Surgical approach to hysterectomy for benign gynaecological disease

Validating the diagnostic accuracy of an MRI-based scoring system for differentiating benign uterine leiomyomas from leiomyosarcomas

OBJECTIVE

Uterine leiomyomas are the most common benign uterine tumors. They are difficult to distinguish from their malignant counterparts-smooth muscle tumors of unknown malignant potential (STUMP) and leiomyosarcoma. The purpose of this study is to propose and validate the diagnostic accuracy of the MRI-based Oman-Canada Scoring System of Myometrial Masses (OCSSMM) to differentiate uterine leiomyomas from STUMP/leiomyosarcomas.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study performed at two tertiary care centers. All patients with a pathology-proven uterine mass who underwent pre-operative pelvic MRI between January 2010 and January 2020 were included. Using a 1.5T MRI machine, sequences included were axial/coronal/sagittal T2 and T1 weighted imaging, axial diffusion weighted and apparent diffusion coefficient map, and axial or sagittal dynamic contrast-enhanced sequences. A scoring system was designed based on previously published worrisome MRI features for uterine leiomyosarcoma. Each feature was allocated a score from 0 to 2 according to the strength of association with malignancy. Subsequently, the MR images were blindly and independently reviewed by a fellowship-trained radiologist and a clinical fellow/senior resident. Each uterine mass was scored according to their imaging features. The scores were divided into five categories according to the sum of scores. Category III and above was considered positive for leiomyosarcoma/STUMP. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 244 women were included (age range 20-74 years, mean 40). Of these, 218 patients had benign leiomyoma, 13 had STUMP, and 13 had leiomyosarcoma. The sensitivity and specificity of the scoring system were 92.3% and 64.7%, respectively. The negative predictive value was 98.6%. No leiomyosarcoma was missed using this scoring system. The presence of non-cystic T2 hyperintensity or diffusion restriction in a uterine mass were the most sensitive signs of a leiomyosarcoma/STUMP.

CONCLUSION

The proposed multi-parametric MRI scoring system may be useful in differentiating benign uterine leiomyomas from leiomyosarcomas/STUMP.

Efficacy and safety of robotic radical hysterectomy in cervical cancer compared with laparoscopic radical hysterectomy: a meta-analysis

Introduction

Robotic radical hysterectomy (RRH) is a newly developed minimally invasive surgery that has been suggested as a substitute for laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (LRH). This meta-analysis aims to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of robot-assisted radical hysterectomy (RRH) for cervical cancer.

Materials and methods

A systematic search was conducted in four databases (Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and CENTRAL) for studies comparing the utilization of RRH and LRH in the treatment of cervical cancer. The search included articles published from the inception of the databases up until July 18, 2023. Meta-analyses were conducted to assess several surgical outcomes, including operation time, estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, pelvic lymph nodes, positive surgical margin, total complications, one-year recurrence rate, one-year mortality, and one-year disease-free survival rate.

Results

Six studies were included for meta-analysis. In total, 234 patients were in the RRH group and 174 patients were in the LRH group. RRH had significantly longer operative time (MD=14.23,95% CI:5.27~23.20, P=0.002),shorter hospital stay (MD= -1.10,95% CI:-1.43~0.76, P <0.00001),more dissected pelvic lymph nodes(MD=0.89,95%CI:0.18~1.60, P =0.01) and less blood loss(WMD = -27.78,95%CI:-58.69 ~ -3.14, P=0.08, I2 = 80%) compared with LRH. No significant difference was observed between two groups regarding positive surgical margin (OR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.18~2.76, P=0.61), over complications (OR = 0.77, 95% CI, 0.46-1.28, P=0.31), one-year recurrence rate (OR = 0.19, 95% CI 0.03-1.15, P=0.13), one-year mortality rate (OR = 0.19, 95% CI 0.03-1.15, P=0.07) and disease-free survival at one year (OR = 1.92, 95% CI 0.32-11.50, P=0.48).

Conclusion

RRH is an increasingly popular surgical method known for its high level of security and efficiency. It has many benefits in comparison to LRH, such as decreased blood loss, a higher quantity of dissected pelvic lymph nodes, and a shorter duration of hospitalization. Further multicenter, randomized controlled trials with extended follow-up durations are necessary to conclusively determine the safety and efficacy of RRH, as no significant differences were observed in terms of positive surgical margin, postoperative complications, 1-year recurrence, 1-year mortality, and 1-year disease-free survival.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO, identifier CRD42023446653.

The Effects of a Laparoscopy by Single-Port Endoscopic Access in Benign Adnexal Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) offers advantages over conventional laparoscopy (CL) in benign adnexal surgery.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled study.

SETTING

Gynecology-Obstetrics Unit of the University Hospital of the Conception in Marseille, France.

PATIENTS

Patients older than 18 years requiring ovarian cystectomy or salpingo-oophorectomy by laparoscopy for symptomatic ovarian cysts requiring benign or prophylactic surgery.

INTERVENTIONS

In the case of ovarian cysts, premenopausal patients typically undergo a unilateral cystectomy, whereas postmenopausal patients undergo a unilateral or bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy upon a patient's request. In cases requiring prophylactic surgery, a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. All participants were randomly assigned to either the LESS or the CL group.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Patients in both groups reported similar levels of pain at 24 hours: Simple Numerical Scale was 1.3 (standard deviation, 1.5) in the LESS group vs 1.7 (standard deviation, 1.5) in the CL group (p = .12), and there were no significant differences in postoperative pain at 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, and 7 days. Furthermore, there was no difference in analgesic consumption. Regarding intraoperative criteria, the only difference was the longer operating time in the LESS group than the CL group. We also found that patients' satisfaction with their scar at 1 month may be higher with LESS than with CL.

CONCLUSION

There was no significant difference between the 2 techniques in postoperative pain, although the LESS technique necessitated a longer operative time than the CL technique, while providing better aesthetic result patients.

Salpingo-Oophorectomy During Non-Descent Vaginal Hysterectomy Using the Paily Vaginal Oophorectomy Clamp

We conducted a 6-year prospective surgical case series study at a tertiary care centre in South India to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the novel Paily Vaginal Oophorectomy Clamp and its unique application technique during non-descent vaginal hysterectomy requiring salpingo-oophorectomy. The Paily Vaginal Oophorectomy Clamp's reversed blade design allows direct and secure grasping of the infundibulopelvic ligament as there is no intervening tissue near the joint, reducing the risk of slippage. In contrast, while using conventional clamps such as Heaney's, infundibulopelvic slippage occurs due to the presence of tissue between blades near the joint. A demonstration video is provided (Video).

Vaginal Hysterectomy Compared With Laparoscopic Hysterectomy in Benign Gynecologic Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To compare surgical efficacy outcomes and complications after laparoscopic hysterectomy and vaginal hysterectomy performed for benign gynecologic conditions.

DATA SOURCES

We performed an online search in major databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov , and the Cochrane Library from 2000 until February 28, 2023.

METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION

We searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared vaginal hysterectomy with laparoscopic hysterectomy in benign gynecologic conditions. We located 3,249 articles. After reviewing titles and abstracts, we identified 32 articles that were eligible for full-text screening. We excluded nine articles as not-RCT or not comparing vaginal hysterectomy with laparoscopic hysterectomy. Twenty-three articles were included in the final systematic review, with 22 articles included in the meta-analysis.

TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS

Twenty-three eligible RCTs included a total population of 2,408, with 1,105 in the vaginal hysterectomy group and 1,303 in the laparoscopic hysterectomy group. Blood loss and postoperative urinary tract infection rates were lower in the vaginal hysterectomy group than in the laparoscopic hysterectomy group (mean difference -68, 95% CI -104.29 to -31.7, P <.01, I2 =95% and odds ratio 1.73, 95% CI 0.92-3.26, P =.03, I2 =0%, respectively). Vaginal hysterectomy was associated with less total operative time, less recovery time, and greater postoperative pain on the day of surgery. Other complications, including conversion to laparotomy, visceral organ damage, or wound dehiscence, were uncommon. Because of insufficient data, we were not able to stratify by surgical indication.

CONCLUSION

Vaginal hysterectomy had a shorter total operative time and recovery time but greater postoperative pain on day of surgery compared with laparoscopic hysterectomy.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO, CRD42023338538.

Venous Thromboembolism After Abdominal and Minimally Invasive Large Specimen Hysterectomy

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To investigate the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients undergoing large specimen hysterectomy for benign indications. To evaluate the impact of route of surgery and operative time in the development of VTE in this population.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force Classification II2) of targeted hysterectomy data prospectively collected from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program involving over 500 hospitals across the United States.

SETTING

National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database.

PATIENTS

Women aged 18 years or older undergoing hysterectomy for benign indications between 2014 and 2019. Patients were further classified into 4 groups according to uterine weight: <100 g, 100-249 g, 250 g-499 g, and specimens ≥500 g.

INTERVENTIONS

Current Procedural Terminology codes were used to identify cases. Variables including age, ethnicity, body mass index, smoking status, diabetes, hypertension, blood transfusion, and American Society of Anesthesiologists classification system scores were collected. Cases were stratified by route of surgery, operative time, and uterine weight.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

A total of 122,418 hysterectomies occurring between 2014 and 2019 were included in our study, of which 28,407 (23.2%) patients underwent abdominal, 75,490 (61.7%) laparoscopic, and 18,521 (15.1%) vaginal hysterectomy. The overall rate of VTE in patients with large specimen hysterectomies (≥500 g) was 0.64%. After multivariable adjustment, there was no significant difference in the odds of VTE between uterine weight groups. Only 30% of the surgeries with uterine weight above 500 g were performed with minimally invasive surgical routes. Patients who underwent minimally invasive hysterectomy had lower odds of VTE via laparoscopic (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.62; confidence interval [CI]: 0.48-0.81) and vaginal (aOR 0.46; CI: 0.31-0.69) routes compared to laparotomy. Prolonged operative time (>120 min) was associated with increased odds of VTE (aOR 1.86; CI:1.51-2.29).

CONCLUSION

The occurrence of VTE after a benign large specimen hysterectomy is rare. The odds of VTE is higher with longer operative times and lower with minimally invasive approaches, even for markedly enlarged uteri.

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of laparoscopic radical hysterectomy vs. Robotic assisted radical hysterectomy for early stage cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE

Following compelling evidence that open techniques may be related to better survival and disease free survival rates, many gynecologic oncologists in the US have turned away from performing laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (LRH) and robotic radical hysterectomy (RRH) for the treatment of early-stage cervical cancer. While this may be warranted as a safety concern, there is little high-quality data on the head-to-head comparison of LRH and RRH and therefore little evidence to answer the question of where this decrease in patient survival is originating from. In our systematic review, we aimed to compare the complications and outcomes of LRH against those of RRH.

DATA SOURCES

We searched PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, Medline, ClinicalTrials.Gov, SCOPUS, and Web of Science from database inception until February 1st, 2022.

METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION

A total of 676 studies were identified and screened through a manual three-step process. Ultimately 33 studies were included in our final analysis. We included all studies that compared LRH and RRH and included at least one of our selected outcomes. We included retrospective cohorts, prospective cohorts, case-control, and randomized clinical trials.

TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS

Data was independently extracted manually by multiple observers and the analysis was performed using Review Manager Software. PRISMA guidelines were followed. We analyzed homogenous data using a fixed-effects model, while a random-effects model was used for heterogeneous outcomes. We found that following RRH, women had a decreased hospital stay (MD = 0.80[0.38,1.21],(P < 0.002). We found no differences in estimated blood loss (MD = 35.24[-0.40,70.89],(P = 0.05), blood transfusion rate ((OR = 1.32[0.86,2.02],(P = 0.20), rate of post-operative complications (OR = 0.84[0.60,1.17],(P = 0.30), the operative time (MD = 6.01[-4.64,16.66],(P = 0.27), number of resected lymph node (MD = -1.22[-3.28,0.84],(P = 0.25) intraoperative complications (OR = 0.78[0.51,1.19],(P = 0.25), five-year overall survival (OR = 1.37[0.51,3.69],(P = 0.53), lifetime disease free survival (OR = 0.89[0.59,1.32],(P = 0.55), intraoperative and postoperative mortality (within 30 days) (OR = 1.30[0.66,2.54],(P = 0.44), and recurrence (OR = 1.14[0.79,1.64],(P = 0.50).

CONCLUSIONS

RRH seems to result in the patient leaving the hospital sooner after surgery. We were unable to find any differences in our ten other outcomes related to complications or efficacy. These findings suggest that the decreased survival seen in minimally invasive RH in previous studies could be due to factors inherent to both LRH and RRH.

PROSPERO PROSPECTIVE REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42022273727.

A retrospective analysis of robot-assisted total hysterectomy by transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery

Objective

The present study aimed to explore the feasibility and safety of robot-assisted total hysterectomy by transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES).

Methods

In this study, the clinical data of 37 patients who underwent da Vinci robot-assisted total hysterectomy by vNOTES between September 1, 2019 and March 31, 2022 at the Department of Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical characteristics, operative postoperative complications, surgical outcomes, and postoperative pain scores were collected and analyzed.

Results

The average age of the patients included in the study was 47.43 ± 4.44 years. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated using the formula BMI = body weight (kg)/height2 (m2). The average BMI was 23.16 ± 2.72 kg/m2. Among the 37 patients, 30 patients underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy, of which 11 patients underwent ovarian cystectomy simultaneously. Among these 11 patients, three had bilateral ovarian cysts and eight had unilateral ovarian cysts, with the largest cyst diameter measuring 8 cm. The remaining seven patients underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The average operative time was 86.19 ± 17.83 min, and the estimated intraoperative blood loss was 24.46 ± 15.40 mL, with no intraoperative complications reported. The time to the first postoperative exhaust was 18.51 ± 6.63 h, and the average postoperative length of hospital stay was 3.81 ± 1.05 days. The postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores were 5.30 ± 0.91 at 24 h after surgery, 3.30 ± 0.70 at 36 h after surgery, and 1.14 ± 0.92 at 48 h after surgery. Only one patient experienced a fever exceeding 38.5 °C, which resolved after receiving antibiotic treatment.

Conclusion

The use of the da Vinci robot-assisted total hysterectomy by vNOTES demonstrated safety and offers several advantages. These include reduced surgical trauma, an aesthetic incision, decreased pain, and shorter duration of postoperative exhaust time and hospital stay. These benefits contribute to accelerated postoperative rehabilitation.

Surgical approach to hysterectomy for benign gynaecological disease

BACKGROUND

Currently, there are five major approaches to hysterectomy for benign gynaecological disease: abdominal hysterectomy (AH), vaginal hysterectomy (VH), laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH), robotic-assisted hysterectomy (RH) and vaginal natural orifice hysterectomy (V-NOTES). Within the LH category we further differentiate the laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) from the total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) and single-port laparoscopic hysterectomy (SP-LH).

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness and safety of different surgical approaches to hysterectomy for women with benign gynaecological conditions.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the following databases (from their inception to December 2022): the Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Specialised Register of Controlled Trials, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and PsycINFO. We also searched the trial registries and relevant reference lists, and communicated with experts in the field for any additional trials.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in which clinical outcomes were compared between one surgical approach to hysterectomy and another.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

At least two review authors independently selected trials, assessed risk of bias and performed data extraction. Our primary outcomes were return to normal activities, satisfaction and quality of life, intraoperative visceral injury and major long-term complications (i.e. fistula, pelvic-abdominal pain, urinary dysfunction, bowel dysfunction, pelvic floor condition and sexual dysfunction).

MAIN RESULTS

We included 63 studies with 6811 women. The evidence for most comparisons was of low or moderate certainty. The main limitations were poor reporting and imprecision. Vaginal hysterectomy (VH) versus abdominal hysterectomy (AH) (12 RCTs, 1046 women) Return to normal activities was probably faster in the VH group (mean difference (MD) -10.91 days, 95% confidence interval (CI) -17.95 to -3.87; 4 RCTs, 274 women; I2 = 67%; moderate-certainty evidence). This suggests that if the return to normal activities after AH is assumed to be 42 days, then after VH it would be between 24 and 38 days. We are uncertain whether there is a difference between the groups for the other primary outcomes. Laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH) versus AH (28 RCTs, 3431 women) Return to normal activities may be sooner in the LH group (MD -13.01 days, 95% CI -16.47 to -9.56; 7 RCTs, 618 women; I2 = 68%, low-certainty evidence), but there may be more urinary tract injuries in the LH group (odds ratio (OR) 2.16, 95% CI 1.19 to 3.93; 18 RCTs, 2594 women; I2 = 0%; moderate-certainty evidence). This suggests that if the return to normal activities after abdominal hysterectomy is assumed to be 37 days, then after laparoscopic hysterectomy it would be between 22 and 25 days. It also suggests that if the rate of ureter injury during abdominal hysterectomy is assumed to be 0.2%, then during laparoscopic hysterectomy it would be between 0.2% and 2%. We are uncertain whether there is a difference between the groups for the other primary outcomes. LH versus VH (22 RCTs, 2135 women) We are uncertain whether there is a difference between the groups for any of our primary outcomes. Both short- and long-term complications were rare in both groups. Robotic-assisted hysterectomy (RH) versus LH (three RCTs, 296 women) None of the studies reported satisfaction rates or quality of life. We are uncertain whether there is a difference between the groups for our other primary outcomes. Single-port laparoscopic hysterectomy (SP-LH) versus LH (seven RCTs, 621 women) None of the studies reported satisfaction rates, quality of life or major long-term complications. We are uncertain whether there is a difference between the groups for rates of intraoperative visceral injury. Total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) versus laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) (three RCTs, 233 women) None of the studies reported satisfaction rates or quality of life. We are uncertain whether there is a difference between the groups for rates of intraoperative visceral injury or major long-term complications. Transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (V-NOTES) versus LH (two RCTs, 96 women) We are uncertain whether there is a difference between the groups for rates of bladder injury. Our other primary outcomes were not reported. Overall, adverse events were rare in the included studies.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Among women undergoing hysterectomy for benign disease, VH appears to be superior to AH. When technically feasible, VH should be performed in preference to AH because it is associated with faster return to normal activities, fewer wound/abdominal wall infections and shorter hospital stay. Where VH is not possible, LH has advantages over AH including faster return to normal activities, shorter hospital stay, and decreased risk of wound/abdominal wall infection, febrile episodes or unspecified infection, and transfusion. These advantages must be balanced against the increased risk of ureteric injury and longer operative time. When compared to LH, VH was associated with no difference in time to return to normal activities but shorter operative time and shorter hospital stay. RH and V-NOTES require further evaluation since there is a lack of evidence of any patient benefit over conventional LH. Overall, the evidence in this review has to be interpreted with caution as adverse event rates were low, resulting in low power for these comparisons. The surgical approach to hysterectomy should be discussed with the patient and decided in the light of the relative benefits and hazards. Surgical expertise is difficult to quantify and poorly reported in the available studies and this may influence outcomes in ways that cannot be accounted for in this review. In conclusion, when VH is not feasible, LH has multiple advantages over AH, but at the cost of more ureteric injuries. Evidence is limited for RH and V-NOTES.

The impact of laparoscopic gynecological surgery training on the technicity index of a developing country center

PURPOSE

To compare laparoscopic gynecological surgery training between a developed country's reference center (host center) and a public reference service in a developing country (home center), and use the technicity index (TI) to compare outcomes and to determine the impact of laparoscopic gynecological surgery fellowship training on the home center's TI.

METHODS

The impact of training on the home center was assessed by comparing surgical performance before and after training. TI was assessed in 2017 in the host center, and before and after training in the home center. Epidemiological and clinical data, and information on reason for surgery, preoperative images, estimated intraoperative bleeding, operative time, surgical specimen weight, hospital stay length, complication and reintervention rates were collected from both institutions. Home center pre-training data were retrospectively collected between 2010 and 2013, while post-training data were prospectively collected between 2015 and 2017. A two-tail Z-score was used for TI comparison.

RESULTS

The analysis included 366 hysterectomies performed at the host center in 2017, and 663 hysterectomies performed at the home center between 2015 and 2017. TI in the host center was 82.5%, while in the home center it was 6% before training and 22% after training. There were no statistical differences in length of hospital stay, preoperative uterine volume, surgical specimen weight and complication rate between centers. However, significantly shorter mean operative time and lower blood loss during surgery were observed in the host center.

CONCLUSIONS

High-quality laparoscopic training in a world-renowned specialized center allowed standardizing laparoscopic hysterectomy procedures and helped to significantly improve TI in the recipient's center with comparable surgical outcomes.

Laparoscopic uterosacral ligament suspension: a systematic review and meta-analysis of safety and durability

Introduction

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a widespread condition affecting from 40% to 60% of women. Reconstructive vaginal surgeries are the most commonly performed procedures to treat POP. Among those, uterosacral ligament suspension (USLS), which is usually performed transvaginally, preserves pelvic statics and dynamics and appears to be an effective method. Laparoscopic USLS is a valid alternative to vaginal approach, and the aim of our review is to confirm its safety and feasibility and to compare clinical outcomes among the procedures.

Materials and methods

Following the recommendations in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, we systematically searched the PubMed and Scopus databases in December 2022. We made no restriction on the publication year nor on the country. Data about POP-Q recurrence rate (RR), intraoperative and postoperative complications (graded according to Clavien-Dindo classification), readmission rate, and reoperation rate were collected and analyzed. We used comparative studies for meta-analysis.

Results

A total of nine studies fulfilled inclusion criteria: two articles were non-comparative retrospective observational studies, three more articles were comparative studies where laparoscopic USLS was confronted with other surgical techniques (only data of laparoscopic USLS were analyzed), and four were comparative retrospective cohort studies between laparoscopic and vaginal USLS procedures. The comparative studies were enrolled in meta-analysis. Patients were analyzed concerning perioperative risks and the risk of recurrence. The meta-analysis highlighted that there was no clear inferiority of one technique over the other.

Discussion

Laparoscopic USLS is a technique with a low complication rate and low recurrence rate. Indeed, laparoscopic procedure allows better identification of anatomical landmarks and access to retroperitoneum. Moreover, efficacy over time and durability of Laparoscopic (LPS) USLS was also observed. However, these data should be weighed in light of the length of follow-up, which was in a very short range. Further, focused and prospective studies will be necessary to confirm this finding.

Risk factors for catheter-associated urinary tract infections following radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer

BACKGROUND

Radical hysterectomy is the mainstay of treatment for early-stage cervical cancer. Urinary tract dysfunction is one of the most common complications after radical hysterectomy, and prolonged catheterization has previously been defined as a significant risk factor for catheter-associated urinary tract infections.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infections after radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer, and to identify additional risk factors for developing catheter-associated urinary tract infections in this population.

STUDY DESIGN

We reviewed patients who underwent radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer from 2004 to 2020 after institutional review board approval. All patients were identified from institutional Gynecologic Oncology surgical and tumor databases. The inclusion criterion was radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer. Exclusion criteria included inadequate hospital follow-up, insufficient records of catheter use in the electronic medical record, urinary tract injury, and preoperative chemoradiation. Catheter-associated urinary tract infection was defined as an infection diagnosed in a catheterized patient or within 48 hours of catheter removal, with significant bacteriuria (>10³ cfu/mL) and symptoms or signs attributable to the urinary tract. Data analysis was performed using comparative analysis and univariate and multivariable logistic regression using Excel, GraphPad Prism, and IBM SPSS Statistics.

RESULTS

Of the 160 included patients, 12.5% developed catheter-associated urinary tract infections. In univariate analysis, catheter-associated urinary tract infection was significantly associated with current smoking history (odds ratio, 3.76; 95% confidence interval, 1.39-10.08), minimally invasive surgical approach (odds ratio, 5.24; 95% confidence interval, 1.91-16.87), estimated surgical blood loss >500 mL (odds ratio, 0.18; 95% confidence interval, 0.04-0.57), operative time >300 minutes (odds ratio, 2.92; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-9.36), and increased duration of catheterization (odds ratio, 18.46; 95% confidence interval, 3.67-336). After adjusting for interactions and controlling for potential confounders with multivariable analysis, current smoking history and catheterization for >7 days were identified as independent risk factors for development of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (adjusted odds ratio, 3.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.28-12.37; adjusted odds ratio, 19.49; 95% confidence interval, 2.78-427).

CONCLUSION

Preoperative smoking cessation interventions for current smokers should be implemented to decrease risk for postoperative complications, including catheter-associated urinary tract infections. In addition, catheter removal within 7 postoperative days should be encouraged in all women undergoing radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer in an effort to decrease infection risk.

The comparison of gasless and traditional robot-assisted transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery in hysterectomy

Study objective

To describe the surgical technique and compare the operative outcomes of gasless and traditional robot-assisted transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (GR-vNOTES vs. TR-vNOTES) in hysterectomy.

Methods

The patients undergoing hysterectomy via GR-vNOTES or TR-vNOTES between February 2020 and January 2022 in our hospital were included. Clinical data regarding patient demographics, operative time, blood loss, complications, and postoperative hospital stays were collected and analyzed.

Results

Five cases underwent hysterectomy via GR-vNOTES, and nine cases via TR-vNOTES. The baseline demographics and operative outcomes were not significantly different in GR-vNOTES and TR-vNOTES groups. There was no conversion to multiport robotic laparoscopy, conventional laparoscopy or laparotomy. No complications were seen in both groups, except two cases had fever postoperatively in the TR-vNOTES group. For those with early stage cervical/endometrial cancer, no recurrence or metastasis was observed in the follow-up of six months.

Conclusion

Both GR-vNOTES and TR-vNOTES were feasible and safe for hysterectomy. GR-vNOTES was a promising alternative to TR-vNOTES in hysterectomy.

Total laparoskopik histerektomi ile total abdominal histerektomi olgularının karşılaştırılması

Amaç: Amacımız, benign endikasyonlarda yapılan total laparoskopik histerektomi ve total abdominal histerektomi operasyonlarının sonuçlarını literatür eşliğinde retrospektif olarak karşılaştırmaktır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Antalya Serik Devlet Hastanesi Kadın Hastalıkları ve Doğum Kliniğinde Temmuz 2015 ve Ekim 2020 yılları arasında benign endikasyonlarda total histerektomi uygulanan 240 hastanın kayıtları literatür eşliğinde retrospektif olarak incelendi. Yaş aralığı 40-75 idi. Vakaların 120‘si total laparoskopik histerektomi (TLH Grup1) ve 120‘si total abdominal histerektomi (TAH Grup2) olarak sınıflandırıldı. Malignitesi olanlar, sezaryen sonrası histerektomiler, supraservikal histerektomi, laparoskopik asiste vajinal histerektomi, vajinal histerektomi yapılanlar ve kayıtları eksik olanlar çalışma dışı bırakıldı. Hastalardan operasyon öncesi yazılı onam formu alındı. Hastaların ortalama yaşı, parite, vücut kitle indeksi, çıkarılan ortalama uterus ağırlığı, geçirilmiş batın cerrahisi öyküsü, histerektomi endikasyonları, operasyon süresi, komplikasyon oranları, kan kaybı miktarı, post operatif hastanede yatış süresi iki grup arasında karşılaştırıldı. Bulgular: İki grup arasında demografik özellikler açısından, istatiksel olarak anlamlı fark yoktu. İki grupta da en sık saptanan endikasyonlar, fibromiyom ve tedaviye dirençli anormal uterin kanamaydı. grup 1’de ortalama ameliyat süresi grup 2 ye göre daha uzun olup istatiksel açıdan anlamlı bulundu. grup 1’de ortalama hastanede kalma süresi daha kısa saptandı ve istatiksel açıdan anlamlı bulundu. Operasyonla çıkarılan ortalama uterus ağırlığı grup 2 de daha ağır saptandı. Sonuç: Laparoskopik histerektomi, seçilmiş hastalar için operasyon süresinin daha uzun olması ve tecrübe gerektirmesi ile birlikte güvenli ve uygun bir minimal invaziv cerrahi işlemdir. Daha çabuk iyileşme, daha erken taburcu olma, daha az kan kaybı avantajı vardır.

Analysis of Different Routes of Hysterectomy Based on a Prospective Algorithm and Their Complications in a Tertiary Care Institute

Introduction

Hysterectomy is the most common gynaecological operation worldwide. The objective of the study is to analyze the various routes of hysterectomy and its complications when the decision of route is based on using a prospective algorithm tree. Methodology. It is an observational study to analyze the route of hysterectomy based on using a prospective algorithm. The decision tree is based on pelvic pathology, uterine size, vaginal access, pelvic adhesion, competency of the surgeon, choice of the patient, and complication of different routes of hysterectomy. Data were collected from preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative records. Demographic factors, indications, routes of hysterectomy, and complications were recorded and analyzed by using SPSS software version 22. Observation. Among the malignant or suspected malignant pathology groups, TAH was performed in 89 cases and TLH was performed in 3 cases. Among the benign disease groups, VH was performed in 137(38.2%) cases, TAH was performed in 118(32.9%) cases, and TLH was performed in 104 (28.9%) cases. Operative time and a number of blood transfusions were significantly less with VH (p value < 0.0001 and 0.004) compared to abdominal and total laparoscopic hysterectomy. Postoperative complication such as fever was more with abdominal hysterectomy (<i>p-</i>value<0.00001) compared to VH and TLH. Vaginal discharge was more with VH and TLH compared to TAH (p value −0.004) and wound infection was more in the abdominal route (p value 0.001).

Conclusion

The abdominal route was the route of choice for surgery in malignancy or suspected malignant pathology. In benign pathology, VH was the most common and preferable route of surgery. Complications were found to be minimal with vaginal hysterectomy.

Predictive factors of return to work after hysterectomy: a retrospective study

PURPOSE

Although hysterectomy is one of the most frequently performed gynaecological surgeries, there is a dearth of evidence on perioperative care. The aim of the current study was to identify sociodemographic, surgical-related and work-related predictors of recovery following different approaches of hysterectomy.

METHODS

Eligible patients for this retrospective cohort study were women who underwent vaginal, abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy for both benign and malignant gynaecological disease in 2014 in Máxima Medical Centre in the Netherlands. The main outcome measure was full return to work (RTW). Data were collected using a patient survey. Potential prognostic factors for time to RTW were examined in univariate Cox regression analyses. The strongest prognostic factors were combined in a multivariable model.

RESULTS

In total 83 women were included. Median time to full return to work was 8 weeks (interquartile range [IQR] 6-12). The multivariable analysis showed that higher age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.053, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.012-1.095) and same day removal of indwelling catheter (HR 0.122, 95% CI 0.028-0.539) were predictors of shorter duration until full RTW after hysterectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provided insight in the predictors of recovery after hysterectomy. By identifying patient specific factors, pre-operative counselling can be individualized, changes can be made in perioperative care and effective interventions can be designed to target those factors.

The effect of preemptive local anesthesia on postoperative pain following vaginal hysterectomy: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to study the effect of preemptive local anesthetic without adrenaline on postoperative pain following vaginal hysterectomy and concomitant trans obturator tape (TOT).

STUDY DESIGN

This was a double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial. Women who undergone elective vaginal hysterectomy were included. Solutions of either Bupivacaine-Hydrochloride 0.5%, or Sodium-Chloride 0.9% as a placebo, were prepared prior to surgery, according to randomization. The chosen solution was injected before incision, in a circumferential manner, to the cervix. The amount of fluid administered was 10 ml. When colporrhaphy was also performed, an additional 5 ml of solution were injected in the midline of the vaginal wall prior to each incision line. We conformed to the CONSORT recommendations. By utilizing the 10 cm Visual-analogue-scale (VAS) we assessed post-operative pain at rest at 3, 8, and 24 h, and during ambulation at 8 and 24 h. We estimated that the intervention would cause a 25% reduction in the primary outcome. The required total sample size was calculated to be 30 patients women for each group. We used ANOVA for continuous variables and the Chi-square or Fisher exact tests for categorical variables.

RESULTS

A total of 30 women were included in each group. The level of postoperative pain, as assessed by VAS, was not significantly different between the groups, in all points of time. In addition, there was no difference between the groups in opioid based analgesics during recovery, nor in postoperative analgesic use.

CONCLUSION

Preemptive local anesthesia was not shown to be efficient in reducing postoperative pain after vaginal hysterectomy and TOT.

Development of the fundamentals of thoracic robotic surgery curriculum

A great technological revolution in surgery occurred with the introduction of laparoscopic and other minimally invasive procedures, with enormous patient benefits. Robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) is a form of minimally invasive surgery that overcomes some of the limitations of laparoscopic techniques. Until recently, there were few standardized curricula for RAS. The Fundamentals of Robotic (FRS) developed a process through expert consensus conferences to develop an effective and validated curriculum for basic robotic surgery. A specialty specific curriculum for thoracic robotic surgery is also needed. The Fundamentals of Thoracic Robotic Surgery (FTRS) Consensus Conference brought together expert thoracic surgeons to build upon the accomplishments of FRS and incorporate the experiences of thoracic societies and academic institutions to establish a standardized FTRS curriculum for the development and maintenance of specialty-specific robotic surgical skills. A task deconstruction was completed for the thoracic ‘signature’ procedure, the lobectomy and training items and potential errors were identified for each step of the procedure. A final outline of the FTRS curriculum was developed during the conference and physical and virtual reality thoracic surgery training models were discussed. Following the conference, the steering committee completed the FTRS curriculum with editorial review from all stakeholders. The FTRS consensus conference followed the validated FRS model but in an accelerated process due to important groundwork set by experts in the FRS consensus conferences. A full online curriculum and supporting psychomotor skills training and team communication has been developed for the lobectomy procedure.

Laparoendoscopic single-site compared with conventional laparoscopic surgery for gynaecological acute abdomen in pregnant women

Objective

To estimate the safety and feasibility of laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) in pregnant patients with acute abdomen.

Methods

Baseline characteristics, surgical results, and obstetric and neonatal outcomes were retrospectively compared between single and multiport procedures in patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery during pregnancy between 2017 and 2021.

Results

Fifty-four pregnant patients were included: 26 who underwent LESS (salpingectomy, 11 cases/cystectomy, 15 cases) and 28 who underwent conventional laparoscopic surgeries (salpingectomy, 12 cases/cystectomy, 16 cases) during pregnancy. One patient in the single-port group required additional ports. No patients converted to laparotomy. In patients undergoing salpingectomy, the single-port group showed lower 8- and 24-h postoperative pain scores, shorter hospital stays, and lower Self-rating Anxiety Scale scores prior to discharge versus conventional laparoscopy. One patient experienced postoperative vaginal bleeding and a missed abortion during follow-up. In patients receiving cystectomy, 8- and 24-h pain scores, postoperative hospital stay, and anxiety scores were lower in the single-port versus multiport group. Other outcomes were comparable between the groups.

Conclusion

The feasibility and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery during pregnancy is similar between single- or multiport routes, however, the single-port route may be associated with less postoperative pain, shorter hospital stay, and lower anxiety.

A randomized control trial comparing vaginal and laparoscopically-assisted vaginal hysterectomy in the absence of uterine prolapse in a South African tertiary institution

OBJECTIVES

The primary objectives of this study were to estimate blood loss, operation time and cost differences in patients undergoing vaginal hysterectomy (VH) versus laparoscopically-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH). The secondary objectives were to determine differences in hospital stay, need for postoperative analgesia, intra- and immediate post-operative complications, and the rate of conversion to laparotomy. VH was hypothesized to be the preferred route for hysterectomy for benign uterine conditions.

STUDY DESIGN

A randomized control study was undertaken at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and included the women admitted between January 2017 and December 2019 for hysterectomy due to benign conditions, meeting the inclusion criteria (vaginally accessible uterus, estimated uterine size ≤ 12 weeks of gestation or ≤ 280 g on ultrasound examination and pathology confined to the uterus). Surgical procedures were performed by the residents in training under the supervision of specialists with large experience. The patient demographic characteristics, uterine weight, operative time, estimated blood loss(expressed as the difference between preoperative and postoperative day one serum haemoglobin),direct surgery-associated costs, intra- and immediate post-operative complications and the length of hospital stay were recorded and comparatively analysed among patients randomly placed in VH and LAVH group.

RESULTS

A total of 227 women were included (151 patients underwent VH and 76 LAVH, upon 2:1 randomization, performed on this way to reflect the previous pattern of operating of the unit). The patients were matched with respect to age, parity and body mass index. No significant differences between two groups were found in mean uterine weight and also in mean serum haemoglobin shift, intra- and immediate post-operative complications, and convalescence period duration. There were statistically significant differences in operating time and in cost between the two procedures. On average, LAVH took longer than VH to be performed (62.8 ± 9.3 vs 29.9 ± 6.6 min, p < 0.0001) and it was more costly, mainly due to the longer operating time and required disposables. An amount of 15698.20 South African Rand (ZAR) or 1145.85 United States Dollar (USD) more were needed to perform LAVH in comparison to VH. All VHs and LAVHs were successfully accomplished without major complications or conversation to laparotomy.

CONCLUSION

Our data indicate that VH is a feasible and safe alternative for a large group of women with benign pathology and non-prolapsed uteri, being a faster and less costly procedure than LAVH.

BIOPSAR study: ultrasound-guided pre-operative biopsy to assess histology of sarcoma-suspicious uterine tumors: a new study protocol

BACKGROUND

The pre-operative differential diagnosis between a uterine leiomyoma and a sarcoma can be a challenge. Available diagnostic tools have difficulty distinguishing between the two pathologies.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

Τo evaluate the possibility of a pre-operative pathological diagnosis of atypical uterine muscle tumors by vaginal ultrasound-guided biopsy (VUGB).

STUDY HYPOTHESIS

Diagnostic performance of ultrasound-guided biopsy will be capable of differentiating a leiomyoma from a sarcoma with a sensitivity of >90%.

TRIAL DESIGN

A prospective multi-center interventional study will be performed at 10 tertiary French centers. Vaginal ultrasound Doppler examination and pelvic magnetic resonance imaging will be performed before surgery. VUGB will then be performed by a specialist radiologist. The biopsy will be obtained by performing transvaginal ultrasound under local anesthesia with lidocaine using a 16G needle. At least 4-5 specimens will be obtained in order to provide a histopathological diagnosis. All patients included in the study will be operated by laparotomy. All patients included in the study will be followed up for the subsequent 3 years according to their pathological results.

MAJOR INCLUSION/EXCLUSION CRITERIA

All patients >35 years old diagnosed with a suspicious uterine tumor will be included.

PRIMARY ENDPOINT

Sensitivity of VUGB on pathological diagnosis.

SAMPLE SIZE

Considering a sensitivity of 90% (H0) as acceptable and a sensitivity of 95% (H1) as excellent, a sample size of 250 evaluable patients will be necessary to achieve 80% statistical power with a 5% type 1 statistical error.

ESTIMATED DATES FOR COMPLETING ACCRUAL AND PRESENTING RESULTS

Accrual will be completed in December 2024 with results presented in December 2029.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Institutional Review Board (Ethic Committee of Paris Ile de France 6) no 2018-A02343-52.

Recent advances in benign gynecological laparoscopic surgery

Minimally invasive surgery continues to transform the field of gynecological surgery and is now the standard of care for the surgical treatment of many diseases in gynecology. Owing to minimally invasive surgery's clear advantages, new advances in technology are being employed rapidly and enabling even the most complicated procedures to be performed less invasively. We examine recent literature on minimally invasive surgical innovations, advances, and common practices in benign gynecology that, from our point of view, made an impact on the way laparoscopic surgery is performed and managed in the last decade.

Superior Hypogastric Plexus Nerve Block in Minimally Invasive Gynecology: A Randomized Controlled Trial

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy of a superior hypogastric plexus nerve block in reducing opioid requirements in the first 24 hours after minimally invasive gynecologic surgery.

DESIGN

Patient-blinded randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Single-center academic institution (Sydney Women's Endosurgery Centre). Two surgeons administering the blocks in their own surgeries.

PATIENTS

Patients undergoing either laparoscopic or robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy or myomectomy for benign indications.

INTERVENTIONS

Ropivacaine 10 mL (0.75%) infiltrated into the retroperitoneal space overlying the superior hypogastric plexus vs control of no block given at the completion of surgery.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The primary outcome was the total opioid use in the first 24 hours after surgery, measured in morphine milligram equivalents (MME). Standardized fentanyl patient-controlled analgesia was given to all patients in the trial. The secondary outcome was pain measured on a visual analog scale (1 to 10) at 1, 2, 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery. Fifty patients out of 56 approached for the study participated in, and completed, the study (89.2%). The patients were randomized over a 5-month period, March 2020 to July 2020. A total of 27 patients were randomized to receive a nerve block, and 23 were randomized to the control. There was a difference of -21.8 MME in the block group compared with the no-block group (95% confidence interval [CI], -38.2 to -5.5; p = .008). This correlated to a 38% reduction in opioid use in the block group. The mean opioid use in the patients in the block group was 33.1 MME (95% CI, 24.2-41.9) and in those in the no-block group 54.9 MME (95% CI, 40.7-69.1). For the block group, opioid use ranged from 1.0 to 76.5 MME, with an interquartile range of 37 (14-51). For the control group, the range was 7.5 to 113.5 MME, with a higher interquartile range of 60 (28-88). Pairwise comparisons of the mean pain scores over the 24 hours showed a lower pain score with a nerve block of 1.8 (95% CI, 1.5-2.1) compared with a no-block score of 2.6 (95% CI, 2.3-2.9) No adverse effects of local anesthetic toxicity, nerve injury, or bowel/vascular injury were noted in any patient.

CONCLUSION

A superior hypogastric plexus nerve block is a simple technique for reducing postoperative opioid requirements and pain in the first 24 hours after minimally invasive gynecologic surgery.

Healthcare utilization following minimally invasive apical prolapse repair in a large integrated healthcare system

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

We sought to describe healthcare utilization (HU) following minimally invasive apical prolapse repair (MIAR) and its association with duration of hospital stay, patient characteristics, and perioperative factors.

METHODS

This retrospective study included women undergoing MIAR within a large managed care organization between January 1, 2011, and June 30, 2018, and aimed to quantify HU within 30 days of surgery. HU was dichotomized into two groups: normal and high, based on typical postoperative utilization of healthcare resources. The primary outcome was the rate of normal versus high HU overall and by duration of hospital stay [discharge home on day of surgery versus postoperative day (POD) 1-2]. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors predictive of high HU. A p value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Of the 4208 patients in our final cohort, 17% had high HU, while 83% were normal utilizers. High utilizers were more likely to have multiple comorbidities (p < 0.01) and a diagnosis of chronic pelvic pain (p = 0.02) and were less likely to be discharged on day of surgery (p < 0.01). A higher burden of disease, a concurrent mid-urethral sling or posterior colporrhaphy, and discharge on POD 1-2 were independently predictive of high HU. Within the high HU cohort, the most common type of unanticipated healthcare encounter was emergency department visit for urinary retention or pain.

CONCLUSIONS

Same-day discharge after MIAR does not result in increased HU, even after adjusting for relevant demographic and clinical characteristics. Pre-existing chronic pain diagnoses, multiple comorbidities, and concurrent mid-urethral sling are associated with high HU in this population.

The Effect of Body Mass Index on Peri-operative Parameters of Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: An Institutional Experience

Objectives

Worldwide, there is an increase in the obese population and laparoscopic surgery is now becoming one of the preferred modes of surgery. Therefore, it is important to examine its feasibility and safety in overweight and obese women. The study was aimed to evaluate the effects of body mass index (BMI) on intraoperative and postoperative parameters in patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH).

Materials and methods

A retrospective data analysis was conducted over a period of two years among women who underwent TLH. Data were grouped as per their BMI into Normal, Overweight, and Obese groups. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, intraoperative outcomes including operative time, estimated blood loss, hemoglobin difference, the need for blood transfusion, conversion to laparotomy, uterine weight, intraoperative and postoperative complications, postoperative pain, duration of hospital stay, and readmission were noted.

Results

Baseline demographic characteristics were similar in all three groups. Operative time was comparable among the groups. However, a weak positive correlation was found between operative time and total BMI value, which was statistically significant (p = 0.039). For every 1 kg/m2 increase in BMI, operative time increased by 2.35 minutes. Other intraoperative parameters were comparable among all the groups except hemoglobin difference, which was significantly higher in obese women. Postoperative parameters were similar among all groups.

Conclusion

Total laparoscopic hysterectomy is a safe, efficient, and feasible surgical approach in higher BMI groups. This approach provides advantages over open surgery of early recovery, short hospital stay, and less postoperative pain to obese women.

Surgical Outcomes of Hysterectomy via Robot-assisted versus Traditional Transvaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety and feasibility of robot-assisted transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (R-vNOTES) hysterectomy when compared with traditional vNOTES (T-vNOTES) hysterectomy.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

SETTING

Academic tertiary setting.

PATIENTS

Total of 114 patients with benign gynecologic indication for hysterectomy.

INTERVENTIONS

T-vNOTES or R-vNOTES hysterectomy performed by a single minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon in the study period.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The primary outcome of this study was surgical equivalence, measured principally by total operative time between T-vNOTES and R-vNOTES hysterectomy. Secondary operative outcomes that were measured included estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, reported postoperative pain levels, and number of conversions. A total of 79 women underwent T-vNOTES hysterectomy, and 35 women underwent R-vNOTES hysterectomy without differences in operative time (p = .37), estimated blood loss (p = .27), length of hospital stay (p = .06), or reported postoperative pain levels at weeks 1, 2, and 3 after surgery (p = .78, p = .36, p = .38, respectively). A total of 6 patients underwent conversion in the T-vNOTES hysterectomy group compared with 0 in the R-vNOTES hysterectomy group; however, this was not statistically significantly different, and there were no conversions to laparotomy.

CONCLUSION

R-vNOTES hysterectomy is a feasible approach to surgery when compared with T-vNOTES hysterectomy and warrants further consideration as a skill set in a gynecologic surgeon's toolbox. Wristed instruments may allow surgeons who are inexperienced in single-site laparoscopy to adopt vNOTES more quickly as a new technique when performing hysterectomy through a comparable minimally invasive approach.

Vaginal hysterectomy combined with transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery bilateral adnexectomy: a case report

This current case report describes an elderly woman with pyometra that underwent successful vaginal hysterectomy and transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) bilateral adnexectomy after conservative anti-inflammatory drug treatment. The patient had a history of transvaginal delivery so this approach was considered the most appropriate. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to investigate the use of vaginal hysterectomy and vNOTES bilateral adnexectomy in an elderly patient with pyometra. The necessary steps to the procedure are shown in a narrated instructional video.

Therapeutic approach of uterine leiomyoma; choosing the most appropriate surgical option

The most common benign pelvic tumor in young women is uterine leiomyoma. It is often asymptomatic, but can cause symptoms such as pelvic-abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, urinary and intestinal transit disorders. If there is a suspicion of malignancy, it is necessary to perform fractional uterine curettage to establish the histopathological diagnosis.The surgical treatment of uterine leiomyoma includes several procedures: myomectomy, subtotal or total hysterectomy. The procedure will be chosen depending on the patient's particularities: BMI, uterine size, leiomyoma location, surgical history or other associated pathologies.Laparoscopic hysterectomy has a 45-minute shorter duration of intervention than vaginal hysterectomy, and the conversion rate to the open procedure is lower.Laparoscopically treated cases have fewer postoperative complications compared to other surgical procedures and have a shorter hospitalization and recovery time.The recurrence rate of uterine leiomyoma is similar for both laparoscopic and open abdominal approach, and the frequency of long-term complications such as adhesion syndrome or pelvic pain is higher after the latter.

Efficacy of transmuscular quadratus lumborum block in the multimodal regimen for postoperative analgesia after total laparoscopic hysterectomy: A prospective randomised double-blinded study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Transmuscular Quadratus Lumborum Block (TQLB) is a novel regional anaesthesia technique, however, its analgesic efficacy as a component of multimodal analgesia (MMA) in Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy (TLH) is not well studied. The aim of the study was to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of TQLB as a component of MMA for postoperative pain in TLH.

METHODS

A prospective double-blind randomised controlled study was done after approval from the ethical committee and informed patient consent. After randomisation, 37 patients in Group-Q received 20 ml 0.375% ropivacaine and in Group-C, 37 patients received saline in TQLB bilaterally after TLH surgery. All patients received intravenous patient controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) with fentanyl along with diclofenac 75 mg every 12 h. All the patients were assessed at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 18, and 24 hours. The primary outcome was the time to first analgesic request. The secondary outcome measures were total fentanyl consumption in 24 hrs, pain scores during rest and movement, postoperative nausea-vomiting, sedation and complications related to local anaesthetic and TQLB procedure.

RESULTS

The mean [standard deviation (SD)] time to first analgesic request was 7.8 (1.5) hours in Group-Q and 3.2 (1.0) hours in Group-C (P < 0.0001). The mean (SD) dose of fentanyl used in 24 hours was 167.3 (44) μg in Group-Q and 226.5 (41.9) μg in Group-C (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

The ultrasound-guided TQLB provides effective postoperative analgesia after TLH surgery in a multimodal analgesia approach. It reduces the fentanyl consumption and improves the visual analogue scale (VAS) score.

Colpotomizer-assisted Total Abdominal Hysterectomy (CATAH Technique): A New Technique for Uterine Removal in Benign Pathologies

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to evaluate the applicability and feasibility of Colpotomizer-assisted total abdominal hysterectomy (CATAH), a new technique for uterine removal in benign uterine pathologies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study is a prospective cohort study conducted at a tertiary University hospital in Egypt. Eligible patients (n = 88) for total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) were divided into two groups; the study group who underwent TAH by the CATAH technique and the control group who underwent TAH by the conventional technique. Demographic data, operative time, blood loss, and operative complications were recorded.

RESULTS

The mean operative time was significantly reduced (64.47 ± 3.60 min) in the study group than in the control group (86.42 ± 5.54 min, P < 0.001). The mean time for cervical removal was significantly less (8.60 ± 1.39 min) in the study group than (17.77 ± 2.62 min) in the control group (P < 0.001). The mean volume of blood loss was less (197.38 ± 39.42 ml) in the study group than in the control group (462.69 ± 167.96 ml). Complications were fewer in the study group than in the control group.

CONCLUSION

The CATAH technique was feasible, quicker with less intraoperative and postoperative complications than the conventional technique for TAH in benign uterine pathologies.

Incidence and Prevention of Vaginal Cuff Dehiscence after Laparoscopic and Robotic Hysterectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Vaginal cuff dehiscence, a severe and potentially detrimental complication, has significantly increased after the introduction of endoscopic hysterectomy. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis of the available literature was to identify the incidence of, and possible strategies to prevent, this complication after total laparoscopic hysterectomy and total robotic hysterectomy.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were systematically queried to identify all articles reporting either laparoscopic or robot-assisted hysterectomies for benign indications in which vaginal dehiscence was reported as an outcome. Reference lists of the identified studies were manually searched. Only papers written in English were considered.

METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION

The Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome framework for the review included (1) population of interest: women who underwent conventional and robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy; (2) interventions: possible methods to prevent vaginal dehiscence; (3) comparison: experimental strategies vs standard treatment or alternative strategy for each item of intervention; and (4) outcome: rate of vaginal dehiscence. Series of subtotal hysterectomies and radical hysterectomies in addition to reports that combined both benign and malignant cases were excluded. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan version 5.4.1 (Cochrane Training, London, United Kingdom). Two independent reviewers identified all reports comparing 2 or more possible strategies to prevent vaginal dehiscence.

TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS

A total of 460 articles were identified. Of these, 20 (6 randomized, 2 prospective, and 12 retrospective) studies were included in this review for a total of 19 392 patients. The incidence of vaginal dehiscence after total laparoscopic hysterectomy ranged between 0.64% and 1.35%. Robotic hysterectomy was associated with a risk of vaginal dehiscence of approximately 1.64%. No study compared early vs delayed resumption of coital activity nor analyzed the role of training in laparoscopic suturing. No study specifically assessed the impact of electrosurgery on the risk of vaginal dehiscence in endoscopic hysterectomies for benign indications. Double-layer and reinforced sutures did not decrease the risk of dehiscence. Barbed sutures reduced the risk of separation compared with nonbarbed closure (0.4% [4/1108] vs 2% [22/1097]; odds ratio [OR] 0.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11-0.57). However, these data came mainly from retrospective series. Excluding studies on the use of self-anchoring sutures during robotic hysterectomy, there was no significant difference in the risk of dehiscence between barbed and nonbarbed sutures (0.5% [4/890] vs 1.4% [181/776]; OR 0.38; 95% CI, 0.13-1.10). Transvaginal suture of the vault at the end of an endoscopic hysterectomy seemed to increase the risk of dehiscence when compared with laparoscopic closure (2.3% [23/1002] vs 1.16% [11/944]; OR 1.97; 95% CI, 1.00-3.88).

CONCLUSION

There is a paucity of high-quality papers evaluating vaginal dehiscence and possible prevention strategies in the current literature. Only 2 effective strategies have been identified in reducing the risk for this complication: the use of barbed sutures and the adoption of a laparoscopic approach to close the vaginal cuff. When restricting the analysis only to laparoscopic cases, the use of barbed sutures does not protect against vaginal cuff separation.

Surgical Trend and Volume Effect on the Choice of Hysterectomy Benign Gynecologic Conditions

With the advance of minimally invasive surgery (MIS), the surgical trends of hysterectomy changed significantly during past 2 decades. Total number (age-standardized) of all types of hysterectomy decreased, which may be due to the availability of some other alternatives, e.g. hysteroscopy, laparoscopic myomectomy. However, laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH) still remains the mainstream of surgical treatment. LH significantly increases for benign gynecologic conditions in Taiwan and worldwide. The increase of LH was accompanied with decrease of TAH; VH kept stationary, and SAH increased slightly. The increase in popularity of LH and SAH; provides evidence of surgical trends and a paradigm shift for hysterectomy. This time-frame shift suggests LH has reached a u during the later years. Older patients tend to receive AH, while middle-aged women tend to receive LH. Oder surgeons tend to perform AH, while younger surgeons tend to perform LH. However, all type hysterectomy and LH were more commonly performed by older surgeons aged over 50 years. It means both patients and surgeons became older during the time-frames. The above phenomena may also happen due to less young surgeons entered in the gynecologic practice. Most of the LHs were performed by high-volume surgeons, however, there is a shift from high-volume, to medium- and low-volume surgeons. The above scenario may be due to the wide spread of LH techniques. Surgical volume has important impacts on both complications and costs. The high-volume surgeons have lower complications, which result in lower costs. In the future, how to increase the use of LH, to improve the training and monitoring system deserves more attentions.

Examining the Utility and Cost of Routine Type and Screen Prior to Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy

Background and Objectives:

Pre-operative type and screen (T&S) is typically obtained if a patient is expected to require a blood transfusion; however, in cases of minimal blood loss, routine T&S may be unnecessary. The objective of our study was to examine the utility and cost of routine pre-operative T&S prior to minimally invasive hysterectomies (MIH).

Methods:

We performed a retrospective chart review of all MIH from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019. Patient demographics and surgical parameters were abstracted. The proportion of MIH with a preoperative T&S was compared to the rate of peri-operative blood transfusion. Statistical tests were used where appropriate. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between pre-operative hemoglobin (Hgb) and peri-operative transfusion.

Results:

Patients (n = 307) with a mean age of 54 (standard deviation = 12.6) underwent MIH. T&S was ordered in 42.7% of cases, with 2.9% requiring a blood transfusion. Two-thirds of women receiving a transfusion had a history of anemia (p = .004). Women with a pre-operative Hgb < 10.6 gm/dL (n = 30) had a 27% probability of a transfusion, while those with a pre-operative Hgb > 10.6 gm/dL (n = 264) had a 99% probability of no transfusion. A T&S costs ∼$190 at our institution; if routine T&S was eliminated prior to MIH, cost savings is projected to be ∼$11,590 annually.

Conclusion:

Approximately 42.7% of MIH had T&S ordered, but only 2.9% received transfusions. Most patients who required a transfusion had a history of anemia. Significant cost savings could be incurred if routine T&S was eliminated prior to MIH.

National trends and determinants of hospitalization for uterine leiomyomas - Portuguese public database analysis from 2000 to 2015

OBJECTIVE

To determine the trends of hospitalization (inpatients and outpatients) for uterine leiomyomas in Portugal, over a period of fifteen years.

STUDY DESIGN

We perform a population- and register-based retrospective study of women who were hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of uterine fibroid in public hospitals in continental Portugal, in the period between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2015. Patient data regarding hospital codes, admission and discharge dates, patient age, diagnosis, procedures and complications were extracted from the national database of Administração Central do Sistema de Saúde (ACSS). All calculations were performed with the STATA software, version 13.1. Categorical data were analysed by the χ2 test and the means of continuous variables were analysed with Student's t-test. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Between 2000 and 2015, 102 476 patients were admitted to public hospitals in Portugal due to uterine leiomyomas. The majority were admitted to hospital for surgery: 73.6 % for hysterectomy and 13.0 % for myomectomy. During this period, the definitive treatment (hysterectomy) decreased from 83.2% to 63.0% (p < 0.001), with a change towards more conservative treatments such as myomectomies (6.4% to 22.6%, p < 0.001). Additionally, in women submitted to hysterectomy, laparoscopic and vaginal routes increased (1.1%-11.5%, p < 0.001 and 2.1%-4.0%, p < 0.001; respectively). Globally, there was a 14.3 % reduction in hospitalizations due to uterine fibroids and an increase in the outpatient rate (from 3.1% to 22.1%). The mean number of hospitalization days for inpatients also decreased (from 6.3 ± 4.1-4.0 ± 3.0, p < 0.001). Regarding urgently hospitalized women, 11.8 % required a blood transfusion. In women submitted to surgical procedures, 0.5 % had an intraoperative complication and 2.3 % a post-operative complication, directly related to the surgical procedure.

CONCLUSION

There was a reduction in hospitalizations due to uterine fibroids and a change towards more conservative treatments.

Triptorelin for the treatment of adenomyosis: A multicenter observational study of 465 women in Russia

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of triptorelin for the treatment of adenomyosis, the benign invasion of endometrial tissue into the myometrium, as a fertility‐preserving alternative to the gold standard hysterectomy.

Methods

In this multicenter, open‐label, observational study in Russia, performed from November 3, 2011, to August 24, 2015, we assessed the efficacy and safety of triptorelin 3.75 mg administered intramuscularly every 28 days in Russian women who were gonadotropin‐releasing hormone agonist treatment‐naïve, aged 25–40 years, and had a diagnosis of endometriosis or adenomyosis with heavy menstrual bleeding. We performed a medical record review, interviews to assess symptom severity, and pelvic assessments including transvaginal ultrasound. Data were obtained at first injection of triptorelin (visit 1), on the day of last injection (visit 2), 6 months after last injection (visit 3), and 9 months after last injection (visit 4). Significance was assessed by Wilcoxon signed rank test.

Results

A total of 465 women were included. There was a significant improvement from baseline in severity of heavy menstrual bleeding in 390/463 (84.2%) of women 6 months after last injection (P<0.0001). Severity of dysmenorrhea, abnormal uterine bleeding, and pelvic pain was decreased at visit 3 compared with baseline (P<0.0001). Endometriosis symptoms stopped in 253/262 (96.6%) of women at visit 2 and in 243/263 (92.4%) of women at visit 3. Pregnancy was reported in 116/465 (24.9%) women within 9 months following the end of treatment.

Conclusion

Triptorelin has a favorable safety profile, is highly efficacious in treating clinical symptoms of adenomyosis, and improves reproductive function.

ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: A‐38‐52014‐191, registered October 2011.

Robotic LESS and Reduced-Port Hysterectomy Using the da Vinci SP Surgical System: A Single-Institution Case Series

Study Objective

To present a series of robotic laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) and reduced-port hysterectomy cases and discuss the surgical technique required for successful use on this new platform.

Design

Retrospective case series.

Setting

Academic medical center.

Patients

All patients undergoing robotic LESS or reduced-port hysterectomy with the SP1098 da Vinci SP Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA) from December 2019 to March 2020.

Interventions

Robotic LESS or reduced-port hysterectomy.

Measurements and Main Results

A total of 8 cases of hysterectomy were performed successfully. Four cases included concomitant resection of endometriosis. Five cases required placement of an additional port. The average uterine weight was 136.1 g ± 61.5 g (range 87–246). The average estimated blood loss was 37.5 mL ± 27 mL (range 20–100). The average operative time was 86.5 minutes ± 27.1 minutes (range 60–132). The time required for vaginal cuff closure was available for patients 5 to 8, and ranged from 10 minutes to 13 minutes. All patients had same-day discharge. There were no conversions to alternative surgical modality, complications, or readmissions.

Conclusion

Our preliminary experience with the SP1098 da Vinci SP Surgical System demonstrated the technical feasibility and safety of this surgical modality for gynecologic surgery. Additional studies examining postoperative outcomes and prospective studies comparing this modality with traditional robotic surgery are indicated.

No 371 - Le morcellement durant la chirurgie gynécologique: Son utilisation, ses complications et les risques liés à la présence de tumeurs malignes insoupçonnées

OBJECTIF

La présente directive clinique conseille les gynécologues quant au recours au morcellement tissulaire pendant une chirurgie gynécologique. RéSULTATS: Le morcellement effectué au cours d'une chirurgie gynécologique peut permettre l'ablation de masses utérines volumineuses, offrant ainsi aux femmes une solution chirurgicale à effraction minimale. Les conséquences oncologiques indésirables du morcellement tissulaire devraient être atténuées par l'amélioration de la sélection des patientes, la tenue d'examens préopératoires et l'adoption de techniques novatrices réduisant au minimum la dispersion tissulaire. ÉVIDENCE: La littérature publiée a été récupérée au moyen de recherches menées dans PubMed et Medline au printemps 2014 à l'aide d'une terminologie contrôlée (« leiomyosarcoma », « uterine neoplasm », « uterine myomectomy », « hysterectomy ») et de mots-clés (« leiomyoma », « endometrial cancer », « uterine sarcoma », « leiomyosarcoma », « morcellation »). Les résultats retenus provenaient de revues systématiques, d'essais cliniques randomisés, d'essais cliniques contrôlés et d'études observationnelles de langue anglaise ou française. Aucune restriction de date n'a été imposée. Les recherches ont été refaites régulièrement, et les résultats ont été incorporés à la directive clinique jusqu'en juillet 2017. Nous avons également tenu compte de la littérature grise (non publiée) trouvée sur les sites Web d'organismes d'évaluation des technologies de la santé et d'autres organismes liés aux technologies de la santé, dans des collections de directives cliniques et dans des registres d'essais cliniques, et obtenue auprès d'associations nationales et internationales de médecins spécialistes.

VALEURS

La qualité des données probantes a été évaluée en fonction des critères décrits dans le rapport du Groupe d'étude canadien sur les soins de santé préventifs. AVANTAGES, INCONVéNIENTS ET COûTS: Les gynécologues offrent aux femmes une chirurgie à effraction minimale pouvant comprendre le recours à un morcellateur électromécanique pour faciliter le retrait des tissus. Les femmes devraient être informées que l'utilisation d'un morcellateur en présence de tumeurs utérines (sarcomes, tumeurs endométriales), cervicales ou tubo-ovariennes jusque-là insoupçonnées est associée à un risque accru de dissémination. Le morcellement tissulaire devrait être précédé d'une évaluation complète, d'une sélection appropriée des patientes et de l'obtention du consentement éclairé de ces dernières, et devrait être effectué par des chirurgiens ayant une formation adéquate en matière de pratiques de morcellement tissulaire sûres. DéCLARATIONS SOMMAIRES: RECOMMANDATIONS.

No. 371-Morcellation During Gynaecologic Surgery: Its Uses, Complications, and Risks of Unsuspected Malignancy

OBJECTIVE

This guideline provides guidance to gynaecologists regarding the use of tissue morcellation in gynaecologic surgery.

OUTCOMES

Morcellation may be used in gynaecologic surgery to allow removal of large uterine specimens, thus providing women with a minimally invasive surgical option. Adverse oncologic outcomes of tissue morcellation should be mitigated through improved patient selection, preoperative investigations, and novel techniques that minimize tissue dispersion.

EVIDENCE

Published literature was retrieved through searches of PubMed and Medline in the spring of 2014 using appropriate controlled vocabulary (leiomyosarcoma, uterine neoplasm, uterine myomectomy, hysterectomy) and key words (leiomyoma, endometrial cancer, uterine sarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, and morcellation). Results were restricted to systematic reviews, randomized control trials/controlled clinical trials, and observational studies. There were no date limits, but results were limited to English or French language materials. Searches were updated on a regular basis and incorporated in the guideline to July 2017. Grey (unpublished) literature was identified through searching the websites of health technology assessment and health technology assessment-related agencies, clinical practice guideline collections, clinical trial registries, and national and international medical specialty societies.

VALUES

The quality of evidence in this document was rated using the criteria described in the report of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care.

BENEFITS, HARMS, AND COSTS

Gynaecologists offer women minimally invasive surgery, and this may involve tissue morcellation and the use of a power morcellator for specimen retrieval. Women should be counselled that in the case of unexpected uterine (sarcoma, endometrial), cervical, and/or tubo-ovarian cancer, the use of a morcellator is associated with increased risk of tumour dissemination. Tissue morcellation should be performed only after complete investigation, appropriate patient selection, and informed consent and by surgeons with appropriate training in the safe practices of tissue morcellation.

SUMMARY STATEMENTS

RECOMMENDATIONS.

Vaginal hysterectomy with anterior and posterior repair for pelvic organ prolapse under local anesthesia: results of a pilot study

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Vaginal hysterectomy (VH) and pelvic floor repair (PFR) for the surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) are usually performed under regional anesthesia. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of performing VH and PFR under local anesthesia and to compare postoperative pain and patient recovery parameters with patients undergoing the same surgical procedure under regional anesthesia.

METHODS

This was a single-center prospective cohort study of women with advanced POP. The standard care group consisted of 20 patients who underwent VH and PFR under a combined spinal-epidural (CSE) block, whereas the local anesthesia group consisted of 20 patients who underwent VH and PFR under local anesthesia and intravenous sedation. Primary outcomes included the intensity of postoperative pain and the percentage of patients with moderate/severe pain. Secondary outcomes included percentage of patients who used opioids, incidence of nausea/vomiting, level of sedation, and patient satisfaction rate.

RESULTS

The median pain intensity at rest was significantly lower in the local anesthesia group at 2 h, 4 h, and 8 h postoperatively (median values: 0 vs 1.9, 0 vs 4.1, and 1 vs 2.7 respectively). The percentage of patients needing opioids was significantly lower for the local anesthesia group (35% vs 95%, p = 0.002). The proportion of patients presenting nausea and vomiting symptoms in the two groups was similar.

CONCLUSIONS

Local anesthesia for patients undergoing VH and PFR has been shown to be a viable alternative to regional anesthesia, offering reduced postoperative pain and less opioid use for the first 8 h.

YouTube as a Source of Information and Education on Hysterectomy

BACKGROUND

Globally, YouTube is one of the most popular websites, and the content is not restricted to entertainment. The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of information in YouTube videos pertaining to hysterectomy.

METHODS

We explored YouTube using the search terms "hysterectomy" and "remove uterus." The videos that appeared were sorted using the filter "sort by view count." Of the initial 100 videos, the top 50 videos for each search term were included for review, as determined by the "relevance" filter based on YouTube's algorithm. After excluding 34 videos for various reasons, 66 were included in the final analysis. Each video rated as "useful" was further analyzed for reliability and completeness of information; a set of pre-determined criteria were modified from a previous study and used to grade the quality of videos.

RESULTS

The top 66 videos on hysterectomy had a total of 4,679,118 views. Based on authorship, the videos were categorized as follows: videos uploaded by patients, 37%; academic videos, 35%; videos uploaded by physicians, 13%; commercial videos, 4%; and videos uploaded by non-physicians, 2%. The type of content was also categorized: 50% of the videos recorded personal experiences, 23% recorded surgical techniques, 21% involved explanations of the surgery, and 4% were commercial videos. The majority of the videos made by patients were negatively biased toward hysterectomy surgery (71.72%), while the majority of those made by academics or physicians were surgical educational videos for doctors, not patients.

CONCLUSION

YouTube is currently not an appropriate source for patients to gain information on hysterectomy. Physicians should be aware of the limitations and provide up-to-date and peer-reviewed content on the website.

Robotic transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery for bilateral salpingo oophorectomy

Objectives

The vaginal surgical approach has not become the standard of care, despite its advantages. The Hominis™ Surgical System is a humanoid shaped robot-assisted system that was designed specifically for robotic vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (RvNOTES). We aimed to present our experience with the first RvNOTES bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) performed by the Hominis system.

Study design

A two-center prospective study of BSO by RvNOTES in women with nonmalignant indications conducted between August and December 2018. Women older than 18 years were offered to participate. Exclusion criteria included a history of abdominal malignancy, pelvic or abdominal irradiation, Crohn's disease, pelvic inflammatory disease, severe infections in the lower abdomen, active diverticulitis, deep infiltrating recto-vaginal endometriosis, and an active vaginal infection. The primary outcome of the study was the rate of conversion to open or laparoscopic approaches. Secondary outcomes included intra- and postoperative adverse events, operative time, estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, and 6-week follow-up assessment.

Results

Eight women aged 50–70 years with BMI of 19–30 kg/m² were recruited. All the procedures were completed successfully without conversions to open surgery. No intraoperative complications were observed. Median blood loss was 10 mL (range: 10−50). The median duration of the procedure was 45 min (range: 38−91), and decreased over the study period. Surgeons’ usability assessment was very favorable, with a median of 5 on a 1–5 scale. The median visual analog scale (VAS) score was 1 (range: 1–3).

Conclusions

This is the first documentation of a surgery performed via the vagina using robotic instrumentation developed for this purpose. The disruptive technology of RvNOTES, with its fast learning curve, will make gynecological surgeries accessible to more women.

High-Pressure Pneumoperitoneum Aggravates Surgery-Induced Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Dysfunction in Aged Mice

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common complication after surgery, especially in aged patients. Neuroinflammation has been closely associated with the development of POCD. While the contribution of pneumoperitoneum to the systemic inflammation has been well documented, the effect of pneumoperitoneal pressure on neuroinflammation and postoperative cognitive function remains unclear. In this study, we showed that high-pressure pneumoperitoneum promoted the postoperative neuroinflammation and microglial activation in the hippocampus and aggravated the postoperative cognitive impairment in aged mice. These results support the requirement to implement interventions with lower intra-abdominal pressure, which allows for adequate exposure of the operative field rather than a routine pressure.

Morcellation of the Uterus: Is There Any Place?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This paper aims to review recent findings related to uterine morcellation.

RECENT FINDINGS

In 2014, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety communication warning against the use of laparoscopic power morcellators. A risk of occult uterine sarcoma in women is 1/770 to 1/10,000. Our goal is to minimize the risk of spillage due to morcellation and balance it with other risks due to different surgical approaches. In case of a presence of sarcoma risk factors, any form of morcellation should be contraindicated. Power morcellation should be limited to myomectomies. In peri- and postmenopausal age, an endometrial biopsy is highly recommended before surgery with expected morcellation. It is important to explain to the patient the risks of morcellation and the risks and benefits of different surgical approaches. Finally, women should be informed that the prognosis of leiomyosarcoma is poor regardless of the method of removal.

Experience of Palestinian Women After Hysterectomy Using a Descriptive Phenomenological Study

Background:

Universally, hysterectomy is considered as the second most frequent surgery after cesarean section performed on women in the reproductive age. After a hysterectomy, women no longer have menstrual periods, so they cannot become pregnant. Like most other countries, hysterectomy is the most common major gynecological operation in Palestine. However, the psychological, physical, and sexual consequences of hysterectomy are conflicting, and the findings are mixed. While some studies report that patients experience more significant improvement in their mental health, sexual desire, and overall satisfaction, other studies show that patients report various adverse outcomes, with detrimental effects on sexual functioning being the main concern.

Objective:

This study aimed to describe women's experiences of hysterectomy and identify their fears, concerns, and what coping mechanisms do they adopt to enhance the quality of their lives.

Methodology:

Qualitative descriptive phenomenological research design was used in this study. The study aims to gain insight into the experiences of fifteen patients after hysterectomy using semi-structured in-depth interviews. The interview was conducted in both private and governmental hospitals using purposeful sampling.

Results:

Giorgi's phenomenological analysis process was used as a tool for analyzing data. Analysis of the interview transcripts led to five themes, including a total of eighteen subthemes. The first theme is physical change that has pain, insomnia, eating habits, and immobility as subthemes. The second theme is psychological changes with depression, de-socialization, anxiety, and aggressiveness as its subthemes. The third theme is defense mechanisms with praying, listening to music, reciting the Holy Quran, walking, and sports as subthemes. The fourth theme is self-esteem and body image with confidence, appearance, and concerns as subthemes. Lastly, the fifth them is sexuality with excitement and sexual pattern as subthemes.

Conclusion:

The results of this study demonstrated that hysterectomy had significant adverse effects on patients' body image, and self-esteem. Moreover, the study identified common meanings and themes associated with hysterectomy stressors. These are difficulties or limitations in physical and psychological aspects perceived by patients after hysterectomy. The health care provider must be aware of these potentially problematic issues to provide competent health care.

Effects of Obesity on Peri- and Postoperative Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Robotic versus Conventional Hysterectomy

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To assess if women with obesity have increased complication rates compared with women with normal weight undergoing hysterectomy for benign reasons and if the mode of hysterectomy affects the outcomes.

DESIGN

Cohort study.

SETTING

Prospectively collected data from 3 Swedish population-based registers.

PATIENTS

Women undergoing a total hysterectomy for benign indications in Sweden between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2017. The patients were grouped according to the World Health Organization's classification of obesity.

INTERVENTIONS

Intraoperative and postoperative data were retrieved from the surgical register up to 1 year after the hysterectomy. Different modes of hysterectomy in patients with obesity were compared, such as open abdominal hysterectomy (AH), traditional laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH), vaginal hysterectomy (VH), and robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy (RTLH).

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Out of 12,386 women who had a total hysterectomy during the study period, we identified 2787 women with normal weight and 1535 women with obesity (body mass index ≥30). One year after the hysterectomy, the frequency of complications was higher in women with obesity than in women with normal weight (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]) 1.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-1.8). In women with obesity, AH was associated with a higher overall complication rate (aOR 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2-2.6) and VH had a slightly higher risk of intraoperative complications (aOR 4.4; 95% CI, 1.2-15.8), both in comparison with RTLH. Women with obesity had a higher rate of conversion to AH with conventional minimally invasive hysterectomy (TLH: aOR 28.2; 95% CI, 6.4-124.7 and VH: 17.1; 95% CI, 3.5-83.8, respectively) compared with RTLH. AH, TLH, and VH were associated with a higher risk of blood loss >500 mL than RTLH (aOR 11.8; 95% CI, 3.4-40.5; aOR 8.5; 95% CI, 2.5-29.5; and aOR 5.8; 95% CI, 1.5-22.8, respectively) in women with obesity.

CONCLUSION

The use of RTLH may lower the risk of conversion rates and intraoperative bleeding in women who are obese compared with other modes of hysterectomy.

Effect of bupivacaine versus lidocaine local anesthesia on postoperative pain reduction in single-port access laparoscopic adnexal surgery using propensity score matching

OBJECTIVE

The umbilicus is a single, painful incisional site on the abdomen during trans-umbilical single-port access laparoscopic surgery. Previously, we found that periumbilical lidocaine could reduce postoperative pain. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of bupivacaine and lidocaine in reducing pain.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis in a study group (Bupivacaine group, 100 patients who received periumbilical infiltration of bupivacaine before their incisional site repair completion) and control group (Lidocaine group, 100 patients who received lidocaine at their incisional site repair completion). We compared postoperative pain based on the numerical rating scale (NRS) between propensity score-matched Bupivacaine-treated (n=50) and Lidocaine-treated (n=50) patients.

RESULTS

The postoperative pain scores based on the NRS were not significantly different between the 2 groups until 12 hours post-operation. However, 24 hours post-operation, the Bupivacaine group showed significantly lower pain than the Lidocaine group (24 hours, 1.76±1.07 vs. 2.53±1.11 NRS, P<0.001; 48 hours, 0.84±0.85 vs. 2.16±0.85 NRS, P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Periumbilical infiltration of bupivacaine has a longer acting efficacy on reducing postoperative surgical pain than that of lidocaine.

Morcellation During Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomies: Implications of the Use of a Contained Bag System

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to report the feasibility and clinical implications of in-bag morcellation for total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH).

METHODS

Women who required uterine morcellation during TLH from January 2017 to December 2018 (at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec - CHUL, Québec, QC) were included. Women with a preoperative suspicion of malignancy were excluded (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

RESULTS

During the 2-year study period, uterine morcellation was required in 42% (106 of 252) of women undergoing TLH. Mean uterine weight of morcellated uterus was 541 ± 291 g, with 11 of 106 uteri weighing >1000 g. In-bag morcellation was attempted in 84 of 106 (79%) and successfully performed in 79 of 84 (94%) women. Failures resulted from inability to insert the specimen into the bag or apparent perforation. Uncontained morcellation was chosen for 22 of 106 (21%) women, most of whom underwent vaginal morcellation of the uterus. Total operative time was 40 minutes longer for the in-bag morcellation group (170 ± 48 vs. 130 ± 43 min; P < 0.001), although this difference can be partly explained by the higher mean uterine size compared with the uncontained morcellation group (580 ± 309 vs. 391 ± 122 g; P = 0.01). In a subgroup analysis of 16 women, the mean times of installation and extraction of the bag were estimated to be 17 ± 9 and 4 ± 3 minutes, respectively. Complications were infrequent (2 of 106) and occurred in the in-bag morcellation group.

CONCLUSION

In-bag morcellation is feasible in a high proportion of women undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy and is associated with an increase in operative time. Larger studies will be required in order to better assess the risk of complications with in-bag morcellation and the potential benefits of this technique, namely, reducing the spread of tissue.