Essure® and chronic pelvic pain: a population-based cohort.

The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of chronic pelvic pain in women after placement of Essure® microinserts. This was a case series study at the hysteroscopy unit in a teaching hospital. We included 4,274 patients undergoing permanent sterilisation with Essure® microinserts from January 2005 to December 2011. Essure devices were removed in all patients reporting pelvic pain after insertion. All data were collected from the hysteroscopy unit database with later review of medical records in cases of chronic pelvic pain and a telephone survey after microinsert removal. Main outcome measures were: grade of procedure difficulty perceived by the surgeon; tolerance described by the patient after placement; the need for analgesics during or immediately after the procedure; side-effects; average time between device placement and the onset of symptoms; time between device placement and removal; technique for device removal and any symptoms thereafter. A total of seven women (0.16%) presented with chronic pelvic pain requiring microinsert removal, with four classifying the pain perceived during the procedure as medium-high. Six patients did not require analgesics after the procedure and a vasovagal syndrome requiring intravenous analgesia and monitoring occurred in only one case. Six women reported pain immediately after the procedure, with a mean time between placement and removal of 29.4 months. In all cases, the symptoms disappeared after Essure removal. We conclude that the development of chronic pelvic pain is very uncommon after placement of Essure microinserts. Removal of these devices usually improves the pain.

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: what we can learn about]. / Colecistectomía laparoscópica en niños y adultos: lo que podemos aprender.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a very usual procedure within adult population, but not as frequent in childhood. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of LC in children compared with those performed in adulthood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 39 consecutive patients who underwent LC between 2003 and 2013 at our Department and a similar sample of patients from 18 to 40 years of age from the General Surgery Department. RESULTS: 39 children and 40 adults fulfilled criteria to be included in the study. The most frequent indication was cholelithiasis in both groups. The mean operating time was significantly higher among children (127 min, adults 71 min, p < 0.01) but we didn't find differences neither in conversion nor in complication rates (children 5% and 7.7%, adults 2.5% and 15% respectively). In regard to preoperative factors, only male gender was correlated to a higher complication rate (p 0.037). On the other hand we found out that, in absence of complications, both the average length of stay (children 2.1 days, adults 0.5 days) and mean time to first feeding (children 21 hours, adults 8 hours) were significantly higher among children (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: 1) LC in childhood is a safe procedure that does not imply more morbidity than the same intervention in adults, even though a more prolonged operating time. 2) We believe that our longer hospital stay is due to certain lack of confidence with the technique and, in the future, the trend should be bent on encouraging a shorter time to first feeding and an earlier discharge.

Efficacy and safety of Yttrium-90 radioembolization in the treatment of neuroendocrine liver metastases. Long-term monitoring and impact on survival. / Eficacia y seguridad de la radioembolización con 90Y en el tratamiento de metástasis hepáticas de tumores neuroendocrinos. Seguimiento a largo plazo y repercusión en la supervivencia.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) debut in 75% of cases with liver metastases (LMNETs), whose therapeutic approach includes surgical resection and liver transplantation, while liver radioembolization with 90 Y-microspheres (TARE) is reserved for non-operable patients usually due to high tumor burden. We present the accumulated experience of 10 years in TARE treatment of LMNETs in order to describe the safety and the effectiveness of the oncological response in terms of survival, as well as to detect the prognostic factors involved. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Of 136 TARE procedures, performed between January 2006 and December 2016, 30 LMNETs (11.1%) were retrospectively analyzed. The study variables were: Tumor response, time to liver progression, survival at 3 and 5 years, overall mortality and mortality associated with TARE. The radiological response assessment was assessed using RECIST 1.1 and mRECIST criteria. RESULTS: An average activity of 2.4 ± 1.3 GBq of 90 Y was administered. No patient presented postembolization syndrome or carcinoid syndrome. There were also no vascular complications associated with the procedure. According to RECIST 1.1 criteria at 6 months, 78.6% presented partial response and 21.4% stable disease, there was no progression or complete response (1 by mRECIST). Survival at 3 and 5 years was 73% in both cases. CONCLUSION: TARE treatment with 90 Y-microspheres in LMNETs, applied within a multidisciplinary approach, is a safe procedure, with low morbidity, capable of achieving a high rate of radiological response and achieving lasting tumor responses.

¿Es necesario el histerómetro y las pinzas de Pozzi para la inserción del dispositivo intrauterino? / Are hysterometers and Pozzi forceps necessary for IUD insertion?

Objetivo: Exponer la técnica de inserción del DIU que denominamos de «mínima manipulación» y analizar los resultados obtenidos con la misma. Metodología: Se incluyen un total de 442 pacientes que demandaron DIU como método anticonceptivo entre 2010 y 2014. A todas se insertó un DIU con la técnica de «mínima manipulación» que consta de los siguientes pasos: 1) ambiente confortable y apoyo psicológico por parte de enfermera cualificada; 2) ecografía transvaginal para definir posición, tamaño y grado de flexión del útero; 3) especuloscopia, y 4) inserción suave y cuidadosa del DIU siguiendo la dirección establecida por la ecografía. Resultados: El dolor percibido por las pacientes a la inserción, dentro de la Escala Visual Analógica Estándar (VAS), fue de un 3,15 de media, siendo superior en nulíparas. Tuvimos una perforación. Cuatro pacientes experimentaron reacción vagal leve. Se precisó recurrir al tenáculo en el 5% de los casos. En 2 casos no se consiguió la inserción. Conclusiones: La técnica descrita y empleada para la colocación del DIU, denominada como de «mínima manipulación», tiene una alta efectividad de inserción y una valoración aceptable por parte de las usuarias

Objective: To describe the IUD insertion technique that we call 'minimal handling' and analyse the results obtained using this technique. Methodology: We included a total of 442 patients, who requested an IUD for contraception between 2010 and 2014. We inserted an IUD in all patients using the 'minimal handling' technique, which consisted of the following steps: 1) Comfortable environment and psychological support from the qualified nurse. 2) Transvaginal ultrasound to define the position, size, and degree of flexion of the uterus. 3) Speculoscopy. 4) Smooth and careful insertion of the IUD following the direction established by the ultrasound. Results: The pain perceived by the patients upon insertion using the Standard Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was a mean of 3.15, being higher in nulliparous patients. We had one perforation. Four patients experienced a mild vasovagal response. It was necessary to use the tenaculum in 5% of cases. In two cases, insertion was not achieved. Conclusions: The technique described and used for putting the IUD in place, known as the 'minimal handling' method, is highly effective as an insertion technique and is evaluated as acceptable by users

Colecistectomía laparoscópica en niños y adultos: lo que podemos aprender / Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: what we can learn about

Objetivos. La colecistectomía laparoscópica (CL) es un procedimiento muy habitual en adultos, pero no es tan frecuente en la edad pediátrica. Nos preguntamos si existen diferencias entre ambas poblaciones en cuanto a morbilidad y evolución postoperatoria. Material y métodos. Revisión retrospectiva de 39 casos consecutivos que precisaron CL en nuestro Servicio entre 2003-2013 y de una muestra similar de casos intervenidos en el Servicio de Cirugía General del mismo centro en pacientes entre 18 y 40 años. Resultados. 39 niños y 40 adultos cumplieron criterios para incluirse en el estudio. La indicación más frecuente fue la colelitiasis en ambos grupos. El tiempo quirúrgico medio fue significativamente mayor en los niños (niños: 127 min, adultos: 70 min, p< 0,01) pero no encontramos diferencias significativas en la tasa de reconversión o la incidencia de complicaciones (niños: 7.7%, adultos 15%). En cuanto a los factores preoperatorios, solo el sexo masculino se relacionó con mayor incidencia de complicaciones (p 0,037). Por otra parte descubrimos que, en ausencia de complicaciones, la estancia postoperatoria (niños: 2,1 días, adultos: 0,5 días), y el tiempo hasta tolerancia oral (niños: 21 h, adultos: 8 h) fueron significativamente mayores en niños (p< 0,01). Conclusiones. 1) La CL en niños es un procedimiento seguro que no presenta más morbimortalidad que en adultos, a pesar de un mayor tiempo quirúrgico. 2) Creemos que el tiempo de ingreso más prolongado se debe en parte a una falta de confianza con la técnica y que la tendencia en el futuro debe encaminarse a fomentar un inicio temprano de la tolerancia y un alta precoz (AU)

Background. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a very usual procedure within adult population, but not as frequent in childhood. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of LC in children compared with those performed in adulthood. Materials and methods. We reviewed 39 consecutive patients who underwent LC between 2003 and 2013 at our Department and a similar sample of patients from 18 to 40 years of age from the General Surgery Department. Results. 39 children and 40 adults fulfilled criteria to be included in the study. The most frequent indication was cholelithiasis in both groups. The mean operating time was significantly higher among children (127 min, adults 71 min, p< 0.01) but we didn’t find differences neither in conversion nor in complication rates (children 5% and 7.7%, adults 2.5% and 15% respectively). In regard to preoperative factors, only male gender was correlated to a higher complication rate (p 0.037). On the other hand we found out that, in absence of complications, both the average length of stay (children 2.1 days, adults 0.5 days) and mean time to first feeding (children 21 hours, adults 8 hours) were significantly higher among children (p< 0.01). Conclusions. 1) LC in childhood is a safe procedure that does not imply more morbidity than the same intervention in adults, even though a more prolonged operating time. 2) We believe that our longer hospital stay is due to certain lack of confidence with the technique and, in the future, the trend should be bent on encouraging a shorter time to first feeding and an earlier discharge (AU)