Combined laparoscopic and micro-laparotomy removal of benign cystic teratomata

Laparoscopically assisted ovarian cystectomy with totally enclosed protective device for tumor isolation

OBJECTIVE

To present a novel totally enclosed protective device for tumor isolation in laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted of 16 patients with unilateral ovarian teratoma in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital. Laparoscopic surgery was performed with a totally enclosed protective device for tumor isolation, followed by a case series retrospective study. The indexes measured included size of cyst, rate of intraoperative rupture, duration of operation, amount of intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative length of stay in the hospital. An intact cyst resected in the device with no spillage seen indicated a successful surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 16 operations were performed successfully. The mean diameter of the cysts was 7.2 ± 1.4 cm. Of them, 12 (75%) had an intraoperative cyst rupture without spillage. The mean duration of surgery was 1.3 ± 0.1 h and the mean amount of intraoperative blood loss was 12.5 ± 3.2 ml. All postoperative histology tests showed benign cysts. The mean length of stay after surgery was 2.4 ± 0.5 days. No peritonitis-related symptoms or complaints were reported.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopically assisted ovarian cystectomy with a totally enclosed protective device for tumor isolation was confirmed safe and feasible.

Laparoscopic conservative excision of ovarian dermoid cysts with and without an endobag

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To compare outcomes of conservative laparoscopic treatment of dermoid cysts removed from the abdominal cavity without (group A) and with an endobag (group B).

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized, 4-year (June 1992-June 1996) study (Canadian Task Force classification I).

SETTING

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Rome.

PATIENTS

Fifty-five premenopausal women with dermoid cysts. Intervention. Patients were randomly assigned to removal of dermoid cysts from the abdominal cavity with or without an endobag through a 10- to 12-mm cannula sleeve.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

We assessed surgical time, spillage, complications, length of hospitalization, recurrences, and pregnancies. In the 55 women, 58 dermoid cysts (mean diameter 5.6 +/- 2.03 cm) were enucleated and removed at operative laparoscopy through a 10- to 12-mm cannula sleeve without intraoperative or postoperative complications. Mean operating time was 73 minutes. When cysts were removed with an endobag, operating time was significantly reduced over removal without the endobag (63 vs 81 min, p <0.05). Obvious spillage of endocystic contents occurred in 13 (43.3%) patients in group A but in only 1 patient in group B because the bag ruptured (p <0.05). No signs or symptoms of peritonitis were observed in women with evident cystic spillage or in those in group A in whom spillage was possible. Average postoperative hospital stay was 1.7 days and did not differ between groups. Among 20 infertile women, 9 (45%) experienced spontaneous pregnancy within a year, with no differences between groups. Echographic follow-up did not reveal cyst recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic conservative cystectomy of dermoid cysts in premenopausal women is safe and effective and appears to be a valuable alternative to laparotomy. Removing cysts in an endobag significantly reduced both operating time and spillage. However, controlled intraperitoneal spillage of cyst contents does not increase postoperative morbidity as long as the peritoneal cavity is thoroughly washed.

The safety of laparoscopic treatment for ovarian dermoid tumours

Whilst laparoscopic surgery has largely replaced laparotomy as the standard surgical option for the management of benign ovarian cysts, concern remains regarding the safety of laparoscopy for benign cystic teratomas. This is based on a higher rate of cyst content spillage compared to laparotomy and the known sequelae of chemical peritonitis and granuloma formation. We present 18 cases of laparoscopic dermoid cystectomy with recommendations for specimen removal from the peritoneal cavity. Our findings together with evidence from the literature confirms the safety of laparoscopy for the treatment of ovarian dermoid cysts.

Successful laparoscopic removal of huge ovarian cysts

Laparoscopic management of huge adnexal masses is controversial mainly because of the fear of finding a malignancy and because of technical difficulties. We successfully removed two huge ovarian cysts using only an operative laparoscope, a 10-mm infraumbilical, and three 5-mm suprapubic cannulas. We believe that minimally invasive surgery can be performed safely and effectively in carefully selected patients with extremely large, abdominopelvic masses.

Outpatient minilaparotomy ovarian cystectomy for benign teratomas in teenagers

Benign cystic teratomas are the most common ovarian neoplasms in adolescents. An ovary-conserving method was developed for outpatient surgical removal of benign cystic teratomas by minilaparotomy in teenagers. The technique requires no specialized training, laser devices, or expensive disposable instrumentation. As a precaution, the first teenager in whom the technique was used was observed as an inpatient for 3 days. Following this, the method was used as an outpatient procedure in three further cases. No complications occurred in any of the four patients, and the mean operating time of 85 minutes (range, 60 to 95 minutes) was similar to the reported time for removal of benign cystic teratomas by laparotomy. Although a randomized controlled study with many more patients would be necessary for a definitive conclusion, considerable cost savings and reduction in morbidity over traditional laparotomy are suggested by this experience.

Laparoscopic conservative removal of ovarian dermoid cysts

We compared the efficacy of two dissection methods of ovarian dermoid laparoscopic cystectomy in 41 women (age 17-38 yrs) who desired future fertility. Blunt dissection and scissors were used in 21 patients (group A), and aquadissection in 20 (group B). The mean size of the cysts was comparable in both groups. The mean operating time for aquadissection was 59.3 minutes compared with 78.4 minutes for blunt dissection and scissors (p <0.05). Intraoperative spillage was significantly less common with aquadissection because with this method it is easier to avoid cyst rupture. No complication occurred with either method. Hospital stay was similar in both groups. Operative laparoscopy is a safe and effective method in the management of ovarian dermoid cysts.

Laparoscopic techniques for extracting ovarian teratomas

We performed two techniques for laparoscopic extraction of benign ovarian teratomas. For cysts up to 5 cm, we used the pouch technique, with partial extraction followed by enlargement of the hypogastric port. A skin incision was enlarged to allow the use of a scalpel in the pouch. This enabled us to perform several stab incisions in the cyst to spill its contents while still holding it in the pouch. This was followed by suction irrigation and forceps removal of the contents until the collapsed cyst could be removed in the pouch. For a cyst over 5 cm, we performed endoscopic aspiration irrigation with hot water inside the cyst, followed by partial extraction of the cyst; an opening was made in the exposed cyst wall and the contents extracted as described. When the cyst wall collapsed, we proceeded with the final extraction. When spillage occurred, it was managed with extensive warm lavage of the peritoneum, skimming the floating debris with suction tubing until clear, and underwater inspection and removal of teeth and other solid material. With these techniques, we experienced no complications.

A new laparoscopic aspiration technique for ovarian dermoid cysts

A new method for aspirating benign dermoid cysts enables removal of the collapsed cyst wall without the need for extending laparoscopic incisions or opening the pouch of Douglas. The technique has been used by one of the authors in 10 patients with good effect and minimal or no spillage of dermoid cyst contents into the peritoneal cavity.

Unusual contents of a dermoid cyst of the ovary removed by laparoscopy

Benign cystic teratoma (dermoid cyst) of the ovary is a common pathological entity. Usually, the cyst contains representative tissues of the 3 embryonic germ cell layers: ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. Sebaceous material, hairs, cartilages, teeth, even thyroid tissue are frequently observed. In this case, the tumour was a well-formed jaw and tongue, and was successfully removed via the laparoscope.

Laparoscopic removal of dermoid cysts using endopouch

Laparoscopic oophorectomy was successfully performed in 6 patients with ovarian dermoid cysts. The use of Endopouch eliminates the risk of spillage and the need to extend the wound. The duration of operation ranged from 60 to 90 minutes and all patients were discharged within 48 hours with minimal pain and no complications.