Uterine Fundus Remodeling after Hysteroscopic Metroplasty: A Prospective Pilot Study.

The septate uterus is the most common congenital uterine malformation and is treated by hysteroscopic metroplasty. There are few studies on the fundal uterine changes that occur after surgery. We designed a pilot prospective observational study to evaluate by three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound (3D-TVS) the changes not only of the internal fundal uterine profile, but also of the external one, after hysteroscopic metroplasty. Sixty women who underwent hysteroscopic metroplasty for partial or complete uterine septum (U2a and U2b subclasses of ESHRE/ESGE classification) were enrolled. We performed 3D-TVS after surgery confirming optimal removal of the septum. However, at ultrasound follow-up after three months, we observed a significant increase (p < 0.001) in the residual septum (Zr) (3.7 mm (95% CI: 3.1-4.4)), the myometrial wall thickness (Y) (2.5 mm (95% CI: 2.0-3.0)) and the total fundal wall thickness (Y + Zr) (6.2 mm (95% CI: 5.5-6.9)). Forty-three patients (72%) required a second step of hysteroscopic metroplasty. Moreover, the shape of uterine fundus changed in 58% of cases. We actually observed a remodeling of the uterine fundus with modifications of its external and internal profiles. Therefore, we propose to always perform a second ultrasound look at least three months after the metroplasty to identify cases that require a second- step metroplasty.

Comparison of Hysteroscopic Cesarean Scar Defect Repair with 26 Fr Resectoscope and 16 Fr Mini-resectoscope: A Prospective Pilot Study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Several studies have been published on hysteroscopic treatment of cesarean scar defect using the 26 Fr resectoscope. This study compared the effects of the 26 Fr resectoscope with those of the 16 Fr mini-resectoscope in terms of efficacy, safety profile, and peri- and postoperative complications. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary care university hospital (S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy). PATIENTS: Three hundred and nine women having symptoms and with a cesarean scar defect diagnosis were divided into 2 groups according to a temporal criterion: from March 2012 to March 2015, 155 consecutive women (control group) underwent isthmoplasty with the 26 Fr resectoscope (Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany), whereas from April 2015 to March 2018, 154 consecutive women (study group) underwent isthmoplasty with the 16 Fr mini-resectoscope (Gubbini system, Tontarra Medizintechnik, Tuttlingen, Germany). INTERVENTIONS: One hundred and fifty-five women (control group) underwent isthmoplasty with the 26 Fr resectoscope, and 154 women (study group) underwent isthmoplasty with the 16 Fr mini-resectoscope. The so-called "channel-like" 360° endocervical resection technique was applied. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The isthmoplasty time with the 2 resectoscopes, excluding cervical dilatation, was similar (p = .25), whereas the overall surgical time was shorter in the case of the mini-resectoscope. The use of the 16 Fr mini-resectoscope was significantly associated with a reduced volume of distension medium used (p <.001) and a lower fluid absorption (p <.001). A significant increase (p = .01) in postoperative complications in the control group (9/155; 5.8%) compared with the study group (1/154; 0.7%) was also found. No significant reduction in discharge time was observed between the 2 groups (p = .13). Patient satisfaction immediately after surgery was significantly higher (p <.001) in the study group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Isthmoplasty with a 16 Fr mini-resectoscope seems to be as effective as isthmoplasty with a 26 Fr resectoscope in reducing postmenstrual abnormal uterine bleeding and suprapubic pelvic pain. It is associated with a significant reduction in overall surgical time owing to the non-necessity of performing cervical dilatation. The 16 Fr mini-resectoscope facilitates surgery in small anatomical spaces such as the cervical canal and reduces the complication rate linked to blind maneuvers not respecting the uterine anatomy.

Channel-like 360° Isthmocele Treatment with a 16F Mini-Resectoscope: A Step-by-step Technique.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To show the technique of hysteroscopic channel-like 360° repair of a cesarean scar defect performed with a Gubbini 16F miniresectoscope (GUBBINI system; Tontarra Medizintechnik, Tuttlingen, Germany). DESIGN: A step-by-step demonstration of the surgical technique using slides, pictures, and a video (an instructive video [Video 1]). SETTING: A university hospital (Bologna University Hospital, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic, Bologna, Italy). PATIENTS: A 35-year-old woman with a history of a previous cesarean section complaining of pelvic pain and postmenstrual spotting. INTERVENTIONS: With the vaginoscopic approach, the isthmocele was localized; a high-frequency 90° angled circular loop electrode and pure cutting current of 100 W were used to resect the fibrotic tissue of the proximal (step 1) and distal (step 2) part of the niche. We performed resection not only of the fibrotic tissue underneath the niche but also of the inflamed tissue placed around the niche and on the opposite site (the so-called channel-like 360° endocervical ablation). A high-frequency angled ball electrode was used to obtain focused coagulation of all residual inflamed tissue still present on the niche surface and on the cervical canal walls (step 3); the aim of this step is to facilitate the re-epithelialization of the cervical canal walls by the paraphysiological endocervical epithelium. The procedure was ended by controlling any bleeding of the endocervical vessels by reducing the inflow and pressure of the distending medium and by focused electrocauterization with a ball electrode (step 4). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The operative time was 14 minutes. The small diameter of a 16F resectoscope and the use of a miniaturized loop without cervical dilation allow the operative procedures to be performed without cervical dilation and without anatomic distortion of the defect, reducing the risk of complications. The small diameter of the sheaths also makes the surgical gesture faster with an easier and faster approach to the niche compared with isthmocele hysteroscopic standard surgery. CONCLUSION: The presence of a uterine scar defect is usually asymptomatic or refers to postmenstrual spotting with dark red or brown discharge, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, infertility, or a dull sensation after menstruation. Several factors may play a role in isthmocele development such as a low uterine incision, a deficient suturing technique of the uterine incision, and patient-related factors that impair wound healing or increase inflammation or adhesion formation. Different techniques were used as reconstructive therapies of the cesarean scar defect including laparoscopic or robot-assisted laparoscopic excision, vaginal repair, or hysteroscopic treatment. All of these procedures remove or ablate the niche fibrotic tissue with the aim of relieving symptoms. Asymptomatic cases should not be treated. According to the most recent literature, hysteroscopic repair of a cesarean scar represents an effective and safe surgical option in cases of a symptomatic isthmocele. The persistence of symptoms has been reported in up to 18% of cases, so adequate counseling should be performed before the procedure.

Conservative hysteroscopic treatment of stage I well differentiated endometrial cancer in patients with high surgical risk: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To report hysteroscopic treatment combined with levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) to treat women with early well differentiated endometrial cancer (EC) at high surgical risk. METHODS: Nine women diagnosed with stage IA, grade 1 endometrioid EC which was contraindicated or refused standard treatment with external beam radiation therapy with or without brachytherapy were enrolled in our prospective study. Endo-myometrial hysteroscopic resection of the whole uterine cavity and the placement of LNG-IUD for 5 years was performed. Response rate, perioperative complications, and recurrence of disease were evaluated. RESULTS: None had intra or post-operative complications and all were discharged no later than the third day of hospitalization. After 6 months from surgery, all the women showed a complete regression of the lesion. All the women completed the 5 years follow-up and in no case was detected sign of recurrence. Two women died for causes unrelated to the tumor or the ongoing therapy. CONCLUSION: The alternative treatment with endo-myometrial hysteroscopic resection and LNG-IUD in women with stage IA, grade 1 endometrioid EC showed initial encouraging outcomes in terms of effectiveness and safety.

Hysteroscopic myomectomy: techniques and preoperative assessment.

Even if usually asymptomatic, uterine myomas have been associated with a number of clinical issues such as abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, especially when these masses are submucous. Golden standard treatment for symptomatic submucous fibroids has long been considered their laparotomic removal or a total hysterectomy. The development of endoscopy has made these fibroids accessible and removable from the inner surface of uterus. Hysteroscopy arose as a diagnostic technique, but then it also became an alternative surgical technique for many diseases, offering therapeutic and irreplaceable possibilities of treatment, avoiding major surgery on the one hand, and allowing the correction of pathologies specifically related to female fertility, on the other hand. Excision by slicing has been described as traditional resectoscopic submucosal myomectomy, but today there are new procedures among which the operator can choose, that allow overcoming the initial limitations of the traditional resectoscopic myomectomy in clinical practice.