Safety issues of hysteroscopic surgery

Paradoxical air embolism in patients undergoing hysteroscopic surgery for cesarean scar pregnancy: A case report and review of the literatures

Cesarean scar pregnancy cases who undergo hysteroscopic suction aspiration could be at higher risk of air emboli due to dilated, low-resistant, high-velocity blood vessels.

Comparison between 200 μg and 800 μg of vaginal misoprostol for cervical ripening before operative hysteroscopy: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To compare between 200 and 800 μg of vaginal misoprostol for cervical ripening before operative hysteroscopy.

METHODS

Quadruple-blind randomized clinical trial conducted between November 2019 and September 2020 involving 76 patients undergoing cervical dilatation before surgical hysteroscopy at teaching hospitals in Pernambuco, Brazil. Women received the vaginal misoprostol dosage of 200 or 800 μg,10-12 h before operative hysteroscopy. The cervical width was the primary outcome, and secondary outcomes were patient satisfaction, adverse effects, surgical complications, and duration of cervical dilatation. Chi-square tests of association, Fisher's exact and Mann-Whitney U tests were used with an α error of <5%.

RESULTS

There was no statistical difference between the groups in the mean of the cervical width (800 μg: 6.5 ± 1.6 mm vs 200 μg: 5.8 ± 1.8 mm, P = 0.055), patient satisfaction, and surgical findings, but the duration of cervical dilatation was lower in the 800-μg group (28.16 ± 28.5 s vs 41.97 ± 31.0 s, P = 0.035). Among the adverse effects, diarrhea was more frequent in the 800-μg group with statistical difference (100% vs 0%; P = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

For cervical ripening, 200 μg misoprostol is equally effective with fewer adverse effects than 800 μg before operative hysteroscopy. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04152317. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04152317.

Acute Severe Hyponatremia following Hysteroscopic Procedure in a Young Patient: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Background

Hysteroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure used to diagnose and treat intrauterine pathologies. It requires distension of the uterine cavity for the adequate visualization of the operative field. Glycine (1.5%) is one of the most commonly used solutions because it is nonconductive and also has good optical properties. However, acute hyponatremia is a critical complication that can develop after the absorption of a sufficient amount of the irrigation medium. Case Presentation. We report a case of a 43-year-old female patient who developed acute symptomatic hyponatremia (104 mEq/L) and pulmonary edema secondary to hysteroscopic resection of leiomyoma and hastily approached with rapid sodium correction measures.

Conclusion

Multiple strategies can be taken to reduce the risk of fluid absorption and subsequent hyponatremia. Moreover, attention should be paid to the treatment approach for patients with acute hyponatremia following hysteroscopic procedures; rapid correction of acute hyponatremia for such patients might be safe, although there is no consensus in the literature, and further trials are needed.

Comparison of Bipolar Ball Endometrial Ablation and Transcervical Resection of the Endometrium in the Treatment of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objectives

To compare the operative time, effectiveness, and patient satisfaction between ball endometrial ablation and transcervical resection of the endometrium (TCRE) using a bipolar resectoscope.

Materials and Methods

Forty-four women with heavy menstrual bleeding who were unresponsive to at least 3 months' medical management were included in this randomized, controlled clinical trial. After randomization, patients underwent either TCRE or ball endometrial ablation using a bipolar resectoscope. The operative time, fluid deficit, and postoperative pain were recorded. The patients were evaluated postoperatively at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Patient satisfaction, amenorrhea rate, reintervention rate, and pictorial blood-loss-assessment chart (PBAC) score were compared between the two groups.

Results

The mean operative time in ball endometrial ablation group was 11.17 ± 2.24 min and in TCRE group was 22.33 ± 5.26 min (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the postoperative PBAC score, amenorrhea rates, patient satisfaction, and need for reintervention between the two groups.

Conclusion

Operative time with ball endometrial ablation is significantly less when compared to TCRE when using a bipolar resectoscope.

Comparison of Hysteroscopic Cesarean Scar Defect Repair with 26 Fr Resectoscope and 16 Fr Mini-resectoscope: A Prospective Pilot Study

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Several studies have been published on hysteroscopic treatment of cesarean scar defect using the 26 Fr resectoscope. This study compared the effects of the 26 Fr resectoscope with those of the 16 Fr mini-resectoscope in terms of efficacy, safety profile, and peri- and postoperative complications.

DESIGN

A prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Tertiary care university hospital (S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy).

PATIENTS

Three hundred and nine women having symptoms and with a cesarean scar defect diagnosis were divided into 2 groups according to a temporal criterion: from March 2012 to March 2015, 155 consecutive women (control group) underwent isthmoplasty with the 26 Fr resectoscope (Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany), whereas from April 2015 to March 2018, 154 consecutive women (study group) underwent isthmoplasty with the 16 Fr mini-resectoscope (Gubbini system, Tontarra Medizintechnik, Tuttlingen, Germany).

INTERVENTIONS

One hundred and fifty-five women (control group) underwent isthmoplasty with the 26 Fr resectoscope, and 154 women (study group) underwent isthmoplasty with the 16 Fr mini-resectoscope. The so-called "channel-like" 360° endocervical resection technique was applied.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The isthmoplasty time with the 2 resectoscopes, excluding cervical dilatation, was similar (p = .25), whereas the overall surgical time was shorter in the case of the mini-resectoscope. The use of the 16 Fr mini-resectoscope was significantly associated with a reduced volume of distension medium used (p <.001) and a lower fluid absorption (p <.001). A significant increase (p = .01) in postoperative complications in the control group (9/155; 5.8%) compared with the study group (1/154; 0.7%) was also found. No significant reduction in discharge time was observed between the 2 groups (p = .13). Patient satisfaction immediately after surgery was significantly higher (p <.001) in the study group than in the control group.

CONCLUSION

Isthmoplasty with a 16 Fr mini-resectoscope seems to be as effective as isthmoplasty with a 26 Fr resectoscope in reducing postmenstrual abnormal uterine bleeding and suprapubic pelvic pain. It is associated with a significant reduction in overall surgical time owing to the non-necessity of performing cervical dilatation. The 16 Fr mini-resectoscope facilitates surgery in small anatomical spaces such as the cervical canal and reduces the complication rate linked to blind maneuvers not respecting the uterine anatomy.

The Impact of Spinal Anesthesia and Use of Oxytocin on Fluid Absorption in Patients Undergoing Operative Hysteroscopy: Results from a Prospective Controlled Study

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine if combining intravenous oxytocin infusion and spinal anesthesia will reduce the amount of glycine absorption in patients undergoing operative hysteroscopy.

Patients and Methods

A prospective controlled study was conducted in premenopausal patients who had hysteroscopic surgery including endometrial resection, endometrial polypectomy, myomectomy resection and uterine septal resection. The effect of combined spinal anesthetic with oxytocin infusion on fluid deficit was studied.

Results

A total of 88 patients were studied. Sixty-two cases were done under general anesthesia (control group) and 26 cases were performed with spinal anesthesia and the use of oxytocin infusion (study group). There was a statistically significant less mean fluid deficit in the study group than control group in the endometrial polypectomy patients (220±36 mL vs 392±178 mL, respectively, P value 0.010, 95% C.I.: 163–276) and the myomectomy patients (308±66 mL vs 564±371 mL, respectively, P value 0.003, 95% C.I.: 239–378). In the endometrial resections, there was also a statistically significant less mean fluid deficit in the study than the control group (P value ˂ 0.001). Regarding septal resection, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean fluid deficit between the two groups (P value 0.833).

Conclusion

Spinal anesthesia combined with intravenous oxytocin infusion in operative hysteroscopy results in a statistically significant reduction in the glycine fluid deficit than the general anesthesia. We also recommend studying the effects of this combination in operative hysteroscopy using bipolar devices with isotonic solutions.

Prophylactic Antibiotic Reduces the Risk of Peritonitis after Invasive Gynecologic Procedures

Background:Peritonitis is a serious complication after invasive procedures in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). Most studies that have investigated peritonitis following invasive gynecologic procedures enrolled small patient populations. This study focuses on the clinical presentation, outcomes, and effects of prophylactic antibiotic use before invasive techniques.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on patients who underwent invasive gynecologic procedures between 2005 and 2015 in a tertiary medical center. Eligible patients were identified and enrolled and their demographic data were collected. The use of prophylactic antibiotics and the outcomes of peritonitis were recorded.Results:Twenty-six gynecologic procedures were performed on 18 PD patients. Seven episodes of peritonitis occurred in 6 patients after invasive gynecologic procedures. Eleven procedures were preceded by prophylactic antibiotic treatment (6 oral cefadroxil, 1 oral cefuroxime, 1 oral clindamycin, 1 intravenous [IV] ceftriaxone, 1 IV ceftazidime, and 1 IV cefazolin). The pathogens were diverse (group B Streptococcus, group D Streptococcus, E. coli, and Enterococcus). All episodes of peritonitis were successfully treated using intraperitoneal antibiotics without recurrence, technique failure, or mortality. The odds ratio of peritonitis in the non-prophylaxis group was 20.29 (95% confidence interval 1.01 - 406.35, p = 0.0103).Conclusion:The use of prophylactic antibiotic treatment considerably reduced the risk of peritonitis after invasive gyne co logic procedures.

Safety aspects of hysteroscopy, specifically in relation to entry and specimen retrieval: a UK survey of practice

Background

The purpose of this study is to evaluate current practice amongst gynaecologists across the UK, regarding safety aspects of inpatient hysteroscopy under anaesthesia, specifically in relation to entry and specimen retrieval.

A survey was created using survey monkey. The first round was circulated to all registrar trainees and consultant gynaecologists across Wales. Following a good response, the survey was then circulated to all members of the British Society of Gynaecological Endoscopy (BSGE).

Results

There were 212 responses including, 140 consultants, 36 senior registrars, 17 junior registrars and 18 clinical nurse specialists. In total, 136 out of 212 (64.7%) always perform a vaginal examination prior to hysteroscopy. 10.4% always sound the uterus, and 5.2% always dilate the uterus prior to insertion of the hysteroscope. Twenty-three consultants, six senior registrars, three junior registrars and one clinical nurse specialist knew how to position the internal cervical os as visualised through the scope when using a 30° hysteroscope. 35.8% of candidates always perform a post-procedure cavity check, and 9% use suction to flush the cavity to aid vision during the post-procedure cavity check. The majority (76%) predicted dilatation as the stage most likely to cause uterine perforation and predicted the most likely site for perforation as the posterior uterine wall in the anteverted uterus and the anterior uterine wall in the retroverted uterus.

Conclusion

This study highlights varied practice across the UK regarding safety aspects of hysteroscopy, in relation to entry and specimen retrieval. There is a need for increased awareness of the risks of hysteroscopy and paramount precautions that should be performed routinely as part of their practice. Standardised guidelines may be a beneficial tool to help bring about this change in practice, leading to a reduction in uterine perforation rates.

Clinical indications for hysteroscopic removal of uterine masses: Time, age at diagnosis, and mass size

AIM

The aim of this study was to investigate clinical factors associated with abnormal pathologies of uterine masses resected via hysteroscopy.

METHODS

Women who underwent hysteroscopic surgery for presumptive diagnoses of abnormal endometrial or endocervical masses, such as polyps or leiomyomas on ultrasonography, between January 2012 and April 2015, were enrolled. Clinical and pathologic data were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Among 189 patients, pathologic diagnoses of the uterine mass were abnormal in 172 (91.0%) cases, including polyps in 119 (63.0%), leiomyomas in 49 (26.0%), endometrial hyperplasia in two (1.0%), and endometrial cancer in two (1.0%). Seventeen (9.0%) women who underwent hysteroscopic removal showed unremarkable results on pathology, and the most common finding among them was the proliferative phase of the normal endometrium. Women aged over 40 years with uterine masses and a time since last menstrual period of over 15 days are four times more likely to be diagnosed with neoplastic masses than others (odds ratio [OR], 4.39, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.33-14.48 and OR, 4.22, 95%CI, 1.35-13.21, respectively); those with masses over 1.5 cm in size are three times more likely to be neoplastic than others (OR, 3.08, 95%CI, 1.04-9.12).

CONCLUSION

Large mass size, longer time after last menstrual period, and older age are risk factors for abnormal histologies of uterine masses resected via hysteroscopy. Clinicians should take particular care when contemplating hysteroscopic removal for women younger than 40 years, and those with masses of <1.5 cm in size in the proliferative phase of the endometrium to avoid an unnecessary surgery.

Monitoring of Gas Emboli During Hysteroscopic Surgery: A Prospective Study

OBJECTIVES

Previous studies have demonstrated a high frequency of gas emboli during hysteroscopy, but guidelines for the prevention, early detection, and intervention of gas embolism during hysteroscopic procedures are still lacking. This study aimed to gain a clearer understanding of risk factors and specific signs and symptoms associated with gas emboli.

METHODS

This prospective study enrolled 120 women scheduled for hysteroscopy using 5% glucose as distension medium. The gas bubbles were monitored sequentially in internal iliac vein, common iliac vein, inferior vena cava, superior vena cava, heart, and pulmonary artery under the gray-scale imaging of Doppler ultrasound. The frequency, extent, and the hemodynamic and respiratory effects of gas emboli were evaluated. The interventions and outcomes were recorded. The risk factors associated with gas emboli, and their relationship with the frequency and extent of gas emboli, were assessed.

RESULTS

In our study, evidence of gas emboli under Doppler ultrasound monitoring was observed in 44 (36.7%) patients. The operation was continued and finished as soon as possible for patients presenting with stable vital signs or transient hemodynamic and respiratory changes, which resolved spontaneously without intervention. The operation was paused for patients presenting with significant hemodynamic changes or loss of consciousness, and the operation was resumed shortly after resumption of stable vital signs following symptomatic treatment. All patients in our study finished the operation and recovered without developing serious complications. Data analysis showed prolonged procedure duration and increased bleeding volume were both positively correlated with the frequency and extent of gas emboli.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated a high frequency of gas emboli during hysteroscopy. Doppler ultrasonic monitoring combined with a clearer understanding of specific signs, symptoms, and risk factors will facilitate early detection and intervention of gas emboli during hysteroscopy.

Safety and efficacy of manual syringe infusion of distending media for hysteroscopic procedures: a case-control study

OBJECTIVES

Adverse events associated with large volumes of distending media in hysteroscopic procedures can be life-threatening. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of manual syringe infusion (MI) of distending media for hysteroscopic procedures.

STUDY DESIGN

Between January 2011 and December 2013, the medical records of all women who underwent hysteroscopic procedures using MI or the conventional pump-infusion method (PI, the control group) were reviewed. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test, the Chi-square test and the multivariate logistic regression analysis were employed for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The MI group (n=82) had a significantly lower average volume of infused fluid (1117 ± 712 mL vs. 2216 ± 1502 mL, respectively; p<0.001), less operative time (22.2 ± 9.7 vs. 30.4 ± 9.8 min, respectively; p<0.001) and lower postoperative abdominal pain scores (0.6 ± 0.7 vs. 0.8 ± 0.7, respectively; p=0.04) than the PI group (n=58). Subgroup analysis of women who underwent hysteroscopic myomectomy revealed a significantly lower amount of infused fluid for the MI group than for the PI group (1737 ± 905 mL vs. 3441 ± 1952 mL, respectively; p=0.001). Infused fluid amount (coefficient=0.08, p<0.001) was the only significant independent factor affecting fluid deficit, with a constant of 76.1.

CONCLUSION

The MI method appears to be a safe and feasible method for delivering distending media during hysteroscopic procedures.

Is Cold Loop Hysteroscopic Myomectomy a Safe and Effective Technique for the Treatment of Submucous Myomas With Intramural Development? A Series of 1434 Surgical Procedures

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To assess the safety and efficacy of cold loop hysteroscopic myomectomy in a large series of cases.

DESIGN

Retrospective study (Canadian Task Force Classification III).

SETTING

Arbor Vitae Center for Endoscopic Gynecology, Rome, Italy.

PATIENTS

A total of 1215 patients with 1 or more G1-G2 submucous myomas.

INTERVENTION

Cold loop hysteroscopic myomectomy.

MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS

A total of 1690 myomas were removed. A minimum of 1 to a maximum of 5 fibroids for each surgical procedure were totally removed. Out of 1215 patients, 1017 (83.7%) were treated with a single surgical procedure. Twelve intraoperative complications occurred (0.84%). No cases of uterine perforation with the thermal loop or clinical intravasation syndrome were reported.

CONCLUSION

Cold loop hysteroscopic myomectomy seems to represent a safe and effective procedure for the removal of submucous myomas with intramural development, while at the same time respecting the anatomic and functional integrity of the myometrium. The use of a cold loop in resectoscopic myomectomy is associated with a low rate of minor intraoperative complications and an absence of major complications. This could be of primary relevance with a view to fertility and future pregnancies.

Prostatic surgery associated acute kidney injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with extended hospital stays, high risks of in-hospital and long-term mortality, and increased risk of incident and progressive chronic kidney disease. Patients with urological diseases are a high-risk group for AKI owing to the coexistence of obstructive uropathy, older age, and preexistent chronic kidney disease. Nonetheless, precise data on the incidence and outcomes of postoperative AKI in urological procedures are lacking. Benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer are common diagnoses in older men and are frequently treated with surgical procedures. Whereas severe AKI after prostate surgery in general appears to be unusual, AKI associated with transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) syndrome and with rhabdomyolysis (RM) after radical prostatectomy have been frequently described. The purpose of this review is to discuss the current knowledge regarding the epidemiology, risk factors, outcomes, prevention, and treatment of AKI associated with prostatic surgery. The mechanisms of TURP syndrome and RM following prostatic surgeries will be emphasized.

Ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection following uterine instrumentation for dysfunctional uterine bleeding

Shunt infections are most common within the first 6 months following implantation. A shunt infection 19 years after implantation secondary to uterine ablation has not been reported to our knowledge. Office hysteroscopic procedures have become commonplace in gynecologic practice. Infectious complication rates are low, but peritonitis has been described. We present a patient with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection following a uterine ablation for dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Three days following the ablation she developed abdominal pain. CT scan of the abdomen 5 months after the procedure revealed a pseudocyst. She then underwent removal of her shunt with intra-operative cultures revealing Streptococcus agalactiae. Definitive treatment consisted of shunt explantation and antibiotic treatment with complete resolution of her pain and pseudocyst. Consideration for prophylactic antibiotics should be made when a patient with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt undergoes any transvaginal procedure.

Operative hysteroscopy intravascular absorption syndrome: A bolt from the blue

Operative hysteroscopy has emerged as an effective alternative to hysterectomy and has become standard surgical treatment for varied gynaecological conditions like abnormal uterine bleeding and uterine myomas. This procedure requires distention of the uterine cavity for adequate visualization of the operative field. 1.5% glycine is a widely used distention medium because it has good optical properties and is non-conductive. However, the intraoperative absorption of this electrolyte-free fluid can cause hyponatraemia, hypoosmolality, hyperglycinaemia and volume overload, including pulmonary oedema. We report a case of operative hysteroscopy intravascular absorption (OHIA) syndrome, presenting abruptly during hysteroscopic myomectomy, employing 1.5% glycine as the fluid distention medium. Successful management of the case and prevention strategies are discussed.

Gas embolism during hysteroscopic surgery using bipolar or monopolar diathermia: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to determine the incidence and amount of gas embolism during hysteroscopic surgery using either monopolar or bipolar diathermia and to investigate the relationship between the severity of gas embolism and the amount of intravasation of distension fluid.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a randomized, observer-blinded trial. Fifty patients, scheduled for hysteroscopic surgery, were assigned to either monopolar or bipolar diathermia. Transesophageal echocardiography was used to detect and classify gas embolism (grade 0-IV). Intravasation of distension fluid was measured.

RESULTS

Venous gas embolism was observed in all but 1 patient. A higher incidence of more extensive (grade IV) was seen during bipolar diathermia (42% vs 13%; P = .031). Paradoxical embolism was observed in 2 patients. When intravasation exceeded 1000 mL, significantly more grade IV venous gas embolism was seen (P = .049).

CONCLUSION

During hysteroscopic surgery, gas embolism was equally observed irrespective of the type of diathermia. However, more extensive embolism was observed when intravasation of distension fluid exceeded 1 L. These results question the acceptance of up to 2500 mL intravasation of distension fluid if bipolar diathermia is used.

Evaluation of a prototype flexible digital video hysteroscope (Y0001)

A prototype flexible DV hysteroscope (Y0001) with a tip diameter of 4.8 mm was investigated through comparisons with two other hysteroscopes with subequal tip diameters: A rigid office hysteroscope (OHS) and a hystero-fiberscope (1T). The angle of view, area of coverage, and resolution were compared for each hysteroscope. The angles of view of Y0001 and 1T were found to be significantly larger than that of OHS (p<0.005 and p<0.02, respectively). Y0001 and 1T also had significantly larger areas of coverage than OHS (p<0.005 and p<0.05, respectively). At a focal distance of 5 mm, there was no significant difference in resolution between Y0001 and OHS (p>0.1). The resolution of OHS was marginally higher than that of 1T at this distance, although the difference was not significant (0.05<p<0.1). OHS and Y0001 were also compared in terms of their ease of use in a case of submucosal myomectomy; the viability of the intraoperative images obtained from the two devices was also compared. Y0001 was shown to be superior to OHS in its capability to flexibly reach the recesses of the uterine cavity. The success rate of hysteroscopic biopsy with Y0001 was 100%. The study shows that Y0001 has a wider angle of view, larger area of coverage, and better usability than OHS, indicating that flexible surgical hysteroscopes may be less liable to cause intraoperative complications than rigid hysteroscopes.

Normal endometrial cells in cervical cytology: systematic review of prevalence and relation to significant endometrial pathology

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the prevalence of normal endometrial cells (NECs) and the proportion of NECs associated with significant endometrial pathology in conventional and liquid-based cytology (LBC) cervical smears; and to assess the association between NECs and clinical symptoms in women with endometrial hyperplasia or carcinoma.

METHODS

Systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis of prevalence and proportion data. The review was confined to studies reporting on NECs in smears from postmenopausal women or women aged 40+.

RESULTS

A total of 22 relevant primary studies were identified from 1970 to 2007. The overall summary estimate for the prevalence of NECs in smears from postmenopausal women or women aged 40+ in all screening smears was 0.4% (95% CI 0.2-0.7%); this was 0.3% (95% CI 0.1-0.5%) and 0.9% (95% CI 0.5-1.4%) for conventional and LBC smears, respectively; P = 0.003 for difference. The overall estimate for the proportion of NECs associated with significant endometrial pathology was 7% (95% CI 4-10%); this was 11% (95% CI 8-14%) and 2% (95% CI 1-2%) for conventional and LBC smears, respectively; P < 0.001 for difference. In women with significant endometrial pathology, the presence of NECs in followed-up women was associated with abnormal uterine bleeding in 79% (95% CI 68-87%) of cases.

CONCLUSION

Compared with conventional cytology, LBC may be associated with a higher prevalence of NECs but these are less likely to be associated with endometrial pathology. This finding might be explained by more consistent use of sampling instruments for LBC with better access to the endocervical canal or alternatively by changes over time, broadly coincident with the introduction of LBC, in the population in which NECs are reported. In followed-up women with NECs, most endometrial pathology is accompanied by symptoms, implying that a relatively smaller number of additional cases are identified through follow-up of asymptomatic women.