MRI classification of uterosacral ligament involvement in endometriosis: the Hôtel-Dieu classification.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to establish the first-ever MRI classification of uterosacral ligament (USL) involvement in deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE), based on reliable preoperative MRI features correlated with positive predictive values (PPVs) determined through histopathological analysis. METHODS: Twenty-two women underwent surgery with histopathology due to symptoms highly suggestive of endometriosis. The 22 preoperative MRIs were analysed retrospectively, blinded to histopathology, and a classification of the preoperative aspect of USLs linked to PPVs was designed. RESULTS: According to their aspects, 6 radiological types of USL were identified. The "L-category" corresponded to linear types with regular or irregular margins, including types 1, 2, 3A, and 3B. The "N-category" corresponded to haemorrhagic or nodular types, including types 4, 5A, 5B, and 6. For the L-category, PPVs ranged from 75% to 88%, depending on the USL radiological type. For the N-category, PPVs were 100% for each type. In women with endometriosis symptoms, MRI underestimated USL involvement, especially for type 1. Among the 6 uteri with lateral deviation, only one false-positive result concerning the stretched USL was induced. CONCLUSIONS: In women with endometriosis symptoms, our MRI classification identified 2 USL categories, corresponding to 2 kinds of PPV; in these symptomatic patients, a normal MRI does not rule out a DIE diagnosis. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Our MRI classification of USL involvement in endometriosis may be used as a non-invasive staging of the disease, making it much clearer for clinicians and patients. Hence, we are able to propose a suitable diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for each radiological type.

Prevention of shoulder dystocia: A randomized controlled trial to evaluate an obstetric maneuver.

OBJECTIVE: Shoulder dystocia is a major obstetric emergency defined as a failure of delivery of the fetal shoulder(s). This study evaluated whether an obstetric maneuver, the push back maneuver performed gently on the fetal head during delivery, could reduce the risk of shoulder dystocia. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a multicenter, randomized, single-blind trial to compare the push back maneuver with usual care in parturient women at term. The primary outcome, shoulder dystocia, was considered to have occurred if, after delivery of the fetal head, any additional obstetric maneuver, beginning with the McRoberts maneuver, other than gentle downward traction and episiotomy was required. RESULTS: We randomly assigned 522 women to the push back maneuver group (group P) and 523 women to the standard vaginal delivery group (group S). Finally, 473 women assigned to group P and 472 women assigned to group S delivered vaginally. The rate of shoulder dystocia was significantly lower in group P (1·5%) than in group S (3·8%) (odds ratio [OR] 0·38 [0·16-0·92]; P = 0·03). After adjustment for predefined main risk factors, dystocia remained significantly lower in group P than in group S. There were no significant between-group differences in neonatal complications, including brachial plexus injury, clavicle fracture, hematoma and generalized asphyxia. CONCLUSION: In this trial in 945 women who delivered vaginally, the push back maneuver significantly decreased the risk of shoulder dystocia, as compared with standard vaginal delivery.

Uterine necrosis following pelvic arterial embolization for post-partum hemorrhage: review of the literature.

Uterine necrosis is one of the rarest complications following pelvic arterial embolization for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). With the increasing incidence of cesarean section and abnormal placental localization (placenta previa) or placental invasion (placenta accreta/increta/percreta), more and more cases of uterine necrosis after embolization are being diagnosed and reported. Pelvic computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging provides high diagnostic accuracy, and surgical management includes hysterectomy. We performed a Medline database query following the first description of uterine necrosis after pelvic embolization (between January 1985 and January 2013). Medical subheading search words were the following: "uterine necrosis"; "embolization"; "postpartum hemorrhage". Seventeen citations reporting at least one case of uterine necrosis after pelvic embolization for PPH were included, with a total of 19 cases. This literature review discusses the etiopathogenesis, clinical and therapeutic aspects of uterine necrosis following pelvic arterial embolization, and guidelines are detailed. The mean time interval between pelvic embolization and diagnosis of uterine necrosis was 21 days (range 9-730). The main symptoms of uterine necrosis were fever, abdominal pain, menorrhagia and leukorrhea. Surgical management included total hysterectomy (n=15, 78%) or subtotal hysterectomy (n=2, 10%) and partial cystectomy with excision of the necrotic portion in three cases of associated bladder necrosis (15%). Uterine necrosis was partial in four cases (21%). Regarding the pathophysiology, four factors may be involved in uterine necrosis: the size and nature of the embolizing agent, the presence of the anastomotic vascular system and the embolization technique itself with the use of free flow embolization.