Endometriosis presenting as a urethral diverticulum: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic pain is a common complaint among women of childbearing age. It has an extensive differential diagnosis that at times can make it difficult to determine its etiology. One must therefore rely on the characteristics of the physical examination, symptoms and imaging studies. However, in doing so, one should keep in mind that many diseases mimic one another. Physicians must be careful not to fall into the trap of simply assigning a specific disease to a given group of symptoms. CASE: A 35-year-old woman, gravida 2, para 0020, presented to a clinic complaining of left lower abdominal pain. She had a history of dyspareunia, dysmenorrhea, urinary frequency and numerous urinary tract infections. Previous laparoscopies had been negative for endometriosis. Physical examination demonstrated a 1.5-cm mass left of the midurethra. No pus was expressed through the urethra with cyst massage. Imaging showed a 1.1 x 1.1-cm lesion in the left posterolateral aspect of the urethra consistent with a urethral diverticulum. Uterine adenomyosis was also noted. Although clinical symptoms, physical examination and imaging suggested a urethral diverticulum, a vaginal endometriotic cyst was encountered at surgery. Pathologic evaluation of the surgically excised lesion revealed endometriosis, revealed endometriosis. CONCLUSION: In this case, clinical findings, location and imaging characteristics of a periurethral endometriotic lesion suggested a urethral diverticulum. Endometriosis should be considered in patients with a history of pelvic pain who present with urinary frequency and a periurethral lesion.

Does hysterectomy without adnexectomy in patients with prior tubal interruption increase the risk of subsequent hydrosalpinx?

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to examine the hypothesis that hysterectomy without adnexectomy after tubal interruption is associated with the development of hydrosalpinx. STUDY DESIGN: In this case-control study, patients with a pathologic diagnosis of hydrosalpinx were compared with a group of patients undergoing adnexectomy without a hydrosalpinx. The incidence of prior tubal interruption followed by hysterectomy in the two groups was compared. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant association between the development of hydrosalpinx and a history of hysterectomy after tubal interruption. Nine of 38 cases and 2 of 45 controls had a history of tubal interruption (odds ratio 6.67, P =.019). CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing hysterectomy who have had a tubal interruption may be at risk for the development of hydrosalpinx because this combination of procedures results in a segment of tube that is blocked at both ends. If further study bears out this association, consideration should be given to performing salpingectomy at the time of hysterectomy even if the ovaries are being left behind.

Perioperative changes in serum creatinine after gynecologic surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to prospectively determine the normal range of postoperative changes in serum creatinine levels when bilateral ureteral patency was confirmed by cystoscopy. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 187 consecutive patients who had undergone major gynecologic surgery were evaluated prospectively. All patients had undergone perioperative cystoscopy to evaluate for ureteral patency, and creatinine levels had been determined before and 24 hours after surgery. RESULTS: The mean change in serum creatinine level was 0.01 mg/dL, and the changes for the central 95% ranged from -0.2 to 0.3 mg/dL. With a previously defined cutoff value of an increase of >0.2 mg/dL after operation to indicate ureteral obstruction, specificity and negative predictive values (when compared with cystoscopic findings) were 98% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Creatinine levels change minimally during the immediate postoperative period in the absence of ureteral compromise. If bilateral ureteral patency was demonstrated after operation in our population, creatinine level elevations were always <0.3 mg/dL.

Laparoscopic versus open Burch retropubic urethropexy: comparison of morbidity and costs when performed with concurrent vaginal prolapse repairs.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the morbidity and cost that are associated with laparoscopic and open Burch retropubic urethropexy when they are performed with concurrent vaginal prolapse repairs. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective study of all patients who had undergone laparoscopic (n = 76) or open (n = 143) Burch retropubic urethropexy with at least 1 concurrent vaginal repair for symptomatic prolapse. We compared demographic data, level of prolapse, operative and postoperative details, medical and surgical histories, complications, and hospital charges. RESULTS: The group with open retropubic urethropexy had an older age, greater degree of prolapse, fewer concurrent hysterectomies, and a greater number of vaginal procedures than the group with laparoscopic retropubic urethropexy. There were minimal differences in complications and no differences in the estimated blood loss, operative time, hemoglobin change, hospitalization, or hospital charges between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Traditional benefits of laparoscopic retropubic urethropexy were not apparent when vaginal prolapse repairs were performed.