Single Euploid Embryo Transfer Outcomes After Uterine Septum Resection.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To study pregnancy outcomes after single euploid embryo transfer (SEET) in patients who underwent prior uterine septum resection to those with uteri of normal contour, without Müllerian anomalies or uterine abnormalities including polyps or fibroids, and without a history of prior uterine surgeries. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Single academic affiliated center. PATIENTS: 60 cycles of patients with prior hysteroscopic uterine septum resection who underwent an autologous SEET between 2012 and 2020 were used as the investigational cohort. A 3:1 ratio propensity score matched control cohort of 180 single euploid embryo transfer cycles from patients without a history of uterine septa were used as the control group. INTERVENTIONS: No interventions administered. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Pregnancy, clinical pregnancy loss, ongoing clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates in patients with a history of uterine septum resection compared with matched patients without Müllerian anomalies or uterine surgeries. Patients with a prior uterine septum had significantly lower rates of chemical pregnancy (58.33% vs 77.2%, p = .004), implantation (41.67% vs 65.6%, p = .001), and live birth (33.33% vs 57.8%, p = .001) per transfer. No statistical difference in clinical pregnancy loss rates was found when comparing septum patients with controls (8.33% vs 7.8%, p = .89). CONCLUSION: Patients with a history of hysteroscopic resection who undergo in vitro fertilization are more susceptible to suboptimal clinical outcomes compared with patients with normal uteri. Early pregnancy loss rates in patients with a uterine septum are higher than in those without; however, after resection, the rates are comparable. Patients born with septate uteri require assessment of surgical intervention prior to SEET, and to optimize their reproductive outcomes.

Hysteroscopic Metroplasty Using Holmium: YAG Laser for Treatment of Septate Uterus.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the safety, efficacy, and ease of hysteroscopic metroplasty using holmium:YAG (Ho:YAG) laser for treatment of septate uterus. DESIGN: Stepwise demonstration of surgical technique with narrated video footage. SETTING: Septate uterus is the most common type of uterine anomaly. The incidence of uterine septum in women presenting with infertility and recurrent abortions is 15.4% [1,2]. Hysteroscopic septal incision is associated with improvement in live-birth rate in these women [3]. Hysteroscopic metroplasty for septate uterus can be done with the use of scissors and energy sources such as monopolar and bipolar electrosurgery and lasers. Ho:YAG laser is commonly used by urologists for various surgeries because of its "Swiss Army Knife" action of cutting, coagulation, and vaporization [4]. Ho:YAG laser is known for its precision. It causes lesser depth of tissue injury and necrosis and minimal collateral thermal damage compared with the electrosurgical devices and other lasers used for hysteroscopic surgery [5-8]. This is advantageous in hysteroscopic metroplasty given that it reduces the risk of uterine perforation during surgery and hence uterine rupture in the subsequent pregnancy. Reduced collateral damage to the surrounding endometrium helps promote early endometrial healing and prevent postoperative intrauterine adhesions. A 28-year-old patient with history of 2 spontaneous abortions came to our hospital for investigations. 3D transvaginal sonography of the patient showed presence of partial septate uterus with a fundal indentation of 1.5 cm (Supplemental video 1). INTERVENTION: Diagnostic hysteroscopy followed by septal incision using Ho: YAG laser was planned. We used a 2.9 mm BETTOCCHI Hysteroscope (Karl Storz SE & Co.) with a 5 mm operative sheath. Normal saline was used as the distending medium and the intrauterine pressure was maintained at 80 to 100 mm Hg. The procedure was done under total intravenous anesthesia using propofol injection. Vaginoscopic entry into the uterus (without any cervical dilatation) showed evidence of a partial uterine septum with tubal ostia on either side of the septum. A 400 micron quartz fiber was passed through a laser guide into the 5-Fr working channel of the operative hysteroscope. Ho:YAG laser (Auriga XL 50-Watt, Boston Scientific) with power settings of 15 watts (1500 mJ energy at 10 Hz) was used. Incision of the septum was started at the apex of the septum in the midline and continued in a horizontal manner from side to side toward the base (Supplemental video 2). Incision of the septum is continued till the tip of the hysteroscope can move freely from one ostium to the other (Supplemental video 3). The operative time was 12 minutes. There were no intra- or postoperative complications. Postoperative estrogen therapy was given for 2 months in the form of estradiol valerate 2 mg (tablet, Progynova, Zydus Cadila) 12 hourly orally for 25 days and medroxyprogesterone acetate 10 mg (tablet, Meprate, Serum Institute of India, Ltd) 12 hourly orally added in the last 5 days [9]. 3D transvaginal ultrasound was done on day 8 of menses. It showed a triangular uterine cavity with a very small fundal indentation of 0.37 cm. A second look hysteroscopy that was done on day 9 of menses showed an uterine cavity of good shape and size [10]. Few fundal adhesions were seen and they were incised using Ho:YAG laser. The patient conceived 5 months after the primary surgery and delivered by cesarean section at 38 weeks, giving birth to a healthy baby of 2860 grams. There were no complications during her pregnancy and delivery. A comparative study is essential to prove its advantages over other energy sources for this surgery. CONCLUSION: Hysteroscopic metroplasty using Ho:YAG laser for treatment of septate uterus is a simple, precise, safe, and effective procedure. VIDEO ABSTRACT.

Could IVF replace reproductive surgery? No, reproductive surgery is still very much alive.

Could IVF replace reproductive surgery? The answer is no. Reproductive surgery still has a place, at least in some indications that will be explored in this contribution. While IVF can offer infertile couples the chance to have a healthy baby, it should be acknowledged that reproductive surgery can heal or harm the organs where reproduction takes place. This paper reviews different diseases and conditions with an impact on fertility, which may benefit from the technological innovations of recent decades, novel applications and the skill of reproductive surgeons. Reproductive surgery is certainly not dead. It lives on with the promise of restoring the functional anatomy to enhance the chances of pregnancy. It is our responsibility to train young residents adequately in this field to provide the right treatment at the right time.

Differences in the anatomical structure of the uterus between fertile and infertile individuals.

Infertility affects a significant portion of the reproductive population and is caused by structural and hormonal factors. The prevalence of congenital uterine anomalies is 3%-4%, with the most common anomaly being septate uterus. However, further research is needed to determine whether these anomalies can cause infertility. In this study, we compared the morphometric parameters of the uterus of fertile and infertile individuals. Based on the data obtained, we aimed to determine the parameters to be evaluated for fertility prediction and to investigate the effect of uterine septum on fertility. The uteruses of 55 infertile and 80 fertile individuals between the age range of 20-45 years were analyzed retrospectively using magnetic resonance images. Infertile individuals were categorized into two groups according to the reasons for infertility: Group I, which included women with congenital uterine anomalies (septate uterus), and Group II, which included women with tubal and male factors. Group III comprised fertile individuals. Uterine length (UL), uterine body length (UbL), cervical length (CxL), uterine cavity length (UcL), anteroposterior diameter (APD), transverse diameter (TD), fundal thickness (FT), and ostial distance (OD) were measured. The uterine positions were examined. The data of uterine variables were evaluated statistically according to age and groups. The mean ages of individuals in Groups I, II, and III were 29.88 ± 6.69, 29.21 ± 4.59, and 27.45 ± 5.43 years, respectively. Significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of UL, UbL, CxL, UcL, APD, FT, and OD variables (p < 0.05), except for TD (p > 0.05). We observed that UL, UcL, length/width ratio, and APD parameters are important factors that influence fertility. Evaluating these parameters before septum resection would be useful in predicting the contribution of this surgical operation to fertility.

Effect of Hysteroscopic Metroplasty on Reproductive Outcomes in Women with Septate Uterus: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis is to evaluate the impact of hysteroscopic metroplasty on adverse reproductive outcomes such as miscarriage, preterm birth, and fetal malpresentation in patients with history of infertility or previous poor obstetrical outcomes. DATA SOURCES: A systematic electronic search from inception each database up to April 2021 including the following databases was conducted: PubMed-MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, the CGF Specialized Register of Controlled Trials, Google Scholar, and trial registries. A combination of the following keywords was used: uterine septum, septate uterus, congenital uterine malformation, class 2 uterus, class V uterus, metroplasty, hysteroscopic, pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, miscarriage, live birth, preterm birth, cesarean section, 'cesarean delivery, and fetal malpresentation. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: Studies comparing reproductive outcomes between women undergoing hysteroscopic resection of the uterine septum and those with expectant management were included. Eligible population consisted of infertile women, women with poor obstetrical history, or women without previous pregnancy failures and a diagnosis of septate uterus. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: The systematic electronic search retrieved 1076 studies; after elimination of duplicates, 688 titles and abstracts were screened, and 55 were assessed for eligibility. Eleven studies were included in the quantitative synthesis: one randomized controlled trial and 10 observational studies involving reproductive outcomes from 1589 patients with either complete or partial uterine septum. The pooled OR for miscarriage was 0.45, (95% CI, 0.22-0.90). When the analysis was performed considering subgroups according to the type of septum, pooled OR in complete septum subgroup was 0.16 (95% CI, 0.03-0.78), OR = 0.36 (95% CI, 0.19-0.71) in the partial septum subgroup and 0.58 (95% CI, 0.20-1.67) in those studies not differentiating between complete or partial septum. No significant differences were found between the 2 groups in OR of clinical pregnancy, term live birth, or risk of cesarean delivery. There was a significant decrease in the frequency of preterm birth in patients who underwent partial septum resection (OR = 0.30, 95% CI, 0.11-0.79). This difference was detected neither in patients with complete septum nor in studies not differentiating between partial or complete septum. The risk of fetal malpresentation was also significantly reduced (OR = 0.32, 95% CI, 0.16-0.65). CONCLUSION: The results of the present meta-analysis support that hysteroscopic metroplasty is effective in reducing the risk of miscarriage in patients with complete or partial uterine septum, although these data should be confirmed with a well-designed randomized controlled trial.

Second look hysteroscopy following hysteroscopic septum resection improves reproductive outcomes in patients undergoing ICSI.

The aim of this study was to compare the reproductive outcomes between infertile women who underwent hysteroscopic uterine septum resection and those who required a second look hysteroscopy due to residual septum prior to intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles with selective single 'Grade A' embryo transfer (ET). All second look hysteroscopies were performed due to partial remnant septum in a control three dimensional transvaginal ultrasonography (3D TVUSG) after the first hysteroscopic resection. Miscarriage and biochemical pregnancy rates were not different between the groups while clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1. Second look hysteroscopic metroplasty performed to restore remnant septum significantly improves live birth rate as well as clinical pregnancy rates while it appears not to alleviate abortion and biochemical pregnancy rates in women undergoing ICSI-ET.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? The effect of hysteroscopic septum resection on reproductive outcomes in IVF treatment in infertile patients with uterine septum is not clearly known.What do the results of this study add? With the selective single ET strategy, complete or partial hysteroscopic correction of the uterine septum before ICSI and subsequent resection of the residual septum with control hysteroscopy significantly increases the live birth rates in the infertile population.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? In the group of infertile patients with uterine septum, second control hysteroscopy should be performed 1 month later for residual septum or adhesions after hysteroscopic septum resection performed once.

Office hysteroscopic metroplasty with diode laser for septate uterus: a multicenter cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of office hysteroscopic metroplasty by diode laser for the treatment of septate uteri. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a prospective cohort study including 41 nulliparous women diagnosed with septate uterus and a history of primary infertility or recurrent miscarriage. All patients underwent hysteroscopic metroplasty for the treatment of the uterine septum, which was performed in-office setting using a 4.3 mm continuous-flow hysteroscope and a 15-watt diode laser at 1470 nm. Surgical and reproductive outcomes after 2 years of follow-up are reported. RESULTS: The procedure was well tolerated by 93% of patients. No surgical complications were reported. Thirty women out of 38 (78.9%) became pregnant: 17 (56.7%) pregnancies were spontaneously conceived, and 13 (43.3%) were obtained with assisted reproductive techniques. Twenty-four (80%) of the 30 pregnant women had a live birth, with a cumulative live birth of 63.2% among the 38 women (95% CI: 45.9-78.2%). There were no cases of post-partum hemorrhage or uterine rupture among 14 (58.3%) women who had vaginal deliveries. CONCLUSION: Office hysteroscopic metroplasty for septate uterus using diode laser appears to be a feasible and safe alternative to other available techniques and has sufficient efficacy in terms of reproductive outcomes to be considered for further investigations.

Uterine rupture in pregnancy after hysteroscopic septum resection: a 20-year retrospective analysis.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we reviewed the cases of uterine rupture in our setting, identified which of them had previously undergone hysteroscopic septum resection (HSR), and evaluated the main clinical characteristics for each case. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed (ClinicalTrial ID: NCT04449640) the delivery outcomes from the National Perinatal Information System of the National Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia of the last 20 years (1 January 1999 - 31 December 2019) and cross-linked the patients with surgical data from our electronic database. We collected baseline characteristics, surgical details and obstetrical outcomes. We excluded women who had undergone previous myomectomy or cesarean section (CS) and described the clinical course of each case since no statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: We found four patients who had uterine rupture in pregnancy after HSR. Median time to pregnancy was 17 months (range 1-60), all the women underwent CS and fetal-maternal outcomes were acceptable in half of the cases. Symptoms were nonspecific and included pain, fetal distress and vaginal bleeding. CONCLUSION: Uterine rupture in pregnancy after a previous HSR is a very rare, but life-threatening event. Prompt diagnosis can ensure successful management and avoid adverse maternal-fetal outcomes.

Does hysteroscopic resection of uterine septum improve reproductive outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Uterine septum in women with subfertility or previous poor reproductive outcomes presents a clinical dilemma. Hysteroscopic septum resection has been previously associated with adverse reproductive outcomes but the evidence remains inconclusive. We aimed to thoroughly and systematically appraise relevant evidence on the impact of hysteroscopically resecting the uterine septum on this cohort of women. METHODS: AMED, BNI, CINAHL, EMBASE, EMCARE, Medline, PsychInfo, PubMed, Cochrane register of controlled trials, Cochrane database of systematic reviews and CINAHL were assessed to April 2020, with no language restriction. Only randomised control trials and comparative studies which evaluated outcomes in women with uterine septum and a history of subfertility and/or poor reproductive outcomes treated by hysteroscopic septum resection against control were included. The primary endpoint was live birth rate, whereas clinical pregnancy, miscarriage, preterm birth and malpresentation rates were secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Seven studies involving 407 women with hysteroscopic septum resection and 252 with conservative management were included in the meta-analysis. Hysteroscopic septum resection was associated with a lower rate of miscarriage (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.07-0.88) compared with untreated women. No significant effect was seen on live birth, clinical pregnancy rate or preterm delivery. However, there were fewer malpresentations during labour in the treated group (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.06-0.73). CONCLUSION: Our review found no significant effect of hysteroscopic resection on live birth. However, given the limited evidence available, high-quality randomised controlled trials are recommended before any conclusive clinical guidance can be drawn.

Effect of hysteroscopic septum resection on preterm delivery rate in singleton pregnancies.

INTRODUCTION: Uterine septum is the most common uterine anomaly and is often found during the work-up in primary infertile women. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential effect of hysteroscopic septum resection (HSR) on preterm delivery (PTD) in primary infertile women who had singleton pregnancies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed 420 singleton pregnancies after primary infertility treatment and compared the PTD rates in women who underwent previous HSR (cases) and women who did not undergo previous operative hysteroscopy or cervical dilation (controls), regardless of the modality of conception (spontaneous or by in vitro fertilization). RESULTS: We did not find significant differences between cases and controls for the incidence of overall PTD rate (p = .237), PTD before 32 gestational weeks (p = .848), and between 32 and 37 gestational weeks (p = .324), premature rupture of membranes (p = .419), and neonatal birth weight (p = .129). Overall, the risk of spontaneous PTD <37 gestational weeks after HSR was not found to be significantly higher compared to controls (RR 1.29, 0.61-2.73 95% CI; p = .561). CONCLUSION: According to our results, previous HSR could be not considered a risk factor for PTD in singleton pregnancies, regardless of the modality of conception (spontaneous or by in vitro fertilization).

[Should you operate on a uterine septum ?] / Faut-il opérer un septum utérin ?

Uterine septum is the most common congenital uterine malformation and may cause obstetric problems such as repeated miscarriages, premature deliveries or dystocial presentations. It also appears to be associated with infertility. The uterine septum can be demonstrated by ultrasound, MRI and hysteroscopy. The benefit of hysteroscopic septoplasty remains controversial although most studies agree on the benefits of this treatment. It improves the fertility and obstetrical future of women by increasing the rate of pregnancies and live births and reducing the rate of miscarriages. Resection of the uterine septum is therefore encouraged in symptomatic patients but also in prophylaxis, in asymptomatic patients in order to increase the chances of carrying their pregnancy to term.

Le septum utérin est la malformation utérine congénitale la plus fréquente et peut être à l'origine de problèmes obstétricaux tels que des fausses couches à répétition, des accouchements prématurés ou des présentations dystociques. Par ailleurs, il semble également associé à une infertilité. Le septum utérin peut être mis en évidence à l'aide de l'échographie, de l'IRM et de l'hystéroscopie. Le bénéfice d'une septoplastie hystéroscopique reste controversé bien que la plupart des études s'accordent sur les bienfaits de ce traitement. En effet, il permet d'améliorer la fertilité et l'avenir obstétrical des patientes en augmentant le taux de grossesses et de naissances d'enfants vivants et en réduisant le taux de fausses couches. La résection du septum utérin est donc encouragée chez les patientes symptomatiques, mais également, en prophylaxie, chez des patientes asymptomatiques afin d'augmenter les chances de mener leur grossesse à terme.

The Technique of Vaginal Septum as Uterine Septum: A New Approach for the Hysteroscopic Treatment of Vaginal Septum.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcomes of a new hysteroscopic technique for the treatment of a longitudinal vaginal septum. DESIGN: A retrospective study. SETTING: Arbor Vitae Center for Endoscopic Gynecology, Rome, Italy. PATIENTS: Thirty women who underwent hysteroscopic treatment for a vaginal septum. INTERVENTION: All enrolled patients underwent pelvic examination, hysteroscopy, and 2-dimensional ultrasound. In case of a diagnosis of a partial or complete uterine septum, magnetic resonance imaging or 3-dimensional ultrasound were performed, and surgical procedures were performed after diagnostic laparoscopy was used to better visualize the uterine fundus. All patients were treated with the technique using vaginal septum as uterine septum or the same methodology applied for a uterine septum. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The procedure was successfully accomplished in all patients, and longitudinal vaginal septa were totally resected. There were no perioperative complications, and in only 1 case, vaginal bleeding occurred because of an erroneous identification of the excision line that was easily remedied with coagulation by resectoscope. Dyspareunia has improved or completely disappeared in all patients. CONCLUSION: The technique of vaginal septum as uterine septum for the resectoscope of a longitudinal vaginal septum appears to be safe and effective with good outcomes, even in terms of dyspareunia.

Septate uterus according to ESHRE/ESGE, ASRM and CUME definitions: association with infertility and miscarriage, cost and warnings for women and healthcare systems.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the differences in frequency of diagnosis of septate uterus using three different definitions and determine whether these differences are significant in clinical practice, and to examine the association between diagnosis of septate uterus, using each of the three definitions, and infertility and/or previous miscarriage as well as the cost of allocation to surgery. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of data from a prospective study of 261 consecutive women of reproductive age attending a private clinic focused on the diagnosis and treatment of congenital uterine malformations. Reanalysis of the datasets was performed according to three different means of defining septate uterus: following the recommendations of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), a 2016 update of those of the American Fertility Society from 1988 (ASRM-2016: internal fundal indentation depth ≥ 1.5 cm, angle of internal indentation < 90° and external indentation depth < 1 cm); following the recommendations of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology/European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (ESHRE/ESGE), published in 2013 and reaffirmed in 2016 (ESHRE/ESGE-2016: internal fundal/uterine indentation depth > 50% of uterine-wall thickness and external indentation depth < 50% of uterine-wall thickness, with uterine-wall thickness measured above interostial/intercornual line); and using a definition published last year which was based on the decision made most often by a group of experts (Congenital Uterine Malformation by Experts; CUME) (CUME-2018: internal fundal indentation depth ≥ 1 cm and external fundal indentation depth < 1 cm). We compared the rate of diagnosis of septate uterus using each of these three definitions and, for each, we estimated the association between the diagnosis and infertility and/or previous miscarriage, and anticipated the costs associated with their implementation using a guesstimation method. RESULTS: Although 32.6% (85/261) of the subjects met the criteria for one of the three definitions of septate uterus, only 2.7% (7/261) of them were defined as having septate uterus according to all three definitions. We diagnosed significantly more cases of septate uterus using ESHRE/ESGE-2016 than using ASRM-2016 (31% vs 5%, relative risk (RR) = 6.7, P < 0.0001) or CUME-2018 (31% vs 12%, RR = 2.6, P < 0.0001) criteria. We also observed frequent cases that could not be classified definitively by ASRM-2016 (gray zone: neither normal/arcuate nor septate; 6.5%). There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the prevalence of septate uterus in women with vs those without infertility according to ASRM-2016 (5% vs 4%), ESHRE/ESGE-2016 (35% vs 28%) or CUME-2018 (11% vs 12%). Septate uterus was diagnosed significantly more frequently in women with vs those without previous miscarriage according to ASRM-2016 (11% vs 3%; P = 0.04) and CUME-2018 (22 vs 10%; P = 0.04), but not according to ESHRE/ESGE-2016 (42% vs 28%; P = 0.8) criteria. Our calculations showed that global costs to the healthcare system would be highly dependent on the criteria used in the clinical setting to define septate uterus, with the costs associated with the ESHRE/ESGE-2016 definition potentially being an extra US$ 100-200 billion over 5 years in comparison to ASRM-2016 and CUME-2018 definitions. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of septate uterus according to ESHRE/ESGE-2016, ASRM-2016 and CUME-2018 definitions differs considerably. An important limitation of the ASRM classification, which needs to be addressed, is the high proportion of unclassifiable cases originally named, by us, the 'gray zone'. The high rate of overdiagnosis of septate uterus according to ESHRE/ESGE-2016 may lead to unnecessary surgery and therefore unnecessary risk in these women and may impose a considerable financial burden on healthcare systems. Efforts to define clinically meaningful and universally applicable criteria for the diagnosis of septate uterus should be encouraged. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Útero septo según las definiciones de ESHRE/ESGE, ASRM y CUME: la relación con la infertilidad y el aborto espontáneo, el costo y advertencias para las mujeres y los sistemas de salud OBJETIVO: Evaluar el rendimiento de la velocidad sistólica máxima de la arteria cerebral media fetal (MCA-PSV, por sus siglas en inglés) ≥1,5 múltiplos de la mediana (MdM) para la predicción de la anemia moderada-severa en fetos sometidos a transfusión y no sometidos. MÉTODOS: Se realizó una búsqueda sistemática para identificar estudios observacionales relevantes reportados en el período 2008-2018 que evaluaron el rendimiento de la MCA-PSV, utilizando un umbral de 1,5MdM para la predicción de la anemia fetal. El diagnóstico de la anemia fetal mediante la toma de muestras de sangre fue el estándar de referencia. Se utilizaron modelos de efectos aleatorios para la elaboración de una curva jerárquica resumen de las características operativas del receptor (hSROC, por sus siglas en inglés). Se realizaron análisis de subgrupos y metarregresión, según el número de transfusiones intrauterinas previas. RESULTADOS: En el metaanálisis se incluyeron doce estudios y 696 fetos. El área bajo la curva (ABC) hSROC para la anemia moderada-severa fue del 83%. La sensibilidad y especificidad agrupadas (IC 95%) fueron del 79% (70-86%) y 73% (62-82%), respectivamente, y los cocientes de verosimilitud positivos y negativos fueron 2,94 (IC 95%: 2,13-4,00) y 0,272 (IC 95%: 0,188-0,371). Cuando solo se consideraron los fetos no sometidos a transfusión, la predicción mejoró, pues se logró un ABC del 87%, una sensibilidad del 86% (IC 95%: 75-93%) y una especificidad del 71% (IC 95%: 49-87%). Se observó una disminución en la sensibilidad de la predicción de la anemia moderada-severa mediante la MCA-PSV ≥1.5MdM (estimación, -5,5% (IC 95%: -10,7 a -0,3%), P=0,039) en función del aumento del número de transfusiones previas. CONCLUSIONES: El uso de la MCA-PSV ≥1.5MdM para la predicción de la anemia moderada-severa en fetos no sometidos a transfusión muestra una precisión moderada (86% de sensibilidad y 71% de especificidad), que disminuye con el aumento del número de transfusiones intrauterinas.

Modern management of recurrent miscarriage.

Recurrent miscarriage (RM), also known as recurrent pregnancy loss, is a distressing condition affecting around 1% of couples trying to conceive It can be very frustrating for both clinicians and patients as, despite intensive workup, no clear underlying pathology is forthcoming in at least 50% of couples. This leads to despair for patients and leaves clinicians at a loss for how to help. Desperation in both camps can promote the uptake of investigations and interventions of unproven benefit. The pathophysiology underpinning RM is incredibly diverse, involving areas such as haematology, endocrinology, immunology and genetics. During the seven to eight years since the UK Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists published guidelines on this topic in 2011, new evidence and guidance from expert authorities have emerged. Here, these important advances in this challenging field of clinical practice will be reviewed.

Congenital Uterine Malformation by Experts (CUME): better criteria for distinguishing between normal/arcuate and septate uterus?

OBJECTIVES: To assess the level of agreement between experts in distinguishing between septate and normal/arcuate uterus using their subjective judgment when reviewing the coronal view of the uterus from three-dimensional ultrasound. Another aim was to determine the interobserver reliability and diagnostic test accuracy of three measurements suggested by recent guidelines, using as reference standard the decision made most often by experts (Congenital Uterine Malformation by Experts (CUME)). METHODS: Images of the coronal plane of the uterus from 100 women with suspected fundal internal indentation were anonymized and provided to 15 experts (five clinicians, five surgeons and five sonologists). They were instructed to indicate whether they believed the uterus to be normal/arcuate (defined as normal uterine morphology or not clinically relevant degree of distortion caused by internal indentation) or septate (clinically relevant degree of distortion caused by internal indentation). Two other observers independently measured indentation depth, indentation angle and indentation-to-wall-thickness (I:WT) ratio. The agreement between experts was assessed using kappa, the interobserver reliability was assessed using the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), the diagnostic test accuracy was assessed using the area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve (AUC) and the best cut-off value was assessed using Youden's index, considering as the reference standard the choice made most often by the experts (CUME). RESULTS: There was good agreement between all experts (kappa, 0.62). There were 18 septate and 82 normal/arcuate uteri according to CUME; European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE)-European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (ESGE) criteria (I:WT ratio > 50%) defined 80 septate and 20 normal/arcuate uteri, while American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) criteria defined five septate (depth > 15 mm and angle < 90°), 82 normal/arcuate (depth < 10 mm and angle > 90°) and 13 uteri that could not be classified (referred to as the gray-zone). The agreement between ESHRE-ESGE and CUME was 38% (kappa, 0.1); the agreement between ASRM criteria and CUME for septate was 87% (kappa, 0.39), and considering both septate and gray-zone as septate, the agreement was 98% (kappa, 0.93). Among the three measurements, the interobserver reproducibility of indentation depth (CCC, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.98-0.99) was better than both indentation angle (CCC, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94-0.97) and I:WT ratio (CCC, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.90-0.94). The diagnostic test accuracy of these three measurements using CUME as reference standard was very good, with AUC between 0.96 and 1.00. The best cut-off values for these measurements to define septate uterus were: indentation depth ≥ 10 mm, indentation angle < 140° and I:WT ratio > 110% . CONCLUSIONS: The suggested ESHRE-ESGE cut-off value overestimates the prevalence of septate uterus while that of ASRM underestimates this prevalence, leaving in the gray-zone most of the uteri that experts considered as septate. We recommend considering indentation depth ≥ 10 mm as septate, since the measurement is simple and reliable and this criterion is in agreement with expert opinion. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

A Rare Uterine Malformation: Asymmetric Septate Uterus.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate a step by step surgical hysteroscopy technique in a patient with asymmetric uterine septum and transverse uterine septum that was not previously described in the literature. DESIGN: Resection of an asymmetric uterine septum by laparoscopy and ultrasound-guided hysteroscopy (Canadian Task Force classification III). The video was assumed exempt from official review by our institutional review board. SETTING: A septate uterus is defined as the uterus in which the uterine cavity is longitudinally divided by the septum [1]. The most common uterine anomaly, septate uterus has a spectrum of configurations ranging from complete septate to incomplete septate uterus. Asymmetric uterine septum was reported only as case reports in the literature and is described as Robert's uterus [2]. This unique malformation is described as a septate uterus with a noncommunicating hemicavity, composed of a blind uterine horn usually with unilateral hematometra, and a contralateral unicornuate uterine cavity. The external uterine shape is normal. The asymmetric septum with transverse uterine septum in the present case has not yet been reported in the literature. PATIENT: A 29-year-old woman presented to our clinic with primary amenorrhea, cyclic pelvic pain, and the desire to have pregnancy. She previously had failed 2 laparoscopy and hysteroscopy procedures for fertility treatments. Hysterosalpingography previously had been failed. The patient previously underwent magnetic resonance imaging. The magnetic resonance imaging report states there was no connection between the uterus and cervix. On external genital organs assessment, there was no abnormal sign. Ultrasonography revealed 2 uterine cavities and hematometra. Both ovaries were in normal view. INTERVENTIONS: In view of her examination findings, the patient was scheduled for laparoscopy and hysteroscopy. Laparoscopy revealed extensive adhesions on both the pelvis and upper abdomen. Initially, the uterus and ovaries were not visualized. Adhesiolysis was performed, and normal anatomy was restored. After this step, the operation was continued by laparoscopy and ultrasound-guided hysteroscopy. Under ultrasound and laparoscopy guidance, the transverse uterine septum at the level of uterine isthmus was incised and the left endometrial cavity was observed with hysteroscopy. The asymmetric uterine septum was then incised, and the right-sided endometrial cavity was then accessed. Finally, the uterine septum was completely incised and both sides of the endometrial cavities were merged. The patient had an uncomplicated postoperative course and was discharged 24 hours after surgery. She returned for follow-up examination in the second month after surgery. She had regular menstrual cycles, and her pain was cured. CONCLUSION: Hysteroscopy and laparoscopy combined with ultrasound is a useful method for the diagnosis and treatment of asymmetric uterine septum. The skill and experience of the laparoscopic surgeon is another important factor to identify and manage unusual uterine malformations.

The Diagnosis and Surgical Approach of Uterine Septa.

Uterine septa are a class of müllerian duct anomaly that, similar to other classes, are associated with poor reproductive outcomes; however, they are unique because these poor outcomes, particularly recurrent pregnancy loss, may be responsive to surgical correction. The current evidence regarding septoplasty is difficult to interpret because the definitions of a uterine septum, methods to diagnose it, and hysteroscopic techniques used for treatment are variable and generally of poor to moderate quality. Robust data on outcomes, particularly live births, after septoplasty are not available at this time. This review aims to examine the evidence on this contentious issue. A search of the literature was conducted using the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases from 2002 to present with included articles reporting on clinical and/or imaging diagnosis of a uterine septum, operative techniques for uterine septoplasty, or clinical outcomes for women with uterine septa. The initial search revealed 4997 potentially relevant articles with 36 full-text articles included after the removal of nonrelevant titles, including 16 diagnostic studies, 17 surgical studies, and 3 studies on clinical outcomes. Where access to 3-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging exists, these imaging modalities offer a highly sensitive and specific method of diagnosing a uterine septum without invasive diagnosis although this is operator dependent. Despite hysteroscopic septoplasty being described for over 40 years, there remains a lack of high-quality data to support hysteroscopic septoplasty and which women would most benefit from the procedure. There is no evidence for pre- or postoperative treatments nor has a single surgical approach been identified as superior than another although an important end point of live birth rates is largely unreported in these trials. Although several classification systems have been described, the diagnostic categorization of septal variants has limited a meaningful approach to this issue in both the clinical and research setting.

Office Operative Hysteroscopy: An Update.

Hysteroscopy is considered the gold standard for the evaluation of intracavitary pathology in both premenopausal and postmenopausal patients associated with abnormal uterine bleeding, as well as for the evaluation of infertile patients with suspected cavity abnormalities. Office-based operative hysteroscopy allows patients to resume activities immediately and successfully integrates clinical practice into a "see and treat" modality, avoiding the added risks of anesthesia and the inconvenience of the operating room. For 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has provided a substantial increase in reimbursement for a select number of office-based hysteroscopic procedures. This review provides an update on the indications, equipment, and procedures for office hysteroscopy, as well as the management of complications that may arise within an office-based practice.

Retrospective cohort study of the risk factors for secondary infertility following hysteroscopic metroplasty of the uterine septum in women with recurrent pregnancy loss.

Purpose: A hysteroscopic metroplasty was performed for women with recurrent pregnancy loss owing to a uterine septum, following which some women became infertile. The aim of this study was to elucidate the risk factors of secondary infertility 1 year after hysteroscopic metroplasty for a uterine septum. Methods: A retrospective, single-center, cohort study included women with a history of at least two miscarriages that had been attributed to a uterine septum who underwent a hysteroscopic metroplasty. The patients' background data were compared between the patients who conceived and those who remained infertile at 1 year postoperatively. The data were analyzed by using the Mann-Whitney U-test and multivariate analyses. Results: The postoperative live birth rate was 83.9% (n = 26), with persistent infertility in five women at 1 year. When comparing the pregnancy group with the infertile group, the women in the postoperative infertility group were significantly older than those in the postoperative pregnancy group. The multivariate analysis showed that age was an independent risk factor for persistent infertility. Conclusion: Age was identified as an independent risk factor for postoperative secondary infertility. Therefore, surgery as early as possible is recommended.

Relevance of Uterine Subseptations: What Length Should Warrant Hysteroscopic Resection?

OBJECTIVES: Existing recommendations warrant correction of uterine subseptations longer than 10 mm. We assessed whether a different subseptation length is indicated for intervention by evaluating the postoperative decrease in cavity width. METHODS: We conducted a prospective controlled cohort study at a university center. Healthy women and women with subseptations were evaluated with three-dimensional ultrasound before and after undergoing surgical resection of uterine subseptations by hysteroscopy. Measurement of the subseptum's length and width, and total cavity width, were obtained in both groups of women. We created a receiver operating characteristic curve using 7-mm cavity postoperative width change as the reference variable, and subseptation length as the outcome variable. Identifying a new subseptation length that warrants surgical intervention. RESULTS: Seventy-six women with subseptations and 77 with healthy uteri were included in the study. In the subseptate group, 50 had a subseptum less than 10 mm, and 26 were greater than 10 mm. Uterine and uterine cavity widths were significantly greater than in healthy women. The postoperative cavity width (28 ± 0.9 mm) was correlated with the preoperative subseptum length (R = 0.42; P = .016) and width (R = 0.54; P = .001) and was similar to healthy uteri. The receiver operator characteristic curve identified 5.9 mm (sensitivity = 100%, specificity = 41.4%) as a new threshold length of subseptation, which shows a postoperative cavity adjustment comparable to a subseptation greater than 10 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The relevance of subseptations shorter than 10 mm is currently undetermined and underestimated. Our data indicate a new subseptation cutoff length with postoperative remodeling and statistical relevance similar to longer subseptations. We propose a revision of the recommendations for surgical correction to include the objectively obtained subseptation length greater than or equal to 5.9 mm.