Complications after benign hysterectomy, according to procedure: a population-based prospective cohort study from the Danish hysterectomy database, 2004-2015.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the risk of complications associated with benign hysterectomy according to surgical procedure. DESIGN: Register-based prospective cohort study. SETTING: Danish Hysterectomy Database, 2004-2015. POPULATION: All Danish women with benign elective hysterectomy (n = 51 141). METHODS: Multivariate log-binomial regression to compute relative risks (RRs) stratified by calendar period, and adjusted for age, height, weight, smoking habits, use of alcohol, comorbidity, indications, uterine weight and adhesions. Multiple imputation and 'intention to treat' analyses were performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Major (grades III-V) and minor (grades I-II) Clavien-Dindo modified complications within 30 days. RESULTS: Overall, major complications occurred in 3577 (7.0%) hysterectomies and minor complications occurred in 4788 (9.4%). The proportions of major and minor complications according to type of hysterectomy were: 10.3 and 9.6% for abdominal hysterectomy (AH); 4.1 and 12.1% for laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH); and 4.9 and 8.0% for vaginal hysterectomy (VH) for non-prolapse, and 2.3 and 6.4% for prolapse. In multivariate analyses, compared with VH for non-prolapse, the risk of major complications was higher for AH (RR 1.82, 95% CI 1.63-2.03) but lower for both LH (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.68-0.90) and VH for prolapse (RR 0.55; 95% CI 0.41-0.75). For LH, the risk of major complications reduced from a RR of 0.96 (95% CI 0.75-1.22) in the time period 2004-2009 to an RR of 0.72 (95% CI 0.60-0.87) between 2010 and 2015. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic hysterectomy and VH for uterine prolapse are associated with fewer major complications, and AH is associated with more major complications, compared with VH performed in the absence of uterine prolapse. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Laparoscopic hysterectomy has fewer major complications compared with vaginal hysterectomy, in the absence of uterine prolapse.

Five-year follow up of a randomised controlled trial comparing subtotal with total abdominal hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the rates of urinary incontinence (UI) and other complications of subtotal abdominal hysterectomy (SAH) with total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) at 5 years after surgery. DESIGN: Randomised clinical trial with central, computer-generated randomisation. SETTING: Danish multi-centre trial performed in 11 departments of gynaecology. POPULATION: Women referred with benign uterine diseases scheduled for abdominal hysterectomy. METHODS: Women were randomised to either SAH (n = 161) or TAH (n = 158). Follow-up data were collected from participants using postal questionnaires sent out 5 years after surgery. Complications of hysterectomy were further examined by scrutinising registered discharge summaries following hospitalisation. Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses were conducted. Potential bias caused by missing data was handled using multiple imputation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was UI. Secondary outcomes included constipation, prolapse of the vaginal vault or cervical stump, satisfaction with sexual life, pelvic pain, postoperative complications and vaginal bleeding. RESULTS: The response rate was 234/319 (73.4%). A significantly higher proportion of respondents had urinary incontinence 5 years after SAH 34/113 (30.1%) than TAH 21/119 (17.6%) (RR 1.71, 95% confidence interval 1.06-2.75, P = 0.026). This difference reduced after multiple imputation to account for missing data (RR 1.37, 95% confidence interval 0.99-1.89, P = 0.052). Eleven of the 101 women (11%) in the SAH group still experienced vaginal bleeding. No other differences were found between the two types of abdominal hysterectomy. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: A smaller proportion of women suffered from UI after TAH than after SAH 5 years postoperatively. Around one in ten women continued to experience vaginal bleeding 5 years after SAH.

Intraoperative management of posterior capsule tears in phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation.

OBJECTIVE: This paper presents the incidence, causes, and management of posterior capsule (PC) tears and their postoperative outcomes in a large series of eyes that underwent cataract removal and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, operated on by one surgeon. DESIGN: Retrospective, noncomparative case series. PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen thousand four hundred seventy consecutive eyes (1992-1999) were reviewed with the assistance of electronic medical records for incidence of PC tears in patients seeking treatment at an outpatient cataract surgery clinic. INTERVENTION: Eyes in this series underwent continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis (CCC), nucleofractis phacoemulsification, and IOL implantation under topical anesthesia. Different intraoperative surgical strategies such as posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis (PCCC) were used in the management of PC tears. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Routine preoperative and postoperative visual and refractive outcomes were recorded, including incidence of lens capsule tears, IOL position, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Posterior capsule tears occurred in 83 of 18,470 eyes, resulting in an overall incidence of 0.45%. Of these 83 eyes with PC tears, 49% received vitrectomy. Fifty-one of 83 PC tears (61.4%) were amenable to be converted to PCCC. Of these 51 procedures, 50 eyes had PC IOL in-the-bag fixation. One eye had PCCC with optic capture. There were no eyes with dropped nuclei or nuclear fragments requiring pars plana vitrectomy. Seventeen eyes (20.5%) had Neuhann anterior capsule rhexis fixation with the haptics placed in the sulcus and IOL securely in the bag. Ten eyes (12.1%) had the IOL placed in the sulcus, and 5 eyes (6.0%) required anterior chamber IOL fixation. None of the 83 PC tears resulted in clinically evident cystoid macular edema, retinal detachment, or endophthalmitis. CONCLUSIONS: With an intact CCC and with conversion of PC tears to PCCC, in-the-bag fixation of IOLs can be achieved in most eyes.

Predictive value of progression-associated chromosomal aberrations for the prognosis of meningiomas: a retrospective study of 198 cases.

OBJECT: The goal of this study was to determine whether in meningiomas cytogenetic findings are suitable as a predictive parameter relevant to prognosis. METHODS: Between 1992 and 1998 at the Department of Neurosurgery, Saarland University, 198 patients underwent surgery to resect meningiomas. The meningiomas were investigated cytogenetically and the patients were followed up for a mean period of 33 months. On the basis of the cytogenetic findings, the meningiomas were subdivided into four groups: Group 0 meningiomas displayed a normal diploid chromosome set; Group 1 tumors were found to have monosomy 22 as the sole cytogenetic aberration; Group 2 tumors were markedly hypodiploid meningiomas with loss of additional autosomes in addition to monosomy 22; and Group 3 meningiomas had deletions of the short arm of a chromosome 1, as well as additional chromosomal aberrations including loss of one chromosome 22. One hundred ninety-eight patients in whom tumor resections were determined to be Simpson Grade I or II could be followed up after complete tumor extirpation. In 20 patients, one or several recurrences were documented during the period of observation. The tumors were classified according to their different, but mostly uniform chromosomal aberrations. Recurrences were found in six (4.3%) of 139 tumors in Groups 0 and 1 and in two (10.5%) of 19 tumors in Group 2; the highest rate of recurrence was found in 12 (30%) of 40 tumors in Group 3. This supports the notion that the deletion of the short arm of one chromosome 1 is an important prognostic factor in meningiomas. The results of this study document a significant correlation between histological grade (p < 0.0001), location (p < 0.0001), and recurrences of meningiomas (p < 0.0001) (significance determined using chi-square tests). CONCLUSIONS: The cytogenetic classification of meningiomas provides a significant contribution to the predictability of tumor recurrence and is, therefore, a valuable criterion for the neurosurgeon's postoperative management protocol.

Late traumatic flap dislocation after laser in situ keratomileusis.

Three patients who had laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) experienced severe direct corneal trauma 3 to 38 months postoperatively. Flap dislocation resulted in all 3 patients. Presentation following trauma ranged from a few hours to 9 days. All patients were successfully managed by surgical flap repositioning, and all maintained a best corrected visual acuity of 20/20. A literature review of traumatic flap dislocation cases and the most recent methods of diagnosis and management are included.

Minimizing the risk of recutting with a Hansatome over an existing Automated Corneal Shaper flap for hyperopic laser in situ keratomileusis enhancement.

We report a case series of 4 eyes to discuss the intraoperative complications of recutting a laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flap with a Hansatome microkeratome over an existing 160 microm Automated Corneal Shaper flap for the retreatment of hyperopia. In the eyes that were recut, slivers of stroma were apparent on reflection of the flap; the slivers were located centrally in the 180 microm eye and peripherally in the 160 microm eyes. Recutting a flap for LASIK retreatment runs the risk of visually significant stromal irregularities.

Diffuse lamellar keratitis: isolation of endotoxin and demonstration of the inflammatory potential in a rabbit laser in situ keratomileusis model.

PURPOSE: To systematically examine sources of endotoxin contamination in eye centers as a potential cause of diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) and to demonstrate the inflammatory potential of endotoxin in a rabbit model of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery. SETTING: University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. METHODS: In this prospective study, all water sources that routinely come in contact with LASIK instruments, including sterilizer reservoirs, eyedrops, microkeratome blades, and cleaning solutions, were examined for endotoxins at 5 eye centers. Bacterial cultures were performed on water samples from 5 sterilizer reservoirs. A LASIK flap was created in 8 rabbit eyes using an Automated Corneal Shaper microkeratome (Bausch & Lomb). The flaps were reflected, and a dose of endotoxin at various concentrations was placed on the interface. After 1 minute, the flap was irrigated and repositioned. The rabbit eyes were examined daily with a slitlamp biomicroscope for 3 days for the development of DLK, which was classified on a scale from grade 1 to 4 (mild to severe). The rabbits were killed at the conclusion of the study, and the interfaces were stained to rule out infectious etiologies. RESULTS: Endotoxin was detected in significant concentrations in tap water, filtered and distilled water, instrument washbasins, and sterilizer reservoirs at all 5 centers. The cultures of the water samples taken from the sterilizer reservoirs ranged from no growth to the presence of >100 colony-forming units of Flavobacterium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Endotoxins caused DLK-like interface inflammation in all eyes tested. Examination of stained scrapings showed no microorganisms in the interface of the rabbit eyes. CONCLUSION: Endotoxin contamination was detected in water sources that routinely come in contact with LASIK instruments. Endotoxins were capable of inducing interface inflammation in a rabbit model and may therefore be a significant factor in epidemic DLK.

Accuracy of Orbscan pachymetry measurements and DHG ultrasound pachymetry in primary laser in situ keratomileusis and LASIK enhancement procedures.

PURPOSE: To assess the accuracy and variability in pachymetry measurements obtained by Orbscan and by DGH ultrasound in primary laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and LASIK enhancement procedures. SETTING: Gimbel Eye Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 906 consecutive primary LASIK and 183 consecutive LASIK enhancement procedures for which preoperative DGH ultrasound and Orbscan pachymetry measurements were obtained. The theoretical residual corneal thickness was compared to measurements by both instruments in 60 eyes that had primary procedures and enhancements. RESULTS: In primary LASIK eyes, the DGH ultrasound measurements were thicker than the Orbscan measurements by a mean of 18.4 microm +/- 17.4 (SD). The DGH ultrasound measurements were thicker than the Orbscan measurements by a mean of 50.1 +/- 40.7 microm in preenhancement pachymetry measurements. The DGH ultrasound measurements were consistent with theoretical residual corneal thickness, 493.0 +/- 42.0 microm versus 487.0 +/- 31.0 microm (P =.65), while Orbscan measurements were statistically less than the theoretical residual corneal thickness, 431.0 +/- 42.0 microm versus 468.0 +/- 39.0 microm (P =.0001). CONCLUSION: DGH ultrasound was a more accurate measurement of corneal pachymetry than Orbscan. The discrepancies between DGH ultrasound and Orbscan pachymetry measurements were more prominent in eyes that had had LASIK.

Accuracy and predictability of intraocular lens power calculation after laser in situ keratomileusis.

PURPOSE: To study the accuracy and predictability of intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation in eyes that had laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). SETTING: Gimbel Eye Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. METHODS: Refractive outcomes in 6 cataract surgery and lensectomy eyes after previous LASIK were analyzed retrospectively. Target refractions based on measured and refraction-derived keratometric values were compared with postoperative achieved refractions. Differences between target refractions calculated using 5 IOL formulas and 2 A-constants and achieved refractions were also compared. RESULTS: The refractive error of IOL power calculation in postoperative LASIK eyes was significantly reduced when refraction-derived keratometric values were used for IOL power calculation. Persistent residual hyperopia still occurred in some cases; this was corrected by hyperopic LASIK. Refractive results appeared more accurate and predictable when the Holladay 2 or Binkhorst 2 formula was used for IOL power calculation. CONCLUSION: Hyperopic error after cataract surgery in post-LASIK eyes was significantly reduced by using refraction-derived keratometric values for IOL power calculation. Persistent hyperopic error was corrected by hyperopic LASIK.

Photorefractive keratectomy with customized segmental ablation to correct irregular astigmatism after laser in situ keratomileusis.

PURPOSE: To correct irregular astigmatism after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) with customized segmental ablation using the Nidek OPD-Scan (ARK-10000) to guide the Nidek EC-5000 excimer laser with the Final Fit software. METHODS: One eye of a patient that had undergone LASIK and one enhancement was treated using photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) with customized segmental ablation. OPD-Scan maps were analyzed before and after surgery. The Final Fit software was used to link the OPD-Scan to the EC-5000 laser to guide the customized ablation. RESULTS: At 1 month postoperatively, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity had improved from 20/20-2 to 20/15-2, the patient's subjective evaluation of vision was markedly improved, and the postoperative OPD-Scan maps appeared more regular. CONCLUSION: Customized segmental ablation can be performed using the Nidek OPD-Scan and Final Fit software to improve best spectacle-corrected visual acuity and minimize irregular astigmatism, which may result from prior surgical procedures.

Hysterectomy on benign indication in Denmark 1988-1998. A register based trend analysis.

BACKGROUND: The aims of the study were to describe the trends in Danish hysterectomy rates from 1988 to 1998 for operations done on benign indication. METHODS: Data from all women (n=67,096) undergoing hysterectomy from 1988 to 1998 were obtained from the Danish National Patient Register. Data on the female population distribution were obtained from the Danish National Population Register. RESULTS: During the last 11 years the incidence rate of hysterectomy performed for benign diseases has been stable. However, the rate of women treated surgically for benign diseases of the uterus has increased by 14%. During the study period the number of total abdominal hysterectomies has decreased by 38%, the number of subtotal abdominal hysterectomies has increased by 458%, the number of vaginal hysterectomies has increased by 107% and two new methods of surgical treatment for benign diseases of the uterus have been introduced. Abdominal hysterectomy still accounts for 80% of the total number of hysterectomies performed in Denmark in 1998. The age distribution for all hysterectomies has changed, from a maximum of 36-45 years in 1988 to 46-55 years in 1998. The age maximum for abdominal hysterectomy corresponds to that of all hysterectomies. For vaginal hysterectomy the age maximum is 56 years or older, while it is 36-45 years for laparoscopic hysterectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence rate of hysterectomy was stable during the study period and the age distribution for all hysterectomies has changed. The study showed a change in the choice of surgical methods, although no evidence supports this practice.

Accuracy and predictability of intraocular lens power calculation after photorefractive keratectomy.

PURPOSE: To investigate the accuracy and predictability of intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation in postoperative photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) eyes. SETTING: Gimbel Eye Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. METHODS: The results in 5 cataract surgery eyes that had had PRK were analyzed retrospectively. Target refractions based on actual and refraction-derived keratometric values were compared with postoperative achieved refractions. The target refractions calculated using 5 IOL formulas and 2 A-constants were also compared with the achieved refractions. RESULTS: In postoperative PRK eyes, the power calculation was more accurate and predictable when the smaller of either the actual or refraction-derived keratometric value was used to calculate the IOL power. The difference between target and achieved refractions appeared smaller when the Binkhorst formula was used. No significant hyperopic shift was observed after cataract surgery. CONCLUSION: The smaller of the actual or the refraction-derived keratometric value is recommended for calculating IOL power in post-PRK eyes.

The effect of transmission bandwidth on the quality of ophthalmological still and video images.

We have examined the minimum realtime transmission speed for video-angiography with the Rodenstock scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) with respect to spatial and contrast resolution. An SLO fluorescein video-angiography sequence was recorded using high-quality media and relayed to a remote site at transmission speeds ranging from T3 (4.5 Mbit/s) to 0.125 T (197 kbit/s). Images were compared with each other subjectively by an ophthalmologist and objectively with image processing software. When compared qualitatively there was little difference between the T3 and T1 images. The T1 images scored well on clarity and contrast, while 0.5 T was satisfactory but inferior to T1. Transmission speeds below 0.5 T were inadequate. The digital analysis showed a slight difference between T3 and T1. We calculated that there was up to a 92% loss of resolution at 0.25 T and up to a 98% loss at 0.125 T. Based on our quantitative and qualitative analysis, a T3 line provided the highest bandwidth and best resolution, as expected. However, 0.5 T gave satisfactory results for realtime consultations and appears to be the minimum speed required for ophthalmic purposes, producing few motion artefacts and good resolution.

Postoperative complications in laser in situ keratomileusis.

Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) has become the most common procedure to correct refractive errors in North America. Increasing numbers of patients and surgeons are choosing LASIK in the management of low and moderate myopia, astigmatism, and hyperopia. LASIK presents a unique group of postoperative challenges and complications. It is important to be able to identify these complications in the early and late postoperative periods and to provide effective management. In this article, we review the most commonly encountered early and late postoperative complications after LASIK and the most current methods in prevention and treatment.

[Diagnosis and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease in the mentally retarded: guidelines of a multidisciplinary consensus work group. Dutch Association of Physicians in Care of Mentally Handicapped]. / Diagnostiek en behandeling van gastro-oesofageale refluxziekte bij verstandelijk gehandicapten; richtlijnen van een multidisciplinaire consensuswerkgroep.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is more frequent among people with intellectual disability than among the intellectually normal population. Also GORD is more serious in this population. The diagnosis is often missed, because most intellectually disabled cannot express their complaints of GORD. For that reason a multidisciplinary working group of the Dutch Association of physicians active in the care of persons with a mental handicap has developed guidelines. The working group recommends endoscopy in case of a (alarm) symptoms: haematemesis, prolonged vomiting, irondeficiency anaemia e.c.i., and a 24 hour oesophageal pH test in case of b (aspecific) symptoms: recurrent pneumonia, refusal of food, regurgitation, rumination, dental erosions. In general most patients are cured with drug treatment (omeprazol or another proton pump inhibitor). If symptoms are not improved after 6 months of optimal treatment, surgical treatment may be considered.