Utero-ovarian transposition before pelvic radiation in a patient with rectal cancer: a case report and systemic literature review.

Objective: To describe a case of utero-ovarian transposition (UOT) before pelvic radiation in a patient with rectal cancer and provide a systematic literature review on all reported cases of UOT. Methods: We performed a prospective collection and revision of clinical, intraoperative, and postoperative data from a patient who underwent UOT. In addition, a systematic review of the literature available to date on all cases of UOT was realized, and 14 patients from 10 articles were included. Results: We reported the case of a 28-year-old nulligravida patient who was diagnosed with a low-grade rectal adenocarcinoma and underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, followed by transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME). Before starting neoadjuvant oncological therapies, the patient underwent laparoscopic UOT. The intervention was performed without complications, and the patient received neoadjuvant oncological treatments as planned. TaTME and uterus repositioning were completed six weeks after the end of radiotherapy. No complications were observed during the first 9 postoperative months. Adequate utero-ovarian perfusion was assessed by Doppler ultrasound, cervicovaginal anastomosis appeared to have healed correctly, and the patient experienced menstrual bleeding. Data from the literature review of all reported cases of UOT were presented and discussed. Conclusions: UOT represents a valuable option to preserve fertility in patients requiring pelvic radiotherapy. This study provides additional evidence on the feasibility and safety of performing UOT.

Sexual quality of life and postoperative deep dyspareunia after vNOTES benign adnexal procedures.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the impact of vNOTES on postoperative sexual dysfunction in patients undergoing adnexal procedures. METHODS: We analyzed data from patients who underwent vNOTES adnexal surgeries for benign conditions between May 2020 and May 2023. The primary outcome was the presence of new postoperative deep dyspareunia (DD) or other sexual dysfunctions, which were assessed through a phone survey conducted 6 to 24 months after surgery. Secondary outcomes included surgical feasibility, operative times, complications rate, and postoperative pain evaluation. RESULTS: We included 103 patients for primary and secondary outcomes and 111 patients for secondary outcomes analysis only. Newly postoperative DD was reported by three patients (2.9%), remained present at 12 postoperative months in one case (1.0%), and spontaneously disappeared in two cases (1.9%) after four and 10 postoperative months, respectively. In the remaining 100 patients (97.1%), no new DD or other sexual function disorders were reported after surgery. vNOTES procedures were successfully performed in all cases, with a mean operative time of 38.2 ± 19.6 min and a conversion rate to conventional laparoscopy of 0.9%. No significant complication was observed. CONCLUSION: This study suggests a very limited risk of developing postoperative sexual dysfunction after vNOTES benign adnexal procedures.

Anatomical Distribution of Sentinel Lymph Nodes Harvested by Retroperitoneal vNOTES in 34 Consecutive Patients With Early-Stage Endometrial Cancer: Analysis of 124 Lymph Nodes.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the anatomical distribution of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs), the overall, unilateral, and bilateral detection rates, and the bilateral SLN concordance in patients with endometrial cancer (EC) mapped through a retroperitoneal transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) approach. DESIGN: Prospective single-center observational study. SETTING: Swiss teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Patients with EC or endometrial complex atypical hyperplasia who had undergone surgical staging with SLN mapping by a retroperitoneal vNOTES approach between October 2021 and November 2023. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were placed in a horizontal dorsal lithotomy position under general anesthesia, and indocyanine green (ICG) was injected into the cervix. Access to the retroperitoneal space was achieved through vaginal incisions. A 7 cm GelPoint V-Path Transvaginal Access Platform was used as a vNOTES port, and CO2 was insufflated to expand the retroperitoneal space. The pelvic retroperitoneal space was inspected for ICG uptake by lymph nodes. After identification, SLNs were removed and sent for definitive histological examination. MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 34 patients were included in this study; 33 (97.1%) had a successful procedure (unilateral or bilateral mapping), and 1 (2.9%) had failed mapping. A total of 124 SLNs were identified and removed. SLNs were observed in the obturator region (81.5%), the external iliac region (10.5%), the internal iliac region (4.8%), and the common iliac region (3.2%). Similar proportions were observed on both pelvic sides. No SLNs were detected in other regions. The SLN locations were symmetrical in 22/31 (71.0%) patients. SLNs were negatives in 120 cases (96.8%), while 2 lymph nodes (1.6%) presented isolated tumor cells, and 2 others (1.6%) presented macrometastases. CONCLUSION: We report anatomical distributions and detection rates for SLNs mapped by retroperitoneal vNOTES. Our results suggest substantial differences in the localization of SLNs compared to those reported for laparoscopic mapping.

Impact of Uterine Weight and Shape on vNOTES Hysterectomy: Analysis of 238 Consecutive Cases.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the perioperative outcomes of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) hysterectomies for different uterine weights and shapes. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Swiss teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Women who underwent vNOTES hysterectomy for benign conditions between May 2020 and July 2023 (N = 238). Patients were divided into 4 subgroups depending on uterus weight and shape. Uteri weighting <280 g were classified as type 0. Uteri weighting ≥280 g were categorized as type 1 (no vascular pedicle displacement), type 2 (cranial displacement of adnexal vascular pedicles), and type 3 (displacement of uterine arteries). INTERVENTIONS: All women underwent vNOTES hysterectomies. We compared perioperative outcomes for the 4 subgroups. MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS: We classified 168 patients (70.6%) as uterus type 0, 33 patients (13.9%) as type 1, 24 patients (10.1%) as type 2, and 13 patients (5.4%) as type 3. Mean uterine weight was 135.8 ± 59.5 g in type 0, 398.0 ± 167.3 g in type 1, 603.5 ± 217.9 g in type 2, and 661.7 ± 281.6 g in type 3. Operative time in type 0 (65.1 ± 30.9 minutes) and type 1 (65.1 ± 24.0 minutes) was shorter than in type 2 (102.3 ± 60.0 minutes) and type 3 (115.2 ± 40.3 minutes). Blood losses were more significant in type 2 (158.5 ± 212.0 mL) and type 3 (158.5 ± 110.7 mL) than in type 0 (85.6 ± 113.5 mL). No difference in the rate of total complications among groups was observed (8.3%, 3.0%, 12.5%, and 15.4% in types 0, 1, 2, and 3, respectively). CONCLUSION: The displacement of the vascular pedicles seems associated with longer operative time and more blood loss and could represent a marker for technical difficulty in vNOTES hysterectomy. However, it does not influence the perioperative complication rate.

Transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) in gynecological emergencies.

Objective: Transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) is an emerging minimally invasive approach increasingly applied to perform many gynecological procedures. Despite a still limited level of evidence, compared to conventional laparoscopy, vNOTES seems to be associated with reduced blood loss, shorter operative time, less postoperative pain, shorter hospitalization time, better cosmetic results and decreased postoperative morbidity. Although growing evidence supports the effectiveness of vNOTES for elective adnexal surgeries, there is still limited knowledge regarding its feasibility and safety in emergency settings. In the present study, we report our experience performing vNOTES in gynecological emergency cases. Study design: We prospectively collected and analyzed data from patients who underwent vNOTES for gynecological emergencies between November 2021 and June 2023. Demographic and perioperative characteristics were collected and analyzed. Results: Seventeen patients were included. Interventions were realized for suspicion of ectopic pregnancy in 7 cases (41.2%), for suspicion of adnexal torsion in 7 cases (41.2%), for post-hysterectomy hemoperitoneum in 2 cases (11.8%), and for uncontrollable uterine bleeding in 1 case (5.9%). Emergency procedures included unilateral salpingectomy (35.3%), ovarian cystectomy (23.5%), ovarian cystotomy (17.6%), adnexal detorsion (11.8%), hemoperitoneum drainage (11.8%), hysterectomy (5.9%), and appendectomy (5.9%). The overall median operative time was 38 [18-72] minutes. The median estimated intraoperative blood loss was 30 [5-150] mL, and no intraoperative complications occurred. Conversion to conventional laparoscopy or laparotomy was never needed. Patients stayed hospitalized for a median time of 30 [4-144] hours after the intervention. The median visual analog scale value for postoperative pain evaluation was 2 [0-5] at 12, 24, and 48 postoperative hours. No complications associated with the procedure occurred. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the feasibility of performing vNOTES procedures for managing gynecological emergencies such as tubal ectopic pregnancy, adnexal torsion, painful ovarian lesions, post-hysterectomy hemoperitoneum, and uncontrollable uterine bleeding. Associated with data reported in the available literature, our results suggest potential benefits in treating gynecological emergencies by vNOTES over conventional laparoscopy. However, stronger evidence from larger studies is needed to confirm it.

Feasibility and safety of vNOTES for gynecological procedures in obese patients.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to determine the feasibility and safety of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) to treat benign and malign gynecological conditions in obese patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed data from 79 obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) > 30 Kg/m2 operated by vNOTES for gynecological conditions between May 2020 and April 2023. The primary outcome was the feasibility of performing the surgery as initially planned. Data were presented for subgroups of patients with obesity class I (BMI 30.1 - 34.9 Kg/m2), class II (BMI 35.0 - 39.9 Kg/m2), and class III (BMI ≥ 40.0 Kg/m2). RESULTS: Patients presented obesity class I in 39 cases (49.4 %), class II in 27 cases (34.2 %), and class III in 13 cases (16.4 %). Fifty-two patients (65.8 %) underwent vNOTES hysterectomy, 26 patients (32.9 %) underwent procedures limited to the adnexa, and 1 patient (1.3 %) underwent myomectomy. The conversion rate was 0 %, 11.1 %, and 7.7 % in obesity class I, II, and III, respectively. Intraoperative bladder injury was observed in 1 case (1.3 %) and rectal serosal tear in 2 cases (2.5 %). Postoperatively, we observed 3 cases (3.8 %) of wound infection, 2 cases (2.5 %) of cystitis, and 1 case (1.3 %) of deep vein thrombosis. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrated the feasibility and safety of performing gynecological vNOTES procedures in obese patients. However, obesity could be associated with longer and more complex interventions, especially in obesity class II and III patients.

Omentectomy for oncological surgical staging by transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES): a preliminary study.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the feasibility of performing omentectomy by transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) for surgical staging of ovarian and high-risk endometrial malignancies. Methods: This descriptive study was realized in a non-university hospital in Switzerland. Eighteen patients with suspicious adnexal masses or high-risk endometrial cancer underwent surgical staging comprising infracolic omentectomy by vNOTES between May 2020 and April 2023. Results: Patients underwent oncological surgical staging for suspicious adnexal masses in 14 cases (77.8%) and high-risk endometrial cancer in 4 cases (22.2%). vNOTES omentectomies were performed in all patients without complications. Associated procedures included salpingo-oophorectomy (94.4%), hysterectomy (55.6%), peritoneal biopsies (33.3%), pelvic sentinel lymph node biopsies (22.2%), and appendectomy (5.6%). The median time to perform omentectomies was 9 (4-13) min. All oncological staging were completed by vNOTES. No significant intraoperative complications occurred. We observed 1 case (5.6%) of postoperative fever probably associated with vaginal cuff infection (Clavien-Dindo grade II). Conclusions: This study demonstrated the feasibility of performing vNOTES oncological staging requiring complex extrapelvic procedures such as infracolic omentectomy, supporting its potential role for managing gynecological malignancies such as ovarian and high-risk endometrial cancers. However, before expanding this approach outside study settings, strong evidence of its feasibility, practical benefits, and long-term oncological outcomes are needed.

Management and Outcomes of Metastatic and Recurrent Malignant Phyllodes Tumors of the Breast: A Systematic Literature Review.

To summarize the evidence on the current management and outcomes for metastatic and recurrent malignant phyllodes tumors (MPTs) of the breast. A systematic literature review of all cases of metastatic or recurrent MPTs of the breast published between 2010 and 2021 was performed. In total, 66 patients from 63 articles were included. Fifty-two (78.8%) had distant metastatic disease (DMD subgroup), and 21 (31.8%) showed locoregional recurrent/progressive disease (LRPR subgroup). Locoregional recurrences in patients with no distant metastases were treated with surgical excision in all cases. Radiotherapy was administered in 8/21 cases (38.1%) and was combined with chemotherapy in 2/21 cases (9.5%). Metastatic disease was managed through metastases surgical excision, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or a combination of these three in 84.6% of cases, while the remaining patients received no oncological treatments. Chemotherapy was proposed in 75.0% of cases. Anthracycline and alkylating agent-based combination regimens were most frequently administered. The median survival time was 24 (2.0-152.0) months, and 72.0 (2.5-98.5) months in the DMD and LRPR subgroups, respectively. Management of recurrent or metastatic MPTs is challenging. Surgery is the fundamental approach, but the use of adjuvant radio- and chemo-therapy remains controversial due to the lack of scientific evidence. Further studies and international registers are needed to implement new and more efficient treatment strategies.

Stapled diaphragm resection: A new approach to diaphragmatic cytoreductive surgery for advanced-stage ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a novel technique for diaphragmatic full-thickness resection (DFTR) using a vascular stapler to perform cytoreductive surgeries in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Single-center retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer undergoing stapled diaphragmatic full-thickness resections (S-DFTRs) as part of cytoreductive surgeries between January 2018 and June 2022, according to the IDEAL recommendations. RESULTS: Fifteen patients underwent cytoreductive surgeries with S-DFTRs. The median operative time was 300 (114-547) minutes. Cytoreduction was considered complete in all cases. All S-DFTRs were performed on the right diaphragm. Concomitant left diaphragmatic peritoneal stripping was performed in 5 cases (33.3%) and was associated with a conventional DFTR in 1 case (6.7%). Prophylactic intraoperative tube thoracostomy was never required. Four patients (26.7%) were admitted to the intensive care unit. Pleural effusion was observed in 9 patients (60.0%), and 4 (26.7%) required a postoperative pigtail catheter thoracostomy. Three patients (20.0%) required catheter placement on the right hemithorax (ipsilaterally to the S-DFTR) and 2 patients (13.3%) required catheters on the left hemithorax (contralaterally to the S-DFTR). Pneumothorax requiring tube thoracostomy was observed in 1 case (6.7%) on the left hemithorax (contralaterally to the S-DFTR). Pulmonary embolism and pneumonia were both observed once (6.7%). The median hospitalization length was 14 (5-36) days. During the follow-up, 6 patients (40.0%) had a recurrence, but none involved the pleura or the diaphragm. According to the IDEAL classification, this study could be ranked as stage 2a (development). CONCLUSIONS: This technique appears to be a fast and safe method for performing diaphragmatic cytoreductive surgeries and could reduce postoperative complications.

Sentinel Node Biopsy by Transvaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery in a Patient with Early-Stage Cervical Cancer: A Case Report.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has emerged as an accurate tool to identify lymph node metastases in patients with cervical cancers. This procedure is generally performed by conventional or robotic-assisted laparoscopy, but SLNB by transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) has been described for the surgical staging of endometrial cancer. This transvaginal approach seems to be associated with reduced surgical morbidities and could be of particular interest in managing cancer patients. In this article, we report the use of a retroperitoneal vNOTES approach to perform SLNB in a patient with cervical cancer, and we provide a step-by-step description of the surgical technique. This surgical approach seems to be the least invasive way to perform pelvic SLNB and could represent a valuable approach to properly managing patients with early-stage cervical cancers after a free-margin conization. However, more studies are needed before expanding the use of this surgical approach outside study settings.

How to perform complete resection of peritoneal carcinomatosis nodules infiltrating the diaphragm without opening the pleural cavity in patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancers.

Patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer frequently present with peritoneal carcinomatosis, and a diaphragmatic involvement is observed in about 40% of cases. The goal of treatment includes complete surgical cytoreduction associated with systemic chemotherapy. Complete diaphragmatic cytoreduction is a crucial step and plays a major role in the overall survival of these patients. Deep infiltrating peritoneal carcinomatosis nodules are treated with diaphragmatic full-thickness resections, but these procedures involve opening the pleural cavity and are associated with a high rate of postoperative complications, such as pleural effusion and pneumothorax. A chest drain is often required, causing significant discomfort for the patients and potentially being an additional source of complications. In this study, we present a novel surgical technique to perform diaphragmatic resections using a linear stapler without opening the pleural cavity or needing a chest drain.

Sentinel Node Biopsy for Endometrial Cancer by Retroperitoneal Transvaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery: A Preliminary Study.

Objective: The primary objective was to determine the intraoperative and postoperative surgical complications of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) by retroperitoneal transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES). The secondary objective was to assess the feasibility of this surgical technique. Methods: This was a descriptive study realized in a non-university hospital in Switzerland. Seven patients with endometrial cancer or endometrial complex atypical hyperplasia underwent surgical staging with SLNB by retroperitoneal vNOTES using an indocyanine green-based near-infrared fluorescence imaging technique (October 2021-February 2022). Results: The median operative time was 113 (81-211) minutes. The median estimated blood loss was 20 (20-400) mL. The overall bilateral detection rate was 100% (7/7). Upon histopathological examination, 5 patients presented an endometrial adenocarcinoma, and we found endometrial complex atypical hyperplasia in 2 cases. We successfully completed all procedures without significant intraoperative complications, but 1 case required conversion to conventional laparoscopy. The median postoperative stay was 2 (2-4) days, and we observed no postoperative complications during this period. We observed 1 case of postoperative deep vein thrombosis and an asymptomatic vaginal vault hematoma in the same patient. Conclusions: Our preliminary study suggests that retroperitoneal vNOTES could be a feasible, safe, and valuable approach to perform SLNB in endometrial cancer. However, strong evidence of its feasibility, the effective benefits, and the long-term oncological outcomes is needed before expanding the use of vNOTES in endometrial cancer outside study settings.

Immediate postpartum assessment of the anal sphincter by endovaginal ultrasound: An experimental study.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Obstetric anal sphincter injuries are frequently missed and carry a significant risk for the development of anal incontinence. Immediate postpartum endoanal ultrasound increases identification of these injuries but is rarely employed. We hypothesize that endovaginal ultrasound could be a feasible and easily available alternative sonographic tool to improve early diagnosis of anal sphincter tears. METHODS: We conducted a prospective experimental study including 160 primiparous women. Shortly after vaginal delivery, patients underwent clinical and sonographic perineal examinations. We analyzed the feasibility of anal sphincter assessment by endovaginal ultrasound and its potential contribution in the early diagnosis of anal sphincter injuries. RESULTS: Sonographic assessment of the anal sphincter was analyzable for 136 patients (85.0%). Causes of non-analyzability included air artifacts (6.9%), lack of distinction between the external anal sphincter and surrounding tissues (9.4%) and distortion artifacts (9.4%). Patients in the non-analyzable ultrasound subgroup were less likely to have delivered in a dorsal lithotomy position (62.5% vs. 85.3 %) and more likely to have had an episiotomy (33.3% vs. 14.0%), and their risk of sphincter injury was more frequently classified as "improbable" on clinical examination (91.7% vs. 61.0%). Ultrasounds were analyzable for 96.4% of patients clinically reported as having "possible" or "certain" sphincter injuries. The incidence of anal sphincter injury was 16.9% for clinical observation and 20.0% with associated sonographic examination. CONCLUSIONS: Endovaginal ultrasound could be used as a complementary tool in assessment of the anal sphincter in high-risk patients. Its feasibility and easy availability make this technique a promising tool for improving the management of anal sphincter tears.

Transvaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery for Surgical Staging of Early-Stage Ovarian Cancers: A Report of Two Cases.

Surgical staging is essential in the management of ovarian cancers. This staging has traditionally been performed by laparotomy, but minimally invasive techniques are increasingly employed. Transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) is a promising technique in the field of gynecological oncology. We report 2 cases of vNOTES surgical staging for suspicious ovarian tumors. We operated on 2 patients aged of 81 and 62 years for low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma and ovarian cystadenofibroma, respectively. We performed surgical staging with a pure vNOTES technique for the first patient and used a hybrid approach for the second. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed. We suggest that vNOTES is a feasible and effective approach to surgically manage early-stage ovarian cancers.

Is transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) indicated in patients with previous extensive pelvic surgeries? A case report.

Transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) has been increasingly applied to perform multiple gynecologic procedures. However, evidence is lacking on whether this surgical approach is feasible for patients with prior extensive abdominopelvic surgeries. We report a case of prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) performed in a 51-year-old patient with previous laparotomic radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy for cervical cancer. The patient underwent rectovaginal examination and evaluation of the transvaginal sonographic sliding sign as preoperative screening to exclude the obliteration of the pouch of Douglas. The abdominal cavity was accessed by cautious endoscopic access to the pouch of Douglas. The BSO was realized in accordance with risk-reducing surgery guidelines. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed. We suggest that selecting patients carefully prior to operation and adapting intraoperative techniques could be a safe method for conducting vNOTES interventions in patients with extensive abdominopelvic adhesions.

Immediate postpartum assessment of the anal sphincter by endovaginal ultrasound: a new technical approach.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: In this study we described a new technical approach to adapt endovaginal ultrasound scanning of the anal sphincter complex to the immediate postpartum period. METHODS: We analyzed the clinical and ultrasonographic examinations of 18 primiparous women presenting deep perineal tears with potential or clearly identified lesions of the anal sphincter. Potential anal sphincter lesion was defined as a second degree perineal tear extending close to the anal sphincter with exposition of its capsule or muscular fibers. We reported interesting ultrasonographic images explaining our technique in a video. RESULTS: We reported clinical and ultrasonographic features in nine cases of grade 2, four cases of grade 3a, four cases of grade 3b and one case of grade 3c perineal tears. The ultrasonographic examination confirmed the intact state of the anal sphincter complex in all patients with clinical grade 2 tears except one in which a grade 3b lesion was detected. We were not able to identify external anal sphincter lesions on ultrasound in any of the patients with clinical grade 3a tears. In patients with clinical grade 3b tears, the ultrasound confirmed the external anal sphincter lesion in all cases, but revealed additional involvement of the internal anal sphincter in 1 case (grade 3c). CONCLUSION: Immediate postpartum endovaginal ultrasound could be a promising technique to improve the management of perineal traumas after vaginal delivery.

Spontaneous resolution of nonimmune hydrops fetalis in a fetus with TP63 gene mutation and LZTR1 gene variants.

In cases of fetal hydrops, searching for an etiology is essential to evaluate the fetal prognosis and propose the most appropriate management.

Pyosalpinx complicating chronic hydrosalpinx in a 50-year old virgo woman: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection of the upper genital tract, including the uterus, ovaries, uterine tubes, and pelvic peritoneum. Tubo-ovarian abscess and pyosalpinx are common complications associated with pelvic inflammatory disease. They are usually encountered in sexually active women, but rare cases in Virgos have also been described. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we report the case of a 50-year-old Virgo woman presenting with pyosalpinx secondary to previous laparotomic sigmoidectomy for acute diverticulitis. Inflammation caused by the woman's diverticulitis and laparotomic surgery could have been the origin of her left uterine tube occlusion and consequent hydrosalpinx development. The contact between the rectum and left uterine tube observed in our patient suggests that superinfection of the hydrosalpinx could have occurred secondary to bacterial translocation. The patient's condition was managed with laparoscopic left salpingectomy and antibiotic therapy, which resulted in complete resolution. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of sexual history, pelvic inflammatory disease should be considered in all women with abdominal pain. Diagnosing pelvic inflammatory disease in Virgos could be very challenging, but its recognition and appropriate treatment are indispensable because of the potential long-term complications.

Arrested Hydrocephalus in Childhood: Case Series and Review of the Literature.

INTRODUCTION: Hydrocephalus can be progressive or spontaneously arrested. In arrested hydrocephalus, the balance between production and absorption of the cerebrospinal fluid is restored. Patients are mostly asymptomatic, and no surgical treatment is necessary for them. METHODS: We performed a two-center consecutive case series study, aimed at investigating the safety of nonsurgical management of hydrocephalus in selected pediatric patients. We retrospectively selected all consecutive patients, suspected to suffer from arrested hydrocephalus and referred to our two institutions between January 2011 and December 2013. Data on clinical and radiological follow-up were collected until June 2017. RESULTS: Five children diagnosed with arrested hydrocephalus were included in the study. All patients presented macrocephaly as the main presenting sign. Associated mild-to-moderate stable motor disorders were assessed in four out of five cases. Typical symptoms and signs associated with acute raised intracranial pressure were absent in all patients. Magnetic resonance imaging studies showed ventriculomegaly in all patients. A diagnosis of arrested hydrocephalus was made in all five cases based on stable clinical and radiological findings during the initial observation. Conservative management based on active surveillance was, therefore, proposed. During the follow-up period, we observed stable or improved conditions in four out of five patients, while the remaining patient presented progressive hydrocephalus. DISCUSSION: Making a distinction between arrested and progressive hydrocephalus is fundamental, because of the opposed appropriate management. Any newly discovered case of hydrocephalus, not characterized by clear signs of progressive hydrocephalus, should benefit from active surveillance before any definitive decision is taken.

Pediatric Posterior Cruciate Ligament Avulsion Fracture of the Tibial Insertion: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Background Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) avulsion fracture of the tibial insertion is a very rare injury in children. In addition to performing an attentive clinical examination, radiologic studies are fundamental for its correct diagnosis and treatment. Its management may be either conservative or operative. So far, only a few cases treated conservatively have been reported in the pediatric population, with controversial results. Methods We prospectively collected and reviewed clinical and radiographic data of an 11-year-old boy with avulsion fracture of the tibial insertion of the PCL. In addition, we performed a systematic review of the literature available to date. Results We decided to treat the avulsion fracture in a conservative way. The patient has been followed with accurate clinical and radiological follow-up controls until complete recovery. Conclusion Posterior cruciate avulsion fracture is a very rare finding in children, and no definitive indications for its appropriate management exist. With this report, we demonstrate that these fractures can be treated conservatively in selected cases with good results, avoiding potential surgical-related complications. Study Design This is a case report (level of evidence V).