Improving the diagnosis of endometriosis in Asia-Pacific: Consensus from the Asia-Pacific Endometriosis Expert Panel for Endometriosis.

Endometriosis should be diagnosed as early as possible in the continuum of care; but substantial delays of approximately 6-8 years between symptom onset and endometriosis diagnosis have been widely reported. With the purpose of improving the prompt diagnosis of endometriosis, the Asia-Pacific Endometriosis Expert Panel (APEX) sought to address the reasons for diagnostic delays across the region, and formulate a multi-pronged approach to overcoming these challenges. In the first instance, clinical diagnosis is preferable to surgical diagnosis, in order to facilitate earlier empirical treatment and minimize the negative sequelae of undiagnosed/untreated disease. There should be a high clinical index of suspicion in women presenting with cyclical symptoms, including those involving extrapelvic organs. Diagnostic delays in Asia-Pacific countries are attributable to a variety of patient, physician, and healthcare factors, including poor awareness, normalization/trivialization of pain, individual/cultural attitudes toward menstruation, default use of symptom-suppressing treatments, misdiagnosis, and a lack of diagnostic resourcing or adequate referral pathways in some areas. Suggested initiatives to reduce diagnostic delays are geared toward improving public awareness, improving clinical diagnostic skills, streamlining multidisciplinary care pathways for timely referral, updating and implementing diagnostic guidelines, lobbying policymakers and insurance companies for endometriosis support, and increasing efforts to bridge data gaps and perform further research in this field. Formulating specific action plans and gathering traction are the responsibility of individual countries within local parameters. The APEX group advocates for any initiatives and policies that support the unmet needs of women with endometriosis, to improve patient experience and outcomes.

Effectiveness of melatonin for the treatment of nocturia: a randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Nocturia affects health and quality of life (QoL). Current medical treatments can cause severe adverse effects, especially when treating elderly patients. Endogenous melatonin has a physiologic role in urinary bladder function, and the exogenous one may be beneficial for this condition. This article aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of melatonin for ameliorating nocturia in older women. METHODS: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at a university hospital in Thailand. Sixty women with nocturia, aged > 55 years, were prospectively recruited and were later randomly allocated to treatment (melatonin 2 mg/day, n = 30) and control (placebo, n = 30) arms for 2 weeks. Outcome measures included nocturia episodes, nocturia-related parameters, Nocturia Quality of Life Questionnaire (N-QoL) scores, and adverse events. RESULTS: The treatment and control groups were comparable in mean age (65.9 + 7.5 vs. 68.5 + 6.3 years). Both groups had comparable causes of nocturia with a baseline median voiding frequency of 2.3 (1.3, 6.3) and 2.3 (1.7, 5.3) episodes/night, respectively. The treatment group had significantly better outcomes than the placebo group in terms of median reduction in nocturia [-1.0 (-3.0, 0.0) vs. 0.0 (-2.3, 1.3) episodes/night; p < 0.001], increased median duration of the first uninterrupted sleep [1.0 (-0.3, 4.5) vs. 0.0 (-3.0, 2.3) h; p < 0.001], and improvement in N-QoL scoring, especially in the sleep/energy subscale (p = 0.019) and the total score (p = 0.016). Adverse events were comparable between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Melatonin can be considered a safe and effective treatment for nocturia in elderly women.

Neglected doughnut pessary in the uterine cavity.

Vaginal pessary is a practical and effective tool for pelvic organ prolapse management. Nevertheless, serious complications can occur in neglected patients such as vesicovaginal and rectovaginal fistula, erosion and impaction in adjacent structures. We report a case of neglected pessary found in the uterine cavity. The patient was treated with abdominal hysterectomy with in situ doughnut pessary. Proper pessary care and regular follow-up should be emphasised among patients, caregivers and related healthcare personnel to early detect as well as to avoid complications.

Relationship of degree of uterine prolapse between pelvic examination in lithotomy position with cervical traction and pelvic examination in standing position.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) assessment is a standardized tool for evaluating pelvic organ prolapse (POP). However, intraoperative evaluation reveals greater apical prolapse than do POP-Q scores. There is a need to implement a method for performing POP-Q at the outpatient clinic that reveals maximal prolapse and causes the least pain. This study was performed to compare the degree of uterine prolapse between POP-Q with cervical traction and POP-Q in the standing position. Secondary objectives were to compare pain and acceptability scores between the two examinations. METHODS: Women with uterine prolapse stage I or II by routine examination were invited to participate. Comparison of degree of uterine prolapse, POP-Q stages, acceptability score, and pain score between the two types of examinations were undertaken. RESULTS: Seventy-eight participants were recruited. The median point C in routine POP-Q examination was -5 (-9 to +1), -0.5 (-3 to +4) with cervical traction, and -4 (-7 to +2) in the standing position. When examined with cervical traction, 61.5% women were upstaged by one and 9.0% by two compared with examination in the standing position; 39.7% reported visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores of ≥5 under examination with traction, but only 2.6% reported that level of pain in the standing position. There was no significant difference in acceptability scores between groups. CONCLUSION: In an outpatient clinic setting, POP-Q examination with cervical traction revealed maximal prolapse at an acceptable level of pain. Accordingly, this method is recommended for POP-Q examination.

Evidence to justify retention of transvaginal mesh: comparison between laparoscopic sacral colpopexy and transvaginal Elevate™ mesh.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: To determine if laparoscopic sacral colpopexy (LSC) offers better apical support with a lower exposure rate than transvaginal mesh surgery with Elevate™. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study comparing patients with apical prolapse (POP-Q point C ≥ -1) who underwent Elevate™ mesh repair (n = 146) with patients who underwent laparoscopic sacral colpopexy (n = 267). RESULTS: The sacral colpopexy group had a mean age of 59 years and a BMI of 25.7. Patients in the Elevate™ group were older, with a mean age of 63 and a BMI of 26.3. Most of the patients of both groups presented with pelvic organ prolapse stage III (LSC 73.8% and Elevate™ 87.0%) and their mean POP-Q point C were not significantly different (LSC 1.4 vs Elevate™ 1.2 cm). Operative time was longer in the LSC group (113 vs 91 min, p < 0.001), but estimated blood loss was lower (75 cm3 vs 137 cm3, p < 0.001). No difference in mesh exposure rate could be found between the two groups at one year (Elevate™ 0.7% vs LSC 2.6%, OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.03 to 2.10, p = 0.21). One-year objective cure rate, defined as no descent beyond the hymen, was 97.0% in the LSC group and 96.6% in the Elevate™ group (p = .81). The overall recurrence (objective, subjective recurrence or reoperation) was also not different between the groups (LSC 4.5% vs Elevate 4.8%, p = 0.89). CONCLUSION: Transvaginal Elevate™ mesh delivers comparable apical support with a low exposure rate similar to that of laparoscopic sacral colpopexy.

Evolution of the complications of laparoscopic hysterectomy after a decade: a follow up of the Monash experience.

A retrospective review of medical records was performed to assess the incidence and types of significant complications encountered during laparoscopic hysterectomy which would affect the use of a laparoscopic approach versus other routes of hysterectomy. A total of 526 consecutive patients' medical data between January 1994 and August 2007 were reviewed. Two hundred and thirty-two laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomies and 294 total laparoscopic hysterectomies were performed at Monash Medical Centre, a Melbourne tertiary public hospital, and three Melbourne private hospitals, by or under the supervision of three surgeons. Sixteen significant complications occurred. There were two cases of ureteric fistula, two bladder injuries, two bowel obstructions, four postoperative haematomas, one case of a bladder fistula, four conversions to laparotomy and one superficial epigastric artery injury. Inpatient stay ranged from two to six days. Our complication and inpatient stay rates are consistent with the previously reported rates, although there has been a reduction of incidence of visceral injuries with experience and introduction of new equipment.

Depression among gynecologic cancer patients at Siriraj Hospital: prevalence and associated factors.

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to determine the prevalence of depression and associated risk factors among women with gynecologic cancer at Siriraj Hospital. DESIGN: Descriptive cross-sectional study. SETTING: Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital. SUBJECTS: A total of 149 women with gynecologic cancer were enrolled. METHOD: Women's demographic data and medical information were obtained by interview and abstracted from the medical record. The health-related self-report (HRSR) questionnaire was used to determine the prevalence of depression. Certain characteristics regarding demographic and medical data were evaluated in order to find any correlation with depression. RESULTS: The diagnoses in this study population included 77 cases (51.7%) of ovarian cancer, 34 cases (22.8%) of cervical cancer, 20 cases (13.4%) of uterine cancer and 18 cases (12.1%) of gestational trophoblastic tumor. The mean age was 46.6 years. Depression was detected in 20 out of 149 patients, which yielded a prevalence of 13.4% (95% CI 7.9-18.9%). Low income (less than 5,000 baht per month), cervical cancer radiation treatment regimen, and poor performance status were associated with increased risk of depression. CONCLUSION: Depression is one of the most common psychological distresses experienced by cancer patients. The prevalence of depression among gynecologic cancer patients at Siriraj Hospital was as high as 13.4%. Risk factors included low income, diagnosis of cervical cancer, radiation treatment regimen, and poor performance status. These patients should receive adequate medical attention and careful evaluation for depression especially those with such associated risk factors.