[Psychometric validation of Convergence criteria PP]. / Validation psychométrique des critères de Convergences PP.

CONTEXT: The PP Convergences criteria group together 10 of the most significant clinical criteria for sensitization in the context of chronic pelvic pain. They are the result of a consensus of experts and represent to date the only clinical evaluation guide to identify patients with pelvic perineal pain in whom a pelvic sensitization component can be evoked. OBJECTIVE: This work concerns the psychometric validation of these criteria. The aim is to answer 3 questions: 1) is the instrument reliable (i.e., sensitive, specific and accurate)?; 2) can we define a screening score for pelvic-perineal pain by sensitization from the CPP criteria?; 3) can combinations of criteria be defined to predict pelvic-perineal sensitization from the CPP criteria? METHODOLOGY AND SUBJECTS: In total, 308 patients with pelviperineal pain were recruited during their medical consultation. PROCEDURE: Fifteen expert physicians were asked to judge the presence or absence of the 10 CPP criteria and to make a diagnosis of the presence or absence of pelviperineal sensitization in their patient. RESULTS: ROC curve analysis indicated that a score of 5 was the closest to a perfect score with a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 87%. They also indicate that the CPP criteria have a very good sensitivity (97%) and specificity (91%) and present globally a good reproducibility on all the criteria (Kappa>0.6). Finally, the statistical analyses reveal that the most discriminating criterion for predicting sensitization is Q8 (pain persisting after sexual activity). CONCLUSION: The CPP criteria represent a very good screening tool for pelvic sensitization. The score of 5 corresponds to the score at which the patient has sufficient clinical criteria to be classified as sensitized. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

[Guidelines for Clinical Practice of the French College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 2021: Prophylactic procedures associated with gynecologic surgery]. / Recommandations pour Pratique Clinique du Collège des Gynécologues Obstétriciens français 2021 : gestes prophylactiques associés en chirurgie gynécologique.

OBJECTIVE: To draw up recommendations on the use of prophylactic gynecologic procedures during surgery for other indications. DESIGN: A consensus panel of 19 experts was convened. A formal conflict of interest policy was established at the onset of the process and applied throughout. The entire study was performed independently without funding from pharmaceutical companies or medical device manufacturers. The panel applied the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) system to evaluate the quality of evidence on which the recommendations were based. The authors were advised against making strong recommendations in the presence of low-quality evidence. Some recommendations were ungraded. METHODS: The panel studied 22 key questions on seven prophylactic procedures: 1) salpingectomy, 2) fimbriectomy, 3) salpingo-oophorectomy, 4) ablation of peritoneal endometriosis, 5) adhesiolysis, 6) endometrial excision or ablation, and 7) cervical ablation. RESULTS: The literature search and application of the GRADE system resulted in 34 recommendations. Six were supported by high-quality evidence (GRADE 1+/-) and 28 by low-quality evidence (GRADE 2+/-). Recommendations on two questions were left ungraded due to a lack of evidence in the literature. CONCLUSIONS: A high level of consensus was achieved among the experts regarding the use of prophylactic gynecologic procedures. The ensuing recommendations should result in improved current practice.

A short anogenital distance on MRI is a marker of endometriosis.

STUDY QUESTION: Could the anogenital distance (AGD) as assessed by MRI (MRI-AGD) be a diagnostic tool for endometriosis? SUMMARY ANSWER: A short MRI-AGD is a strong diagnostic marker of endometriosis. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: A short clinically assessed AGD (C-AGD) is associated with the presence of endometriosis. STUDY DESIGN SIZE DURATION: This study is a re-analysis of previously published data from a case-control study. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING METHODS: Women undergoing pelvic surgery from January 2018 to June 2019 and who had a preoperative pelvic MRI were included. C-AGD was measured at the beginning of the surgery by a different operator who was unaware of the endometriosis status. MRI-AGD was measured retrospectively by a senior radiologist who was blinded to the final diagnosis. Two measurements were made: from the posterior wall of the clitoris to the anterior edge of the anal canal (MRI-AGD-AC), and from the posterior wall of the vagina to the anterior edge of the anal canal (MRI-AGD-AF). MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: The study compared MRI-AGD of 67 women with endometriosis to 31 without endometriosis (controls). Average MRI-AGD-AF measurements were 13.3 mm (±3.9) and 21.2 mm (±5.4) in the endometriosis and non-endometriosis groups, respectively (P < 10-5). Average MRI-AGD-AC measurements were 40.4 mm (±7.3) and 51.1 mm (±8.6) for the endometriosis and non-endometriosis groups, respectively (P < 10-5). There was no difference of MRI-AGD in women with and without endometrioma (P = 0.21), or digestive involvement (P = 0.26). Moreover, MRI-AGD values were independent of the revised score of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine and the Enzian score. The diagnosis of endometriosis was negatively associated with both the MRI-AGD-AF (ß = -7.79, 95% CI (-9.88; -5.71), P < 0.001) and MRI-AGD-AC (ß = -9.51 mm, 95% CI (-12.7; 6.24), P < 0.001) in multivariable analysis. Age (ß = +0.31 mm, 95% CI (0.09; 0.53), P = 0.006) and BMI (ß = +0.44 mm, 95% CI (0.17; 0.72), P = 0.001) were positively associated with the MRI-AGD-AC measurements in multivariable analysis. MRI-AGD-AF had an AUC of 0.869 (95% CI (0.79; 0.95)) and outperformed C-AGD. Using an optimal cut-off of 20 mm for MRI-AGD-AF, a sensitivity of 97.01% and a specificity of 70.97% were noted. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION: This was a retrospective analysis and no adolescents had been included. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: This study is consistent with previous works associating a short C-AGD with endometriosis and the absence of correlation with the disease phenotype. MRI-AGD is more accurate than C-AGD in this setting and could be evaluated in the MRI examination of patients with suspected endometriosis. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: N/A. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: The protocol was approved by the 'Groupe Nantais d'Ethique dans le Domaine de la Santé' and registered under reference 02651077.

[Pelvic and perineal pain after genital prolapse: A literature review]. / Douleur pelvi-périnéales et prolapsus génital : revue de la littérature.

INTRODUCTION: Pelvic and perineal pain after genital prolapse surgery is a serious and frequent post-operative complication which diagnosis and therapeutic management can be complex. MATERIALS ET METHODS: A literature review was carried out on the Pubmed database using the following words and MeSH : genital prolapse, pain, dyspareunia, genital prolapse and pain, genital prolapse and dyspareunia, genital prolapse and surgery, pain and surgery. RESULTS: Among the 133 articles found, 74 were selected. Post-operative chronic pelvic pain persisting more than 3 months after surgery according to the International Association for the Study of Pain. It can be nociceptive, neuropathic or dysfunctional. Its diagnosis is mainly clinical. Its incidence is estimated between 1% and 50% and the risk factors are young age, the presence of comorbidities, history of prolapse surgery, severe prolapse, preoperative pain, invasive surgical approach, simultaneous placement of several meshes, less operator experience, increased operative time and early post-operative pain. The vaginal approach can cause a change in compliance and vaginal length as well as injury to the pudendal, sciatic and obturator nerves and in some cases lead to myofascial pelvic pain syndrome, whereas the laparoscopic approach can lead to parietal nerve damage. Therapeutic management is multidisciplinary and complex. CONCLUSION: Pelvic pain after genital prolapse surgery is still obscure to this day.

Anogenital distance in adult women is a strong marker of endometriosis: results of a prospective study with laparoscopic and histological findings.

STUDY QUESTION: Could anogenital distance (AGD) be a non-invasive marker of endometriosis and correlated to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine revised score (r-ASRM) and ENZIAN classifications? SUMMARY ANSWER: Surgically and histologically proven endometriosis is associated with a short AGD in women of reproductive age but not correlated either to the severity or to the location of the disease. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: AGD is a marker of intrauterine androgen exposure and exposure to oestrogen-like chemicals such as phthalates. Moreover, exposure to endocrine disruptors, such as organochlorine chemicals, is associated with endometriosis. It has been suggested that a short AGD in women is associated with an increased risk of endometriosis based on clinical and ultrasound exams. STUDY DESIGN SIZE DURATION: A prospective cohort study was conducted from January 2018 to June 2019 in a tertiary-care centre including 168 adult women undergoing pelvic surgery. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING METHODS: Of the 168 women included, 98 patients had endometriosis (endometriosis group) and 70 did not (non-endometriosis group). An operator (not the surgeon) measured the distance from the clitoral surface to the anus (AGD-AC) and from the posterior fourchette to the anus (AGD-AF) before surgery using a millimetre accuracy ruler. Endometriosis was diagnosed on exploration of the abdominopelvic cavity, and the r-ASRM and ENZIAN scores were calculated. All removed tissues underwent pathological examination. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Mean (±SD) AGD-AF measurements were 21.5 mm (±6.4) and 32.3 mm (±8.1), and average AGD-AC measurements were 100.9 mm (±20.6) and 83.8 mm (±12.9) in the endometriosis and non-endometriosis groups (P < 0.001), respectively. Mean AGD-AF and AGD-AC measurements were not related to r-ASRM stage (P = 0.73 and 0.80, respectively) or ENZIAN score (P = 0.62 and 0.21, respectively). AGD-AF had a better predictive value than AGD-AC for discriminating the presence of endometriosis (AUC = 0.840 (95% CI 0.782-0.898) and 0.756 (95% CI 0.684-0.828)), respectively. For AGD-AF, an optimal cut-off of 20 mm had a specificity of 0.986 (95% CI 0.923-0.999), sensitivity of 0.306 (95% CI 26.1-31.6) and positive predictive value of 0.969 (95% CI 0.826-0.998). In multivariable analysis, the diagnosis of endometriosis was the only variable independently associated with the AGD-AF (ß = -9.66 mm 95% CI -12.20--7.12), P < 0.001). LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION: The sample size was relatively small with a high proportion of patients with colorectal endometriosis reflecting the activity of an expert centre. Furthermore, we did not include adolescents and the AGD-AF measurement could be particularly relevant in this population. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The measurement of AGD could be a useful non-invasive tool to predict endometriosis. This could be especially relevant for adolescents and virgin women to avoid diagnostic laparoscopy and empiric treatment. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: None.

[Incidence of postural disorders in patients with chronic pelvic-perineal pain]. / Incidence des troubles posturaux chez les patients souffrant d'algies pelvipérinéales chroniques.

OBJECTIVE: Pelvic-perineal pain often accompanied by pain of the perineum and pelvi-trochanteric muscles, we sought to observe the frequency of postural disturbances in relation to the pelvi-perineal muscles in patients who consult for pelvic perineal pain compared to a control population free of these pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The prospective monocentric study was conducted during consultations of pelvic perineal pain in the urology department of Nantes and was based on 5 clinical tests successively looking for the presence of thoraco-lumbar hinge syndrome, myofascial syndrome in the pelvic diaphragm, pelvic instability, pelvic-pedic quadrilateral dysfunction and paravertebral muscle hypertonia. RESULTS: A total of 51 subjects were included in the study and divided into two populations: 26 patients, 25 controls. Thoraco-lumbar hinge syndrome was found in 28 % of patients vs 4 % of controls (P=0.024); myofascial syndromes were present in 68 % of patients vs 25 % of controls (P=0.005); pelvic instability concerned 76 % of patients vs 33 % of controls (P=0.002); the dysfunctions of the pelvic-pedic quadrilateral concerned 96 % of the patients vs 58 % of the controls (P=0.001); paravertebral muscle hypertonia was found bilaterally in 32 % of patients vs 4 % of controls (P=0.077) and unilaterally in 36 % of patients vs 0 % of controls (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients with chronic pelvic perineal pain had significantly more posture problems than non-pain patients. It seemed relevant to us that the postural assessment was integrated into their usual clinical examination. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Management of endometriosis: CNGOF/HAS clinical practice guidelines - Short version.

First-line diagnostic investigations for endometriosis are physical examination and pelvic ultrasound. The second-line investigations are: targeted pelvic examination performed by an expert clinician, transvaginal ultrasound performed by an expert physician sonographer (radiologist or gynaecologist), and pelvic MRI. Management of endometriosis is recommended when the disease has a functional impact. Recommended first-line hormonal therapies for the management of endometriosis-related pain are combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs) or the 52mg levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (IUS). There is no evidence base on which to recommend systematic preoperative hormonal therapy solely to prevent surgical complications or facilitate surgery. After surgery for endometriosis, a CHC or 52mg levonorgestrel-releasing IUS is recommended as first-line treatment when pregnancy is not desired. In the event of failure of the initial treatment, recurrence, or multiorgan involvement, a multidisciplinary team meeting is recommended, involving physicians, surgeons and other professionals. A laparoscopic approach is recommended for surgical treatment of endometriosis. HRT can be offered to postmenopausal women who have undergone surgical treatment for endometriosis. Antigonadotrophic hormonal therapy is not recommended for patients with endometriosis and infertility to increase the chances of spontaneous pregnancy, including postoperatively. Fertility preservation options must be discussed with patients undergoing surgery for ovarian endometriomas.

[Management of endometriosis: CNGOF-HAS practice guidelines (short version)]. / Prise en charge de l'endométriose : recommandations pour la pratique clinique CNGOF-HAS (texte court).

First-line investigations to diagnose endometriosis are clinical examination and pelvic ultrasound. Second-line investigations include pelvic examination performed by a referent clinician, transvaginal ultrasound performed by a referent echographist, and pelvic MRI. It is recommended to treat endometriosis when it is symptomatic. First-line hormonal treatments recommended for the management of painful endometriosis are combined with hormonal contraceptives or levonorgestrel 52mg IUD. There is no evidence to recommend systematic preoperative hormonal therapy for the unique purpose of preventing the risk of surgical complications or facilitating surgery. After endometriosis surgery, combined hormonal contraceptives or levonorgestrel SIU 52mg are recommended as first-line therapy in the absence of desire of pregnancy. In case of initial treatment failure, recurrence, or multiple organ involvement by endometriosis, medico-surgical and multidisciplinary discussion is recommended. The laparoscopic approach is recommended for the surgical treatment of endometriosis. HRT may be offered in postmenopausal women operated for endometriosis. In case of infertility related to endometriosis, it is not recommended to prescribe anti-gonadotropic hormone therapy to increase the rate of spontaneous pregnancy, including postoperatively. The possibilities of fertility preservation should be discussed with the patient in case of surgery for ovarian endometrioma.

[Strategies and surgical management of endometriosis: CNGOF-HAS Endometriosis Guidelines]. / Synthèse des stratégies et prise en charge chirurgicale de l'endométriose, RPC Endométriose CNGOF-HAS.

The article presents French guidelines for surgical management of endometriosis. Surgical treatment is recommended for mild to moderate endometriosis, as it decreases pelvic painful complaints and increases the likelihood of postoperative conception in infertile patients (A). Surgery may be proposed in symptomatic patients with ovarian endometriomas which diameter exceeds 20mm. Cystectomy allows for better postoperative pregnancy rates when compared to ablation using bipolar current, as well as for lower recurrences rates when compared to ablation using bipolar current or CO2 laser. Ablation of ovarian endometriomas using bipolar current is not recommended (B). Surgery may be employed in patients with deep endometriosis infiltrating the colon and the rectum, with good impact on painful complaints and postoperative conception. In these patients, laparoscopic route increases the likelihood of postoperative spontaneous conception when compared to open route. When compared to conservative rectal procedures (shaving or disc excision), segmental colorectal resection increases the risk of postoperative stenosis, requiring additional endoscopic or surgical procedures. In large deep endometriosis infiltrating the rectum (>20mm length of bowel infiltration), conservative rectal procedures do not improve postoperative digestive function when compared to segmental resection. In patients with bowel anastomosis, placing anti-adhesion agents on contact with bowel suture is not recommended, due to higher risk of bowel fistula (C). Various other recommendations are proposed in the text, however, they are based on studies with low level of evidence.

[Minimal and mild endometriosis: Impact of the laparoscopic surgery on pelvic pain and fertility. CNGOF-HAS Endometriosis Guidelines]. / Endométriose minime à légère : résultats du traitement chirurgical sur la douleur et l'infertilité et modalités techniques. Quelles stratégies thérapeutiques ? RPC Endométriose CNGOF-HAS.

Minimal and mild endometriosis (stage 1 and 2 AFSR) can lead to chronic pelvic pain and infertility but can also exist in asymptomatic patients. The prevalence of asymptomatic patients with minimal and mild endometriosis is not clear but typical endometriosis lesions are found in about 5 to 10% of asymptomatic women and more than 50% of painful and/or infertile women. Laparoscopic treatment of minimal and mild endometriotic lesions is justified in case of pelvic pain because their destruction decrease significatively the pain compared with diagnostic laparoscopy alone. In this context, ablation and excision give identical results in terms of pain reduction. Moreover, literature shows no interest in uterine nerve ablation in case of dysmenorrhea due to minimal and mild endometriosis. Then, it is recommended to treat these lesions during a laparoscopy realised as part of pelvic pain. On the other hand, it is not recommended to treat asymptomatic patients. With regard to treatment of minimal and mild endometriosis in infertile patients, only two studies can be selected and both show that laparoscopy with excision or ablation and ablation of adhesions is superior to diagnostic laparoscopy alone in terms of pregnancy rate. However, it is not recommended to treat these lesions when they are asymptomatic because there is no evidence that they can progress with symptomatic disease. There is no study assessing the interest to treat these lesions when they are found fortuitously. Adhesion barrier utilisation permits to reduce post-operative adhesions, however literature failed to demonstrate the clinical profit in terms of reduction of the risk of pain or infertility.

[Extragenital endometriosis: Parietal, thoracic, diaphragmatic and nervous lesions. CNGOF-HAS Endometriosis Guidelines]. / Endométriose extra-génitale : atteinte pariétales, thoraciques, diaphragmatiques et nerveuses. RPC Endométriose CNGOF-HAS.

According to some studies, extragenital endometriosis represents 5% of the localisations. Its prevalence seems to be underestimated. The extra pelvic localisation can make the diagnosis more difficult. Nevertheless, the recurrent and catamenial symptomatology can evoke this pathology. Surgery seems to be the unique efficient treatment for parietal lesions. Pain linked to nervous lesions (peripheric and sacral roots) seems to be underestimated and difficult to diagnose because of various localisations. Neurolysis seems to have encouraging results. Diaphragmatic lesions are often discovered either incidentally during laparoscopy, or by pulmonary symptomatology as recurrent catamenial pneumothorax or cyclic thoracic pain. Surgical treatment seems as well to be efficient.

[Specific clinical signs suggestive of endometriosis (excluding adenomyosis) and questionnaires of symptoms, pain and quality of life: CNGOF-HAS Endometriosis Guidelines]. / Signes spécifiques cliniques évocateurs de l'endométriose (hors adénomyose) et questionnaires de symptômes, de douleur et qualité de vie, RPC Endométriose CNGOF-HAS.

In case of consultation for chronic pelvic pain or suspicion of endometriosis, it is recommended to evaluate the pain (intensity, resonance) and to search out the evocative and localizing symptoms of endometriosis (Grade B). The main symptoms suggestive of endometriosis are: severe dysmenorrhea (NP2), deep dyspareunia (NP2), painful defecation during menstruation (NP2), urinary tract symptoms during menstruation (NP2) and infertility (NP2). In patients with chronic pelvic pain, it is recommended to search deep infiltrating endometriosis in patients with painful defecation during menstruation or severe deep dyspareunia (Grade B). It is recommended to search symptoms suggestive of sensitization in painful patients with endometriosis (Grade B). When suggestive symptoms of endometriosis are present, a directed gynecological examination is recommended, where possible, including examination of the posterior vaginal cul-de-sac (Grade C). In assessing pain intensity or evaluating analgesic effectiveness of a treatment, it is recommended to use a scale to measure the intensity of pain (Grade A). In the management of symptomatic endometriosis, it is recommended to evaluate the quality of life (Grade C).

Adding corticosteroids to the pudendal nerve block for pudendal neuralgia: a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of corticosteroids combined with local anaesthetic versus local anaesthetic alone during infiltrations of the pudendal nerve for pudendal nerve entrapment. DESIGN: Randomised, double-blind, controlled trial. SETTING: Multicentre study. POPULATION: 201 patients were included in the study, with a subgroup of 122 women. METHODS: CT-guided pudendal nerve infiltrations were performed in the sacrospinous ligament and Alcock's canal. There were three study arms: patients in Arm A (n = 68) had local anaesthetic alone, those in Arm B (n = 66) had local anaesthetic plus corticosteroid and those in Arm C (n = 67) local anaesthetic plus corticosteroid with a large volume of normal saline. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary end-point was the pain intensity score at 3 months. Patients were regarded as responders (at least a 30-point improvement on a 100-point visual analogue scale of mean maximum pain over a 2-week period) or nonresponders. RESULTS: Three months' postinfiltration, 11.8% of patients in the local anaesthetic only arm (Arm A) were responders versus 14.3% in the local anaesthetic plus corticosteroid arms (Arms B and C). This difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.62). No statistically significant difference was observed in the female subgroup between Arm A and Arms B and C (P = 0.09). No significant difference was detected for the various pain assessment procedures, functional criteria or quality-of-life criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Corticosteroids provide no additional therapeutic benefits compared with local anaesthetic and should therefore no longer be used. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Steroid infiltrations do not improve the results of local anaesthetic infiltrations in pudendal neuralgia.

[Interest of infiltration of Impar node in rebel vulvodynia: About a series of 8 cases]. / Intérêt de l'infiltration du ganglion Impar dans les vulvodynies rebelles : à propos d'une série de 8 cas.

INTRODUCTION: Vulvodynia is a common and debilitating disease, for which treatments are often of limits efficacy. As the Impar node receives nociceptive afferents from pelvis and perineum, it is a potential therapeutic target to treat pain in this region. The objective of the study was to evaluate the relevance of ropivacaine Impar node infiltration in patients suffering from rebel vulvodyny. METHODS: This was a retrospective, single-center study. The Impar node infiltrations were performed by a single operator in eight patients suffering from rebel vulvodynia. Ropivacaine and iopamidol were administered in prone position with a lateral approach under scanner. The anaesthetic diagnostic block of the Impar node was positive in all eight patients included in the study. Thereafter these patients benefited of 2 additional therapeutic infiltrations. Subsequently, an infiltration of the node with 100UI of botulinum toxin was performed in two patients with a bilateral approach under scanner. The analgesic efficacy was evaluated by a Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) before, immediately after, and at day 15 following the infiltration. A subjective evaluation of pain comprising the percentage of overall improvement and duration of analgesic efficacy was performed after the third infiltration. RESULTS: Comparison of the VAS before and immediately after the Impar block showed in the first anesthetic block a significant decrease in pain median VAS from 51/100 to 16/100 (P=0.01). Similarly, for the second block, VAS decreased from 52.5/100 to 15/100 (P=0.02). The maximal pain reported on Day 15, was significantly lower after the third infiltration than that after the first (P=0.03). Five patients reported an overall improvement in their quality of life of over 50%, which lasted an average of six weeks. A long lasting effectiveness was obtained in the two patients who benefited of the botulinum toxin. CONCLUSION: The infiltration of Impar node is an interesting technique for patients suffering of rebel vulvodynia. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

[Vascular relationships of the right great splanchnic nerve in the thorax]. / Rapports vasculaires thoraciques du nerf grand splanchnique droit.

AIM: The surgical assumption of responsibility of the pancreatic pain requires either a truncular coelioscopic or radicular neurectomy of greater splanchnic nerves (gsn). The goal of our work is to describe the way and relations of the right gsn which are variable and rarely described. This constitutes an undeniable peroperational hemorrhagic risk during splanchnicectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After a double side thoracotomy and a bilateral sterno-clavicular desarticulation on 15 adult cadaveric subjects preserved by method of Winckler we removed the sterno-costal drill plate as well as the ventral rib arch and proceeded to a mediastinal evisceration of the thorax. Then we respected only the thoracic aorta and the oesophagus, the azygos venous system, the thoracic duct and the thoracic sympathetic chain. In some of the subjects, the azygos vein was injected (after catheterization of its stick) using gelatine coloured with blue paint. We studied the way and vascular relations of the right gsn. We measured the transverse distances between the origin of the gsn on one hand and the longitudinal axes of the azygos vein and the thoracic duct on the other hand. RESULTS: The relations of the right gsn trunk during its way related to the azygos vein in particular its constitutive origin and its affluents: ascending lumbar vein and twelfth intercostal vein. Sometimes the thoracic duct even a lymphatic node was near the gsn in the posterior infra-mediastinal space. A classification of the way and vascular relations of the right gsn in the thorax identified 3 anatomical types. The average distances separating the right gsn on one hand from the azygos vein and the thoracic duct on the other hand were respectively 5.7 mm and 11.2 mm. CONCLUSION: The vascular relations of the right gsn are very variable from one subject to another but primarily venous, sometimes lymphatic. They concerned the great thoracic vessels whose respect is essential in particular at the time of mini-invasive access procedure for a cœlioscopic splanchnicectomy.

[The postnatal contraception: upon 600 patients of whom 129 were postnatal controlled]. / La contraception du post-partum : à propos de 600 patientes dont 129 revues à la consultation post-natale.

OBJECTIVE: To draw a parallel between the contraceptive methods prescribed in the post-natal ward and the contraceptive methods taken by patients during their postnatal visit. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This piece of work draws information from a prospective 10 weeks study at a University Teaching Hospital post-natal ward on the contraception that is prescribed upon leaving the maternity ward and also at the time of the post-natal visit. RESULTS: From the 600 cases studied, the analysis is about 129 patients reviewed in the post-natal visit. The percentage of loss was 78.5%. A hormonal contraceptive pill was prescribed to 73.5% of women (441 patients) after birth in which 63.5% had microprogestative pills. At the earliest, the IUD was given at about 5.4 weeks postpartum. At the time of the postnatal visit, compliance was bad for one third of women with either estrogen plus progestin methods, microprogestative or natural methods. Women who chose a barrier method were only 45.5% to follow this choice, the others left without contraception. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The prescription of postpartum contraception was followed by only 66.6% of women. In order to prescribe a more effective contraceptive method, we must improve the prescriber's timing in sharing contraceptive information and completeness of the contraceptive methods offered.

Arterial supply to the tibial tuberosity: involvement in patellar ligament transfer in children.

PURPOSE: The aims were to study arterial blood supply of the tibial tuberosity, and to evaluate its remaining blood supply after patellar ligament transposition in children. METHODS: The anatomic study was carried out on 15 lower limbs after latex injection, and on two fetuses after diaphanization. RESULTS: Tibial tuberosity was vascularized by an arterial network mainly supplied by anterior tibial recurrent artery. Other arteries from the popliteal artery or its branches were also involved in the tibial tuberosity blood supply. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm the safety of transposition of patellar ligament in children due to dense arterial network supplying tibial tuberosity.

[Hysteroscopic sterilization among women older than forty years: what motivated the women?]. / Stérilisation tubaire par voie hystéroscopique chez les femmes de plus de quarante ans : quelle motivation pour ces femmes ?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to check the motivations of the patients over 40 years old who want to be sterilized by the Essure system (hysteroscopic sterilization). The simplicity of the technique raises the question of the choice between contraception and sterilization among women over 40. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It is a prospective study concerning 168 women. We report their past history and their motivations. We have checked also the satisfaction and tolerance of the procedure. RESULTS: The medium number of children by woman was 2.6. The middle age of the last child was 11.5. Twenty-eight percent of the patients underwent at least one abortion. They tried 2.3 methods of contraception before accept sterilization. The reasons of their choice were, for 45.9% of them the side effects of the contraceptions; in 22% of cases, they were fed up of their contraception; in 12% of cases, it was a contraindication to the contraceptions, in 10% of cases, a failure of the contraception and in 2% of cases, they had have a contraindication to the pregnancy. Ninety-three percent of them were satisfied. It is a fast procedure with bearable pain. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Essure system is a good alternative to the contraception in patients who present, from 40 years old, some increased risks. It is an easy technique with high satisfaction rate.

[Evaluation of the instruction and the instructors by the students during a clinical training period in a gynecology and obstetrics unit]. / Evaluation des enseignements et des enseignants par les externes lors d'un stage clinique dans un service de gynécologie-obstétrique.

OBJECTIVES: The evaluation of an educational system is part of the essential process to get high-quality teaching. We wanted to assess the teaching and the teachers in a gynaecological unit with a view to improve the education of the trainees within a dynamic educational system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is a prospective study which took place in the gynecology-obstetric unit of the University of Nantes. Thanks to a questionnaire called "Evaluation of the teaching during a gynecologic-obstetric training course", we evaluated the feelings of 21 medical students about their two-month training course. This questionnaire of 27 items is divided in several parts. The first one is about the quality of the teaching, the second about planification, the third about the quality of the learning resources, and the fourth is about the educational quality of each teacher (interaction teacher-student). The fifth one evaluates the perception of this work experience by the student, notably his clinical activity and his personal implication in the unity. There are also some open questions which point out the positive aspects of the teaching but also its failings and the parts that must be improved. We give here the details of the different stages of this assessment from the questionnaire up to the results, mentioning their limits considering the conceptual orientations and the methodological orientations chosen. RESULTS: Analysis of the data was done determining the percentage of agreement and disagreement to a statement of the questionnaire. All the students find the teachings interesting and stimulating, objectives were gone through thoroughly. Courses were well organised. Their integration in the medical team was good. They feel responsible especially when they are on call (88.3%). On the other hand, for a quarter of them, educational supports are not adapted, teaching documents are not clear and adapted to the National Test. Half of them (45%) are not satisfied by the numerical campus which does not facilitate understanding. Staffs are not an opportunity to learn for 37% of them. Management by senior doctors is insufficient. CONCLUSION: Students are completely integrated into the process of evaluation but concrete actions to improve the teaching have to be realised in the hospital departments. Questionnaire is an informative and adapted tool. It permits to highlight the flaws in the learning process and to remedy them.