Intrauterine adhesions after open myomectomy: an audit

Laparoscopic myomectomy complications: META analysis on RCTs and review of large cohort studies

Complications of myomectomy are generally rare and highly dependent on the surgeons' skills and selection of patients. Haemorrhage, direct injury, post-operative pain and fever present as intra and peri-operative complications, while adhesions are considered late complications. 21 RCTs and 15 meta-analyses have been conducted to date, with the last comprehensive meta-analysis being published in 2009. The main disadvantage of the previous meta-analysis included incomplete selection of studies, inclusion of studies with small sample sizes, and major heterogeneity of methods used between studies. The aim of this meta-analysis comparing laparoscopic myomectomy (LMy) to open conservative myomectomy is to provide an updated review of the type, frequency and severity of complications. These results can direct teaching efforts and guidelines and give updated advice to gynaecologists. A literature search was conducted on PubMed and Google scholar for RCTs on this topic. 276 studies were identified and 19 RCTs ultimately met the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis and subsequent heterogeneity assessment. The results showed that laparoscopic myomectomy has a more favourable outcome with regards to several complications when compared with laparotomy. Laparoscopic myomectomy is significantly associated with lower Hg drop (WMD = -0.48, 95% CI [-0.89, -0.07], p = 0.02179); lower incidence of post-operative fever (RR = 0.43, 95% CI [0.29, 0.64], p < 0.001); lower levels of pain at 48Hrs post-op (WMD = -0.88, 95% CI [-1.63, -0.014], p = 0.02020) and decreased analgesia requests (RR = 0.49, 95% CI [0.37, 0.64], p < 0.0001). Prophylaxis use was associated with less adhesions (RR = 0.064, 95% CI [0.44, 0.92], p = 0.01), although not enough data was available to draw conclusions regarding specific prophylactic agents. No differences were found between LMy and laparotomy for blood loss (WMD = -13.6494, 95% CI [-44.48, 17.18], p = 0.38553) or pain at 24Hrs post-op (WMD = -0.19, 95% CI [-0.55, 0.18], p = 0.32136). These findings support previously published meta-analyses. Given the right indications of the surgery and training of the surgeon, LMy seems to be most preferable to laparotomy in achieving a better clinical result with fewer complications.

Surgical adhesions among women undergoing laparoscopic gynecological surgery with or without adhesiolysis - prevalence, severity, and implications: retrospective cohort study at a University Hospital

Objective:

To find out the prevalence of adhesions, severity, and their relation to the current clinical scenario and to the type of previous surgery.

Methods and Materials:

A retrospective study of patients who already had different previous abdominopelvic surgery and subsequently underwent gynecological laparoscopic surgery for various indications. The patients’ clinical and operative notes were reviewed and analyzed.

Results:

There were 654 procedures performed. The most common indication for the laparoscopic surgery was secondary infertility 23.5%, followed by adnexal lesions 22.0% and primary infertility 19.6%. Intraoperative adhesions were found in 45.3%. Adhesions were deemed relevant to the clinical scenario in 21.3%. Patients who had a previous history of open (traditional) surgery were more likely to be found with adhesions in comparison with patients with history of laparoscopic surgery (odds ratio: 2.7, 95% confidence interval: 1.4–5.3, p = 0.0025). The presence of adhesions was found to be strongly associated with previous abdominopelvic surgery than non-abdominopelvic surgery (odds ratio: 4.3, p = 0.0078, 95% confidence interval: 1.5–12.5). The most common location of the adhesions was abdominal (36.1%), mixed abdominal and pelvic (35.1%), and pelvic adhesions (28.1%). Severe adhesions were found in 36.1%; 13.6% of converted laparoscopy to open surgery was due to adhesions. Cesarean sections were significantly associated with adhesions. Patients who had cesarean sections were more likely to have adhesions than those who had not (odds ratio: 5.7, 95% confidence interval: 3.8–8.6, p < 0.0001). Adhesiolysis was done without complications in 19.6% of patients with adhesions.

Conclusion:

Adhesions were prevalent in gynecological patients with previous abdominopelvic surgery. They were a significant contributor to the gynecological and reproductive issues. To minimize the risk of postoperative adhesions, laparoscopic approach should be encouraged instead of traditional surgery and rates of cesarean section should be reduced. Further high-quality studies are needed to establish conclusion and practical guidance toward the use of adhesion barriers.

Fertility and obstetrical outcomes after robot-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate fertility after robot-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy (RALM) in terms of pregnancy rates, and obstetrical outcomes.

PATIENTS

This is a retrospective cohort of RALM performed for symptomatic leiomyomas among women who want to conceive. Medical data were retrospectively reviewed. An office hysteroscopy was prescribed 3 months after the surgery.

RESULTS

Fifty-three patients were included. The mean number of myomas was 2 ± 1.5 with a mean size of 69 ± 17.7 mm. A breach of the cavity was noticed in 15.1% of the cases. Two cases of intrauterine adhesions were diagnosed and treated during the post-operative office hysteroscopy (5.7%). Clinical pregnancy rates were 52.8% with a live birth rate of 41.5% in patients desiring pregnancy. A caesarean section was performed in 17 cases (70.8%). No case of uterine rupture was reported.

CONCLUSION

More than half of the patients became pregnant after RALM. A low rate of obstetrical complications was reported, with no uterine ruptures, highlighting the promise of this technique for infertile patients.

Prevalence of Infertility Among Patients With Isthmocele and Fertility Outcome After Isthmocele Surgical Treatment: A Retrospective Study

Background: An isthmocele is a diverticulum on the anterior wall of the uterine isthmus at the site of a cesarean delivery scar. We evaluated the prevalence of infertility among patients with isthmocele, the resolution of symptoms, and infertility outcomes after hysteroscopic isthmoplasty. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 35 consecutive patients with symptomatic isthmocele between 2010 and 2015 at Hospital Piero Palagi in Florence, Italy. Patients with symptomatic isthmocele had postmenstrual abnormal uterine bleeding, sovrapubic pain, and infertility. Results: The study population was divided into Group A - Fertile Patients (n=19) and Group B - Infertile Patients (n=16) according to the prevalence of infertility after the diagnosis of isthmocele. Group B was subdivided into Group B1 (became pregnant, n=9) and B2 (did not become pregnant, n=7) according to infertility resolution after isthmocele treatment. We found statistically significant differences between Groups A and B regarding the number of cesarean sections (P=0.0205), the grade of isthmocele (P=0.0421), and body mass index (P=0.0001). In the subgroup analysis, we found statistically significant differences between Groups B1 and B2 for age (P=0.0151), grade of isthmocele (P=0.0361), and cervical dilatation (P=0.0293). Conclusion: We identified a subgroup of patients at higher risk of being infertile after the diagnosis of isthmocele and a subgroup of patients who could benefit the most in terms of fertility after minimally invasive hysteroscopic surgery.

Clinico-hysteroscopic analysis of severe intrauterine adhesions among Nigerian infertile women

Introduction

Severe intrauterine adhesions are difficult to manage and are associated with poor reproductive outcomes following treatment. The objective was to study the clinical presentation and hysteroscopic findings of severe intrauterine adhesions seen at hysteroscopy in two fertility/gynaecological endoscopy units in Nigeria.

Methods

A prospective study of 19 out of 76 women managed for intrauterine adhesions in our units. Data were analyzed with STATA software, version 12.0 SE (Stata Corporation, TX, USA).

Results

Severe intrauterine adhesion accounted for 19 (25.0%) of 76 cases of intrauterine adhesions managed during the period. This constituted 11.9% of 160 infertile women who had diagnostic hysteroscopies in our units over the study period. The mean duration of symptom was 4.2 years +/-3.2. Amenorrhea in association with infertility (68.4%) was the main presenting complaint. Secondary dysmenorrhea and cyclical abdominal pain were found in 10.8% and 31.6% of the women respectively. The main aetiological events were complicated caesarean section (42.1%) and abdominal myomectomy (26.3%). The adhesions were mainly dense (52.6%) and multiple (94.7%) with complete involvement of the uterine cavity in all the cases. Obliterative lesions were seen in 63.2% of the women.

Conclusion

The main clinical presentation of severe IUA was amenorrhea and infertility while the major risk factors were complicated caesarean section and myomectomy. The adhesions were mainly multiple, dense, obliterative and complete.

Effect of myomectomy on endometrial cavity: A prospective study of 51 cases

CONTEXT

Fibroids are the most common tumors of the uterine cavity. Most of them are diagnosed during the reproductive age when the fertility is an important concern for the female. However, complications can occur after removal of fibroid (myomectomy) too for future pregnancy. Though myomectomy has been sighted as a cause of intrauterine adhesions data regarding the effect of myomectomy on endometrial cavity is lacking.

AIMS

Evaluate the incidence of intrauterine adhesion formation after myomectomy and to identify the associated factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this prospective observational study, hysteroscopy was done in 51 infertile patients who had undergone myomectomy 3 months before in a tertiary care center from 2012 to 2015. The presence of intrauterine adhesions noted on hysteroscopy was investigated on the basis of size, number, location and type of fibroid removed, along with intraoperative breach of the uterine cavity.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Chi-square test was used for the calculating significant difference in frequency of discrete variables in two groups. P < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Intrauterine adhesions were seen in 11 out of 51 (21.57%) cases. No significant relationship between intrauterine adhesions and type, size or number of fibroid was observed. No statistical difference in the rate of adhesion formation was seen irrespective of breach of the uterine cavity during myomectomy.

CONCLUSION

Intrauterine adhesion formation after myomectomy is not related to the type of surgery or the nature of fibroid. However, in all cases desiring fertility postoperative hysteroscopy is highly recommended to diagnose and treat these adhesions early.