The Influence of Surgical Complexity and Center Experience on Postoperative Morbidity After Minimally Invasive Surgery in Gynecologic Oncology: Lessons Learned from the ROBOGYN-1004 Trial.

BACKGROUND: This study was a secondary analysis of the ROBOGYN-1004 trial conducted between 2010 and 2015. The study aimed to identify factors that affect postoperative morbidity after either robot-assisted laparoscopy (RL) or conventional laparoscopy (CL) in gynecologic oncology. METHODS: The study used two-level logistic regression analyses to evaluate the prognostic and predictive value of patient, surgery, and center characteristics in predicting severe postoperative morbidity 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: This analysis included 368 patients. Severe morbidity occurred in 49 (28 %) of 176 patients who underwent RL versus 41 (21 %) of 192 patients who underwent CL (p = 0.15). In the multivariate analysis, after adjustment for the treatment group (RL vs CL), the risk of severe morbidity increased significantly for patients who had poorer performance status, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.62 for the 1-point difference in the WHO performance score (95 % CI 1.06-2.47; p = 0.027) and according to the type of surgery (p < 0.001). A focus on complex surgical acts showed significant more morbidity in the RL group than in the CL group at the less experienced centers (OR, 3.31; 95 % CI 1.0-11; p = 0.05) compared with no impact at the experienced centers (OR, 0.87; 95 % CI 0.38-1.99; p = 0.75). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the center's experience may have an impact on the risk of morbidity for patients undergoing complex robot-assisted surgical procedures.

Streambank erosion and phosphorus loading to surface waters: Knowns, unknowns, and implications for nutrient loss reduction research and policy.

To monitor and meet water quality objectives, it is necessary to understand and quantify the contribution of nonpoint sources to total phosphorus (P) loading to surface waters. However, the contribution of streambank erosion to surface water P loads remains unclear and is typically unaccounted for in many nutrient loading assessments and policies. As a result, agricultural contributions of P are overestimated, and a potentially manageable nonpoint source of P is missed in strategies to reduce loads. In this perspective, we review and synthesize the results of a special symposium at the 2022 ASA-CSSA-SSSA annual meeting in Baltimore, MD, that focused on streambank erosion and its contributions to P loading of surface waters. Based on discussions among researchers and policy experts, we overview the knowns and unknowns, propose next steps to understand streambank erosion contribution to P export budgets, and discuss implications of the science of streambank erosion for policy and nutrient loss reduction strategies.

Case report: iatrogenic left ventricular outflow tract to right atrium fistula after trans-femoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation associated with asymmetric septal hypertrophy.

BACKGROUND: The transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is becoming a leading treatment option for symptomatic aortic stenosis for patients in all surgical risk categories. Recognition and management of potential complications are essential to ensure patient life and comfort. We present here a case report of a left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) to right atrium (RA) fistula which is an extremely rare complication after TAVI. CASE SUMMARY: An 85-year-old man with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis and non-obstructive asymmetric septal hypertrophy (ASH) underwent a transfemoral TAVI. Soon after the procedure, he developed chest pain and atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response. A transthoracic echocardiography followed by a transoesophageal echocardiography showed a small pseudo-aneurysm with a fistulous tract between the LVOT and the RA. This was confirmed by a contrast computed tomography scan of the heart. The patient remained asymptomatic throughout the rest of hospitalization. He was treated with diuretics and discharged home. One month follow-up showed increase in the width, jet size, and gradient of the fistula but the patient remained asymptomatic. The decision by Heart team was to closely monitor him for symptoms since the fistula is difficult to access percutaneously. DISCUSSION: We report a unique case of an LVOT to RA fistula in the setting of ASH that occurred post-TAVI. Alcohol septal ablation was proposed pre-TAVI for patients having septal thickening >15 mm and dynamic obstruction. Treatment options for iatrogenic fistula vary from symptomatic treatment to percutaneous or surgical closure.

Surgical Management of Urinary Tract Endometriosis: A 1-year Longitudinal Multicenter Pilot Study at 31 French Hospitals (by the FRIENDS Group).

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To describe the surgical management and risks of postoperative complications of patients with urinary tract endometriosis in France in 2017. DESIGN: Multicenter retrospective cohort pilot study. SETTING: Departments of gynecology at 31 expert endometriosis centers. PATIENTS: All women managed surgically for urinary tract endometriosis from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2017. We distinguished patients with isolated bladder endometriosis or isolated ureteral endometriosis (IUE) from those with endometriosis in both locations (mixed locations [ML]). INTERVENTIONS: Surgeons belonging to the French Colorectal Infiltrating Endometriosis Study (FRIENDS) group enrolled patients who filled a 24-item questionnaire on the day of the inclusion and 3 months later. Data were collected on operative routes, surgical management, and postoperative complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification in a single anonymized database. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 232 patients from 31 centers were included. Isolated bladder endometriosis was found in 82 patients (35.3%), IUE in 126 patients (54.4%), and ML in 24 patients (10.3%). Surgery was performed by laparoscopy, laparotomy, or robot-assisted laparoscopy in 74.1%, 11.2%, and 14.7% of the cases, respectively. Among the 150 ureteral lesions (IUE and ML), 114 were managed with ureterolysis (76%), 28 with ureteral resection (18.7%), 4 with nephrectomy (2.7%), and 23 with cystectomy (15.3%). Concerning bladder endometriosis, a partial cystectomy was performed in 94.3% of the cases. We reported 61 postoperative complications (26.3%): 44 low-grade complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification (18%), 16 grade III complications (7%), and 1 grade IV complication (peritonitis). CONCLUSION: The surgical management of ureteral and bladder endometriosis is usually feasible and safe through laparoscopic surgery. Ureteral resection, when necessary, is more strongly associated with laparotomy and with more complications than other procedures. Prospective controlled studies are still mandatory to assess the best surgical management for patients.

Surgical management of endometriotic women with pregnancy intention in France: A national snapshot of centers performing a high volume of endometriosis procedures.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a snapshot of the surgical management of endometriosis in French high-volume activity centers. METHODS: Analysis of prospectively collected data between November 2015 and May 2017 in 21 centers with a high volume of endometriosis surgery in France. Each facility could include up to 40 patients undergoing laparoscopy for endometriosis. Data were collected before and two months after surgery. RESULTS: 361 patients were enrolled in the study. Twenty-seven patients (7.48%) were lost to follow-up at the month 2 visit. Endometriosis stage was I-II in 33.70% of patients and III-IV in 66.30%. Uterosacral ligament resection was the most frequently performed procedure (50.97%) followed by rectal surgery (31.58%), ovarian procedures for endometrioma, procedures for ureters (21.33%) and the bladder (11.91%). Antiadhesion agents were employed in 215/361 (59.56%) patients. The median length of hospital stay after surgery was 2 (IQR 1 - 4) days. Post-operative complications were recorded in 9.34% of patients. Rectovaginal fistulae occurred in 8 patients (2.41%), pelvic abscess in 4 (1.20%) and bladder atony in 3 (0.90%). 17 patients (5.14%) required a second surgical procedure after a median time of 31 days (IQR 9 - 81). Two months after surgery, 95.09% of patients reported being satisfied or very satisfied with the surgery. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that surgical management of endometriosis in centers with a high volume of endometriosis surgery, mainly concerns women presenting with severe disease and deep localizations, with an overall risk of major complications inferior to 10% and a high rate of patient satisfaction.

Correction to: National dose reference levels in computed tomography-guided interventional procedures-a proposal.

The original version of this article, published on 02 May 2020, unfortunately contained a mistake.

Severe perioperative morbidity after robot-assisted versus conventional laparoscopy in gynecologic oncology: Results of the randomized ROBOGYN-1004 trial.

OBJECTIVE: In gynecologic oncology, minimally invasive surgery using conventional laparoscopy (CL) decreases the incidence of severe morbidity compared to open surgery. In 2005, robot-assisted laparoscopy (RL) was approved for use in gynecology in the US. This study aimed to assess whether RL is superior to CL in terms of morbidity incidence. METHODS: ROBOGYN-1004 (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01247779) was a multicenter, phase III, superiority randomized trial that compared RL and CL in patients with gynecologic cancer requiring minimally invasive surgery. Patients were recruited between 2010 and 2015. The primary endpoint was incidence of severe perioperative morbidity (severe complications during or 6 months after surgery). RESULTS: Overall, 369 of 385 patients were included in the as-treated analysis: 176 and 193 underwent RL and CL, respectively. The median operating time for RL was 190 (range, 75-432) minutes and for CL was 145 (33-407) minutes (p < 0.001). The blood loss volumes for the corresponding procedures were 100 (0-2500) and 50 (0-1000) mL (p = 0.003), respectively. The overall rates of conversion to open surgery for the corresponding procedures were 7% (10/176) and 5% (10/193), respectively (p = 0.52). Severe perioperative morbidity occurred in 28% (49/176) and 21% (41/192) of patients who underwent RL and CL, respectively (p = 0.15). At a median follow-up of 25.1 months (range, 0.6-78.2), no significant differences in overall and disease-free survival were observed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: RL was not found superior to CL with regard to the incidence of severe perioperative morbidity in patients with gynecologic cancer. In addition, RL involved a longer operating time than CL.

National dose reference levels in computed tomography-guided interventional procedures-a proposal.

OBJECTIVES: To establish national reference levels (RLs) in interventional procedures under CT guidance as required by the 2013/59/Euratom European Directive. METHODS: Seventeen categories of interventional procedures in thoracic, abdominopelvic, and osteoarticular specialties (percutaneous infiltration, vertebroplasty, biopsy, drainage, tumor destruction) were analyzed. Total dose length product (DLP), number of helical acquisitions (NH), and total DLP for helical, sequential, or fluoroscopic acquisitions were recorded for 10 to 20 patients per procedure at each center. RLs were calculated as the 3rd quartiles of the distributions and target values for optimization process (TVOs) as the median. RLs and TVOs were compared with previously published studies. RESULTS: Results on 5001 procedures from 49 centers confirmed the great variability in patient dose for the same category of procedures. RLs were proposed for the DLPs and NHs in the seventeen categories. RLs in terms of DLP and NH were 375 mGy.cm and 2 NH for spinal or peri-spinal infiltration, 1630 mGy.cm and 3 NH for vertebroplasty, 845 mGy.cm and 4 NH for biopsy, 1950 mGy.cm and 8 NH for destruction of tumors, and 1090 mGy.cm and 5 NH for drainage. DLP and NH increased with the complexity of procedures. CONCLUSIONS: This study was the first nationwide multicentric survey to propose RLs for interventional procedures under CT guidance. Heterogeneity of practice in centers were found with different levels of patient doses for the same procedure. The proposed RLs will allow imaging departments to benchmark their practice with others and optimize their protocols. KEY POINTS: • National reference levels are proposed for 17 categories of interventional procedures under CT guidance. • Reference levels are useful for benchmarking practices and optimizing protocols. • Reference levels are proposed for dose length product and the number of helical acquisitions.

Blue Dye Embolization of Renal Tumor: A New Technique to Improve Tumor Localization During Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy.

Purpose: To improve the tumor localization during laparoscopic surgery, we describe an innovative technique involving superselective intra-arterial injection of blue dye in tumoral vessels to color the tumor before surgical enucleation. Materials and Methods: The dye injection was performed at the same time as superselective embolization, immediately before laparoscopic surgery in a hybrid operating room. We used this new treatment sequence on 50 consecutive patients. Results: The selective intra-arterial injection of an emulsion of blue dye and lipiodol was feasible in 46 (92%) cases and well tolerated, followed by superselective embolization of the tumor vessels with glue or coils. The tumor was easily localized during surgery due to the blue coloration. Tumor coloration was not associated with postoperative complication, especially allergic reaction or renal failure. Pathologic analysis of the tumor was not modified by the coloration and all tumors had negative surgical margins. Conclusions: The preoperative dye localization is a feasible, safe, and accurate procedure. This combined approach reduces the difficulty of surgery and increases patient safety.

Experience implication in subjective surgical ergonomics comparison between laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgeries.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic surgery (LS) may lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and an increase in physical and mental workloads to the surgeon. Robot-assisted surgery (RAS) should improve the ergonomy of the surgeon. This study assesses the experience influence in surgical ergonomics between LS and RAS. METHODS: LS and RAS lasting more than 60 min of effective operative time were compared. During the surgical procedure, the physical discomfort was evaluated using the Borg scale. At the end, the mental workload was evaluated using the NASA-TLX index. After global analysis, the experienced and young surgeons were assessed. RESULTS: 88 RAS and 82 LS were evaluated. During LS, the physical discomfort was significantly higher in all segments, and the pain increased significantly during the procedure in all segments compared to that evaluated in the RAS (p < 0.05). Forearms and the back were the most painful. The young surgeons did not display any improvement in the physical ergonomics of the RAS compared to the LS. Concerning the mental ergonomics, the overall workload and performance were significantly greater during the LS compared to the RAS (p < 0.05). For the young surgeons, the overall workload, the effort, the mental and the physical demands were greater during LS (p < 0.05). For the experienced surgeons, the physical demand was lower during the RAS compared to the LS (p < 0.05). However, the experienced surgeons expressed a feeling of greater performance after the LS (p < 0.01). RAS significantly reduces the onset of MSDs compared to LS, especially for the experienced surgeons. CONCLUSION: RAS significantly reduces the onset of MSDs compared to LS, especially for the experienced surgeons.

Broad-Range Papillomavirus Transcriptome as a Biomarker of Papillomavirus-Associated Cervical High-Grade Cytology.

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are responsible for >99% of cervical cancers. Molecular diagnostic tests based on the detection of viral DNA or RNA have low positive predictive values for the identification of cancer or precancerous lesions. Triage with the Papanicolaou test lacks sensitivity; and even when combined with molecular detection of high-risk HPV, this results in a significant number of unnecessary colposcopies. We have developed a broad-range detection test of HPV transcripts to take a snapshot of the transcriptome of 16 high-risk or putative high-risk HPVs in cervical lesions (HPVs 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68, 73, and 82). The purpose of this novel molecular assay, named HPV RNA-Seq, is to detect and type HPV-positive samples and to determine a combination of HPV reads at certain specific viral spliced junctions that can better correlate with high-grade cytology, reflecting the presence of precancerous cells. In a proof-of-concept study conducted on 55 patients, starting from cervical smears, we have shown that HPV RNA-Seq can detect papillomaviruses with performances comparable to a widely used HPV reference molecular diagnostic kit; and a combination of the number of sequencing reads at specific early versus late HPV transcripts can be used as a marker of high-grade cytology, with encouraging diagnostic performances as a triage test.

Intraoperative Factors that Predict the Successful Placement of Essure Microinserts.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the number of coils visualized in the uterotubal junction at the end of hysteroscopic microinsert placement predicts successful tubal occlusion. DESIGN: Cohort retrospective study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: Department of obstetrics and gynecology in a teaching hospital. PATIENTS: One hundred fifty-three women underwent tubal microinsert placement for permanent birth control from 2010 through 2014. The local institutional review board approved this study. INTERVENTION: Three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound (3D TVU) was routinely performed 3 months after hysteroscopic microinsert placement to check position in the fallopian tube. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The correlation between the number of coils visible at the uterotubal junction at the end of the hysteroscopic microinsert placement procedure and the device position on the 3-month follow-up 3D TVU in 141 patients was evaluated. The analysis included 276 microinserts placed during hysteroscopy. The median number of coils visible after the hysteroscopic procedure was 4 (interquartile range, 3-5). Devices for 30 patients (21.3%) were incorrectly positioned according to the 3-month follow-up 3D TVU, and hysterosalpingography was recommended. In those patients the median number of coils was in both the right (interquartile range, 2-4) and left (interquartile range, 1-3) uterotubal junctions. The number of coils visible at the uterotubal junction at the end of the placement procedure was the only factor that predicted whether the microinsert was well positioned at the 3-month 3D TVU confirmation (odds ratio, .44; 95% confidence interval, .28-.63). When 5 or more coils were visible, no incorrectly placed microinsert could be seen on the follow-up 3D TVU; the negative predictive value was 100%. No pregnancies were reported. CONCLUSION: The number of coils observed at the uterotubal junction at the time of microinsert placement should be considered a significant predictive factor of accurate and successful microinsert placement.

Para-aortic workup in locally advanced cervical cancer: heterogeneity is still the rule. Results from a retrospective multicenter study.

PURPOSE: We retrospectively studied the different strategies of para-aortic (PA) staging of patients with PA involvement in locally advanced cervical cancer as conducted in eight centers in France and their impact upon survival and management. METHODS: All patients enrolled in this multicenter study presented with cervical cancer with PA involvement. The diagnosis of PA spread was based on imaging assessment of the PA area and/or pathological examination of harvested PA lymph nodes when staging lymphadenectomy was performed. Imaging modalities comprised positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging and/or computed tomography. Survival outcomes were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: One hundred and fifteen women were retrospectively studied. Radiological staging was conducted in 101 (87.8 %) patients. PET was performed in 66 patients (57.4 %). Its FN rate was 22.7 % (15/66) and its sensitivity 77.3 %. Para-aortic lymphadenectomy was conducted in a large proportion of patients (67.8 %). Its indications were not restricted to negative radiological workup. The lymphadenectomy rate was significantly higher in patients with earlier stages (p = 0.02) and lower tumor volume (p = 0.01). Treatment consisted of chemoradiation therapy with extended-field radiotherapy in all patients, followed by intracavitary brachytherapy in 94 cases (81.7 %) and completion surgery in 69 cases (60 %). Patients without para-aortic metastasis on radiological examination were more likely to receive all treatment modalities (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Despite established recommendations, our results point out the tremendous heterogeneity regarding para-aortic assessment. These differences in management are perhaps related to a recommended therapeutic strategy that does not appear to improve the poor prognosis associated with PA involvement.

Robot-assisted laparoscopy for deep infiltrating endometriosis: international multicentric retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the interest in robot-assisted laparoscopy for deep infiltrating endometriosis and to investigate the perioperative results. METHODS: From November 2008 to April 2012, 164 women with stage 4 endometriosis who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopy (da Vinci Intuitive Surgical System) were included by to eight international participating clinical centers. This study evaluated the procedures performed, the duration of the intervention, the complications, the recurrence, and the impact on fertility. RESULTS: The average operative time was 180 min. The main complications were laparotomy (n = 1, 0.6%), sutured bowel injury (n = 2, 1.2%), transfusion for a 2,300-ml bleed (n = 1), prolonged urinary catheterization (n = 1, 0.6%), ureter-bladder anastomotic leak (n = 1, 0.6%), and ureteral fistula after ureterolysis (n = 2, 1.2%). The reoperation rate was 1.8% (n = 3). The mean follow-up period was 10.2 months. A full recovery was experienced by 86.7% (98/113) of the patients. After surgery, 41.2% (42/102) of the patients had a desire for pregnancy, and 28.2% (11/39) of them became pregnant. CONCLUSION: This study analyzed the largest series of robot-assisted laparoscopies for deep infiltrating endometriosis published in the literature. No increase in surgical time, blood loss, or intra- or postoperative complications was observed. The interest in robot-assisted laparoscopy for deep infiltrating endometriosis seems to be promising.

Patient age and positive margins are predictive factors of residual tumor on mastectomy specimen after conservative treatment for breast cancer.

AIMS: To determine factors predictive of the presence of residual tumor on the specimen from mastectomy performed after conservative treatment for breast cancer in order to limit potentially unnecessary mastectomies (free of residual lesions). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 294 patients treated in 2 expert centers for breast cancer with breast-conserving therapy (BCT) followed by mastectomy, according to French recommendations, were investigated between January 1, 1998 and January 1, 2005. Patients with residual tumor on the mastectomy specimen were compared with patients whose mastectomy specimens did not reveal any residual tumor. All the clinical risk factors (age, previous history of breast cancer, tumor focality) and histological risk factors (tumor size, histological type, positive margins, estrogen and progesterone receptor expression, histological grade) for residual tumor after BCT were compared between the 2 patient groups. RESULTS: Of the 294 patients studied, 202 (68.71%) mastectomies had residual tumor and 92 (31.29%) were tumor-free. Four predictive factors for residual tumor were found in the univariate analysis: age under 45 years (p=0.01), absence of estrogen receptor expression (p=0.05), positive margins (p=0.01), and presence of lymph node metastases (p=0.05). The multivariate analysis revealed only 2 independent risk factors that were significantly associated with increased risk of residual tumor on the mastectomy specimen: age under 45 years (p=0.05) and presence of positive margins on the lumpectomy specimen (p=0.05). CONCLUSION: Young age of patients (under 45-years-old) and presence of positive margins on the operative specimen are independent risk factors of residual tumor after conservative treatment of breast cancer.

Optical slicing of human retinal tissue in vivo with the adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope.

We present imaging results in human retinal tissue in vivo that allowed us to determine the axial resolution of the adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope (AOSLO). The instrument is briefly described, and the imaging results from human subjects are compared with (a) the estimated axial resolution values for a diffraction-limited, double-pass instrument and (b) the measured one for a calibrated diffuse retinal model. The comparison showed that the measured axial resolution, as obtained from optical sectioning of human retinas in vivo, can be as low as 71 microm for a 50 microm confocal pinhole after focusing a 3.5 mm beam with a 100 mm focal-length lens. The axial resolution values typically fall between the predictions from numerical models for diffuse and specular reflectors. This suggests that the reflection from the retinal blood vessel combines diffuse and specular components. This conclusion is supported by the almost universal interpretation that the image of a cylindrical blood vessel exhibits a bright reflection along its apex that is considered specular. The enhanced axial resolution achieved through use of adaptive optics leads to an improvement in the volume resolution of almost 2 orders of magnitude when compared with a conventional scanning laser ophthalmoscope and almost a factor of 3 better than commercially available optical coherence tomographic instruments.

[One-stage laparoscopic bilateral cutaneous ureterostomy]. / Urétérostomie cutanée coelioscopique bilatérale en un seul temps.

Laparoscopic cutaneous ureterostomy is an alternative to definitive percutaneous nephrostomy for patients with pelvic malignancies. The surgical technique was initially described by lumbar laparoscopy, requiring a change of position in the case of a bilateral procedure. The authors describe a laparoscopic technique allowing bilateral cutaneous ureterostomy to be performed without a change of position.