The Effect of Patient Position during Mid-Urethral Sling Operations on the Postoperative Outcomes of Sling Success: A Randomized Clinical Study.

AIMS: To determine and compare the effectiveness, peri- and postoperative outcomes of mid-urethral sling (MUS) operations for urinary incontinence, using 2 different patient positions during surgery. METHODS: In this study, 146 patients underwent MUS surgery in a urogynecology clinic. Of them, 72 patients underwent the intraoperative surgical procedure of reverse trendelenburg patient positioning for tape adjustment (group 1) and the remaining 74 patients had the routine surgical procedure of MUS surgery (group 2). The primary outcome was the evaluation of postoperative urine leaks, using the stress test, and secondary outcomes were quality of life, using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-SF, Turkish version) and complication rates. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in demographic variables between the 2 groups. The overall cure rates for incontinence in the lithotomy position was 97.22 and 85.13% for groups 1 and 2, respectively, in which group 1 had a statistically significant decrease in urine leak postoperatively (p < 0.05; OR 3.08, 95% CI 2.78-22.14). The postoperative ICQ-SF scores showed no significant difference between the 2 groups (p = 0.19). CONCLUSION: Applying a 45-degree reverse trendelenburg position for tape adjusting during MUS operation results in a greater objective cure rate compared with the typical dorsolithotomy position; however, there was no difference in the subjective outcome.

The fertility sparing management of postpartum hemorrhage: A series of 47 cases of Bakri balloon tamponade.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the success rate of Bakri balloon tamponade (BBT) for managing postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), intractable to conservative medical treatment, as a fertility sparing intervention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 47 women treated with BBT who had severe postpartum hemorrhage and uncontrollable bleeding due to failed treatment with uterotonic agents. The main outcome measure was successful management and preservation of the uterus. RESULTS: Forty-seven women were identified for BBT treatment due to severe PPH. BBT was used to successfully manage hemorrhage in 43 patients, and there was no need for hysterectomy. Four patients required an additional surgical procedure. Of the four failures, a subtotal hysterectomy was performed in two patients, and the other two patients underwent a total hysterectomy. The overall success rate was 91.4%, which was comparable to rates reported earlier. The main cause of PPH was uterine atony (43%). CONCLUSION: Uterine preservation is an important issue when managing PPH. BBT is an effective, easy to use, and safe procedure for massive PPH that can minimize recourse to hysterectomy after failed medical treatment.

Evaluation of hemoglobin A1c levels in endometrial cancer patients: a retrospective study in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Hemoglobin A1c(HgA1c) is a marker of poor gylcemic control and elevation HgA1c is associated with increased risk of many cancers. We aimed to determine the HgA1c levels in endometrial cancer cases and any relationship with stage and grade of disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective data review was performed between June 2011 and October 2012 at a tertiary referral center in Turkey. The study included 35 surgically staged endometrial cancer patients and 40 healthy controls. Preoperative HgA1c levels drawn within 3 months before surgery were compared. Also the relationships between HgA1c levels and stage, grade and hystologic type of cancer cases were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean HgA1c levels were statistically significantly higher at 6.19 ± 1.44 in endometrial cancer cases than the 5.61 ± 0.58 in controls (p=0.027). With endometrial cancer cases, the mean HgA1c level was found to be 6.62 ± 1.40 for stage I and 6.88 ± 1.15 for stages II-IV (p=0.07). The figures were 6.74 ± 1.65 for endometrioid and 6.63 ± 1.41 for non-endometrioid type tumors (p=0.56). Mean HgA1c levels of 6.72 ± 1.14 for grade 1 and 6.62 ± 1.42 for grade 2-3 were observed (p=0.57). CONCLUSIONS: HgA1c levels in endometrial cancer patients were statistically higher than healthy controls. However, HgA1c did not show any significant correlation with stage, grade and histologic type in endometrial cancer cases.

Additional surgical risk factors and patient characteristics for mesh erosion after abdominal sacrocolpopexy.

AIM: The aim of this study is to determine the risk factors of mesh exposures following abdominal sacral colpopexy (ASC) in which polypropylene mesh is used. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent ASC and were subsequently followed for development of mesh exposure for vaginal/vault prolapse between 2002 and 2012. Demographics and risk factors of the patients who did develop mesh exposure after ASC and the ones who did not were compared. RESULTS: In 42 months of survey, 19 of the 292 patients who underwent ASC developed mesh exposure. It was found that rates of patients with stage 3-4 prolapse were significantly greater in the mesh exposure group than in the control group (P = 0.04). Rates of mesh exposure were lower in patients with previous hysterectomy (P = 0.03). Also, it was found that concomitant hysterectomy or three or more additional procedures increased the risk of mesh exposure (P = 0.03 and P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: In abdominal sacrocolpopexy operations in which polypropylene meshes are used, stage 3 or 4 prolapse, concomitant hysterectomy and three or more additional procedures increase the risk of mesh exposure development.

The outcome of Manchester-Fotergill operation for uterine decensus repair: a single center experience.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics, peri- and post-operative outcomes, and clinical effectiveness of the Manchester-Fothergill (MF) procedure for uterine descensus as a uterine-sparing surgery. METHODS: In this study, 49 patients underwent the MF procedure as a uterine-sparing surgery for uterine descensus during 2008-2012 in the Department of Urogynecology at Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Research and Teaching Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. RESULTS: Medical records and follow-up data were collected from 24 of the 49 patients (48.9 %). The mean age was 49.3 ± 9.1 years, and parity 3.6 ± 1.5; 41.6 % were post-menopausal; 6 patients (25 %) had grade II, and 18 (75 %) had grade III uterine prolapse; 95.8 % had associated cystoceles, and 79.1 % had associated rectoceles; 66.6 % complained of urinary incontinence. On follow-up examination, the cervical stumps were satisfactorily situated in 23 of 24 patients, and recurrent prolapse was seen in 1 patient (4.1 %). Bladder perforation was repaired at the time of the operation in 1 patient, and one complained of post-operative urinary retention. CONCLUSION: The MF procedure is a viable option to surgically correct uterine descent while preserving the uterus to treat recurrent prolapse with a low complication rate and low morbidity.

Maternal serum CA-125 level is elevated in severe preeclampsia.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between serum concentrations of cancer antigen-125 (CA-125) and pre-eclampsia severity. METHODS: We evaluated 91 females with a singleton pregnancy. Serum CA-125 levels were measured in subjects with severe pre-eclampsia (n=34) and those with mild pre-eclampsia (n=24). Females with healthy pregnancies (n=31) served as the control group. The three study groups were statistically similar in terms of maternal age, gestational age, and body mass index. RESULTS: The CA-125 level was significantly higher in the severe pre-eclampsia group than that in the mild pre-eclampsia and control groups (p<0.05). No significant difference in CA-125 levels between the mild pre-eclampsia and control groups was observed. CA-125 level was positively correlated with proteinuria (r=0.489, p=0.000), systolic blood pressure (r=0.503, p=0.018), and diastolic blood pressure (r=0.532, p=0.000). In contrast, CA-125 was negatively correlated with birth weight (r=0.266, p=0.012) and gestational age at birth (r=0.250, p=0.018). CONCLUSIONS: CA-125 level increased in severe pre-eclampsia, which reflected abnormal trophoblastic invasion and chronic inflammation. Elevated levels of CA-125 in pre-eclamptic patients may be a marker of the disease severity.