The Sydney Contained In Bag Morcellation technique.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate a modification of the Shibley single-port technique suitable for morcellation of large myomatous uteri after total laparoscopic hysterectomy in a contained environment within the abdominal cavity [1]. DESIGN: Step-by-step explanation of the technique using descriptive text and an educational video. SETTING: In light of recent concern about the use of power morcellators and increasing the risk of disseminating occult leiomyosarcomatous myoma fragments throughout the abdominal cavity, we propose this new technique for management of morcellation of large myomatous uteri after total laparoscopic hysterectomy, to contain the morcellation process and minimize the risk. This technique, which we have coined "Sydney Contained in Bag Morcellation" involves introduction of a sterile plastic bag (Dual Drawstring Bag, 460 × 460 mm; Southern Cross Hospital Supplies, Northmead, NSW, Australia) before introducing an optical port and the power morcellator. Before insertion this bag is modified in several ways to facilitate bag opening and specimen retrieval. The dual drawstring is removed and replaced with a 150-cm length of PDS I (polydioxanone) suture material as the new drawstring, with its exit at the mouth of the bag in the 6 o'clock position. Five stay sutures are placed around the bag mouth, corresponding to the 12, 1, 5, 7, and 11 o'clock positions. This assists with opening the mouth of the bag intraabdominally and enables orientation to be maintained. The bag is then inserted in a McCartney tube (Gates Healthcare, Cheshire, UK). Corresponding slits are made in the tip of the tube to enable the end of the stay sutures to be securely held in place during tube insertion. These ends are then retrieved using atraumatic graspers and exteriorized and clipped alongside their corresponding port sites. After hysterectomy the uterus is placed in the bag, and the stay sutures maintain the mouth opening. The bag is closed and its mouth exteriorized onto the abdominal wall at the site of the umbilical trocar. The 12-mm umbilical trocar is then replaced within the bag, and pseudopneumoperitoneum is created. Once established, an optical trocar is introduced via one of the lower quadrant port sites using a balloon tip trocar (Kii; Applied Medical, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA). The insufflation tubing is attached to this trocar, and the umbilical trocar is replaced with the morcellator device. Morcellation is performed under direct vision in a contained environment. Once complete, all fragments are removed, and the bag is washed out. The original pneumoperitoneum is re-established. The bag is then removed during aspiration to encourage negative pressure relative to the re-established pneumoperitoneum, minimizing aerosolized fragment leakage. INTERVENTION: Contained in bag morcellation of a large myomatous uterus during total laparoscopic hysterectomy. This technique has been specifically developed to address the concerns of morcellating large myomatous uteri after hysterectomy. In the case of supracervical hysterectomy or myomectomy, in which there would be no vaginal conduit to exploit, we use an endocatch bag, inserted in the usual manner, with reintroduction of the umbilical trocar within the mouth of the bag to enable creation of pseudopneumoperitoneum. Again, an optical trocar would be introduced in a lower lateral port, and morcellation would be performed under direct vision. An article describing this technique has recently been published [2]. CONCLUSION: The Sydney Contained in bag Morcellation technique offers a possible solution to the risk of dissemination of benign morcellated and potentially leiomyosarcomatous myoma fragments. Certain aspects of the procedure are key to its success. The stay sutures are essential to facilitate orientation and opening of the bag mouth. The McCartney tube enables easier insertion of the flaccid bag into the vagina, and the suture-retaining slits enable the mouth of the bag to be opened quickly and easily. We have used this technique in 5 cases with uteri ranging in weight from 350 to 978 g. Recently, similar techniques have been described for use in single-port surgery and conventional laparoscopy [1,2]. Our technique is suitable for use with large uteri after total laparoscopic hysterectomy because the large capacity of the bag enables containment of uteri that would exceed the capacity of manually deployed specimen retrieval bags. This technique offers an alternative to vaginal morcellation, with the advantage of improved vision during morcellation and the ability to morcellate large uteri using a familiar instrument and view.

Sydney contained in bag morcellation for laparoscopic myomectomy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate a new technique of contained in bag morcellation of a myoma after laparoscopic myomectomy. DESIGN: Step-by-step explanation of the technique in a narrated video. INTERVENTION: Contained In Bag Morcellation of myoma after laparoscopic myomectomy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Recent controversy regarding the risk of disseminating occult leiomyosarcomatous tissue during morcellation means we need to revise our current approach to tissue extraction at laparoscopic myomectomy and morcellation in general. Herein we present a novel technique, conceived by Dr. Danny Chou, called the Sydney Contained In Bag Morcellation technique for laparoscopic myomectomy. In this technique an EndoCatch bag (EndoCatch II Auto Suture Specimen Retrieval Pouch; Covidien, Mansfield, MA) is introduced in the typical fashion, the myoma is retrieved, and the mouth of the bag is exteriorized onto the abdominal wall. A 12-mm trocar is then introduced within the bag, and pneumoperitoneum is created before introducing an optical balloon tip port (KII Balloon Blunt Tip System; Applied Medical, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) and the power morcellator device. Morcellation is then performed within the bag, under direct vision. This technique may offer a safer approach to morcellation because the bowel is not within the morcellation field and there is lower risk of disseminating occult leiomyosarcomatous tissue during morcellation. Subsequent to the morcellation process, suctioning of the bag removes any aerosolized particles of myoma, further minimizing the risk of possible dissemination. CONCLUSION: This technique may enable a minimally invasive approach to myomectomy to continue as a viable option in the era since the warning by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Bliss procedure for undescended ovaries.

OBJECTIVE: To highlight a novel surgical approach for the management of undescended ovaries in those presenting with infertility, to allow for potential transvaginal egg retrieval. The video demonstrates a novel surgical approach for mobilization and oophoropexy of undescended ovaries to allow for future transvaginal egg retrieval in the context of artificial reproductive technology (ART). DESIGN: Case report. Institutional Review Board approval is not required because this was not a human study. Patient consent was obtained for video footage. SETTING: Hospital. PATIENTS: We present a 26-year-old nulligravid woman with a unicornuate uterus, a high riding-right ovary, and an undescended left ovary with prior laparoscopic remnant uterine horn resection. Because of her 9 years of infertility and a prior unsuccessful ovarian mobilization and oophoropexy, she was referred for consideration of a repeat laparoscopic bilateral ovarian mobilization and oophoropexy. INTERVENTION: Surgical intervention for undescended ovaries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative ovarian location and postoperative pain. RESULTS: The patient reported minimal pain postoperatively at 6 weeks. Multiple follow-up imaging revealed both ovaries behind the uterus (antral follicle counts 15), with easy transvaginal access for future ART. CONCLUSION: Undescended ovary is uncommon and usually requires no treatment. However, intervention may be required in the context of infertility and ART, where transvaginal egg retrieval is impossible because of the location of the ovaries. This is the first educational video to our knowledge highlighting a novel surgical approach for the management of undescended ovaries.

Early treatment with alglucosidase alpha prolongs long-term survival of infants with Pompe disease.

In a previous 52-wk trial, treatment with alglucosidase alpha markedly improved cardiomyopathy, ventilatory function, and overall survival among 18 children <7 mo old with infantile-onset Pompe disease. Sixteen of the 18 patients enrolled in an extension study, where they continued to receive alglucosidase alpha at either 20 mg/kg biweekly (n = 8) or 40 mg/kg biweekly (n = 8), for up to a total of 3 y. These children continued to exhibit the benefits of alglucosidase alpha at the age of 36 mo. Cox regression analyses showed that over the entire study period, alglucosidase alpha treatment reduced the risk of death by 95%, reduced the risk of invasive ventilation or death by 91%, and reduced the risk of any type of ventilation or death by 87%, compared with an untreated historical control group. Cardiomyopathy continued to improve and 11 patients learned and sustained substantial motor skills. No significant differences in either safety or efficacy parameters were observed between the 20 and 40 mg/kg biweekly doses. Overall, long-term alglucosidase alpha treatment markedly extended survival as well as ventilation-free survival and improved cardiomyopathy.

"What do kids know": a survey of 420 Grade 5 students in Cambodia on their knowledge of burn prevention and first-aid treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Cambodia is a developing country of 13 million people where there are an estimated 20,000 burns and 2000 burn deaths annually. Two thirds of the burns occur to children under the age of 10 years. The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge of burn prevention and first aid for burns in Grade 5 Cambodian school children, as baseline information to design a burn prevention campaign. METHODS: A 34-question survey regarding burn prevention and first-aid treatment for burn injuries was developed. Additional questions on TV watching habits were included to determine the feasibility of a targeted TV burn educational campaign. The survey was translated into Khmer language and tested on a trial class for accuracy and ease of administration. After obtaining the school director's permission and children's consent the survey was administered by Canadian medical students helped by trained translators and teachers to Grade 5 students from eight different elementary schools in the Kampot province. RESULTS: A total of 420 students were surveyed. Average age was 12.5 years (range 9-17 years) and 55% were females. Seventy-four percent routinely cared for other children. Only 52% had TV at home but still 78% managed to watch TV for an average 2h per day. Even though 36% of students indicated they had received information about burn prevention and first aid, only 13% mentioned application of cool water as initial treatment, only 7% knew to roll on the ground if their clothes caught fire, and nearly 50% would pour water on a burning pot of oil. Half of students indicated that they would not believe a TV message promoting application of cold water on acute burns. Top reasons given were parental influence, belief in other treatments, and not trusting TV messages. Interestingly, 62% of these skeptics would change their mind if the TV message was endorsed by an authority figure such as a physician, teacher, parent, or the Ministry of Health. A set of five Public Service Announcements for Cambodian TV were developed and produced based on the results of this survey. CONCLUSIONS: This survey identified significant inadequacies in Cambodian children's knowledge about burn prevention and first aid and suggested that a televised burn prevention campaign could be an effective method to improve their knowledge, especially if it was endorsed by an authority figure.

Quantification of human tissue kallikreins in the stratum corneum: dependence on age and gender.

Human tissue kallikreins are a family of 15 trypsin or chymotrypsin-like secreted serine proteases (hK1-hK15). hK5, hK6, hK7, hK8, and hK13 have been identified in the stratum corneum (SC), stratum granulosum, and skin appendages. It has been reported that hK5 and hK7 degrade desmosomes/corneodesmosomes, suggesting that kallikreins are responsible for desquamation. We report the quantification of hK5, hK6, hK7, hK8, hK10, hK11, hK13, and hK14 in the SC by ELISA and their variation among age groups. The total SC trypsin and chymotrypsin-like activities were also measured. The amount of hK7, hK8, and hK11 (ng per mg dry weight) were high, and varied from 6 to 14, hK5 (2.0-4.0) was present at intermediate levels, and hK10 (0.65-1.0), hK14 (0.1-0.3), hK6 (0.1-0.3), and hK13 (0.02-0.1) were present at lower levels. hK6 and hK14 were significantly lower in females between 20 and 59 y. hK5, hK7, hK10, hK11, and hK14 were not significantly different across the age groups. hK8 was lowest at extremes of age (highest at 30-39 y), hK6 was lower at >30 y, and hK13 was lower at >20 y. Overall trypsin-like activity did not differ across age groups but was higher in subjects <11 y. Overall chymotrypsin-like activity was not related to age. In conclusion, we found multiple kallikreins in the SC and suggest that these enzymes may be responsible for desquamation through an enzymatic cascade pathway.

A novel element regulates expression of the proximal human proglucagon promoter in islet cells.

The human and rat proglucagon gene proximal promoter regions have differing transcriptional activities in pancreatic islet cell lines, with 300 bases of rat proglucagon 5' flanking sequence being sufficient to support expression in rodent islet cell lines, while the homologous human sequences are transcriptionally silent. To better understand the changes in promoter activity between human and rat we have used a comparative approach and cloned promoters from diverse mammalian species and tested their transcriptional activities. Proglucagon gene proximal promoter regions from species representing three orders of mammals (rodents, artiodactyls, and carnivores) support transcription in rodent islet cell lines, while promoters from primates (human and rhesus monkey), despite significant sequence conservation, failed to drive reporter gene expression. These results suggest that nucleotide changes have occurred to the sequence of the proximal promoter region of the proglucagon gene during the evolution of primates that prevent them from supporting expression in rodent islet cell lines. Using hybrid human-rat proglucagon promoters and site-directed mutagenesis we identified a novel regulatory element in the human proglucagon proximal promoter, located between the G2 and G3 enhancer elements that is responsible for most of the difference in transcriptional activity between the human and rat proximal proglucagon promoters.