Robotic-assisted laparoscopy in reproductive surgery: a contemporary review

Exploring Surgical Strategies for Uterine Fibroid Treatment: A Comprehensive Review of Literature on Open and Minimally Invasive Approaches

Background and Objectives: Uterine myomas represent one of the most prevalent pathologies affecting the female population. These benign neoplasms originate from the smooth muscular cells of the uterus, and they can be either single or multiple. Often associated with debilitating symptoms such as pelvic heaviness, pain, constipation, and urinary dysfunctions, the surgical management of myomectomy exhibits considerable variability. This diversity in approaches is influenced by factors such as the number and size of myomas, the patient's age, and overall clinical conditions. This study aims to elucidate and compare the advantages and disadvantages of different surgical approaches, specifically endoscopic procedures versus open surgery, providing valuable insights for clinical decision making. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive bibliographic search spanning from 2013 to 2023 was systematically conducted across databases including Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and ClinicalTrials.gov. The search utilized keywords such as "myomectomy laparoscopic and open", "myomectomy open and minimally invasive", "myomectomy open and laparoscopic", and "myomectomy open vs. laparoscopic." The research methodology, along with predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria, was established prior to the search, ensuring a systematic and rigorous approach. Subsequently, data analysis was carried out. Results: Following the study selection process, 25 articles met the eligibility criteria for inclusion in this analysis. The average numbers of myomas were 3.7 (ranging from 1 to 13.7) and 5.4 (ranging from 1 to 13.5) for the minimally invasive surgery and open surgery groups, respectively. In terms of myoma size, the total averages across studies were 7 cm (ranging from 4.8 to 14) for the minimally invasive group and 8 cm (ranging from 3.9 to 11.2) for the open surgery group. The average pregnancy and delivery rates were 29.7% (ranging from 1.8 to 100) for the minimally invasive group and 28.5% (ranging from 1.8 to 100) for the open surgery group. Regarding complications, the average rate was 14.2% (ranging from 0 to 50) for the endoscopic group and 22.3% (ranging from 0 to 60.3) for the laparotomic group. Conclusions: In conclusion, a critical factor influencing the choice of surgical approach is primarily the size and quantity of fibroids. The mini-laparotomic approach emerges as a viable alternative to endoscopy, demonstrating favorable surgical outcomes and aesthetic results. Interestingly, the type of surgical procedure appears to have no significant impact on the pregnancy rate.

The Future Is Coming: Artificial Intelligence in the Treatment of Infertility Could Improve Assisted Reproduction Outcomes-The Value of Regulatory Frameworks

Infertility is a global health issue affecting women and men of reproductive age with increasing incidence worldwide, in part due to greater awareness and better diagnosis. Assisted reproduction technologies (ART) are considered the ultimate step in the treatment of infertility. Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) has been progressively used in the many fields of medicine, integrating knowledge and computer science through machine learning algorithms. AI has the potential to improve infertility diagnosis and ART outcomes estimated as pregnancy and/or live birth rate, especially with recurrent ART failure. A broad-ranging review has been conducted, focusing on clinical AI applications up until September 2022, which could be estimated in terms of possible applications, such as ultrasound monitoring of folliculogenesis, endometrial receptivity, embryo selection based on quality and viability, and prediction of post implantation embryo development, in order to eliminate potential contributing risk factors. Oocyte morphology assessment is highly relevant in terms of successful fertilization rate, as well as during oocyte freezing for fertility preservation, and substantially valuable in oocyte donation cycles. AI has great implications in the assessment of male infertility, with computerised semen analysis systems already in use and a broad spectrum of possible AI-based applications in environmental and lifestyle evaluation to predict semen quality. In addition, considerable progress has been made in terms of harnessing AI in cases of idiopathic infertility, to improve the stratification of infertile/fertile couples based on their biological and clinical signatures. With AI as a very powerful tool of the future, our review is meant to summarise current AI applications and investigations in contemporary reproduction medicine, mainly focusing on the nonsurgical aspects of it; in addition, the authors have briefly explored the frames of reference and guiding principles for the definition and implementation of legal, regulatory, and ethical standards for AI in healthcare.

Robot-Assisted Tubal Reanastomosis after Sterilization: A Choice for Family Planning

A variety of procedures have been used for family planning. One of these is sterilization surgery, which can be reversed by a tubal reanastomosis. In the present report, we compare Robot-assisted tubal reanastomosis sterilization with other methods of family planning and discuss factors related to the choice of the approach. The keywords used for the electronic search in PubMed were family planning, sterilization, Robot-assisted, tubal reanastomosis, depression, and regret. The decision in favor of or against sterilization surgery has been a sensitive issue for several years. Robot-assisted technology is a modern and precise approach. It has contributed to the flexibility of the decision between sterilization and its reversal through tubal reanastomosis, as well as enhanced the success rate of the surgery. Based on our analysis of the published literature, we believe that Robot-assisted tubal anastomosis is the optimum approach. However, to ensure the quality of health care, the surgeon must be well trained, well versed with the anatomy of the fallopian tubes, and thoroughly informed on the psychological impact of family planning.

Single assistant versus dual assistant robotic surgery for robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy using da Vinci Xi or X

BACKGROUND

To verify the usefulness of single assistant robotic surgery (SA-RS) using da Vinci Xi or X performed for total hysterectomy.

METHODS

The SA-RS group (S-group) includes surgeries in which the surgeon performed all surgical operations other than that of the uterine manipulator, while the dual assistant robotic surgery group (D-group) includes surgeries performed by the surgeon with two assistants. In S-group, the forceps and camera were replaced during surgery in cases of a large uterus with limited range of motion of the instrument. A comparative study of patient background, intraoperative and postoperative results and surgery-related cost was performed between the two groups.

RESULTS

No significant differences were observed between the two groups. On the contrary, S-group showed a significant reduction in preparation time and wound closure time, and a savings of $768.

CONCLUSION

SA-RS for total hysterectomy was possible, which is excellent in terms of cost, esthetics, and manpower.

Pheochromocytoma Presenting as Testicular Pain: An Unusual Case Report

Pheochromocytoma (PCC) is a rare catecholamine-secreting tumor that arises from chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla which are derived from the neural crest. This report illustrates a 51-year-old Caucasian male with a history of hypertension diagnosed two years ago who presented to the hospital due to acute onset of right testicular pain of 3-day duration. Laboratory results and imaging revealed a presumptive diagnosis of PCC. The patient had undergone robot-assisted laparoscopic right adrenalectomy 14 days after being diagnosed with PCC due to perioperative management with phenoxybenzamine. The final pathology report revealed a PCC. At follow-up two weeks after discharge, the patient reported complete resolution of his testicular pain.

Ovarian transposition and cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common female malignancy worldwide. As the focus of treatment is shifting towards balancing oncological outcomes with reproductive benefit, women are becoming increasingly aware of their fertility options. Cervical cancer is one of the primary malignancies where transposition of the ovaries may be indicated. Ovarian transposition should be performed in pre-menopausal women, undergoing pelvic irradiation to preserve ovarian function and prevent early menopause. The review discusses the available literature and synthesises a concise summary for gynaecologic oncology surgeons to counsel affected women. The paradoxical controversy, leading to its under use is acknowledged, due to the scarcity of published data with regard to functional outcomes, and the lack of clinical trials. In cervical cancer, ovarian transposition remains a safe fertility preservation (FP) option, which is associated with high ovarian function preservation, an acceptable rate of ovarian cysts and a negligible risk for metastases in the transposed ovaries.

Uptake and outcomes of robotic gynaecological surgery in England (2006-2018): an account of Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES)

This was a retrospective study to review the uptake and outcomes of robotic gynaecological surgery in England between 1st April 2006 and 31st March 2018, analysing Hospital Episode Statistics form National Health Service hospitals in England. Women aged 18 years and above who had elective gynaecological surgery were included and those who had undergone robotic gynaecology surgery were included. Robotic gynaecological procedures were defined as procedures that used a robotic minimal access approach for hysterectomy, adnexal surgery and urogynaecological surgery (sacrocolpopexy, sacrohysteropexy and colposuspension). Numbers of procedures were reviewed by year and mapped to the 44 NHS healthcare regions. Length of stay (nights in hospital), laparotomy (conversion during primary procedure or after return to theatre for management of complication), and 30-day emergency readmission rates were calculated by year and procedure type. Overall 527,217 elective gynaecological procedures were performed in the English NHS (1st April 2006 and 31st March 2018), of which 4384 (0.83%) were performed with robotic assistance (3864 (88%) hysterectomy, 706 (16%) adnexal surgery, 192 (4%) urogynaecological surgery). There was gradual rise in the uptake of robotic surgery but there was a marked geographical variation. Median (IQR) length of stay (LOS) was 1(1-2) night, laparotomy rate was 0.3% and 30-day emergency readmission rate was 4.7%. LOS was statistically, but not clinically, different across time. Other outcomes did not differ by year. Robotic gynaecological procedures are increasingly being used in the English NHS, predominantly for hysterectomy, although in small proportions (2.6% in the most recent study year). There was wide geographical variation in robotic uptake across England and overall, outcomes were comparable to those reported in other countries.

Trends in Utilization and Perioperative Outcomes in Robotic-assisted Bariatric surgery using the MBSAQIP database: A 4-Year Analysis

PURPOSE

Robotic-assisted surgery has become increasingly popular across surgical subspecialties. We aimed to analyze trends in the national utilization and outcomes in bariatric surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®) data for 2015-2018 was queried. We included robotic-assisted sleeve gastrectomy (SG), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), adjustable gastric band (AGB), biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS), and revisional cases. The Kruskal-Wallis test or Wilcoxon rank-sum were used for comparing continuous variables and Cochran-Armitage trend analysis for categorical variables when comparing years, or with Fisher's Exact Test when directly comparing categories.

RESULTS

Of 760,076 bariatric cases performed between 2015 and 2018, 7.4% with robotic and 90.4% with laparoscopic approach. SG constituted 61.3% of robotic volume. Utilization of robotic surgery increased 1.96-fold; SG represented the most substantial increase of 2.16-fold, followed by a 1.53-fold in RYGB. The 30-day readmission and re-intervention rates decreased from 5.63% to 4.78% (p<0.01), and 2.31% to 1.46% (p<0.01), respectively. The overall leak rate improved from 0.64% to 0.39% (p=0.01). Mortality and re-operations remained statistically unchanged. When compared to laparoscopic approach, the operative time were significantly longer in the robotic group. Regarding postoperative outcomes, when adjusted for patient characteristics, there were no differences between two approaches except a higher leak rate in robotic group in 2015.

CONCLUSION

A steady increase in robotic bariatric surgery is apparent. While the operative time remains significantly longer in the robotic group, trends indicate improvement in key quality metrics and patient outcomes as utilization increases.

Robot-assisted laparoscopic auto-graft of patchwork ovarian cortex in two steps

The main difficulty of ovarian tissue autograft (OTA) is to preserve as many follicles as possible because the ovarian tissue undergoes warm ischemia during grafting until revascularisation, resulting in significant follicular loss. We describe a two-stage grafting technique to stimulate new vascularisation in order to enhance the revascularization process to reduce the ischemic injuries. Furthermore we performed ovarian patchwork in the laboratory and then grafting with robotic laparoscopy to facilitate surgery and increase precision. This technique is used in the DATOR study with promising results, such as a 40% delivery rate.

History, Evolution and Current State of Ovarian Tissue Auto-Transplantation with Cryopreserved Tissue: a Successful Translational Research Journey from 1999 to 2020

The loss of fertility and early menopause are common after gonadotoxic therapies and radical pelvic surgery. The strategy of ovarian tissue cryopreservation and auto-transplantation was introduced to prevent this significant quality of health issue. Ovarian transplantation with cryopreserved tissue has gone through remarkable evolution in the last 20 years. In this review, we detail the history and evolution of ovarian transplantation with cryopreserved tissue from its origins to the present. Ovarian cryopreservation and transplantation approach was first tested with animal models. The approach was then validated in human ovarian xenografting models before being applied to patients in pioneering clinical studies. The first orthotopic and heterotopic approaches to ovarian transplantation was developed by Oktay et al. who reported the first successful restoration of ovarian function with these approaches beginning in 2000 with first embryo development in 2004. Controversy remains on when the first live birth occurred after orthotopic ovarian transplantation with cryopreserved tissue as the patient was ovulating with elevated progesterone levels in the case reported in 2004; first live birth is likely to be the one reported by Meirow et al. in 2005. Nevertheless, the technique has evolved to reach a level where most recent live birth rates are exceeding 35% and the procedure is no longer considered experimental by many.

Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery for Pelvic Organ Prolapse among Peri- and Post-Menopausal Women

For patients with apical compartment pelvic organ prolapse (POP), abdominal sacrocolpopexy has been considered superior to the vaginal approach in terms of less dyspareunia and decreased risk of recurrence. Robot-assisted sacrocolpopexy (RSC) can help overcome difficulties in laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LSC) by facilitating deep dissection and suturing. Moreover, RSC is a safe and efficacious option for patients with POP. It has several benefits, such as its high anatomical cure rate, improvement of sexual function, reduction of perioperative complications, and low recurrence rate. In addition, it can be a safe option for elderly patients. RSC has a steep learning curve and numerous other reported advantages compared with LSC; however, insufficient data conclude that the former is universally superior, especially in cost effectiveness. Thus, further studies are needed to support the widespread adoption of robot-assisted surgery for pelvic floor reconstruction.

Artificial intelligence in reproductive medicine

Artificial intelligence (AI) has experienced rapid growth over the past few years, moving from the experimental to the implementation phase in various fields, including medicine. Advances in learning algorithms and theories, the availability of large datasets and improvements in computing power have contributed to breakthroughs in current AI applications. Machine learning (ML), a subset of AI, allows computers to detect patterns from large complex datasets automatically and uses these patterns to make predictions. AI is proving to be increasingly applicable to healthcare, and multiple machine learning techniques have been used to improve the performance of assisted reproductive technology (ART). Despite various challenges, the integration of AI and reproductive medicine is bound to give an essential direction to medical development in the future. In this review, we discuss the basic aspects of AI and machine learning, and we address the applications, potential limitations and challenges of AI. We also highlight the prospects and future directions in the context of reproductive medicine.

The future of robotic-assisted laparoscopic gynaecologic surgery in Australia - A time and a place for everything

There has been a significant increase in minimally invasive surgery in gynaecology over the last 15 years, with approximately only one-third of hysterectomies for benign disease now performed via laparotomy. While robotic surgery offers considerable technical advantages over conventional laparoscopy and is associated with only a modest learning curve, the improvement in clinical outcomes is marginal and there are several disadvantages. There are increased set-up and operating times, the need to accommodate and maintain large sophisticated equipment, and the requirement for additional training. The preeminent issue regarding the place of robotic gynaecological surgery is cost. How this is addressed and contained will ultimately determine uptake in Australia. From the published literature to date, robotic surgery compared with conventional laparoscopic surgery is associated with marginal improvements in clinical outcomes for benign hysterectomy and endometrial cancer surgery, but little improvement for other benign gynaecological surgery or for cervical cancer surgery. Robotic surgery probably does improve clinical outcomes in obese and morbidly obese patients and is associated with improved ergonomics for the surgeon. It is likely that there will be continued substantial improvements in robotic surgical platforms into the foreseeable future and that robotic surgery will play an increasingly important role in gynaecological surgery in Australia.