Laparoscopic excision of lesions suggestive of endometriosis or otherwise atypical in appearance: relationship between visual findings and final histologic diagnosis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess accuracy of visual diagnosis of laparoscopically excised visceral and peritoneal abnormalities suggestive of endometriosis by comparison with final histologic diagnosis. DESIGN: Prospective study of 2005 tissue specimens from 512 patients undergoing laparoscopy for evaluation of pelvic pain was conducted (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: A private practice referral center for treatment of endometriosis. PATIENTS: From February 1992 through December 1998, 512 patients underwent laparoscopic excision of endometriosis. In all patients, the primary indication for surgery was pelvic pain with either prior surgical diagnosis or clinical history consistent with endometriosis. INTERVENTIONS: All areas of viscera and peritoneum either with typical appearance suggestive of endometriosis or atypical appearance were completely excised and examined histologically. At laparoscopy, all excised lesions were documented in a diagram by the primary surgeon according to anatomic site and visual description and were labeled as either suggestive of endometriosis or otherwise atypical in appearance. The hospital pathology department received entire lesions fixed in formalin and evaluated specimens for presence or absence of endometriosis. Pathologists, who were blinded to the surgeon's suspicion of endometriosis, were provided only the anatomic site of excised tissue. By definition, diagnosis of endometriosis was made when histologic evidence existed of both endometrial glands and stroma. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Diagrams detailing appearance, anatomic site, and surgeon's suspicion of endometriosis versus atypical lesions were compared with final histologic diagnosis. The greatest number of patient lesions were excised from cul-de-sac (n = 309). For this site, using visual criteria for diagnosis of endometriosis, positive predictive value was 93.9%, sensitivity was 69.3%, negative predictive value was 41.9%, and specificity was 83.1%. Prevalence was noted to be 79.0% and accuracy was 72.2%. In addition, atypical-appearing tissue not presumed to be endometriosis was confirmed to be endometriosis histologically in 24.3%. In examining tissue specimens from multiple anatomic sites, laparoscopic visual diagnosis of typical endometriosis generally had high positive predictive value. However, both sensitivity and negative predictive value were lower than expected because of atypical lesions subsequently diagnosed as endometriosis. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that when the surgical objective is complete eradication of endometriosis, the surgeon must be prepared to excise all lesions suggestive of endometriosis and tissue atypical in appearance as in most anatomic sites approximately 25% of atypical specimens proved to be endometriosis.

Investigation of often-reported ten percent hysteroscopy fluid overfill: is this accurate?

STUDY OBJECTIVE: A key component of hysteroscopic complications, such as fluid overload and severe dilutional hyponatremia, is the failure to anticipate and quickly recognize fluid deficits. The purpose of this study was to measure the volume and mass of irrigation fluid bags to assess the overfill of 3 common types of hysteroscopy irrigation fluids, 0.9% normal saline solution, 3% sorbitol, and 1.5% glycine, to challenge the often-quoted standard of assumption that overfill may be as high as 10% of the bag's volume. DESIGN: Ten cases of irrigation fluid were tested. The volume and weight of drained fluid from 18 bags of 0.9% normal saline solution 2000 mL, 12 bags 3% sorbitol 3000 mL, 8 bags of 1.5% glycine 3000 mL, and 4 bags of 0.9% normal saline solution 5000 mL were measured. Institutional review board exemption was obtained. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Ten cases of irrigation fluid were obtained. The volume and weight of drained fluid from 18 bags of 0.9% normal saline solution 2000 mL, 12 bags of 3% sorbitol 3000 mL, 8 bags of 1.5% glycine 3000 mL, and 4 bags of 0.9% normal saline solution 5000 mL were measured. By volume, varying by the type of fluid tested, the maximum observed overfill was between 3.3% to 5.0%. For confirmation, each bag was also weighed and found to have a maximum overfill between 2.8% to 5.6%, varying with the volume and type of fluid measured. These findings were then compared with the manufacturer-provided overfill range of 1.5% to 6.0%. No underfill was observed. CONCLUSION: Contrary to assertions over the last 25 years that overfill is 10% or higher as a rule, it appears more reasonable to assume that the degree of overfill is contingent on the type and volume of fluid used and is more likely closer to 2.8% to 5.6%. Therefore an accurate collecting system and weight measurement is more precise.

257 incidental appendectomies during total laparoscopic hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective observational report analyzes the demographics, blood loss, length of surgical duration, number of days in the hospital, and complications for 821 consecutive patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy over a 11-year period stratified by incidental appendectomy. METHODS: A retrospective chart abstraction was performed. ANOVA and chi-square tests were performed with significance preset at P<0.05. RESULTS: Of 821 consecutive patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy, 257 underwent elective appendectomy with the ultrasonic scalpel, either as part of their staging, treatment for pelvic pain, or prophylaxis against appendicitis. Comparing the 2 groups, no difference existed in mean age of 50+/-10 years or mean BMI of 27.6+/-6.7. Both groups had a similar mean blood loss of 130 mL. Surgery took less time (137 vs 118 minutes, P<0.0012) and the hospital stay was shorter in the appendectomy group (1.5 vs 1.2, P<0.0001) possibly because it was performed incidentally in most cases. No complications were attributable to the appendectomy, and complication types and rates in both groups were similar. Though all appendicies appeared normal, pathology was documented in 9%, including 3 carcinoid tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Incidental appendectomy during total laparoscopic hysterectomy is not associated with significant risk and can be routinely offered to patients planning elective gynecologic laparoscopic procedures, as is standard for open procedures.

Total laparoscopic hysterectomy for uterine pathology: impact of body mass index on outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to analyze surgical results of women with uterine cancers having TLH+/-staging, stratifying data by body mass index (BMI). METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of data from 9 years, using Pearson and Spearman correlations, ANOVA and Fisher's Exact Test with significance at P<0.05, stratifying by BMI (kg/m2): underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), ideal (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25 to 29.9 kg/m2), obese (30 to 39.9 kg/m2) and morbidly obese (40 kg/m2 or more). RESULTS: Of 702 patients having TLH over 9 years, 90 patients had uterine pathology. Two (2%) procedures were converted to laparotomy due to unsuspected widespread metastasis and excluded from analysis. BMI ranged from 18 to 60 kg/m2, with 31 patients having ideal, 19 having overweight and 38 having obese BMI. Of these, 19 patients had hyperplasia, while 63 had endometrial carcinoma, 1 had both ovarian and endometrial carcinoma and 5 had sarcoma. Of these 88 patients, 61 had TLH while 27 patients had indicated pelvic and aortic node dissection. The mean age was 60 years, and mean parity was 1.5 for all BMI groups. There were no significant differences in mean duration of surgery (150 min), blood loss (129 cm3) and days in hospital (1.7 days) for all BMI groups. There was no significant difference in uterine weight (140 gm) or number of nodes dissected (21 nodes). Complications occurred in 4 patients (4.5%): 1 diverticulitis, 1 ureteral injury, 1 laparotomy for bleeding and 1 incisional hernia. CONCLUSIONS: Total laparoscopic hysterectomy is feasible and safe for women with uterine neoplasia for every BMI category and extends the benefits of minimally invasive hysterectomy to more women, regardless of BMI.