Relationship between fetal peak systolic velocity in Middle cerebral artery and umbilical blood gas values and hemoglobin levels in diabetic pregnant women.

PURPOSE: To assess the relationship between peak systolic velocity in the middle cerebral artery (MCA-PSV) and fetal hypoxia in diabetic pregnant women requiring insulin therapy. METHODS: The data of diabetic pregnant women using insulin who were followed in our departments were reviewed retrospectively. The relationships between MCA-PSV and umbilical cord pO2, pCO2, base deficit, hemoglobin, and birth weight were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 120 cases were included in the final analysis. The median (Q1 - Q3 ) gestational age at Doppler evaluation was 37 weeks 3 days (37-38 weeks and 2 days), and the mean ± SD gestational age at delivery was 38 weeks 4 days ± 3days. The mean ± SD hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level was 5.7% ± 1.0% and, median (Q1 -Q3 ) daily total insulin dose was 25 U (10U-48U). There was no statistically significant correlation between MCA-PSV and pH, PO2, PCO2, base deficit, Hb, and birth weight (Spearman correlation, r:-.001[P = .99], r:-.011[P = .90], r:-.052 [P = .51], r: .049[P = .59], r: .049 [P = .59], r: .030 [P = .75], respectively). Using binary logistic regression analysis, no independent factor for the prediction of fetal acidosis (venous pH < 7.23), and metabolic acidosis (base deficit >6.3 mmol/L) was detected. CONCLUSION: MCA-PSV is not a good indicator of fetal polycythemia or chronic hypoxia in fetuses of diabetic pregnant women. Fetal well-being should be monitored with other tools in these circumstances.

Leaving the placenta in situ versus conservative and radical surgery in the treatment of placenta accreta spectrum disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To compare different treatment methods in the management of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders. METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study, medical records were retrieved for patients who underwent elective surgery at 24 weeks of pregnancy or more after a diagnosis of PAS disorder (creta, increta, or percreta) at a center in Turkey between May 2, 2010, and August 10, 2016. The final analysis included patients whose diagnosis was confirmed intraoperatively and for whom complete data were available. Patients were divided into three groups: group 1 included those who underwent hysterectomy without placental removal, group 2 included patients whose placenta was left in situ, and group 3 included those who underwent placental removal and conservative surgery. RESULTS: Among 79 included patients (33 creta, 18 increta, 28 percreta), 27 (34%) were in group 1, 15 (19%) in group 2, and 37 (47%) in group 3. Total blood loss and the amounts of blood products transfused were lowest in group 2; significant differences between groups were noted (all P ≤ 0.001). Surgical complication rates were similar between groups (4/27 [15%], 1/15 [7%], and 11/37 [30%], respectively; P=0.119). Overall uterine preservation rates were not significantly different between groups 2 and 3 (14/15 [93%] vs 33/37 [89%]; P>0.99). CONCLUSION: Leaving the placenta in situ could become the treatment of choice for PAS disorders.

Comparison of systemic and local methotrexate treatments in cesarean scar pregnancies: time to change conventional treatment and follow-up protocols.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the use of systemic and local methotrexate in the treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: In this retrospective cohort study, we collected the data of 44 patients with cesarean scar pregnancy. The patients were grouped according to treatment modality: Group 1, local methotrexate injection (n=17) and Group 2, systemic methotrexate (n=27). The groups were compared with respect to side effects, recovery time, reproductive outcome, and treatment cost. RESULTS: The mean gestational age at diagnosis (6.4±0.93 vs. 5.4±0.80 weeks, p=0.001), pretreatment serum ß-human chorionic gonadotrophin level [27,970 (11,010-39,421) vs. 7606 (4725-16,996) mIU/mL, p=0.001], and lesion size (2.74±1.36 and 1.28±0.55cm, p=0.001) were higher in Group 1. All patients were cured by primary therapy without additional surgery. The mean times for ß-human chorionic gonadotrophin normalization, the uterine-mass disappearance, were significantly shorter in Group 1 than in Group 2 (6.17±1.55 vs. 8.11±2.0 weeks, p=0.001 and 10.47±4.14 vs. 13.40±4.44 weeks, p=0.002, respectively). The cost of treatment was similar between groups (281.133±112.123$ vs. 551.134±131.792$, p=0.76). The total pregnancy rates were not different between groups (5/16, 31.4% vs. 6/11, 54.6%, p=0.301). One recurrent cesarean scar pregnancy occurred after systemic methotrexate. Oral ulcers, the most common side effect, were seen in seven patients in Group 2. CONCLUSION: Even though treatment success and reproductive outcomes are similar, local methotrexate is superior to systemic methotrexate with regard to recovery time, side effects, and treatment costs, even in patients with unfavorable pretreatment prognostic predictors.

Laparoscopically-assisted vaginal hysterectomy for enlarged uterus: operative outcomes and the learning curve.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to compare the effects of uterine size and surgeon experience on the surgical out-comes of laparoscopically-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) for benign gynecological conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 184 LAVH cases. All hysterectomies were performed by the same surgeon and divided into two groups, with uterine weight of < 280 g (group 1) and uterine weight of > 280 g (group 2). The groups were compared in terms of the effects of the uterine size and surgeon experience vs. the operative outcomes (operative time, change in hemoglobin levels, hospital stay, and perioperative complications). RESULTS: No significant differences in mean age, parity, history of chronic systemic diseases and previous surgery history were observed between the two groups. However, operative time was significantly greater in group 2 as compared to group 1 (132.1 ± 42.7 minutes vs. 111.5 ± 30.4 minutes, p < 0.05). There were no differences in the hospital stay and perioperative complications between the two groups. One case of bladder injury occurred in each group and one patient underwent a second laparoscopic surgery for postoperative bleeding in group 2. Greater surgeon experience was demonstrated to be associated with decreased operative bleeding and, consequently, smaller differences between preoperative and postop-erative hemoglobin levels. Operative time was also reduced as the surgeon was getting more experienced but the effect did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Our study supports the thesis that LAVH is a safe and effective procedure for managing benign gynecologi-cal conditions. Despite increased operative time, LAVH can be safely performed for enlarged uterus in conjunction with increased surgeon experience.

Concurrent endometrial carcinoma in hysterectomy specimens in patients with histopathological diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia in curettage specimens.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to appraise the presence of Endometrial Carcinoma (EC) sequence in patients undergoing hysterectomy for Endometrial Hyperplasia (EH). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty-two patients undergoing hysterectomy with the indication of EH based on endometrial curettage between January 2009 and December 2013 were analyzed respectively All patients with a diagnosis of EH were investigated for age, parity history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The histopathology of the hysterectomy specimens were compared with their curettage specimens. RESULTS: A total number of 82 women; 48 (58.5%) postmenopausal and 34 (41.5%) premenopausal were determined to have EH on histopathological evaluation of endometrial tissues obtained by endometrial curettage performed for evaluation of various bleeding abnormalities. Mean-age of patients was 54.6?8.7. Among 82 patients found to have EH on curettage specimens 39 had EC on hysterectomy specimens (39/82. 47.5%). Consequently we determined well differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma in 66% (35/53) of the patients with hyperplasia with atypia (17/35. 48.5% Grade 1 and 18/35.51.4% Grade 2) and 13.7% (4/29) hyperplasia without atypia (4/4.100% Grade 1). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative diagnosis of endometrial pathology might be different from that of preoperative especially in cases with complex EH with atypia. Our study indicated that most of women diagnosed preoperatively with Atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) may have a cancer at final examination of hysterectomy specimens. It may be useful to operate patients with AEH in specific centers because of invasive endometrial cancer risk in final histopathological evaluation.

Prenatal diagnosis of fetal hypothyroidism after maternal radioactive iodine exposure during pregnancy.

A 33-year-old woman with a history of surgically treated papillary thyroid carcinoma was inadvertently given radioactive iodine when she was 16 weeks pregnant. Sonographic examination revealed fetal thyroid hypoplasia, and cordocentesis confirmed fetal hypothyroidism at 22 weeks. The pregnancy was terminated at 24 weeks. We report the first case of fetal thyroid hypoplasia diagnosed by ultrasound and cordocentesis.

Removal of ascites up to 7.5 liters on one occasion and 45 liters in total may be safe in patients with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a serious and potentially lethal complication of ovulation induction. We report herein a case with OHSS treated by serial vaginal paracentesis. A 31-year-old patient was hospitalized due to severe OHSS after in vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer. Transvaginal drainage was performed with a standard 17-gauge IVF needle connected to a vacuum pump through a drainage set in nine courses. We removed 45 liters of ascitic fluid in total and 7.5 liters of ascitic fluid in one course, leading to improvement of the patient's condition and laboratory parameters. In conclusion, removal of ascites up to 7.5 liters on one occasion and 45 liters in total by serial vaginal paracentesis may be performed in patients with severe OHSS.

Cervical ripening before operative hysteroscopy in premenopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled comparison of vaginal and oral misoprostol.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of oral and vaginal misoprostol for preoperative cervical ripening in premenopausal women before hysteroscopic surgery. DESIGN: Placebo-controlled, double blind, randomized trial. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT(S): Eighty-six premenopausal women eligible for operative hysteroscopy were recruited. Nine women were excluded from the study. INTERVENTION(S): Patients were randomly assigned to receive 400 microg of misoprostol orally (n = 39) or vaginally (n = 38), 10-12 hours before operative hysteroscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Extent of initial cervical width, percentage of patients requiring cervical dilatation, duration of cervical dilatation and surgical procedure, complications during procedure, and associated side effects. RESULT(S): Mean cervical widths in the vaginal and oral misoprostol groups after treatment were 7.3 +/- 1.6 mm and 6.0 +/- 1.5 mm, respectively, which was a statistically significant difference. Time required for cervical dilatation (98.6 +/- 88.7 s vs. 49.1 +/- 34.9 s) and duration of surgery (14.5 +/- 6 vs. 7.7 +/- 4.0 min) was statistically significantly shorter in the vaginal misoprostol group. The percentage of women with an initial cervical width of 9 mm was statistically significantly higher in the vaginal misoprostol group (36.8% vs. 5.1%). Uterine perforation occurred in two patients in the oral misoprostol group and in none in the vaginal misoprostol group. Side effects were comparable between the two treatment groups. CONCLUSION(S): Vaginal administration of misoprostol is more effective than the oral route for preoperative cervical ripening in premenopausal women.

Surgical management of intra-abdominal mislocated intrauterine devices.

OBJECTIVE: We report on our experience in surgical treatment of patients with intra-abdominal intrauterine devices (IUDs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 10 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Diagnosis was based on gynecologic examination, transvaginal sonography, and abdominal X-ray. RESULTS: All of the IUDs were inserted by trained midwives, either in the puerperal period (n=3) or within 1 year after puerperium (n=7). Five women were asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis, three were pregnant and two complained of pelvic pain. Eight patients were managed by laparoscopy, whereas laparotomy was required in two. Abscess formation was present in two cases. The postoperative course was uneventful in all patients. CONCLUSION: A missing string during gynecologic examination is the first sign of an intra-abdominal IUD in all cases. Transvaginal sonography should be combined with abdominal X-ray to reach a definitive diagnosis. Laparoscopic treatment may be appropriate in most of the cases.

Sildenafil reduces postoperative adhesion formation in a rat uterine horn model.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this experimental study was to evaluate the effect of oral sildenafil on postoperative adhesion formation in rats. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-two Wistar Albino rats were subjected to standardized lesion by cauterization of the uterine horn and abrasion of the adjacent parietal peritoneum. They were randomized to receive sildenafil at a daily dose of 15 mg/kg, 7.5mg/kg and 3.75 mg/kg or placebo. Sildenafil was administered by gavage 1h before the operation and daily for 5 days after the procedure. The extent and severity of adhesions were assessed on the 14th postoperative day. RESULT(S): The severity but not extent of adhesions in rats given 15 mg/kg sildenafil was significantly less when compared with the other groups (<0.001). CONCLUSION: Sildenafil diminishes peritoneal adhesion formation in rat.