Low-Pressure Laparoscopy Using the AirSeal System versus Standard Insufflation in Early-Stage Endometrial Cancer: A Multicenter, Retrospective Study (ARIEL Study).

The aim of our study was to evaluate the benefits of a low-pressure insufflation system (AirSeal) vs. a standard insufflation system in terms of anesthesiologists' parameters and postoperative pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for early-stage endometrial cancer. This retrospective study involved five tertiary centers and included 152 patients with apparent early-stage disease who underwent laparoscopic surgical staging with either the low-pressure AirSeal system (8−10 mmHg, n = 84) or standard laparoscopic insufflation (10−12 mmHg, n = 68). All the intraoperative anesthesia variables evaluated (systolic blood pressure, end-tidal CO2, peak airway pressure) were significantly lower in the AirSeal group. We recorded a statistically significant difference between the two groups in the median NRS scores for global pain recorded at 4, 8, and 24 h, and for overall shoulder pain after surgery. Significantly more women in the AirSeal group were also discharged on day one compared to the standard group. All such results were confirmed when analyzing the subgroup of women with a BMI >30 kg/m2. In conclusion, according to our preliminary study, low-pressure laparoscopy represents a valid alternative to standard laparoscopy and could facilitate the development of outpatient surgery.

Impact of cancer in the management of delivery: 10 years of variations.

Importance: The active-during-pregnancy-cancer (ADPC) is a condition that complicates the 0.1% of pregnancies. Abortion, preterm delivery and cesarean section (CS) are common attitudes for these patients, because of scarcity of evidence-based studies. Not-active-during-pregnancy-cancer (NADPC) is an increasing medical problem. The fertility of young girls survived to neoplasia is significantly lower compared to general population and there are increased rates of low birth weight and preterm birth.Objective: To analyze the impact that the pregnancy-related neoplastic disease has on management of deliveries in the decade 2006-2015.Material and methods: In this observational study, we collected obstetric and oncological data about 205 patients bearing a history of cancer related to pregnancy between January 2006 and September 2016 from Sant'Anna Hospital database archive in Turin. The entire population was divided in 59 patients with ADPC and 146 patients with NADPC because it was cured before starting the gestation. Three ADPC and three NADPC patients who completed their pregnancy in the year 2016 were excluded from the 10 years 2006-2015 trends realization. All in situ and invasive cancers were considered.Results: In ADPC patients, we registered 3.4% miscarriage and 15.3% iatrogenic abortion. The type of delivery was vaginal (22%) and CS (59.3%). Induction of labor was 14.6%, elective CS was 68.8%: the indication for these procedures was 78.6% oncological. The average gestational age was 35.5 weeks. In NADPC patients, we registered 9.6% miscarriage and 8.2% iatrogenic abortion. The type of delivery was vaginal (43.2%) and CS (39%). Induction of labor was 11.7%, elective CS was 36.7%: the indication for these procedures was 77.5% obstetrical. The average gestational age was 38.3 weeks.Conclusions: Ten-year trends in ADPC and NADPC patients showed an increase of induced deliveries and a decrease in elective CS. We observed not significant reduction of gestational age and birth weight. A contemporary decrease of oncological indications for CS in the two populations was reported.

Laparoscopic Ovarian Dermoid Cystectomy in 10 Steps.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Laparoscopic cystectomy for ovarian teratomas has the advantages of a minimally invasive approach [1]. The standardization and description of the technique are the main objectives of this video (Video 1). We described the surgery in 10 steps [2], which could help make this procedure easier and safer. DESIGN: A step-by-step video demonstration of the technique. SETTING: A French university tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: Patients with ovarian teratomas with indication for laparoscopic cystectomy [3]. The local institutional review board ruled that approval was not required for this video article because the video describes a technique and does not report a clinical case. INTERVENTIONS: Standardized laparoscopic cystectomies were recorded to realize the video. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: This video presents a systematic approach to cystectomy for teratoma clearly divided into 10 steps: (1) planning of the surgery, (2) ergonomy and materials, (3) exploration and cytology, (4) prevention of peritoneal spillage [4], (5) mobilization of the ovary, (6) incision of the ovary, (7) dissection, (8) hemostasis, (9) exteriorization of the cyst, and (10) washing and exploration. CONCLUSION: Standardization of laparoscopic cystectomy for ovarian teratoma could make this procedure easier and safer to perform. The 10 steps presented help to perform each part of the surgery in a logical sequence, making the procedure ergonomic and easier to adopt and learn. Moreover, the standardization of the surgical techniques could reduce the learning curve.

Surgical Technique for Endometrioma in 10 Steps.

OBJECTIVE: Laparoscopic cystectomy for endometrioma has the advantages of a minimally invasive approach. The standardization and description of the technique are the main objectives of this video. We described the surgery in 10 steps, which could help to make this procedure easier and safer. DESIGN: Step-by-step video demonstration of the technique. SETTING: A French university tertiary care hospital. INTERVENTION: Two standardized laparoscopic cystectomy were recorded to realize the video. The local institutional review board ruled that approval was not required because the video describes a technique and does not report a clinical case. This video presents a systematic approach to cystectomy for endometrioma clearly divided into 10 steps: (1) preoperative evaluation [1]; (2) diagnosis and exploration [2]; (3) adhesiolysis, mobilization of the ovary; (4) cyst rupture, exposition of the entry site; (5) identification of the cleavage plan; (6) endometrioma easy dissection; (7) endometrioma difficult dissection; (8) hemostasis, reconstruction of the ovary [3]; (9) exploration of the ovarian fossa; and (10) washing, extraction of the cyst [3,4]. CONCLUSION: Standardization of laparoscopic cystectomy for endometrioma could make this procedure easier and safer to perform. The 10 steps presented help to perform each part of the surgery in a logical sequence, making the procedure easier to realize. Moreover, the standardization of the surgical techniques may reduce the learning curve.

Comparison of two "a priori" risk assessment algorithms for preeclampsia in Italy: a prospective multicenter study.

PURPOSE: To compare the performance of the algorithms proposed by the Fetal Medicine Foundation in 2012 and BCNatal in 2013 in an Italian population. METHODS: A multicentric prospective study was carried out which included pregnancies at 11-13 weeks' gestation from Jan 2014 through May 2017. Two previously published algorithms were used for the calculation of the "a priori" risk of preeclampsia (based on risk factors from medical history) in each individual. RESULTS: In a study population of 11,632 cases, 67 (0.6%) developed early preeclampsia and 211 (1.8%) developed late preeclampsia. The detection rates (95% CI) for early and late preeclampsia were 58.2% (45.5-70.2) vs. 41.8% (29.6-54.5) (p value < 0.05) and 44.1% (37.3-51.1) vs. 38% (31.3-44.8) (p value < 0.05) for the Fetal Medicine Foundation and BCNatal, respectively (at a 10% false positive rate). The associated risk was 1:226 and 1:198 (p value ns) for early PE, and 1:17 and 1:24 (p value ns) for late PE for the Fetal Medicine Foundation and BCNatal, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Fetal Medicine Foundation screening for preeclampsia at 11-13 weeks' gestation scored the highest detection rate for both early and late PE. At a fixed 10% false positive rate, the estimated "a priori" risks of both the Fetal Medicine Foundation and the BCNatal algorithms in an Italian population were quite similar, and both were reliable and consistent.

Time remaining in labor and probability of vaginal delivery as a function of the angle of progression in a low risk population with a normal first stage of labor. In-house observational study and comparison with the data in the literature.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to investigate whether the angle of progression (AoP), as measured by transperineal ultrasound, was predictive of both the time remaining in labor and vaginal delivery. METHODS: This was a prospective observational cohort study involving 270 low-risk women with singleton pregnancies at term. The AoP, measured at the end of the first stage of labor, was used as a predictive variable of time remaining in labor and mode of delivery. The Kaplan Meier and Cox algorithms were used to evaluate the time elapsed between AoP measurement and delivery as a function of AoP. Instead, logistic regression was used to calculate the adjusted probability of vaginal delivery as a function of AoP. RESULTS: Of the 270 women enrolled, 15 (5.6%) delivered by cesarean section and 33 (12.1%) by vacuum or forceps. The AoP, stratified by quartiles, was a significant predictor of the time remaining in labor, even after adjustment for possible confounders (Body Mass Index [BMI], oxytocin administration and parity). The mean±SD second stage of labor length for each AoP quartile was 134±25, 126±18, 96±33 and 58±23 minutes (P value<0.001, ANOVA). The mean±SD probability of a vaginal delivery expressed as a function of the AoP quartile (adjusted for BMI) was 51.5±0.16%, 81.5±0.10%, 97.0±0.16% and 99.3±0.004% at the AoP of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th quartiles, respectively, (P value<0.001 ANOVA). CONCLUSIONS: The AoP was directly associated with the time remaining in labor and was predictive of a successful vaginal delivery; however, the impact on clinical practice seems low.

Upcoming strategies in obstetrics: how the technology of clinical audit may reduce cesarean birth.

BACKGROUND: The rate of cesarean delivery is currently increasing all over Europe. In Italy it reaches 38% of all child births. Therefore, it is important to identify the clinical and organizational variables that determine the appropriateness of elective cesarean delivery. With this aim we chose the technology of clinical audit, a process that promotes improvement in clinical practice through systematic review of clinical care in relation with explicit standards derived from scientific literature. METHODS: This is a prospective audit: in the period March 2014-July 2014 we analyzed the medical records of 150 women who underwent elective cesarean delivery at Gynecological and Obstetrical University Hospital Sant'Anna, Turin. We collected data related to five quality criteria derived from scientific literature. Each criterion was stratified by indicators and matched with respective standards of adequate care. Criteria and indicators are: 1) cesarean section (CS) rate in twin pregnancies with both cephalic fetal presentation (stratified by dichorionic diamniotic and monochorionic diamniotic); 2) CS rates in preterm births (stratified by gestational age ≤32, ≤34 and ≤37 week); 3) CS rates on maternal request due to tokophobia in patients who received a psychological support during pregnancy; 4) repeated CS rates; 5) multidisciplinary evaluation of the indication to CS for non-obstetric reasons (orthopedic, ophthalmologic, psychiatric and neurological). The rate of CSs found in each criterion was compared with the respective standard in literature. The value obtained for each indicator was tested for statistical significance (CI 95%). We considered performing indicators whose final rate was found to be better or equal to the reference standard. RESULTS: The majority of the indicators result to be performant. CS rate for previous CS was 84% (73/86), far more frequent than the standard of optimal care fixed at ≤30% (P<0.05). Repeated CSs were analyzed in steps IV and V of audit because of the high gap between observed and adequate scores, the significant potential of improvement and the high incidence of the event, as they account for the 20% of average cesarean deliveries in our unit in the period of the study. Thus, we implemented a plan of improvement that consisted on introduction in clinical practice of the cervical ripening balloon for women who desire a trial of labor after CS (TOLAC), congress sessions and training to clinicians, information and counselling to pregnant woman with a previous cesarean. The impact of the implemented measures of correction applied for two years was evaluated with a re-audit on 40 patients, from May to April 2016. The cesarean birth after cesarean (CBAC) rate observed after the re-audit was 62% (32/50), significantly lower compared to the previous 80% P<0.01. Thus, the established plan of improvement induces a reduction in CBAC rate of 24%. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical audit is a powerful instrument that can improve standards of care. In our Unit, clinical audit on elective cesarean leads to the identification of an excess in repeated cesareans and a significant reduction of them. However, to realize an effective improvement we are planning furthers audits.