Perfusion magnetic resonance imaging in Asherman syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Microvascular scarring compromises the functionality of the endometrium, and vascular flow at the junctional zone (JZ) may be the key to understanding poor reproductive outcomes in women with Asherman syndrome (AS). AIMS: To investigate whether vascular perfusion of the uterus, measured by dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) is impaired in women with intrauterine adhesions (IUA) and AS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective observational cohort pilot study of 23 women with IUA treated with hysteroscopic synecholysis and a control group of two patients with cervix cancer were subject to DCE-MRI with gadolinium to assess uterine vascularity. Twelve regions of interest (ROIs) were allocated on the DCE-MRI image incorporating the JZ, with control ROI placed at the psoas muscle. Individual ROIs were compared to the mean total perfusion (TP) in the same uterus. Pre- and post-operative perfusion analyses were performed on five women. Receiver operator curves (ROC) were used to analyse MRI as a predictor of IUA. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in perfusion; a trend toward reduced perfusion was observed in women with IUA compared to the controls. The ROC was predictive of higher-grade and inoperable IUA. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced perfusion on DCE-MRI as assessed by ROC predicted higher-stage AS. The results of this study support further investigation of DCE-MRI as a prognostic tool for AS prior to surgical intervention to assist in providing prognostic guidance for women suffering from AS.

Recommendations on the management of pudendal nerve entrapment syndrome: A formalised expert consensus.

BACKGROUND: Since the development and publication of diagnostic criteria for pudendal nerve entrapment (PNE) syndrome in 2008, no comprehensive work has been published on the clinical knowledge in the management of this condition. The aim of this work was to develop recommendations on the diagnosis and the management of PNE. METHODS: The methodology of this study was based on French High Authority for Health Method for the development of good practice and the literature review was based on the PRISMA method. The selected articles have all been evaluated according to the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians assessment grid. RESULTS: The results of the literature review and expert consensus are incorporated into 10 sections to describe diagnosis and management of PNE: (1) diagnosis of PNE, (2) patients advice and precautions, (3) drugs treatments, (4) physiotherapy, (5) transcutaneous electrostimulations (TENS), (6) psychotherapy, (7) injections, (8) surgery, (9) pulsed radiofrequency, and (10) Neuromodulation. The following major points should be noted: (i) the relevance of 4+1 Nantes criteria for diagnosis; (ii) the preference for initial monotherapy with tri-tetracyclics or gabapentinoids; (iii) the lack of effect of opiates, (iv) the likely relevance (pending more controlled studies) of physiotherapy, TENS and cognitive behavioural therapy; (v) the incertitudes (lack of data) regarding corticoid injections, (vi) surgery is a long term effective treatment and (vii) radiofrequency needs a longer follow-up to be currently proposed in this indication. CONCLUSION: These recommendations should allow rational and homogeneous management of patients suffering from PNE. They should also allow to shorten the delays of management by directing the primary care. SIGNIFICANCE: Pudendal nerve entrapment (PNE) has only been known for about 20 years and its management is heterogeneous from one practitioner to another. This work offers a synthesis of the literature and international experts' opinions on the diagnosis and management of PNE.

Topical treatment of vulvodynia, dyspareunia and pudendal neuralgia: A single clinic audit of amitriptyline and oestriol in organogel.

BACKGROUND: Vulvodynia and pudendal neuralgia comprise significant contributors to vulvar-related pain and its impact on daily life. AIM: A retrospective clinical audit was conducted at the Women's Health & Research Institute of Australia, Sydney, to determine the pattern of use and the efficacy of the application of topical amitriptyline 0.5% plus oestriol 0.03% in organogel (AOO), to the vulvar vestibule in reducing the impact of pain on daily life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There were 1174 patients who received a script from May 2017 until February 2020: 1054 patients agreed to be contacted and had a valid email address. RESULTS: There were 376 (35.7%) patients who replied. Pain with intercourse was the main indication for use. Treatment was rated effective by 51.2% (95% CI: 35.4-66.8%) of patients less than 30 years of age, 66.7% (95% CI: 57.3-74.9%) of patients 30-50 years of age, and 58.3% (95% CI: 50.9-65.4%) in patients over 50. Stinging at the site of application was the most commonly reported side effect. CONCLUSION: Topical AOO is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for vulvar pain.

Asherman syndrome: Audit of a single-operator cohort of 423 cases.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of Asherman syndrome, or 'intra-uterine adhesions' is often overlooked when the symptoms of amenorrhea and hematometra are missing. AIMS: This audit reviews the clinical data of a large cohort of patients treated by a single operator. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 1998 till the end of December 2017, 423 patients with intra-uterine adhesions were treated by a single operator. Clinical information was obtained by review of the medical files and phone interviews. RESULTS: Amenorrhea was recorded in 163/423 patients (38.5%), 225/423 (53.2%) patients did not have amenorrhea and for 35/423 (8.3%) patients the information was missing. A hematometra was documented in 19/423 (4.5%) patients. Pregnancy was achieved in 215/246 (87.4%). Patients with stage II disease did best with a pregnancy rate of 94.5% (P = 0.029). CONCLUSION: Asherman syndrome should be considered in any woman with a history of miscarriage or postpartum curettage who then fails to conceive again.

Fractional CO2 laser for treatment of stress urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of trans-vaginal fractional CO2 laser treatment on symptoms of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women. STUDY DESIGN: Women clinically diagnosed with SUI preferring non-surgical treatment were recruited to the study. Fractional CO2 laser system (MonaLisa T, DEKA) treatments were administered trans-vaginally every 4-6 weeks for a total of three treatments. Response to treatment was assessed at baseline (T1), at 3 months after treatment completion (T2) and at 12-24-month follow-up (T3) using the Australian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire (APFQ). The primary outcome was changes in reported symptoms of SUI. Secondary outcomes assessed included bladder function, urgency, urge urinary incontinence (UUI), pad usage, impact of urinary incontinence on quality of life (QOL) and degree of bothersome bladder. RESULTS: Fifty-eight women were recruited and received the study treatment protocol. Eighty-two percent of participants reported an improvement in symptoms of SUI at completion of treatment (mild to no SUI) (p = <0.01). Treatment effect waned slightly when assessed at follow-up. Nevertheless, 71% of participants reported ongoing improvement in SUI symptoms at 12-24 months (p < 0.01). All secondary outcome measures were improved after treatment compared to baseline. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that fractional CO2 laser is a safe, feasible, and beneficial treatment for SUI and may have a role as a minimally-invasive alternative to surgical management.

Medication Use and Pain Management in Pregnancy: A Critical Review.

BACKGROUND: Pain during pregnancy is common, and its management is complex. Certain analgesics may increase the risk for adverse fetal and pregnancy outcomes, while poorly managed pain can result in adverse maternal outcomes such as depression and hypertension. Guidelines to assist clinicians in assessing risks and benefits of exposure to analgesics for the mother and unborn infant are lacking, necessitating evidence-based recommendations for managing pain in pregnancy. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to assess pregnancy safety data for pharmacological and nonpharmacological pain management methods. Relevant clinical trials and observational studies were identified using multiple medical databases, and included studies were evaluated for quality and possible biases. RESULTS: Paracetamol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are appropriate for mild to moderate pain, but NSAIDs should be avoided in the third trimester due to established risks. Short courses of weaker opioids are generally safe in pregnancy, although neonatal abstinence syndrome must be monitored following third trimester exposure. Limited safety data for pregabalin and gabapentin indicate that these are unlikely to be major teratogens, and tricyclic antidepressants and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors have limited but overall reassuring safety data. Many of the included studies were limited by methodological issues. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this review can guide clinicians in their decision to prescribe analgesics for pregnant women. Treatment should be tailored to the lowest therapeutic dose and shortest possible duration, and management should involve a discussion of risks and benefits and monitoring for response. Further research is required to better understand the safety profile of various analgesics in pregnancy.

Live birth rate and obstetric complications following the hysteroscopic management of intrauterine adhesions including Asherman syndrome.

STUDY QUESTION: What are the live birth rate and risks of obstetric complications following the surgical management of intrauterine adhesions (IUA) such as Asherman syndrome (AS)? SUMMARY ANSWER: The live birth rate is 63.7%, and obstetric complications including placentation issues, prematurity and postpartum hysterectomy require that pregnancies in women after treatment for IUA should be considered moderate to high risk. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Studies reviewing short-term surgical, menstrual and fertility outcomes following hysteroscopic management are reassuring, with success correlated to the severity of IUA. There are limited data reporting live birth, neonatal and maternal complications. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This retrospective study included all women treated for IUA by hysteroscopic synechiolysis under fluoroscopic guidance in two tertiary University-affiliated hospitals. All women reported at least one pre-treatment symptom including menstrual dysfunction, subfertility or pelvic pain and intended to become pregnant post-treatment. Survival curve analysis was performed for time to pregnancy, and obstetric data were collated from a National Obstetric Database for delivery and neonatal outcomes. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: A total of 154 women were included in the study. Surgical intervention involved hysteroscopic synechiolysis under fluoroscopic guidance until cavity restoration was confirmed. Questionnaires regarding fertility and its outcomes were sent to all women undergoing surgery, with analysis of menstrual, fertility rates and outcomes of those pregnancies including risks and complications to the woman and the offspring. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Women were followed up for a minimum of 1 year (range: 1-14 years) from index surgery. The chance of pregnancy was 98/124 (79.0% CI: 63.6, 83.1%) in women wishing to conceive and the chance of a live birth was 79/124 (63.7% CI: 51.3, 70.7%). The chance of a miscarriage was 29/124 (23.4% CI: 18.8, 37.1%). There were 93 live births in 79 women following surgery, with detailed obstetric data available for 85 of these births. They were complicated by abnormal placentation in 15/85 (17.6% CI: 13.0, 30.2%), postpartum hysterectomy in 4/85 (4.7% CI: -0.4, 7.0%), and prematurity in 25/85 (29.4% CI: 17.0, 35.3%) women. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The retrospective nature of the study and extended follow-up time may cause selection and recall bias, however, pregnancy and its outcomes-particularly in women with problems of subfertility-are frequently key milestones, with birthdates readily recalled. Menstrual outcomes are more likely to be subject to recall bias. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Our surgical data are similar to the published literature with reassuring short-term outcomes for menstruation and cavity reconstruction following surgery for IUA. Long-term outcomes including pregnancy rates were higher than published data, however, the obstetric and neonatal complication rates were increased, indicating a continuation of risk beyond infertility and into pregnancy. An altered biochemical or vascular environment is a possible explanation for impaired implantation resulting in poorer reproductive obstetric and neonatal outcomes. The relative rarity of IUA-particularly severe disease-makes prospective data collection difficult. Our data suggest that women with IUA should be treated as moderate-high risk obstetric patients in subsequent pregnancy and counselled appropriately. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): No funding and no competing interests.

Pain after vaginal prolapse repair surgery with mesh is a post-surgical neuropathy which needs to be treated - and can possibly be prevented in some cases.

Post-surgical neuropathy leading to chronic pain is a recognised complication. It also can occur after surgery for pelvic organ prolapse repair involving mesh. Post-surgical neuropathy needs to be identified and properly treated to minimise the occurrence of chronic pain. A treatment algorithm is put forward for discussion .

Sacral neuromodulation for pelvic pain and pelvic organ dysfunction: A case series.

BACKGROUND: The use of neuromodulation is growing and it is an established therapy for conditions such as bladder dysfunction. It is an increasingly used therapy for the management of chronic perineal pain but little research is currently available looking at its efficacy. AIM: We present a series of 52 patients who underwent placement of a neuromodulator, the majority of whom suffered from perineal pain, with most placements via the sacral hiatus. METHOD: Patients were asked to complete a survey recalling their symptoms prior to implantation and describing their symptoms and experience after. The majority had two leads placed via the sacral hiatus. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients had implantation of a permanent neuromodulator and 44 completed at least part of the survey. Forty-eight had leads placed via the sacral hiatus, 29 of whom had these leads only. Forty patients had perineal pain as an indicator and 32 reported that their pain improved; this difference was statistically significant (95% CI: 2.60-4.27, P < 0.001). Bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunction were reported by about half the cohort with smaller numbers of improvement for each. Thirty-five patients reported improved quality of life and 32 said they would have the procedure done again. Ten patients had the device removed. CONCLUSION: We present the largest published case series looking at the use of sacral neuromodulation as a treatment option for pelvic pain and the overall results of our audit are promising for the ongoing use and further development of this modality as a management option.

A severed IP ligament as a cause for trans-vaginal uterine bleeding post termination of pregnancy: a case report.

Uterine perforation is an uncommon yet serious complication of surgical management of first and second trimester termination of pregnancies. The rate of uterine perforation is under reported, as patients are usually asymptomatic. Although uncommon, uterine perforation can cause life-threatening complications for some patients. This case report discusses a second trimester surgical termination resulting in uterine perforation and haemorrhage secondary to an avulsion of the infundibulopelvic ligament and prolapse of the left fallopian tube and ovary into the uterine cavity. A literature search was undertaken to compare this case report to those previously published. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report in Australia that discusses a unique case of a severed infundibulo-pelvic ligament as a cause for trans-vaginal uterine bleeding post second trimester termination of pregnancy.

Combined site-specific sacral neuromodulation and pudendal nerve release surgery in a patient with interstitial cystitis and persistent arousal.

A variety of neuromodulation approaches have been described for the management of pelvic neuropathies, including interstitial cystitis, pudendal neuralgia and persistent genital arousal disorder. The benefits of a combined sacral and pudendal nerve neuromodulator has yet to be explored for these patients. In this report, we describe the case of a 35-year-old woman with a complex pelvic neuropathy resulting in urinary, sexual and gastro-intestinal dysfunction. She presented with an established diagnosis of interstitial cystitis; however, she also fulfilled diagnostic criteria for pudendal neuralgia and persistent genital arousal disorder. The patient underwent implantation of a combined sacral and pudendal nerve neuoromodulation device at the time of surgical decompression of the pudendal nerves. An impressive clinical response followed. This case demonstrates a unique clinical presentation and highlights the value of a combined surgical and neuromodulatory approach in the management of patients with complex pelvic neuropathies.

Medium to long-term gastrointestinal outcomes following disc resection of the rectum for treatment of endometriosis using a validated scoring questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the gastrointestinal functional outcomes and symptoms of low anterior resection syndrome after disc resection for deeply infiltrative endometriosis (DIE) using a validated scoring system. DESIGN: Retrospective study to assess the gastrointestinal functional outcomes after rectal disc resection for DIE using a validated scoring system. SETTING: University tertiary referral centre. PATIENTS: Women who underwent disc resection for endometriosis at Royal Hospital for Women and Prince of Wales Private Hospital between January 2012 and December 2013 were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) score using a validated questionnaire. RESULTS: Forty-one women met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 40 ± 10 years (range 22-75 years). All procedures were performed laparoscopically. Eleven women (27%) underwent a hysterectomy in addition to rectal disc resection and endometriosis surgery. Mean operative time for the entire cohort was 158 ± 64 minutes, and mean length of hospital stay was 5 ± 2 days. Completed questionnaires were received from 31 women, a response rate of 76%. The mean length of follow-up was 17 ± 10 months (range 3-34 months). The LARS scores ranged from 0 to 34 (median 15, interquartile range 0-24). Eight women (26%) had a LARS score of 0. Nineteen women (61%) had a LARS score less than 21 (the threshold for LARS). CONCLUSION: Conservative treatment of DIE with rectal disc resection is safe and feasible and is associated with mild gastrointestinal dysfunction in the medium to long term.

Response to pudendal nerve block in women with pudendal neuralgia.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the evolution of pain and the duration of numbness after neural blockade of the pudendal nerve in women with pudendal neuralgia and correlate with clinical and historical data. DESIGN: Prospective, single arm, open label study. SETTING: University hospital and outpatient clinic. SUBJECTS: Eighty-two adult female patients were recruited from November 8, 2008 to February 14, 2010. Patients were selected based on the presence of spontaneous or provoked pain in the distribution of the pudendal nerve. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects underwent a standardized pudendal nerve block. OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual analog pain scores and the presence of numbness were recorded before and for 64 hours after the pudendal nerve block. A complete clinical history and examination were documented. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients completed the study. About 86.9% had a reduction in one or more pain symptom, while 44.3% found that more than one of their pain symptoms did not return. About 69.7% of patients reported numbness lasting up to 16 hours or longer. Previous gynecological surgery was recorded in 75.8%, previous traumatic obstetric events in 47.0% of cases. Prolonged history of pain correlated with a reduced chance of positive outcome of the pudendal nerve block. CONCLUSION: In patients with pudendal neuralgia, the pudendal nerve block has a variable response, but may have a beneficial effect in a subset of women. Surgical and obstetrical trauma are common historical antecedents.

Mechanism of action of the Adiana(®) device: a histologic perspective.

BACKGROUND: The study was conducted to confirm the mechanism of action of the Adiana permanent contraception device by means of histologic analysis of long-term specimens. STUDY DESIGN: Fifteen specimens were obtained from eight subjects undergoing hysterectomy 2 to 4 years after the Adiana procedure. Serial sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, as well as epithelial membrane antigen immunostain. RESULTS: A normal foreign body reaction with minimal chronic inflammatory changes was observed in all specimens. Immunostaining for epithelial membrane antigen was absent in the interstitial tissue surrounding the matrix. CONCLUSION: Histologic analysis of long-term specimens supports the mechanism of action of the Adiana permanent contraception device.

The Adiana System for permanent contraception: safety and efficacy at 3 years.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of the Adiana System for preventing pregnancy in women desiring permanent sterilization. DESIGN: This study is a prospective, single-arm, multicenter, international trial. The primary endpoint was pregnancy prevention rate at 12 months. Pregnancy prevention rates at 24 and 36 months were also calculated (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: The study was conducted at 16 sites, 14 in the United States, 1 in Australia, and 1 in Mexico. PATIENTS: A total of 645 women (intent-to-treat group). INTERVENTION: Hysteroscopic placement of polymer matrix was attempted in all patients. Tubal occlusion confirmed by hysterosalpingography at 12 weeks. Ongoing monitoring for pregnancy over 36 months. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: There was a 95% bilateral matrix placement rate and 88.4% bilateral occlusion by hysterosalpingography, as previously reported. A total of 24 968 person-months of wearing were accrued. Pregnancy prevention rates were summarized with descriptive statistics by use of 95% two-sided confidence interval on the basis of life-table methods. Complete 36-month data were available for 481 subjects. During the first year, 6 pregnancies were reported. Three were determined to be the result of misinterpretation of hysterosalpingography results. The remaining 3 were attributed to method failure, as were the 3 pregnancies during the second year. No additional pregnancies occurred in year 3. The cumulative pregnancy prevention rates at 12, 24, and 36 months compare favorably with data from the Collaborative Review of Sterilization study and other published reports documenting efficacy of established permanent sterilization procedures. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that the efficacy of the Adiana System for pregnancy prevention is similar to other permanent sterilization methods.

Lignocaine gel in minimally invasive surgery - A pilot cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The administration of local anaesthetic at the conclusion of minimally invasive procedures has been shown to reduce postoperative pain. However, it is often not feasible to reach target surgical sites using a needle, making it difficult to administer injectable local anaesthetic. Formulations currently available for topical use are also not sterile, adhere poorly, and are not adjusted to neutral pH at the time of use. To address these limitations, a new sterile, aqueous 4.8% lignocaine gel was formulated for topical application on surgical wounds. AIMS: To determine the clinical feasibility, safety and tolerability of the topical lignocaine gel. METHODS: A total of 125 female patients underwent minimally invasive gynaecological procedures. The lignocaine gel was applied to any intra-abdominal, intra-uterine or intra-vaginal surgical wounds. The incidence of any intra- or postoperative complications was determined via retrospective review of surgical reports, hospital files and outpatient clinic files. RESULTS: In all cases, the surgeon was able to apply the gel successfully to the desired site. There were no intra-operative complications. There were no adverse events encountered during recovery or hospitalisation which are likely to be associated with the lignocaine gel. Eight patients experienced adverse events during the postoperative period which could be linked to the use of the gel. However, the incidence of these was within the known range of adverse events for these procedures. CONCLUSIONS: A sterile lignocaine gel can be safely used in minimally invasive surgery.

A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of multimodal intraoperative analgesia for laparoscopic excision of endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of multimodal intraoperative analgesia in reducing postoperative pain and/or opioid requirements in women undergoing laparoscopic excision of endometriosis. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: Endogynecologic department of a university teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): Women booked for laparoscopic excision of endometriosis. INTERVENTION(S): Intraoperative multimodal analgesia versus placebo. Analgesia consisted of Diclofenac sodium 100 mg suppository per rectum and 0.75% Ropivacaine to portal sites, subperitoneally under excision sites and topically to each subdiaphragmatic area. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Postoperative total hospital opioid analgesic requirements and postoperative pain intensity. RESULT(S): The study was terminated prematurely, after a planned interim analysis (which included 66 randomized patients or 43% of the planned number of patients) found significantly less total hospital opioid requirements in the analgesic group compared with the placebo group (19.0 mg vs. 34.5 mg; difference -14.0 mg [95% confidence interval -26.0 to -2.0 mg]). There was no difference in postoperative pain intensity between the two groups. CONCLUSION(S): The use of multimodal intraoperative analgesia at laparoscopic excision of endometriosis reduces postoperative opioid requirements.

A comparative, single-blind, randomized trial of pain associated with suction or non-suction drains after gynecologic laparoscopy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To estimate the difference in pain associated with the wearing or removal of suction or non-suction drains after gynecologic laparoscopic surgery. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial from August 2006 through October 2007 (Canadian Task Force Classification I). SETTING: Royal Hospital for Women, Department of Endo-Gynaecology and School of Women's and Children's Health University of New South Wales. PATIENTS: A total of 168 women undergoing gynecologic laparoscopy requiring postoperative drainage. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to receive either a suction or non-suction drain after surgery. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Pain was assessed before, during, and after drain removal with a 4-point verbal descriptor scale and 10-cm visual analogue scale. Visual analogue scale and verbal descriptor scale scores for suction versus non-suction groups were 3 versus 3 (p=.654) and 1 versus 1 (p=.686) before removal, 9 versus 7 (p=.016) and 3 versus 2 (p=.029) during removal, and 7 versus 5 (p=.058) and 2 versus 2 (p=.122) after removal. CONCLUSION: There is no significant difference in patient discomfort while wearing or after removal of suction or non-suction drains. However, suction drains are more painful to have removed.