Endovascular stroke therapy in Austria: a nationwide 1-year experience

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Based on a tight network of stroke units (SUs) and interventional centres, endovascular treatment of acute major intracranial vessel occlusion has been widely implemented in Austria. Documentation of all patients in the nationwide SU registry has thereby become mandatory.

METHODS

Demographic, clinical and interventional characteristics of patients who underwent endovascular treatment for acute ischaemic stroke in 11 Austrian interventional centres between 1 October 2013 and 30 September 2014 were analysed.

RESULTS

In total, 301 patients (50.5% women; median age 70.5 years; median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score 17) were identified.193 patients (64.1%) additionally received intravenous thrombolysis. The most frequent vessel occlusion sites were the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery (n = 161, 53.5%), the intracranial internal carotid artery (n = 60, 19.9%) and the basilar artery (n = 40, 13.3%). Stent retrievers were used in 235 patients (78.1%) and adequate reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction scores 2b and 3, median onset to reperfusion time 254 min) was achieved in 242 patients (81.4%). Symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage occurred in 7%. 43.8% of patients (n = 132) had good functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) and the mortality rate was 20.9% (n = 63) after 3 months. Compared to the anterior circulation, vertebrobasilar stroke patients had higher mortality. Patients with secondary hospital transportation had better outcomes after 3 months than in-house treated patients.

CONCLUSION

Our results document nationwide favourable outcome and safety rates of endovascular stroke treatment comparable to recent randomized trials. The ability to provide such data and the need to further optimize such an approach also underscore the contribution of respective registries.

Laparoscopic laser sterilisation: An alternative option

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of female laparoscopic laser tubal sterilisation. A total of 265 women underwent laparoscopic laser sterilisation as a day-case procedure at Princess Royal University Hospital in Kent between 1996 and 2001. The fallopian tube was divided at the isthmic portion using a neodymium-yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser probe. All procedures were completed laparoscopically and patients were discharged within 6 h of surgery. No perioperative complications were encountered. The mean follow-up duration was 36 months (range 2 - 7 years) and no intra- or extrauterine pregnancies were reported throughout the entire follow-up period. We conclude that laparoscopic Nd:YAG laser sterilisation appears to be a safe and effective day-case method of female sterilisation. Larger studies with longer follow-up are needed to further define its role as a reliable long-term contraceptive method.

Outcome of the first 220 cases of endometrial balloon ablation using Cavaterm™plus

The objective of this prospective study was to evaluate the effectiveness of day-case Cavaterm plus thermal balloon endometrial ablation in the treatment of therapy-resistant menorrhagia. The study included 220 patients with a mean age of 41 years, mean parity of 2.1 and mean duration of menorrhagia of 3.2 years. A 6-mm diameter Cavaterm plus catheter with a silicone balloon at its tip was used. The ablation time was 10 minutes at a temperature of 78 degrees C. No procedure-related operative or immediate postoperative complications were encountered. The mean follow-up period was 19 months (range 6-24 months). The amenorrhoea-hypomenorrhoea rates at the various follow-up periods ranged between 74% and 83%. At the end of follow-up, 83% of patients were satisfied with the procedure. We conclude that Cavaterm plus is a safe and effective treatment for menorrhagia and has good patient acceptability.

Safety of the Helica Thermal Coagulator in treatment of early stage endometriosis

The objective of this prospective study was to assess the safety and short-term outcome of the Helica Thermal Coagulator in the laparoscopic treatment of early stage endometriosis. Two hundred and fifty consecutive women with chronic pelvic pain and stage I and II endometriosis (r-AFS classification) were treated laparoscopically with the Helica Thermal Coagulator. No bladder, ureteric or bowel injuries occurred. None of the procedures was converted to laparotomy and there were no major peri-operative complications. The only complication was a vaginal perforation during dissection of the cul-de-sac in a patient with a vaginal vault endometriotic nodule. We conclude that the Helica Thermal Coagulator is a safe alternative for the treatment of mild to moderate endometriosis. Long-term efficacy studies are required to better assess the role of the device in laparoscopic management of endometriosis.

Efficacy of laparoscopic subtotal hysterectomy in the management of menorrhagia: 400 consecutive cases

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To assess the safety and patient satisfaction of laparoscopic subtotal hysterectomy (LSH) using a standardised surgical technique.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

SETTING

Princess Royal University Hospital, Chelsfield Park Hospital and Sloane Hospital, Kent, UK.

PATIENTS AND MATERIALS

Four hundred consecutive women with menorrhagia underwent LSH. The procedure was performed using the Plasma Kinetic Bipolar Diathermy (Gyrus International Ltd, Berkshire, UK) for pedicle ligation and the Lap Loop system (Roberts Surgical Healthcare Ltd, Kidderminster, UK) to detach the cervix. An electromechanical morcellator (Morcellex; Ethicon Women's Health and Urology, Cincinnati, OH, USA) was used to remove the uterus from the abdominal cavity.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Patient satisfaction, morbidity rates and readmission rates.

RESULTS

A total of 400 LSH were performed between February 2003 and November 2006. The principal clinical indication for hysterectomy was menorrhagia. The mean duration of surgery was 46.4 minutes. The mean operative blood loss was 126 ml. Concurrent surgery was performed in 141 women. Minor and major perioperative complications were encountered in 5% (n= 20) of women. The major complication rate was 1.2% (n= 5): three women (0.75%) with bladder perforation, two women (0.5%) with bowel injury and one woman (0.25%) with a vesicocervical fistula. Eight women (2%) suffered from cyclical vaginal bleeding postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

LSH is a safe and effective treatment for menorrhagia and other menstrual disorders when hysterectomy is indicated. Women appreciate the quick recovery period, reduced time off work and faster return to normal activity. Our data suggest that LSH can replace abdominal hysterectomy in selected cases.

Cavaterm thermal balloon ablation for the treatment of menorrhagia

Fifty patients due to undergo endometrial ablation as a treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding were recruited to assess the efficacy and safety of a new thermal balloon ablation system (Cavaterm). The patients were followed up for a mean of 14 months (range 6-24): 34 (68%) have complete amenorrhoea, 12 (24%) only have spotting, two (4%) are eumenorrhoeic, and two (4%) have had failed treatments. There were no major complications, but two patients have required oral antibiotics for suspected endometritis. Although these preliminary results are encouraging, all patients remain under review to determine long term effect of the procedure. Further evaluation is also underway in the form of a randomised trial against endometrial laser ablation.

Training in minimal access surgery

Minimal access surgery is a new technique involving surgical treatment with the aid of endoscopy. Training in these procedures has, in the UK, been largely self-taught and haphazard. Variation on a surgical skill already achieved is acceptable, but learning a totally new skill by trial and error on a large scale is both unethical and potentially dangerous for the patients involved. This article represents the personal views of a trainee and his trainer in these new techniques.

Endometrial ablation in the treatment of menorrhagia

A prospective 5-year multicentre study, involving three UK gynaecology centres with a special interest in endoscopic laser surgery, was set up to determine the safety, acceptability, clinical effectiveness and complications of neodymium yttrium-aluminium-garnet laser ablation of the endometrium in the treatment of menorrhagia. A total of 2342 women with disabling menorrhagia that was unresponsive to medical therapy were involved. The main outcome measures were: preoperative endometrial preparation; duration of laser ablation, intra- and postoperative complications, amenorrhoea rate, oligomenorrhoea rate, and the women's subjective assessment of treatment. No major complications occurred in the 2342 treatments. Nine (0.4%) cases of transient fluid overload, 11 (0.5%) of infection and five (0.2%) of uterine perforation occurred. None of the women required a laparotomy. The mean duration of the laser ablation was 24 min. The post-surgery amenorrhoea rate was higher in women pretreated with danazol. Of the 1866 women followed up for at least 1 year after treatment, 1043 (56%) developed complete amenorrhoea, 701 (38%) reported continuing but satisfactorily reduced menstruation, and 122 (7%) patients failed to improve with the first treatment (57 of these 122 women responded to a second laser ablation). Overall, 1744 (93%) had a satisfactory response to laser ablation and only 33 (1.8%) required subsequent hysterectomy. In conclusion, this study showed that hysteroscopic endometrial laser ablation is an acceptable alternative to hysterectomy for the treatment of menorrhagia.

Laparoscopic hysterectomy: a valid alternative to conventional surgery

According to the records of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (1990) more than 80,000 hysterectomies were performed in the UK during 1990. Minimally invasive procedures are replacing conventional hysterectomies in ever-increasing numbers. This article describes the techniques and considers whether the trend is a welcome one.

A multi-centre collaborative study into the treatment of menorrhagia by Nd-YAG laser ablation of the endometrium

OBJECTIVE

To determine the safety and clinical effectiveness of Nd-YAG laser ablation of the endometrium in the treatment of menorrhagia.

DESIGN

A prospective 3-year observational multi-centre study.

SETTING

Gynaecological units in the UK and USA with special interest in endoscopic laser surgery.

SUBJECTS

859 women with menorrhagia resistant to medical therapy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Duration of laser ablation, intra- and post-operative complications, amenorrhoea rate, oligomenorrhoea rate, and woman's subjective assessment of treatment.

RESULTS

No major complications occurred in 859 treatments. Four (0.4%) cases of transient fluid overload, 4 (0.4%) of infection, and 3 (0.3%) of uterine perforation occurred. Each of the perforations occurred during insertion of the rigid instruments and none was produced by the laser. There were no major haemorrhages, no blood transfusions were needed, and no woman required a laparotomy. The mean duration of the laser ablation was 24 min, and the average stay in hospital was less than 24 h. Of the 479 women followed up for at least 6 months after treatment 288 (60%) developed complete amenorrhoea and 152 (32%) reported continuing but satisfactorily reduced menstruation; 39 (8%) failed to improve with the first treatment, but 26 of them responded to a second laser ablation. Overall 466 (97%) had a satisfactory response to laser ablation and only 13 (3%) required subsequent hysterectomy.

CONCLUSION

Endometrial laser ablation would appear to be a popular, safe, effective and economical alternative to hysterectomy for the treatment of menorrhagia.