Safety and efficacy of hysteroscopic sterilization compared with laparoscopic sterilization: an observational cohort study

Safety reporting of Essure medical device: a qualitative and quantitative assessment on the FDA manufacturer and user facility device experience database in 2018

Background

There have been numerous cases of adverse events since the introduction of Essure medical devices for sterilization in 2002. This study analyzed the safety event reports of the Essure reported in the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE).

Methods

A retrospective analysis examined the MAUDE reports between Jan-1, 2018, and Oct-31, 2018 and focused on safety reports related to the Essure device. Safety reports were categorized and analyzed by their event type, device problem, patients' symptoms and the level of harm. Of this study cohort, 10% of samples were randomly selected for quantitative analyses. Thematic analysis was conducted for reports included death cases.

Results

A total of 4,994 eligible reports were analyzed. There were ten reports associated with individuals' deaths, and the main themes of safety reports from qualitative analysis were pains, bleeding, surgery, migraine, and infection. Quantitative analysis of 500 randomly selected samples showed that 98% of adverse event reports were associated with different injuries such as surgery, pain, bleeding, hysterectomy, and menorrhagia. Additionally, more than 90% of reports were submitted by the manufacturer.

Conclusion

These findings indicated several safety issues of Essure. More meaningful pre- and post-marketing surveillance and regulation are warranted in the medical device market to ensure safety and effectiveness, including investigating complaints, promptly sharing relevant information with regulators and users, and implementing corrective actions.

The plasticity of biocompatibility

Biocompatibility concerns the phenomena that occur within the interactions between biomaterials and human patients, which ultimately control the performance of many facets of medical technology. It involves aspects of materials science, many different forms of engineering and nanotechnology, chemistry, biophysics, molecular and cellular biology, immunology, pathology and a myriad of clinical applications. It is not surprising that an overarching framework of mechanisms of biocompatibility has been difficult to elucidate and validate. This essay discusses one fundamental reason for this; we have tended to consider biocompatibility pathways as essentially linear sequences of events which follow well-understood processes of materials science and biology. The reality, however, is that the pathways may involve a great deal of plasticity, in which many additional idiosyncratic factors, including those of genetic, epigenetic and viral origin, exert influence, as do complex mechanical, physical and pharmacological variables. Plasticity is an inherent core feature of the performance of synthetic materials; here we follow the more recent biological applications of plasticity concepts into the sphere of biocompatibility pathways. A straightforward linear pathway may result in successful outcomes for many patients; we may describe this in terms of classic biocompatibility pathways. In other situations, which usually command much more attention because of their unsuccessful outcomes, these plasticity-driven processes follow alternative biocompatibility pathways; often, the variability in outcomes with identical technologies is due to biological plasticity rather than material or device deficiency.

Laparoscopic removal of Essure device techniques, perioperative findings and evaluation of patient's satisfaction: A case series

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate perioperative outcomes and symptom resolution in women undergoing Essure removal.

METHODS

Single centre cohort study at a large University Teaching Hospital in the UK. Symptoms and Quality of life (QoL) were assessed using a standardised questionnaire administered at 6-months and up to 10-years following removal of Essure® devices.

RESULTS

61 women underwent surgical removal of Essure® devices representing 61/1087 (5.6%) of all women undergoing this hysteroscopic form of sterilization. Patients who had Essure® removal were more likely to have a previous caesarean section [38% vs 18%; OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.6; P <0.001]. The main indication for removal was pelvic pain (49/61, 80%). Removal was achieved by laparoscopic bilateral salpingectomy/cornuectomy (44/61,71%) or hysterectomy (17/61, 28%). At surgery, perforated device was seen in 4/61 (7%) cases. 26/61 (43%) of patients had concomitant pelvic pathology; 12/26 (46%) had fibrous adhesions, 8/26 (31%) endometriosis, 4/26 (15%) adenomyosis, and 2/26 (8%) had endometriosis and adenomyosis. 10 patients underwent further procedure following removal for ongoing symptoms. 55/61 women (90%) responded to the post removal symptom questionnaire. Most respondents to the quality of life survey 42/55 (76%) reported total or some improvement. 42/53 (79%) had total or some improvement in pelvic pain, 9/13 (69%) in mental health and 10/12 (83%) in bleeding.

CONCLUSION

Surgical removal of Essure® devices appears to improve symptoms thought to be attributable to the presence of these uterine implants in most women. However, patients should be counselled that one in five women may experience persistent or even worsening symptoms.

Proceedings from the Society of Interventional Radiology Foundation Research Consensus Panel on Artificial Intelligence in Interventional Radiology: From Code to Bedside

Artificial intelligence (AI)-based technologies are the most rapidly growing field of innovation in healthcare with the promise to achieve substantial improvements in delivery of patient care across all disciplines of medicine. Recent advances in imaging technology along with marked expansion of readily available advanced health information, data offer a unique opportunity for interventional radiology (IR) to reinvent itself as a data-driven specialty. Additionally, the growth of AI-based applications in diagnostic imaging is expected to have downstream effects on all image-guidance modalities. Therefore, the Society of Interventional Radiology Foundation has called upon 13 key opinion leaders in the field of IR to develop research priorities for clinical applications of AI in IR. The objectives of the assembled research consensus panel were to assess the availability and understand the applicability of AI for IR, estimate current needs and clinical use cases, and assemble a list of research priorities for the development of AI in IR. Individual panel members proposed and all participants voted upon consensus statements to rank them according to their overall impact for IR. The results identified the top priorities for the IR research community and provide organizing principles for innovative academic-industrial research collaborations that will leverage both clinical expertise and cutting-edge technology to benefit patient care in IR.

Female permanent contraception trends and updates

Permanent contraception remains one of the most popular methods of contraception worldwide. This article has reviewed recent literature related to demographic characteristics of users, prevalence of use and trends over time, surgical techniques, and barriers to obtain the procedure. We have emphasized the patient's perspective as a key element of choosing permanent contraception. This review has incorporated sections on salpingectomy, hysteroscopy, unmet need, impact of policies at religiously affiliated institutions, and reproductive coercion.

Comparative effectiveness of hysteroscopic and laparoscopic sterilization for women: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To compare real-world effectiveness of hysteroscopic to laparoscopic sterilization.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort of Medicaid claims for hysteroscopic or laparoscopic sterilization procedures performed in California, 2008-2014. After excluding postpartum procedures, we applied log-linear (Poisson) event-history regression models for clustered person-period data, weighted for propensity to receive either sterilization procedures, and adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical variables to examine the poststerilization pregnancy rates.

SETTING

Clinics, hospitals.

PATIENT(S)

Women aged 18-50 years with Medicaid claims between January 1, 2008, and August 31, 2014.

INTERVENTION(S)

Hysteroscopic or laparoscopic sterilization procedure.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Poststerilization pregnancy measured by pregnancy-related claims.

RESULT(S)

Among women with hysteroscopic (n = 5,906) or laparoscopic (n = 23,965) sterilization, poststerilization pregnancy claims were identified for 4.74% of women after hysteroscopic sterilization and 5.57% after laparoscopic sterilization. The pregnancy rates decreased over time after either procedure. Twelve months after the procedure, the crude incidence of pregnancy claims was higher for hysteroscopic sterilization than for laparoscopic sterilization (3.26 vs. 2.61 per 100 woman-years), but the propensity-weighted adjusted incidence rate ratio was 1.06 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.85-1.26). Between 13 and 24 months after the procedure, there were fewer pregnancies for women after hysteroscopic sterilizations than for those after laparoscopic sterilizations (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 0.63 [95% CI, 0.45-0.88]), with no statistically significant differences in later years. The cumulative pregnancy rates 5 years after sterilization were lower with hysteroscopic sterilization than with laparoscopic sterilization (6.26 vs. 7.22 per 100 woman-years; propensity-weighted, adjusted risk ratio, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.62-0.90]). The poststerilization pregnancy rates varied by age and race/ethnicity.

CONCLUSION(S)

The pregnancy rates after female sterilization are higher than expected, whether performed hysteroscopically or laparoscopically. These findings are reassuring that the effectiveness of hysteroscopic sterilization was not inferior to laparoscopic sterilization.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03438682.

Assessing adverse event reports of hysteroscopic sterilization device removal using natural language processing

OBJECTIVE

To develop an annotation model to apply natural language processing (NLP) to device adverse event reports and implement the model to evaluate the most frequently experienced events among women reporting a sterilization device removal.

METHODS

We included adverse event reports from the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience database from January 2005 to June 2018 related to device removal following hysteroscopic sterilization. We used an iterative process to develop an annotation model that extracts six categories of desired information and applied the annotation model to train an NLP algorithm. We assessed the model performance using positive predictive value (PPV, also known as precision), sensitivity (also known as recall), and F₁ score (a combined measure of PPV and sensitivity). Using extracted variables, we summarized the reporting source, the presence of prespecified and other patient and device events, additional sterilizations and other procedures performed, and time from implantation to removal.

RESULTS

The overall F₁ score was 91.5% for labeled items and 93.9% for distinct events after excluding duplicates. A total of 16 535 reports of device removal were analyzed. The most frequently reported patient and device events were abdominal/pelvic/genital pain (N = 13 166, 79.6%) and device dislocation/migration (N = 3180, 19.2%), respectively. Of those reporting an additional sterilization procedure, the majority had a hysterectomy or salpingectomy (N = 7932). One-fifth of the cases that had device removal timing specified reported a removal after 7 years following implantation (N = 2444/11 293).

CONCLUSIONS

We present a roadmap to develop an annotation model for NLP to analyze device adverse event reports. The extracted information is informative and complements findings from previous research using administrative data.

Comparing options for females seeking permanent contraception in high resource countries: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Multiple options for permanent or long-acting contraception are available, each with adverse effects and benefits. People seeking to end their fertility, and their healthcare providers, need a comprehensive comparison of methods to support their decision-making. Permanent contraceptive methods should be compared with long-acting methods that have similar effectiveness and lower anticipated adverse effects, such as the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine contraception (LNG-IUC). We aimed to understand the comparability of options for people seeking to end their fertility, using high-quality studies. We sought studies comparing laparoscopic tubal ligation, hysteroscopic tubal occlusion, bilateral salpingectomy, and insertion of the LNG-IUC, for effectiveness, adverse events, tolerability, patient recovery, non-contraceptive benefits, and healthcare system costs among females in high resource countries seeking to permanently avoid conception.

METHODS

We followed PRISMA guidelines, searched EMBASE, Pubmed (Medline), Web of Science, and screened retrieved articles to identify additional studies. We extracted data on population, interventions, outcomes, follow-up, health system costs, and study funding source. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale to assess risk of bias and excluded studies with medium-high risk of bias (NOS < 7). Due to considerable heterogeneity, we performed a narrative synthesis.

RESULTS

Our search identified 6,612 articles. RG, BV, BC independently reviewed titles and abstracts for relevance. We reviewed the full text of 154 studies, yielding 34 studies which met inclusion criteria. We excluded 10 studies with medium-high risk of bias, retaining 24 in our synthesis. Most studies compared hysteroscopic tubal occlusion and/or laparoscopic tubal ligation. Most comparisons reported on effectiveness and adverse events; fewer reported tolerability, patient recovery, non-contraceptive benefits, and/or healthcare system costs. No comparisons reported accessibility, eligibility, or follow-up required. We found inconclusive evidence comparing the effectiveness of hysteroscopic tubal occlusion to laparoscopic tubal ligation. All studies reported adverse events. All forms of tubal interruption reported a protective effect against cancers. Tolerability appeared greater among tubal ligation patients compared to hysteroscopic tubal occlusion patients. No high-quality studies included the LNG-IUC.

CONCLUSIONS

Studies are needed to directly compare surgical forms of permanent contraception, such as tubal ligation or removal, with alternative options, such as intrauterine contraception to support decision-making.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO [CRD42016038254].

Reversible inhibition of sperm under guidance as an intratubular and reversible contraception in female rats: An experimental study

Background

Reversible inhibition of sperm under guidance (“RISUGⓇ”) is a promising intravasal male contraceptive.

Objective

An exploratory study was conducted with a concept of non-invasive, transcervical, single-intervention and reversible contraception using RISUGⓇ in females.

Materials and Methods

In this experimental study, 60 adult Wistar albino female rats weighing 150-155 g, 3-4 months old were divided into four groups: group I: sham-operated control; group II: tubal occlusion with RISUG for 90 days; group III: tubal occlusion with RISUGⓇ for 90 days and reversal with dimethyl sulphoxide and group IV: tubal occlusion with RISUGⓇ for 90 days and reversal with 5% NaHCO. Animals were subjected to bilateral fallopian tube occlusion with RISUGⓇ and reversal with DMSO and NaHCO3. The estrous cycle, fertility and histology of fallopian tube were evaluated.

Results

Group I showed 100% fertility during all mating schedules. Animals of experimental groups indicated positive mating, but 0% fertility was evident following 30, 60, and 90 days of tubal occlusion. However, after reversal, fertility steadily increased to normalcy in groups III (50% at 45 days, 80% at 105 days, 100% at 150 and 195 days) and IV (70% at 45 and 105 days, 100% at 150 and 195 days) animals. Group II illustrated disorganized inner cell linings and eosinated RISUGⓇimplant-filled lumen. Reversal groups (III and IV) revealed complete restoration of cellular histo-architecture. Regular estrous cycle was noticed in all experimental groups.

Conclusion

RISUGⓇ is suitable for single intervention, intratubular, reversible contraception in female rats.

Safety and Assisted Reproductive Technology Outcomes of Hysteroscopic Tubal Microinserts Versus Laparoscopic Proximal Tubal Occlusion or Salpingectomy for Hydrosalpinges Treatment

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to answer the following question: What are the complications and assisted reproductive technology outcomes among women with hydrosalpinges managed by hysteroscopic microinsert tubal occlusion compared with women with hydrosalpinges managed by laparoscopic proximal tubal occlusion or salpingectomy?

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study conducted from January 2009 to December 2014 at two academic, tertiary care, in vitro fertilization centres in Toronto, Ontario. All patients (n = 52) who underwent hysteroscopic tubal occlusion for hydrosalpinges were identified. Patients who proceeded with embryo transfer cycles after hysteroscopic microinsert (n = 33) were further age matched to a cohort of patients who underwent embryo transfer after laparoscopic proximal tubal occlusion or salpingectomy (n = 33). Main outcome measures were clinical pregnancy rate per patient and per embryo transfer cycle.

RESULTS

Among 33 patients, there were 39 fresh and 37 frozen embryo transfer cycles in the hysteroscopic group (group A); among 33 patients in the laparoscopic group (group B), there were 42 fresh and 29 frozen embryo transfer cycles. The cumulative clinical pregnancy rate in group A and group B was similar (66.7% vs. 69.7%, respectively; P = 0.8). The clinical pregnancy rate per embryo transfer cycle was also similar in both groups (28.9% in group A vs. 32.4% in group B; P = 0.6). There were two incidents of ectopic pregnancy in the laparoscopic group and no ectopic pregnancy in the hysteroscopic group. There were three major complications: tubo-ovarian abscess, distal migration of the coil after microinsert placement, and an acute abdomen following the hysteroscopic procedure.

CONCLUSION

Pregnancy outcomes after hysteroscopic placement of a microinsert for hydrosalpinx management before embryo transfer were comparable to those following laparoscopic proximal tubal occlusion or salpingectomy. However, caution is advised regarding microinsert placement for hydrosalpinges before proceeding with assisted reproductive technology.

Assessment of non-gynecological symptoms before and after removal of the Essure® sterilization device: a 6-month follow-up study

BACKGROUND

Most of the clinical adverse events associated with the Essure® sterilization device have been attributed to incidents during and immediately after device placement (perforation, infection, expulsion). The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the prevalence and severity of non-gynecological clinical symptoms (e.g. memory disorders, muscle pain, and impaired vision) in patients before device placement and after device removal.

METHODS

Women who presented at least four non-gynecological clinical symptoms with the Essure® filled out a questionnaire before surgical removal of the device and then 1, 3 and 6 months afterwards. Patients with bleeding (metrorrhagia and menorrhagia) or tube perforation were excluded.

RESULTS

Fifty-two symptomatic women were included in the study and followed up for 6 months. The median (range) time interval between Essure® placement and the first clinical symptom was 13 months (1-60), and the median time interval between Essure® placement and removal was 38 months (12-72). The prevalence of clinical symptoms prior to device removal ranged from 26% (for urinary tract disorders) to 96% (for weakness). The mean±standard deviation intensity (on a 0-to-10 scale) of the symptoms before removal of the Essure® was 8.4±0.4; at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months post-removal, the values had fallen significantly to 4.2±0.6, 4±0.8, and 4.1±1, respectively (P<0.0001 for all the symptoms).

CONCLUSIONS

The observed decrease in symptom frequency and severity following Essure® removal and the persistence of this effect at 6 months suggest that the device should be removed in all symptomatic women.

A pilot study of a novel technique for hysteroscopic sterilization using the distal ends of a copper-T intrauterine device (Ostialoc)

OBJECTIVE

To describe the feasibility and effectiveness of a novel technique for Hysteroscopic sterilization using the distal ends of a copper-T intrauterine device (Ostialoc).

PATIENT AND METHODS

A pilot study included 11 cases selected and informed about the technique at a tertiary University hospital. Through hysteroscopy, the knobs with the distal 1 cm of Copper-T intrauterine devices (Ostialoc) were inserted into the interstitial part of both fallopian tubes for the tubal block. Patients were evaluated two weeks later by plain X-ray and ultrasound to ensure nonexpulsion of the Ostialoc, then every month for three successive months. The patients were scheduled for HSG at 3 months and one year after the Ostialoc placement to evaluate tubal occlusion.

RESULTS

The mean age of cases was 39.20 ± 4.09 years, mean parity was 4.48 ± 1.00, and the mean BMI was 28.92 ± 4.31 Kg/m². The mean operative time was 22.24 ± 5.63 min. The technique was feasible in all cases. The postoperative complications were present in one case suffered from pelvic pain. HSG demonstrated complete block of both fallopian tubes after three months and at one year in 100% of the cases.

CONCLUSION

Hysteroscopic sterilization using Ostialoc technique seems to be a feasible and effective technique in low resources countries.

Seven-Year Outcomes After Hysteroscopic and Laparoscopic Sterilizations

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate 7-year outcomes after hysteroscopic and laparoscopic sterilizations, including subsequent tubal interventions and hysterectomies.

METHODS

This observational cohort study included women undergoing hysteroscopic and laparoscopic sterilizations in outpatient and ambulatory surgical settings in New York State during 2005-2016. We examined subsequent procedures (tubal ligation or resection, and hysterectomy not related to uterine leiomyomas or gynecologic tumors) after the index procedures. After propensity score matching, we used Kaplan-Meier analysis to obtain estimated risks of subsequent procedures within 7 years of index sterilization procedures, and Cox proportional hazard models to compare the differences between groups.

RESULTS

We identified 10,143 and 53,206 women who underwent interval hysteroscopic and laparoscopic sterilizations, respectively, in New York State during 2005-2016. The mean age of the cohort was 34.2 years (range 18-80). The propensity score-matched cohort consisted of 10,109 pairs of women. The estimated risk of undergoing an additional tubal ligation or resection within 7 years was higher after hysteroscopic sterilization than it was after laparoscopic sterilization (3.9% vs 1.6%, HR 2.89, 95% CI 2.33-3.57). The difference was most pronounced within the initial year after attempted sterilization (1.5% vs 0.2%; HR 6.39, 95% CI 4.16-9.80). There was no significant difference in the risk of receiving a hysterectomy (0.9% vs 1.2%; HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.53-1.00) between women who underwent hysteroscopic and laparoscopic sterilizations.

CONCLUSION

Patients undergoing hysteroscopic sterilization have a higher risk of receiving an additional tubal resection or ligation than those undergoing laparoscopic sterilization, particularly within the first year of the index procedure. There is no difference in undergoing a subsequent hysterectomy between the two groups. With limited evidence of outcomes after hysteroscopic sterilization beyond 7 years and existing reports of removals years after initial implantations, continuous monitoring of long-term outcomes for women who received the device is warranted.

Creation and Validation of Linkage Between Orthopedic Registry and Administrative Data Using Indirect Identifiers

BACKGROUND

Registries and administrative databases have unique and complementary strengths in device epidemiologic studies. We sought to develop, validate, and assess a sequential algorithm using indirect identifiers to link registry and administrative data.

METHODS

Hip and knee arthroplasty procedures performed at 6 New York State hospitals enrolled in American Joint Replacement Registry in 2014 were included. After conducting a direct linkage using patient identifiers including name and social security numbers, we validated the methodology of indirect linkage using facility ID, patients' year and month of birth, sex, and zip code, and procedure date and site (hip/knee). We further evaluated the influence of absent indirect identifier(s) and compromised data quality on linkage success.

RESULTS

Using our sequential algorithm, 3739 of the 4063 directly linked records (92.03%) were matched with indirect identifiers, with an accuracy of >99.9%. Main reasons for nonmatching included discrepancies in procedure codes and dates. When one of the indirect identifiers was not available, the linkage algorithm still achieved over 90% sensitivity and 99.8% accuracy. Analyses showed that the algorithm was robust when quality of data was moderately compromised.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated high sensitivity and accuracy of an algorithm to create linkages between a registry and an administrative database using indirect identifiers. The methodology will enable long-term surveillance and outcome assessment of a wide variety of devices and procedures. Variations in the coding of procedures, availability of indirect identifiers, and their quality have limited impact on this algorithm.

Real-World Evidence: Promise and Peril For Medical Product Evaluation

Randomized controlled trials have long been the gold standard for evidence in medical product evaluation, but there is growing support for the use of real-world evidence (RWE). The authors review the benefits and limitations of RWE and discuss the implications for P&T committees.

Association of Hysteroscopic vs Laparoscopic Sterilization With Procedural, Gynecological, and Medical Outcomes

IMPORTANCE

Safety of hysteroscopic sterilization has been recently questioned following reports of general symptoms such as allergy, tiredness, and depression in addition to associated gynecological results such as pelvic pain, perforation of fallopian tubes or uterus, and unwanted pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the risk of reported adverse events between hysteroscopic and laparoscopic sterilization.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

French nationwide cohort study using the national hospital discharge database linked to the health insurance claims database. Women aged 30 to 54 years receiving a first hysteroscopic or laparoscopic sterilization between 2010 and 2014 were included and were followed up through December 2015.

EXPOSURES

Hysteroscopic sterilization vs laparoscopic sterilization.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Risks of procedural complications (surgical and medical) and of gynecological (sterilization failure that includes salpingectomy, second sterilization procedure, or pregnancy; pregnancy; reoperation) and medical outcomes (all types of allergy; autoimmune diseases; thyroid disorder; use of analgesics, antimigraines, antidepressants, benzodiazepines; outpatient visits; sickness absence; suicide attempts; death) that occurred within 1 and 3 years after sterilization were compared using inverse probability of treatment-weighted Cox models.

RESULTS

Of the 105 357 women included (95.5% of eligible participants; mean age, 41.3 years [SD, 3.7 years]), 71 303 (67.7% ) underwent hysteroscopic sterilization, and 34 054 (32.3%) underwent laparoscopic sterilization. During the hospitalization for sterilization, risk of surgical complications for hysteroscopic sterilization was lower: 0.13% for hysteroscopic sterilization vs 0.78% for laparoscopic sterilization (adjusted risk difference [RD], -0.64; 95% CI, -0.67 to -0.60) and was lower for medical complications: 0.06% vs 0.11% (adjusted RD, -0.05; 95% CI, -0.08 to -0.01). During the first year after sterilization, 4.83% of women who underwent hysteroscopic sterilization had a higher risk of sterilization failure than the 0.69% who underwent laparoscopic sterilization (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 7.11; 95% CI, 5.92 to 8.54; adjusted RD, 4.23 per 100 person-years; 95% CI, 3.40 to 5.22). Additionally, 5.65% of women who underwent hysteroscopic sterilization required gynecological reoperation vs 1.76% of women who underwent laparoscopic sterilization (adjusted HR, 3.26; 95% CI, 2.90 to 3.67; adjusted RD, 4.63 per 100 person-years; 95% CI, 3.38 to 4.75); these differences persisted after 3 years, although attenuated. Hysteroscopic sterilization was associated with a lower risk of pregnancy within the first year of the procedure but was not significantly associated with a difference in risk of pregnancy by the third year (adjusted HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.83-1.30; adjusted RD, 0.01 per 100 person-years; 95% CI, -0.04 to 0.07). Risks of medical outcomes were not significantly increased with hysteroscopic sterilization compared with laparoscopic sterilization.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Among women undergoing first sterilization, the use of hysteroscopic sterilization was significantly associated with higher risk of gynecological complications over 1 year and over 3 years than was laparoscopic sterilization. Risk of medical outcomes was not significantly increased over 1 year or over 3 years. These findings do not support increased medical risks associated with hysteroscopic sterilization.

Human cadavers to evaluate prototypes of minimally invasive surgical instruments: A feasibility study

BACKGROUND

New technology should be extensively tested before it is tried on patients. Unfortunately representative models are lacking. In theory, fresh frozen human cadavers are excellent models.

OBJECTIVE

To identify strengths and weaknesses of fresh frozen human cadavers as research models for new technology prior to implementation in gynecological surgery.

METHODS

During pre-clinical validation studies regarding the MobiSep uterine manipulator, test procedures were performed on fresh frozen cadavers. Both the experimental setup as the performance of the prototype were assessed.

RESULTS

Five tests including six human cadavers were performed. Major changes were made to the MobiSep prototype design. The cadavers of two tests closely resembled surgical experiences as found in live patients. The anatomy of 4 of the 6 cadavers was not fully representative due to atrophy of the internal genitalia caused by age and due to the presence of pathology such extensive tumorous tissue.

CONCLUSION

The cadaver tests provided vital information regarding design and functionality, that failed to emerge during the in-vitro testing. However, experiments are subject to anatomical uncertainties or restrictions. Consequently, the suitability of a cadaver should be carefully assessed before it is used for testing new technology.

The feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of hysteroscopic sterilization compared with laparoscopic sterilization

BACKGROUND

In contrast to conventional laparoscopic sterilization, newer hysteroscopic approaches avoid the need for hospital admission, general anesthesia, and prolonged recovery. However, there are concerns that the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of hysteroscopic sterilization may be lower than established laparoscopic sterilization.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to evaluate the outcomes of hysteroscopic sterilization compared with laparoscopic sterilization in routine clinical practice in a comparative observational cohort study.

STUDY DESIGN

This study was carried out at University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, National Health Service teaching hospital, office hysteroscopy clinics, and day-case hospital unit. In all, 1085 women underwent hysteroscopic sterilization and 2412 had laparoscopic sterilization. Hysteroscopic sterilization was carried out using the tubal implant permanent birth control system in the office setting and laparoscopic sterilization using the tubal ligation system as a day-case under general anesthesia. Outcome data were collected regarding feasibility (technical completion of the sterilization procedure, satisfactory radiological confirmation at 3 months-hysterosalpingogram or transvaginal pelvic ultrasound scan), safety events within 30 days of procedures, reoperations, and unintended pregnancies within 1 year of procedures.

RESULTS

Hysteroscopic sterilization was successful in 992/1085 (91.4%; 95% confidence interval, 89.6-93.0%) at the first attempt. In comparison, bilateral tubal ligation was successfully performed in 2400/2412 (99.5%; 95% confidence interval, 99.2-99.8%) of patients who underwent laparoscopic sterilizations (odds ratio, 18.8; 95% confidence interval, 10.2-34.4). In all, 902/1085 (83.1%; 95% confidence interval, 80.8-85.2%) of successfully performed hysteroscopic procedures attended for radiological confirmation testing were considered satisfactory. The rate of adverse events within 30 days were similar: 2/1085 (0.2%) vs 3 (0.12%; 95% confidence interval, 0.04-0.36%). There were 3/1085 (0.3%; 95% confidence interval, 0.1-0.8%) unintended pregnancies after hysteroscopic sterilization compared with 5/2412 (0.2%; 95% confidence interval, 0.1-0.5%) laparoscopic sterilization (odds ratio, 1.3; 95% confidence interval, 0.3-5.6). Median length of follow-up for pregnancy outcome was 5 years. Hysteroscopic sterilization was associated with a higher risk of reoperation at 1 year compared to laparoscopic sterilization (odds ratio, 6.2; 95% confidence interval, 2.8-14.0) and the commonest reintervention was unilateral salpingectomy (12/22, 54.5%).

CONCLUSION

Hysteroscopic sterilization has been introduced as a more convenient, office-based method of permanent fertility control. However, while the small risk of unintended pregnancy is comparable to conventional laparoscopic sterilization, women should also be counselled regarding its lower success rate in successfully completing the procedure and its higher rate of failed reoperation.

Safety and effectiveness of female tubal sterilisation by hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, or laparotomy: a register based study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the safety and effectiveness of female sterilisation in the Finnish population.

DESIGN

A national register-based study using record linkage.

SETTING

National data from Finland.

SAMPLE

A total of 16 272 female sterilisations performed in 2009-2014.

METHODS

The Register of Sterilisations was linked with the Hospital Discharge Register, Termination of Pregnancy Register, and the Medical Birth Register in order to investigate the occurrence of re-sterilisations, other surgical operations, and unwanted pregnancies after sterilisation, per method.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Outcome measures included all pregnancies after sterilisation (births, miscarriages, terminations of pregnancy, and ectopic pregnancies) and operations (repeat sterilisations, other hysteroscopic and laparoscopic procedures, hysterectomies, and re-operations for a complication). The outcomes were presented by method as risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in all spontaneous pregnancies between the groups. The risk ratio for any pregnancy was 1.27 (95% Cl 0.80-2.02) for Filshie^® versus Essure^® and 1.35 (95% Cl 0.92-1.96) for Pomeroy versus Essure^® . In total, 1394 (8.6%) selected operations were identified after primary sterilisation. Re-sterilisations and hysteroscopies were most frequent among Essure^® patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients undergoing hysteroscopic or laparoscopic sterilisation have a similar risk of unintended pregnancy. All sterilisations are safe, and the risk of re-operations because of complications is low. Women with Essure^® have a higher risk of undergoing re-sterilisation compared with patients undergoing laparoscopic sterilisation.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Essure^® , Filshie^® , and Pomeroy sterilisations are equally effective and safe.

Analysis of surgeries performed after hysteroscopic sterilization as tabulated from 3,803 Essure patient experiences

Objective

Although previous research has suggested that risk for reoperation among hysteroscopic sterilization (HS) patients is more than ten times higher than for patients undergoing standard laparoscopic tubal ligation, little has been reported about these subsequent procedures.

Methods

This descriptive cohort study used a confidential online questionnaire to gather data from women (n=3,803) who volunteered information on HS followed by device removal surgery performed due to new symptoms developing after Essure placement.

Results

In this sample, mean age was 35.6 years and women undergoing hysterectomy after HS comprised 64.9% (n=2,468). Median interval between HS and hysterectomy was 3.7 (interquartile range, 3.9) years and mean age at hysterectomy was 36.3 years. Some patients (n=1,035) sought removal of HS devices and fallopian tubes only, while other miscellaneous gynecological procedures were also occasionally performed for Essure-associated symptoms. When data from all patients who had any post-Essure surgery besides hysterectomy were aggregated (e.g., device removal + “other” cases, n=1,335) and compared to those cases undergoing hysterectomy, mean age was significantly lower than for the hysterectomy group (34.4 vs. 36.3 years, respectively; P<0.01); uterus-conserving surgeries were also typically performed significantly earlier than hysterectomy (P<0.01).

Conclusion

This investigation is the first to characterize specific gynecological operations after Essure, and suggests that the predominant surgical answer to HS complaints is hysterectomy for many women. Dissatisfaction with HS may represent an important indication for hysterectomy and additional study is needed to quantify this phenomenon.

Comparison of Healthcare Costs Among Commercially Insured Women in the United States Who Underwent Hysteroscopic Sterilization Versus Laparoscopic Bilateral Tubal Ligation Sterilization

BACKGROUND

This study evaluated healthcare costs of index procedures and during a 6-month follow-up of women who had hysteroscopic sterilization (HS) versus laparoscopic bilateral tubal ligation (LBTL).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Women (18-49 years) with claims for HS and LBTL procedures were identified from the MarketScan commercial claims database (January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2012) and placed into separate cohorts. Demographics, characteristics, index procedure costs, and 6-month total healthcare costs and sterilization procedure-related costs were compared. Multivariable regression analyses were used to examine the impact of HS versus LBTL on costs.

RESULTS

Among the study population, 12,031 had HS (mean age: 37.0 years) and 7286 had LBTL (mean age: 35.8 years). The majority (80.9%) who had HS underwent the procedure in a physician's office setting. Fewer women who had HS versus LBTL received the procedure in an inpatient setting (0.5% vs. 2.1%), an ambulatory surgical center setting (5.0% vs. 23.8%), or a hospital outpatient setting (13.4% vs. 71.9%). Mean total cost for the index sterilization procedure was lower for HS than for LBTL ($3964 vs. $5163, p < 0.0001). During the 6-month follow-up, total medical and prescription costs for all causes ($7093 vs. $7568, p < 0.0001) and sterilization procedure-related costs ($4971 vs. $5407, p < 0.0001) were lower for women who had HS versus LBTL. Multivariable regression results confirmed that costs were lower for women who had HS versus LBTL.

CONCLUSIONS

Among commercially insured women in the United States, HS versus LBTL is associated with lower average costs for the index procedure and lower total healthcare and procedure-related costs during 6 months after the sterilization procedure.

Recent developments have made female permanent contraception an increasingly attractive option, and pregnant women in particular ought to be counselled about it

BACKGROUND

Despite the increased prevalence of reversible contraception, global unintended pregnancy rates are stable. Mistakes, method failures, side effects, alcohol, stock-outs, fears, costs, delays, myths, religious interference, doctors with other priorities, traditions and lack of health professionals may all factor in. Yet these unintended pregnancies - nearly a hundred million annually - cause much individual suffering, and in the long run, can aggravate conflicts, poverty, forced emigration and climate change. Presently, non-poor women postpone childbearing because of longer educational trajectories and careers. Sterilisations are therefore less often regretted or coerced. For poor-resourced women with a completed family, an unwanted pregnancy often has serious consequences, including crossing the (extreme) poverty line in the wrong direction, choosing an unsafe abortion, or even death. Caesarean sections (CSs), which currently stand at around 23 million annually, are increasing. On an "intention-never-to-become-pregnant-again" analysis, choosing a partial, and even more so a total bilateral tubectomy to be implemented during an - anyway performed - CS is by far the most reliable and safe contraceptive choice compared to meaning to start female or male sterilisation or any other contraceptive method later, and it reduces the chance of a future ovarian carcinoma substantially. CSs make subsequent pregnancies more dangerous. Simultaneously, they provide convenient, potentially cost-free opportunities for voluntary permanent contraception (PC): particularly important if there is no guaranteed future access to reliable contraception, safe abortion and well-supervised labour.

PARTIAL SOLUTION

Millions of women are within reach of attaining freedom from the "tyranny of excessive fertility" when they have a CS. Therefore, any woman who might conceivably be of the firm opinion that her family will be (over) completed after delivery should antenatally have "what if you have a CS" counselling to assess whether she would like a tubectomy/ligation. Yet many are not provided with this option: leading to frequent regret, more often than having been giving that choice would.

CONCLUSION

Withholding antenatal counselling about the option of PC for in case the delivery might become a CS is very prevalent, yet often more medically risky, and morally questionable than when, even in labour, a doctor sometimes decides in the absence of earlier counselling, considering numerous factors, to provide the choice to undergo a concurrent sterilisation if s/he is convinced that would be in the patient's best interest.

Combined hysteroscopy-laparoscopy approach for excision of pelvic nitinol fragment from Essure contraceptive device: Role of intraoperative fluoroscopy for uterine conservation

We describe the successful removal of a pelvic contraceptive coil in a symptomatic 46-year-old patient who had Essure devices for four years, using a combined hysteroscopy-laparoscopy-fluoroscopy approach. Following normal hysteroscopy, at laparoscopy the right Essure implant was disrupted and its outer nitinol coil had perforated the fallopian tube. However, the inner rod (containing polyethylene terephthalate) had migrated to an extrapelvic location, near the proximal colon. In contrast, the left implant was situated within the corresponding tube. Intraoperative fluoroscopy was used to confirm complete removal of the device, which was further verified by postoperative computed tomography. The patient's condition improved after surgery and she continues to do well. This is the first report to describe this technique in managing Essure complications remote from time of insertion. Our case highlights the value and limitations of preoperative and intraoperative imaging to map Essure fragment location before surgery.

Referrals for complications following hysteroscopic sterilisation: characteristics associated with symptomatic patients after the Essure procedure

OBJECTIVE

This report summarises recent experience with a series of symptomatic Essure® patients with an emphasis on clinical presentation, preoperative imaging, surgical intervention, and outcome.

METHODS

This case series presents Essure® patients (n = 7) who sought medical consultation for various complications. This retrospective analysis is based on consultations during a six-month interval beginning in April 2015.

RESULTS

In this sample, mean (± SD) patient age was 35.9 ± 3.4 yrs. The gravida/parity status was 3.6 ± 1.1 and 2.4 ± 1.4, respectively. Average duration of exposure to Essure® coils among these patients was 25.6 ± 24.5 (range 5-67) months. Except for one woman, these patients had hysteroscopic sterilisation (HS) either with heavy sedation or under general anaesthesia. More than two Essure® devices were implanted in two women. Complications reported after HS included device migration, coil fragmentation, tissue perforation, and vaginal expulsion of Essure® fragment. Three of seven women have required hysterectomy.

CONCLUSION

The current series offers evidence of migration of contraceptive coils as well as Essure® inserts perforating tissue and being spontaneously expelled. Evaluation of symptomatic HS patients should include determining how many devices have been implanted, as some women have more than two.

Surgical excision of Essure® devices with ESHRE Class IIb uterine malformation: sequential hysteroscopic-laparoscopic approach to the septate uterus

OBJECTIVE

While contraindications to Essure® placement have been provided by the manufacturer, there is no consensus on how best to remove these contraceptive devices. Here, we describe a non-hysterectomy removal of Essure® for a patient with a septate uterus (ESHRE Class IIb uterine malformation).

CLINICAL CASE

A 35yr old G4 P2 presented for removal of Essure® implants after three years of gradually increasing pelvic pain, weight gain, headache, dizziness, lower extremity paresthesia, and fatigue which followed hysteroscopic sterilization (HS). Prior to HS, the patient was in good general health. She did not smoke and had never had a miscarriage. HS was performed under general anesthesia in October 2012. HSG obtained three months later, confirmed bilateral tubal occlusion but revealed an abnormal uterine cavity. A repeat HSG in 2015 showed minimal device migration, no contrast dye spill and a deeply bifid uterine cavity. At our center laparoscopic cornual dissection and bilateral partial tubal resection achieved removal of both devices intact and the patient was discharged three hours after surgery. Her postoperative recovery was uneventful.

CONCLUSION

The presence of a Müllerian anomaly is a relative contraindication to the Essure® procedure. This is the first reported description of successful removal of Essure® coils in the setting of an ESHRE Class IIb uterine anomaly, and underscores the importance of careful patient selection, accurate pre-operative imaging and a conservative technique which renders hysterectomy unnecessary.

Essure Surgical Removal and Subsequent Resolution of Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Background. Hysteroscopic tubal sterilization (Essure) is a minimally invasive option for permanent contraception with high reported rates of patient satisfaction. A small percentage of these women subsequently choose to have the tubal inserts removed due to regret or perceived side effects such as late-onset pelvic pain secondary to placement of the Essure device. Case. A twenty-nine-year-old woman G4P4014 presented with a two-year complaint of chronic pelvic pain and dyspareunia after the hysteroscopic placement of an Essure device for sterilization. On reviewing the images of the HSG, it was noted that although tubal occlusion was confirmed, the left Essure coil appeared curved on itself in an elliptical fashion and did not seem to follow the expected anatomic trajectory of the fallopian tube. The patient reported resolution of chronic pelvic pain following laparoscopic removal of Essure device. Conclusion. A misplaced Essure device should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic pelvic pain in women who had difficult placement of the device. In addition to demonstrating tubal occlusion, careful examination of the configuration of the Essure microinserts on HSG examination provides valuable information in patients with pelvic pain after Essure placement.