Hemostasis During Ovarian Cystectomy: Systematic Review of the Impact of Suturing Versus Surgical Energy on Ovarian Function

Impact of haemostasis methods during ovarian cystectomy on ovarian reserve: a pairwise and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Haemostasis during ovarian cystectomy is reported to damage the ovarian reserve, but the comparative impacts of three haemostasis methods (bipolar energy, suture and haemostatic sealant) on ovarian reserve in patients with ovarian cysts are not well known.

METHODS

The Cochrane Library, PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched from the date of inception of the database to June 2022 for literature exploring the impact of haemostasis methods during ovarian cystectomy on ovarian reserve. A traditional meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager software. A network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed using Stata and GemTC software.

RESULTS

The direct meta-analysis comparison indicated that the mean postoperative reduction of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level was significantly higher in the electrocoagulation (bipolar) group than suture and haemostatic sealant group, both in the overall group and subgroup of women with ovarian endometrioma. In NMA, the reduction of postoperative AMH levels in the electrocoagulation (bipolar) group was higher than the suture group at 6 months with a statistical significance, and at 1, 3 and 12 months without a significant difference. The difference in the postoperative decrease of AMH level did not reach statistical significance between suture and sealant, coagulation and haemostatic sealant. The comprehensive ranking results revealed that suture treatment was, with the highest probability, beneficial to the protection of the ovarian reserve.

CONCLUSIONS

There was insufficient research to detect the optimal haemostasis method for ovarian reserve preservation in ovarian cystectomy. Nevertheless, haemostasis by electrocoagulation (bipolar) should be avoided when possible, and the suture might be considered as the best choice.

Pathophysiology and Clinical Implications of Ovarian Endometriomas

Ovarian endometriomas affect many patients with endometriosis and have significant effects on quality of life, fertility, and risk of malignancy. Endometriomas range from small (1-3 cm), densely fibrotic cysts to large (20 cm or greater) cysts with varying degrees of fibrosis. Endometriomas are hypothesized to form from endometriotic invasion or metaplasia of functional cysts or alternatively from ovarian surface endometriosis that bleeds into the ovarian cortex. Different mechanisms of endometrioma formation may help explain the phenotypic variability observed among endometriomas. Laparoscopic surgery is the preferred first-line modality of diagnosis and treatment of endometriomas. Ovarian cystectomy is preferred over cyst ablation or sclerotherapy for enabling pathologic diagnosis, improving symptoms, preventing recurrence, and optimizing fertility outcomes. Cystectomy for small, densely adherent endometriomas is made challenging by dense fibrosis of the cyst capsule obliterating the plane with normal ovarian cortex, whereas cystectomy for large endometriomas can carry unique challenges as a result of adhesions between the cyst and pelvic structures. Preoperative and postoperative hormonal suppression can improve operative outcomes and decrease the risk of endometrioma recurrence. Whether the optimal management, fertility consequences, and malignant potential of endometriomas vary on the basis of size and phenotype remains to be fully explored.

The impact of ovarian endometrioma and endometriotic cystectomy on anti-Müllerian hormone, and antral follicle count: a contemporary critical appraisal of systematic reviews

Currently, three crucial questions regarding the reliability of ovarian reserve measures in women with ovarian endometrioma during the reproductive age are being discussed. Firstly, the effects of endometriotic cystectomy on short and long-term ovarian reserve. Secondly, the accuracy of serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and antral follicle count (AFC) in estimating ovarian reserve in these cases. Thirdly, the impact of endometrioma itself on the ovarian reserve over time in such cases. The purpose of the present review is to critically assess available systematic reviews and meta-analyses that have explored these questions. Nine eligible reviews were found following a systematic search on PubMed.com and similarly assessed. These reviews varied considerably regarding the level of evidence, as per an identical comprehensive scoring system. Moderate to high-quality evidence demonstrates that endometriotic cystectomy, by the stripping technique, adversely affects ovarian reserve in the short and long term, up to 9-18 months post-surgery. Damage to ovarian reserve was considerable but more pronounced in bilateral cases than unilateral cases, equivalent to 39.5% and 57.0%, respectively. Repeat endometriotic cystectomy is detrimental to ovarian reserve. The impact of endometrioma diameter on ovarian reserve before or after surgery is still unclear. Moderate to high-quality evidence, relying on simultaneous assessment of both ovarian reserve measures, shows that AMH is sensitive while AFC is not in cases undergoing ovarian cystectomy. AMH should be the biomarker of choice for counseling and managing women with endometrioma in their reproductive age, especially before surgery. While there is some evidence to show that endometrioma per se may harm ovarian reserve, this evidence is not robust, and there is good-quality evidence to challenge this notion. It is necessary to conduct further targeted RCTs, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses based on solid methodological grounds to increase the level of evidence, refine quantitative estimates, investigate open questions, and decrease heterogeneity.

Gauze packing may be a better hemostatic method to protect ovarian reserve during laparoscopic endometrioma cystectomy than conventional hemostatic methods

PURPOSE

To compare the ovarian reserve of different hemostatic methods after laparoscopic endometrioma stripping (LES) and explore which factors may affect ovarian reserve.

METHODS

Patients who underwent LES from January 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively included. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels were measured before, and 3 months after surgery to determine changes of serum AMH in each patient. A multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to identify significant factors that were associated with the rate of decline of serum AMH levels at month 3 after surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 67 patients who underwent LES were included. Of these patients, 20 with gauze packing, 24 with bipolar dessication (BD), and 23 with suture to achieve hemostasis. The 3 groups were similar in terms of demographics, cyst diameter, and basal AMH levels, except basal hemoglobin levels. At 3 months after surgery, the decline rate of AMH levels was significantly greater in the suture and BD group compared with the gauze packing group [48.2% (interquartile range, IQR, 28.1-67.1) and 31.1% (IQR,14.6-49.1) vs. 15.1% (IQR,1.1-24.5), P = 0.001]. On multivariate regression models, significant predictors of the decline rate of serum AMH levels at 3 months after surgery were hemostatic methods (p < 0.001), basal AMH levels (p = 0.033), and lesion bilaterality (p = 0.017).

CONCLUSION

Compared to BD or suturing hemostasis, gauze packing hemostasis led to less damage on ovarian reserve at 3 months after LES. Besides, hemostatic methods, bilateral endometriomas and basal ovarian reserve were independently correlated with the impairment of ovarian reserve after surgery.

Surgical management of endometriosis to optimize fertility

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Surgery is an integral element of treatment for infertility caused by endometriosis. This review summarizes the purported mechanisms of infertility in endometriosis, as well as the impacts of surgery for endometriosis on fertility, including pregnancy achieved spontaneously and with assisted reproductive technology (ART).

RECENT FINDINGS

Endometriosis' effect on fertility is multifactorial. The sequela of increased inflammation resulting from endometriosis causes alterations in ovarian, tubal, and uterine function. Removing or destroying these lesions reduces inflammation. Surgical treatment of both early-stage endometriosis and deeply infiltrating endometriosis improves spontaneous pregnancy rates and ART pregnancy rates. Conventional or robotic laparoscopy is the preferred surgical approach.

SUMMARY

Endometriosis has detrimental effects on fertility, including negative impacts on oocyte, tubal, and endometrial function. Laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis elevates both spontaneous and ART pregnancy rates above those achieved with expectant management alone. The resection or destruction of endometriosis implants reduces inflammation, which likely improves the multifactorial infertility related to endometriosis. This topic is complex and controversial; more research in the form of high-quality randomized control trials is needed.

The Risk of Infertility After Surgery for Benign Ovarian Cysts

Background: There is a growing body of evidence that ovarian cystectomy may negatively impact ovarian reserve. However, it is unclear whether ovarian cyst surgery puts women at risk of future infertility. This study investigates whether surgery for benign ovarian cysts is associated with long-term infertility risk. Methods: Women aged 22-45 years (n = 1,537) were invited to participate in an interview about their reproductive histories, including whether they ever had infertility or ovarian cyst surgery. Each woman reporting cyst surgery was randomly matched to a comparison woman, who was assigned an artificial surgery age equal to that of her match. Matching was repeated 1,000 times. Adjusted Cox models were fit to examine time to infertility after surgery for each match. A subset of women was invited to participate in a clinic visit to assess markers of ovarian reserve (anti-Müllerian hormone [AMH], antral follicle count). Results: Approximately 6.1% of women reported cyst surgery. Infertility after surgery was more common for women reporting cyst surgery than those without surgery after adjusting for age, race, body mass index, cancer history, parity before assigned surgery age, history of infertility before surgery age, and endometriosis (median-adjusted hazard ratio 2.41, 95% simulation interval 1.03-6.78). The estimated geometric mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) AMH levels of those who reported a history of ovarian cyst surgery were 1.08 (95% CI: 0.57-2.05) times those of women who reported no history of surgery. Conclusions: Those with a history of ovarian cyst surgery were more likely to report having a history of infertility compared with age-matched women who reported no history of cyst surgery. It is possible that both ovarian surgery to remove cysts and the conditions that lead women to develop cysts requiring surgery may affect subsequent successful conception.

Effect of barbed suture versus conventional suture in laparo-endoscopic single-site cystectomy for ovarian mature cystic teratoma: An ambispective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effects of barbed suture (BS) and conventional suture (CS) on perioperative conditions and ovarian function in the excision of ovarian mature cystic teratoma (MCT) by laparo-endoscopic single-site surgery (LESS).

METHODS

The present study is an ambispective cohort study conducted in an affiliated tertiary hospital between May 2019 and October 2020. Women treated by LESS cystectomy for unilateral ovarian MCT were included. BS or CS were applied in the surgery.

RESULTS

BS and CS groups were matched 1:1 for age, body mass index and ovarian cyst volume (40 women per group). There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics. Mean operating time (53.89 ± 14.80 versuss 67.93 ± 19.23 min, P = 0.004) and suturing time (11.85 ± 6.68 versus 19.76 ± 12.75 min, P = 0.006) were significantly shorter in the BS group than the CS group. No significant differences were found in serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels between groups at baseline, postoperative day 1, 3 months, and 12 months. However, serum AMH was significantly lower than baseline at postoperative day 1, 3 months, and 12 months in both groups.

CONCLUSION

BS provides shorter operating and suturing time than CS, without increasing damage to ovarian function in LESS cystectomy for ovarian MCT.

Biomechanical forces and signals operating in the ovary during folliculogenesis and their dysregulation: implications for fertility

BACKGROUND

Folliculogenesis occurs in the highly dynamic environment of the ovary. Follicle cyclic recruitment, neo-angiogenesis, spatial displacement, follicle atresia and ovulation stand out as major events resulting from the interplay between mechanical forces and molecular signals. Morphological and functional changes to the growing follicle and to the surrounding tissue are required to produce oocytes capable of supporting preimplantation development to the blastocyst stage.

OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE

This review will summarize the ovarian morphological and functional context that contributes to follicle recruitment, growth and ovulation, as well as to the acquisition of oocyte developmental competence. We will describe the changes occurring during folliculogenesis to the ovarian extracellular matrix (ECM) and to the vasculature, their influence on the mechanical properties of the ovarian tissue, and, in turn, their influence on the regulation of signal transduction. Also, we will outline how their dysregulation might be associated with pathologies such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis or premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Finally, for each of these three pathologies, we will highlight therapeutic strategies attempting to correct the altered biomechanical context in order to restore fertility.

SEARCH METHODS

For each area discussed, a systematic bibliographical search was performed, without temporal limits, using PubMed Central, Web of Science and Scopus search engines employing the keywords extracellular matrix, mechanobiology, biomechanics, vasculature, angiogenesis or signalling pathway in combination with: ovary, oogenesis, oocyte, folliculogenesis, ovarian follicle, theca, granulosa, cumulus, follicular fluid, corpus luteum, meiosis, oocyte developmental competence, preimplantation, polycystic ovary syndrome, premature ovarian insufficiency or endometriosis.

OUTCOMES

Through search engines queries, we yielded a total of 37 368 papers that were further selected based on our focus on mammals and, specifically, on rodents, bovine, equine, ovine, primates and human, and also were trimmed around each specific topic of the review. After the elimination of duplicates, this selection process resulted in 628 papers, of which 287 were cited in the manuscript. Among these, 89.2% were published in the past 22 years, while the remaining 8.0%, 2.4% or 0.3% were published during the 1990s, 1980s or before, respectively. During folliculogenesis, changes occur to the ovarian ECM composition and organization that, together with vasculature modelling around the growing follicle, are aimed to sustain its recruitment and growth, and the maturation of the enclosed oocyte. These events define the scenario in which mechanical forces are key to the regulation of cascades of molecular signals. Alterations to this context determine impaired folliculogenesis and decreased oocyte developmental potential, as observed in pathological conditions which are causes of infertility, such as PCOS, endometriosis or POI.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS

The knowledge of these mechanisms and the rules that govern them lay a sound basis to explain how follicles recruitment and growth are modulated, and stimulate insights to develop, in clinical practice, strategies to improve follicular recruitment and oocyte competence, particularly for pathologies like PCOS, endometriosis and POI.

Preservation of the ovarian reserve and hemostasis during laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy by a hemostatic agent versus suturing for patients with ovarian endometriosis: study protocol for randomized controlled, non-inferiority trial (PRAHA-2 trial)

Background

Endometriosis (EMS) can be implanted everywhere, especially in pelvic organs. EMS can be asymptomatic, but it can result in pelvic pain and infertility by inducing local inflammation and pelvic adhesion. The prevalence of EMS is about 10% in reproductive-age women and higher in women with pelvic pain or infertility. For young patients with ovarian EMS, laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy is effective in relieving pelvic pain and preventing local recurrence. However, there is a concern that the ovarian reserve would decrease after the operation because of the removal of a part of the normal ovarian tissue and thermal damage during hemostasis, which depends on the types of hemostasis such as bipolar electrocoagulation, suturing, and the use of a hemostatic agent. In this study, we aim to evaluate the protective effect for the ovarian reserve and hemostasis between a hemostatic agent and suturing during laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy for patients with ovarian EMS.

Methods

This study is a randomized controlled, non-inferiority trial, where a total of 90 patients with ovarian EMS will be randomly assigned to the experimental (hemostatic agent) and control (suturing) groups. In the control group, a barbed suture will be applied for hemostasis, whereas a hemostatic agent will be applied in the experimental group. If two methods are insufficient, bipolar electrocoagulation will be applied for complete hemostasis. As the primary endpoint, the reduction rate of serum anti- Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels reflecting the ovarian reserve will be compared between the two groups 12 weeks after surgery. As secondary endpoints, we will compare the reduction rate of AMH level 48 weeks after surgery, the time required to complete hemostasis, the success rate of hemostasis within 10 min, and adverse events associated with operation.

Discussion

We expect that the protective effect for the ovarian reserve and hemostasis may be comparable between the two methods, suggesting that a hemostatic agent may be preferred considering that it is easy to use during laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.govNCT04643106. Registered on 22 November 2020

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-021-05431-1.

A randomized controlled trial of ovarian reserve preservation and hemostasis during ovarian cystectomy

The preservation of ovarian reserve during laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) ovarian cystectomy is crucial for reproductive-age women. This study was a single-blinded, single-center, and randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of hemostatic agents on the preservation of ovarian reserve and hemostasis during LESS ovarian cystectomy. Patients with unilateral ovarian cyst were randomized to the hemostatic agent and coagulation groups according to the hemostasis method. Afterwards, the patients underwent LESS ovarian cystectomy, and hemostasis was performed after ovarian cyst excision according to the assigned hemostasis method. If hemostasis was not completed within 10 min. After discharge, the patients were followed until 3 months after surgery. We compared the hemoglobin, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, and ovarian volumes before surgery, and 2 days, 1 week, and 3 months after surgery (3 M-POST), and the decline ratio between the two groups. The decline ratio of serum AMH levels was greater at 3 M-POST in the coagulation than in the hemostatic agent group (median intention-to-treat [ITT], − 36.7 vs. − 13.3%; per-protocol [PP], − 36.8 vs. − 13.3%; P < 0.05). Notably, the difference of the decline ratio of serum AMH levels was only shown in endometriosis patients (median; ITT, − 50.7 vs. − 14.4%; PP, − 50.7% vs. − 14.4%; P < 0.05), while there was no difference in non-endometriosis patients. In conclusion, Hemostatic agents may be non-inferior to bipolar coagulation for preserving ovarian reserve and hemostasis during LESS ovarian cystectomy, in particular, for endometriosis patients. (Trial registry: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03374397).

The Endometrioma Treatment Paradigm when Fertility Is Desired: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

To establish an endometrioma treatment paradigm (decision tree) in the treatment of an ovarian endometrioma through the review of current literature.

DATA SOURCES

A thorough literature search, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library, was performed from April 2020 to July 2020. The review was completed by using the following keywords: METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: Articles published in English that addressed the endometrioma in regard to the following were included: (1) diagnosis, (2) treatment of pain on the basis of size and/or surgical intervention, (3) treatment of fertility on the basis of size and/or surgical intervention, (4) surgical technique, (5) in vitro fertilization success on the basis of size and/or surgical intervention, (6) risk of rupture at the time of egg retrieval, (7) impact on the antimüllerian hormone and antral follicle count postsurgery, and (8) impact on implantation.

TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS

Fifty-six articles were included in this systematic review. While conducting this literature review, several themes were noted. In general, the literature on the ovarian endometrioma seems to be homogeneous in regard to imaging the endometrioma, excision rather than desiccation for an endometrioma ≥3-cm causing pain and/or infertility, minimal use of bipolar energy at the time of ovarian surgery, and risk of severe infection secondary to inadvertent rupture of cysts during egg retrieval. Conversely, studies on the ovarian endometrioma are much more heterogeneous in terms of surgery and assisted reproductive technology, that is, whether surgery should be performed. Certainly, an endometrioma ≥5-cm should be excised before assisted reproductive technology. Moreover, it seems that the antral follicle count and implantation may be enhanced with surgery.

CONCLUSION

By completing an extensive literature review, an easy-to-use algorithm for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of endometriomas was developed to help clinicians in their treatment of patients with endometriosis in the short and long terms.

Impact of hemostatic methods on ovarian reserve and fertility in laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy

Impact of hemostatic methods, electrocoagulation versus suture, on ovarian reserve and fertility in laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy was investigated. Eighty patients with bilateral ovarian cysts who underwent laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy were randomly divided into 2 groups based on the hemostatic methods: 40 in suture group and another 40 in electrocoagulation group. Blood samples were drawn from all patients at roughly three time points: Before the surgery, 1 month and 6 months after the surgery. Radioimmunoassay was performed to measure the serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2) and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH). Moreover, the vaginal ultrasound examination was performed to obtain the ovarian size, peak systolic velocity (PSV) of ovarian stromal blood flow, and antral follicle count (AFC). In terms of postoperative ovarian reserve, the levels of E2 and AMH slightly decreased while the FSH level slightly increased in the suture group at both 1 and 6 months after surgery. In the electrocoagulation group, however, the levels of E2 and AMH decreased significantly while the FSH level increased significantly at 1 month after surgery. Six months after surgery, these levels all returned slightly showing some recovery of ovarian reserve. In comparison between the suture group and the electrocoagulation group, the differences in levels of E2, FSH and AMH were all statistically significant at both 1 and 6 months after surgery (P<0.05). Six months after surgery, the differences in AFC and PSV between the suture group and the electrocoagulation group were statistically significant (P<0.05). In laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy, hemostatic electrocoagulation had a more negative impact on ovarian reserve than hemostatic suture. The use of electrocoagulation for hemostasis should be minimized during the operation, and the suture method should be adopted for hemostasis and shaping of the ovarian wound.