING: Academic teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Women undergoing gynecologic laparoscopic surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Administration of either oral NaP solution or single NaP enema for preoperative bowel preparation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: One hundred fifty-six women were enrolled, and 145 were randomized to receive either oral NaP solution (n = 72) or NaP enema (n = 73). Sixty-eight women in the oral solution group and 65 in the enema group completed the study. Assessment of the quality of the surgical field and bowel characteristics was performed using a surgeon questionnaire using Likert and visual analog scales. No significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in evaluation of the surgical field, bowel handling, degree of bowel preparation, or surgical difficulty. Surgical field quality was graded as excellent or good in 85% of women in the oral solution group and 91% of women in the enema group (p = .43). When surgeons were asked to guess the type of preparation used, they were correct only 52% of the time (κ = 0.04). Assessment of patient quality of life in the preoperative period was performed using a self-administered questionnaire using a visual analog scale. Severity of abdominal bloating and swelling, weakness, thirst, dizziness, nausea, fecal incontinence, and overall discomfort were significantly greater in the oral solution group. Women in the oral solution group also rated the preparation as significantly more difficult to administer, and were significantly less willing to try the same preparation in the future. CONCLUSION: Quality of the surgical field in patients undergoing advanced gynecologic laparoscopic procedures is similar after mechanical bowel preparation using either oral NaP solution and NaP enema. Adverse effects are more severe with oral NaP solution compared with NaP enema administration.

Description and validation of the Pelv-Sim: a training model designed to improve gynecologic minimally invasive suturing skills.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To describe and validate the Pelv-Sim trainer, an innovative training model for gynecologic laparoscopic suturing with 4 laparoscopic exercises: closing an open vaginal cuff, transposing an ovary to the pelvic sidewall, ligating an infundibulopelvic ligament, and closing a port-site fascial incision. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial (Canadian Task Force classification I). SETTING: Academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Obstetrics and gynecology residents (n = 19) and third-year medical students (n = 10). INTERVENTIONS: To test the Pelv-Sim model for construct validity, all participants were timed as they completed the 4 tasks, and their performances were compared. The residents were then randomized to a study group asked to train with the Pelv-Sim for 1 hour/week for 10 weeks, or to a control group. To evaluate the effectiveness of training with the Pelv-Sim model, both groups of residents were retested at the end of the 10-week study period. Pretraining and posttraining performances were compared within each group. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Before the intervention, the residents completed all 4 tasks in significantly less time than the medical students (all p values