Implementation of advanced laparoscopic surgery in gynecology: national overview of trends.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To estimate the implementation of laparoscopic surgery in operative gynecology. DESIGN: Observational multicenter study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: All hospitals in the Netherlands. SAMPLE: Nationwide annual statistics for 2002 and 2007. INTERVENTIONS: A national survey of the number of performed laparoscopic and conventional procedures was performed. Laparoscopy was categorized for complexity in level 1, 2, and 3 procedures. Outcomes were compared with results from 2002 to evaluate trends. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In 2002, 21 414 laparoscopic and 9325 conventional procedures were performed in 74 hospitals (response rate, 74%), and in 2007, 16 863 laparoscopic and 10 973 conventional procedures were performed in 80 hospitals (response rate, 80%). Compared with 2002, in 2007, level 1 procedures were performed significantly less often and level 2 and level 3 procedures were performed significantly more often. The mean number of performed laparoscopic procedures per hospital decreased from 289 to 211 procedures. Teaching hospitals performed more than twice as many therapeutic laparoscopic procedures as nonteaching hospitals do. Cystectomy, oophorectomy, and ectopic pregnancy surgery were preferably performed using the laparoscopic approach. Laparoscopic hysterectomy was performed significantly more often, accounting for 10% of all hysterectomies. Annually, 20% of hospitals in which laparoscopic hysterectomy was implemented performed 50% of all laparoscopic hysterectomies, and 50% of the hospitals performed 20% of laparoscopic hysterectomies. CONCLUSION: This study describes increasing implementation of therapeutic laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. Clinics increasingly opt to perform laparoscopic surgery rather than conventional surgery. However, implementation of advanced procedures such as laparoscopic hysterectomy seems to be hampered.

A randomised comparison of vaginoscopic office hysteroscopy and saline infusion sonography: a patient compliance study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare patient discomfort during saline infusion sonography (SIS) and office hysteroscopy performed according to a vaginoscopic approach. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: University hospital. POPULATION: Women with an indication for further investigation of the uterine cavity. METHODS: A total of 100 women randomly allocated to either SIS or vaginoscopic office hysteroscopy in an outpatient clinic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Scores on a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain and a present pain intensity (PPI) scale, conclusiveness and success rate. RESULTS: The patients' pain scores on both the VAS and the PPI were lower for SIS when compared with office hysteroscopy (P < 0.05). However, in cases of severe pain (VAS > 7 or PPI > 2), there was no statistically significant difference between both groups. The success rate, defined as adequate inspection of the cervical canal and uterine cavity, was 94% for SIS compared with 92% for office hysteroscopy (P = 0.633). SIS, multiparity, shorter procedure time and position of the uterus in anteversion decreased pain scores among women studied. CONCLUSIONS: Both SIS and office hysteroscopy are successful procedures and well tolerated by women. SIS induces significantly less discomfort than office hysteroscopy and should therefore be considered the method of choice.

Short-term effect of surgical trauma on rat peritoneal fibrinolytic activity and its role in adhesion formation.

BACKGROUND: Fibrin deposition, the primary step in the formation of post-surgical adhesions, is the result of a disbalance between the fibrin-forming and the fibrin-dissolving capacity of the peritoneum. Literature data suggest a transient reduction in local plasminogen activator activity after peritoneal trauma, which results in a reduction of fibrinolysis and permits deposited fibrin to become organized into fibrous, permanent adhesions. In the present study, the fibrinolytic parameters tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA; antigen and activity) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1; antigen and activity) were measured in peritoneal fluid, in peritoneal biopsies and in plasma to establish the time course of changes in fibrinolytic activity. DESIGN: A standardized peritoneal adhesion model in the rat. OUTCOME MEASURES: Analysis, over a 72-h period following surgical trauma. of the main fibrinolytic parameters in peritoneal lavage, in biopsies of damaged and undamaged peritoneum, and in plasma, and determination of fibrin and fibrin(ogen)-degradation products in peritoneal lavage fluid. RESULTS: At all time intervals, tPA antigen was found to be about six-fold increased in peritoneal lavage after surgical trauma. This significant rise in tPA antigen was accompanied by a large increase in its main inhibitor PAI-1, resulting in tPA activity levels similar to, or slightly higher than, those found in control animals. tPA activity was lowest at 4 h and increased thereafter. Also in biopsies from damaged peritoneum, tPA antigen was significantly increased. Tissue tPA activity was also lowest at 4 h, after which it increased, significantly so at 24 and 72 h. Similar, though smaller, changes were seen in the biopsies from undamaged areas of the peritoneal wall in operated rats. PAI-1 (antigen and activity) was not detected in peritoneal biopsies. Fibrin-related material (especially fibrin monomer/fibrinogen, an indicator of forming fibrin) in peritoneal fluid was slightly increased at 4 h, and abundantly present at 16 and 24 h, returning to control levels at 72 h. Fibrin degradation products were always present. From 2 h onward, adhesions were found. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the view that adhesions are formed as a result of a reduced fibrinolytic activity, our results demonstrate that tPA activity remained unchanged or slightly increased after surgical trauma, and point to increased fibrin formation rather than diminished fibrinolytic activity as the main cause of fibrin deposition after peritoneal trauma. Therapies directed at prevention of adhesion formation should therefore aim at avoiding massive fibrin production and at promoting fibrinolytic activity during the early period after trauma.

Effects of five different barrier materials on postsurgical adhesion formation in the rat.

Postsurgical adhesion formation is a significant clinical problem within every surgical specialism. Due to the problems that adhesions cause, a wide variety of adjunctive treatments to prevent the formation and reformation of adhesions have been proposed. One of the modalities that has been studied extensively and that has been showing the most promising results is the so-called barrier method. The purpose of the present study was to compare the efficacy of five of these barrier materials in the prevention of postsurgical adhesion formation in a standardized rat adhesion model. It was concluded that no beneficial effect of Ringer's lactate on adhesion formation was seen. Significant reductions (P < 0.0001) in adhesion percentages compared to control animals were seen with Polyactive((TM)), PRECLUDE Peritoneal Membrane((TM)), Seprafilm((TM)) and Tissucol((TM)), but only PRECLUDE Peritoneal Membrane and Seprafilm significantly reduced adhesions (P < 0.01) when the barrier-treated peritoneal defects were compared with contralateral control-side peritoneal defects. The results of our study suggest that Seprafilm and PRECLUDE Peritoneal Membrane are superior to Tissucol and Polyactive in preventing adhesion formation. When Polyactive was still attached to the site of application during the second laparotomy, similar results to Seprafilm and PRECLUDE Peritoneal Membrane were seen. Future studies on the efficacy of a material to decrease adhesion formation should always include a comparison of several control materials in the same model. Our study indicates that Seprafilm or PRECLUDE Peritoneal Membrane might be used as standards of control.

[Laparoscopic cystectomy of the ovary; results of a new technique]. / Laparoscopische cystectomie van het ovarium; resultaten van een nieuwe techniek.

The results of a prospective study of laparoscopic management of ovarian cysts are discussed. This technique of minimally invasive surgery was introduced at the department of Gynaecology of the Leiden University Medical Centre in 1991. Only premenopausal women with unilocular ovarian cysts smaller than 10 cm in diameter and with sonographically benign characteristics were included in this study. In a period of one year, 25 cystectomies and one ovariectomy were performed. 88% of the cysts were initially treated with hormone therapy. Mean age of the patients was 30 years (range: 21-54), average size of the cysts was 6 cm (range: 4-10) and mean operating time was 80 minutes (range: 35-120), there were no complications during operation or in the postoperative period. No laparotomies had to be performed. Three times (11.5%) pathological specimen examination revealed a corpus luteum cyst. The other 23 were non-functional cysts. No carcinoma was detected. The results of this minimally invasive surgery for removal of ovarian cysts are encouraging. Morbidity compared with the conventional cystectomy by laparotomy is low as appears from a shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery. Cystectomy of the ovary, compared with laparoscopic aspiration and fenestration, has a better therapeutic effect and the histological evaluation is more reliable. Persistent, unilocular ovarian cysts, which fulfill the criteria used in our study, are best treated by laparoscopic removal instead of laparotomy.

A randomized clinical trial on the benefit of adhesiolysis in patients with intraperitoneal adhesions and chronic pelvic pain.

OBJECTIVE: To see whether surgical adhesiolysis would improve pelvic pain in women with pelvic adhesions. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial comparing surgery (adhesiolysis) with no surgery with final analysis of results after 9-12 months. SETTING: Department of Gynecology, Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands. SUBJECTS: 48 women known by laparoscopy to have stage II-IV pelvic adhesions. INTERVENTIONS: Midline laparotomy and surgical adhesiolysis. MAIN OUTCOME RESULTS: Pelvic pain assessed by the McGill pain score, subjective pain assessment and disturbance of daily activities. RESULTS: 24 women were randomly allocated to undergo surgical adhesiolysis and 24 to a control group who did not have surgery. After 9-12 months there were no significant differences between the two groups overall with regard to pelvic pain. A subgroup of women with severe, vascularized and dense adhesions involving bowel (stage IV) had significantly less pelvic pain after adhesiolysis for two of the three methods of assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Adhesiolysis for the treatment of pelvic pain is not indicated in women with light or moderate degree pelvic adhesions. It may be beneficial in those with severe adhesions involving the intestinal tract.

Findings in 200 consecutive asymptomatic women, having a laparoscopic sterilization.

Laparoscopic findings in 200 asymptomatic, healthy women having a sterilization were recorded; 148 patients (74%) had no abnormality and 52 patients had abnormalities comprising pelvic adhesions (14%), uterine fibromyomas (5%), endometriosis (3%) and ovarian or parovarian cysts (2%).

PIP: To place diagnostic laparoscopy in perspective, laparoscopic findings in 200 consecutive healthy women having laparoscopic sterilization by clips or rings were recorded. The subjects all had regular menses and a normal pelvic exam. 148 had no pathology on laparoscopy. 52 remaining women had adhesions (28, 14%), hydrosalpinx (3), ovarian cyst (3), endometriosis (5), fibromyomas (10, 5%), parovarian cyst (1), benign bladder tumor (1), and carcinoid bowel tumor (1). 43% of the adhesions were moderate or severe; 26% were associated with history of appendectomy; 68% were located outside the small pelvis. These findings are comparable to those published in 2 other series. They are relevant to management to patients complaining of chronic pain or infertility.

Pregnancy rates after laparoscopy for infertility.

To obtain prognostic data on the likelihood of pregnancy in infertile women with no observable abnormalities at diagnostic laparoscopy, the occurrence of pregnancy was studied in a series of 229 patients. The cumulative conception rate during a follow-up period of at most 5 yr was 50%. The probability of pregnancy proved to decline with age and duration of infertility. The cumulative conception rate during the first year after laparoscopy was approx. 30%, and there was no significant difference between the patients that were treated with respect to other sub-optimal fertility factors (subfertile group) and the patients in whom no rational treatment could be instituted (unexplained infertility group). Implications of these findings with respect to the treatment of long-term infertility are discussed. Knowledge of pregnancy rates after infertility laparoscopy seems important for the evaluation of results of therapy in unexplained infertility.