Carbon dioxide laser treatment for vulvovaginal atrophy in women treated for breast cancer: Preliminary results of the feasibility EPIONE trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Quality of life preservation after anti-cancer therapy is a major challenge for breast cancer survivors. Approximately 42-70% of patients who receive systemic therapy for breast cancer, including endocrine therapy, will develop vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA). For these patients, the commonly proposed gel-based treatments for topical applications are restrictive. Recently, innovative, non-hormonal therapeutic approaches, such as laser therapy, have emerged. The purpose of this feasibility study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of CO2 laser therapy in women with a history of breast cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective monocentric study included 20 patients with vulvovaginal atrophy who were treated at Henri Mondor University Hospital between 2017 and 2018. We included patients with a vaginal health index (VHI) score<15 and a contraindication for hormone administration due to a history of breast cancer. Two carbon dioxide laser sessions were used. The treatment was delivered using the following settings: vaginal tightening, FinePulse (pulse width 0.9ms), and energy density of 11.5J/cm2 that allows coverage of 70% of the targeted vaginal area to be treated. All patients had their follow-up visit at one (M1), three (M3), and six (M6) months after the first treatment to evaluate efficacy of the treatment on vulvovaginal atrophy. Vaginal health index score and female sexual distress (FSD) score were used to assess treatment efficacy and its impact on sexual quality of life. A score≥11 was associated with sexual dysfunction. The vaginal health index and female sexual distress scores were evaluated at baseline, M1, M3, and M6 of follow-up. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 56.1±8.8 years (range, 27-69 years). Seventeen of the 20 patients had experienced menopause (mean menopausal age, 51.25±1.5 years). At inclusion, the mean vaginal health index and the female sexual distress scores were 10.58±1.71 and 21.36±15.10, respectively. Fourteen out of 20 patients (70%) had FSD scores≥11 at the baseline. At M1, the mean vaginal health index score increased significantly to 13.42±2.3 (P=0.03), which represented an improvement of 21% from the baseline. A persistent and significant improvement in the vaginal health index score was observed at M6, with the score increasing to 16.75±4.23 post-treatment (P<0.0001), representing a 34% improvement from the mean baseline score. The mean female sexual distress at M1 was 19.83±13.57, representing a 7% decrease compared to the baseline scores (P<0.01). At M3, the female sexual distress significantly decreased to 13.88±15.58, representing an improvement of 35% (P=0.006). It increased to 10.35±14.7 at M6, representing an improvement of 52% (P=0.001). At M3, 35% of the patients had a female sexual distress score>11, and at M6, only 15% had a female sexual distress score>11. No side effects were reported during follow-up. CONCLUSION: This pilot feasibility study showed that carbon dioxide laser treatment appears to be an effective and safe method to improve the trophicity and decrease vaginal mucosal dryness in women with vulvovaginal atrophy that developed after systemic breast cancer therapy.

Using virtual reality to control preoperative anxiety in ambulatory surgery patients: A pilot study in maxillofacial and plastic surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Preoperative anxiety may lead to medical and surgical complications, behavioral problems and emotional distress. The most common means of prevention are based on using medication and, more recently, hypnosis. The aim of our study was to determine whether a virtual reality (VR) program presenting natural scenes could be part of a new therapy to reduce patients' preoperative anxiety. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our prospective pilot study consisted of a single-blind trial in skin cancer surgery at the Henri-Mondor teaching hospital in France. In the outpatient surgery department, 20 patients with a score of >11 on the Amsterdam preoperative anxiety and information scale (APAIS) were virtually immersed into a natural universe for 5minutes. Their stress levels were assessed before and after this experience by making use of a visual analog scale (VAS), by measuring salivary cortisol levels, and by determining physiological stress based on heart coherence scores. RESULTS: The VAS score was significantly reduced after the simulation (P<0.009) as was the level of salivary cortisol (P<0.04). Heart coherence scores remained unchanged (P=0.056). DISCUSSION: VR allows patients to be immersed in a relaxing, peaceful environment. It represents a non-invasive way to reduce preoperative stress levels with no side effects and no need for additional medical or paramedical staff. Our results indicate that VR may provide an effective complementary technique to manage stress in surgery patients. Randomized trials are necessary to determine precise methods and benefits.

Wound healing of cutaneous substance losses based on infectious, inflammatory and traumatic skin disorders: The experience of a center.

INTRODUCTION: There is no reference available concerning the standard healing time based on dermatological diseases responsible for cutaneous substance losses. The aim of our study was to assess the healing time after surgical debridement of necrotizing fasciitis (NF), hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and skin necrosis due to trauma (SNT) based on multiples existing co-morbidities among these patients to provide surgeons with accurate scientific data in order to inform and educate patients and nurses who are practicing care under the supervision of the surgeon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study. The primary endpoint was the time for complete wound healing, which was calculated from the time of the last surgical procedure to the complete wound healing corresponding to the time of complete reepithelialization, when daily dressings were no longer needed. RESULTS: A total of 107 patients were included. The mean time for complete wound healing was 64.94±31.55 days in patients with NF, 45.70±21.40 days in patients with SNT and 75.02±26.41 days in patients with HS (SNT versus NF, P=0.004** and SNT versus HS, P<0.0001**). CONCLUSION: The mean time for complete wound healing was 64.94 days in patients with NF, 45.70 days in patients with SNT, 75.02 days in patients with HS. This study can be considered as a referential based on the experience of a reference centre for these 3 pathologies (NF, HS, and SNT) whose aim is to inform plastic surgeons in order to anticipate the management or educate the patient.

Use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in microsurgery.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is currently used for its property to improve tissue regeneration and wound healing. Platelet derived growth factors are involved in tissue regeneration and new vessels formation that could improve a free flap survival. Nevertheless to validate the use of regenerative medicine in microsurgery further large and robust human clinical trials are needed.

Assessment Tools for Facial Rejuvenation Treatment: A Review.

BACKGROUND: In the field of cosmetic medicine, patient satisfaction is an important and common indicator used to measure the efficacy of the treatment. However, it is insufficient to prove objectively that the benefit of the specific factors involved in the cosmetic outcomes. The practitioner should be aware of these assessment tools, in particular in case of demanding or litigious patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review was to establish a list and discuss the subjective and objective methods used to assess facial aesthetic rejuvenation treatments. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed using the Pubmed search engine. Studies published over the last 5 years, i.e. between January 2010 and January 2015 were considered for review. The following keywords were used: "aesthetic treatment", "facial rejuvenation", and "subjective evaluation" or "objective evaluation". RESULTS: Of the 446 articles identified by the search strategy, 47 articles focused specifically on facial rejuvenation and on the efficacy of aesthetic medical treatments were retrieved for review. Thirty-seven articles used quantitative methods to assess aesthetic treatment outcomes and only 12 used subjective methods. The different assessment methods were listed according to the tools used and treatment indications. CONCLUSION: This review will help in choosing adequate methods to assess facial rejuvenation medical treatment. It is important to combine these tools adequately to improve the assessment. There is no current consensus on assess facial rejuvenation treatments but we noted that objective assessment methods seem helpful. NO LEVEL ASSIGNED: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Current indications for low level laser treatment in maxillofacial surgery: a review.

Low level laser treatment (LLLT) is currently being used for various disorders, but with no convincing scientific evidence. Most recently we have noticed an increase in published randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that have focused on its applications in wound healing, scarring, disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), oral mucositis, and dental pain. Our aim therefore was to assess the scientific evidence about its current efficacy in maxillofacial surgery. We reviewed PubMed from January 2003 to January 2013 using the key phrase "low level laser treatment". Our inclusion criterion was intervention studies in humans of more than 10 patients. We excluded animal studies and papers in languages other than English, French, and German. We found 45 papers that we screened independently. The resulting full texts were scrutinised by two authors who awarded a maximum of 5 points using the Jadad scale for assessing the quality of RCT, and extracted the data according to sample size, variables of LLLT, the authors' conclusions, and the significance of the result. LLLT seems to be effective for the treatment of oral mucositis after treatment for head and neck cancer. However, it cannot yet be considered a valid treatment for disorders of the TMJ. It seems to improve gingival healing, and myofacial and dental pain.