Machine Learning Quantification of Intraepithelial Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes as a Significant Prognostic Factor in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinomas.

The prognostic and predictive role of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) has been demonstrated in various neoplasms. The few publications that have addressed this topic in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) have approached TIL quantification from a semiquantitative standpoint. Clinical correlation studies, therefore, need to be conducted based on more accurate TIL quantification. We created a machine learning system based on H&E-stained sections using 76 molecularly and clinically well-characterized advanced HGSOC. This system enabled immune cell classification. These immune parameters were subsequently correlated with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFI). An intense colonization of the tumor cords by TILs was associated with a better prognosis. Moreover, the multivariate analysis showed that the intraephitelial (ie) TILs concentration was an independent and favorable prognostic factor both for OS (p = 0.02) and PFI (p = 0.001). A synergistic effect between complete surgical cytoreduction and high levels of ieTILs was evidenced, both in terms of OS (p = 0.0005) and PFI (p = 0.0008). We consider that digital analysis with machine learning provided a more accurate TIL quantification in HGSOC. It has been demonstrated that ieTILs quantification in H&E-stained slides is an independent prognostic parameter. It is possible that intraepithelial TIL quantification could help identify candidate patients for immunotherapy.

ROBOT Assisted Laparoscopic Surgeries For Nononcological Urologic Disease: Initial Experience With Hugo Ras System.

OBJECTIVE: To report our initial experience with the use of HUGO Robotic Assisted Surgery System (RAS) for nononcological urologic disease. METHODS: We collected retrospective data describing clinical outcomes from patients undergoing surgeries for nononcological urologic disease with the new HUGO RAS. Analysis included: total surgery and console time, docking time, estimated bleeding, complications, and pain after surgery. RESULTS: There were 5 patients operated for nononcological urologic disease. The mean age was 50 years (range 32-70), comorbidities were mild (2 patients with chronic hypertension) and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification was 2. Total surgical time ranged from 150 to 257 minutes, and console time from 89 to 164 minutes, each depending on the intervention. The mean docking time was 8.5 minutes (range 5.7-11). No intraoperative complications, instrument clashes, or system failure that compromised the surgery's completion were recorded. Mean blood loss ranged from 10-30 mL, and there were no postoperative complications. Postoperative pain classified from 0-10 at 1, 6, and 12 hours was low (range 0-3), and pain before discharge was 0 for all patients. Hospital stay ranged from 2 to 5 days, depending on the intervention. CONCLUSION: Robotic surgery was introduced in early 2000s and was rapidly adopted. Initially, this technology was reserved for oncological surgery, later expanding to nononcological conditions. These preliminary results are comparable to the previous robotic systems, suggesting the multiple potential uses of the HUGO RAS. The adoption of this technology has the potential to improve patient accessibility for less-invasive therapies in developing countries.

Clinical Comparison between Three Single-Use Flexible Ureteroscope Models: A Real-World Experience.

INTRODUCTION: Studies comparing different single-use flexible ureteroscope (su-fURS) models are lacking. The objective was to compare three types of su-fURS: the Uscope 3022 (PUSEN), LithoVue (Boston Scientific), and EU-scope (Innovex). METHODS: This was a retrospective study comparing the clinical outcomes from patients undergoing flexible ureteroscopy with one of the three su-fURS for upper urinary tract stone treatment between September 2019 and 2021. Analysis included total surgery and fluoroscopy time, post-procedure ureteral catheter, stone-free rate (SFR), and complications. RESULTS: There were 104 cases with the Uscope 3022, 141 with LithoVue, and 80 with EU-scope. Groups were comparable in terms of stone size, location and density, and prior double-J stent presence. Multivariate analysis showed no difference in terms of SFR: 79% (Uscope 3022), 77.5% (LithoVue), and 81% (EU-scope); p = 0.38. Significant differences were found for total surgery and fluoroscopy time, as well as ureteral access sheath use (p < 0.001), favoring the EU-scope group. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: The three devices evaluated are highly effective in treatment of kidney stones. Reasons for difference in total surgery and fluoroscopy time and access sheath use are not clear. However, this could be explained by technical aspects of these devices, such as external diameter, optical resolution, and field of view.

Cáncer de endometrio: tratamiento quirúrgico en un hospital comunitario de España / Endometrial cancer: surgical treatment in a community hospital in Spain

Resumen OBJETIVO: Exponer los desenlaces quirúrgicos de las pacientes intervenidas por cáncer de endometrio, analizar si existen puntos de mejora en nuestra práctica clínica y aportar más datos a la evidencia publicada, para ayudar al avance en el tratamiento quirúrgico de las pacientes con esta enfermedad MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional, descriptivo y retrospectivo llevado a cabo en la Unidad de Oncología Ginecológica del Hospital Regional Virgen Macarena de Sevilla, España, entre junio de 2013 y febrero de 2020. Se reunieron los reportes quirúrgicos de pacientes intervenidas por alguna afección endometrial premaligna o maligna. Variables de estudio: edad, IMC, cirugías previas, diagnóstico histopatológico y estadio, vía de acceso quirúrgico y terapia coadyuvante. Se exponen los desenlaces relacionados con complicaciones quirúrgicas y tasa de curación, así como el tiempo de intervención, vía de acceso quirúrgico y estancia hospitalaria. RESULTADOS: Se estudiaron 250 pacientes, la mayoría (76%) con diagnóstico de adenocarcinoma endometrioide de endometrio. La vía de acceso quirúrgico más utilizada fue la laparoscopia (51.6%), con un porcentaje de complicaciones intraoperatorias del 10% y posoperatorias del 9.2%. El 88.4% de las pacientes permanece viva y libre de enfermedad después del tratamiento, con recaídas solo en el 11.6% y 8% de fallecimientos. CONCLUSIONES: El tratamiento inicial de elección, en pacientes con hiperplasia con atipias o cáncer de endometrio en estadios tempranos, es la cirugía, mediante histerectomía, doble anexectomía y en algunos casos linfadenectomía asociada. La elección de la vía quirúrgica de acceso debe individualizarse a las condiciones particulares de cada paciente. La laparoscopia ofrece múltiples ventajas, es una técnica en auge y cada día más practicada.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To expose the surgical outcomes of patients operated on for endometrial cancer, to analyze if there are points of improvement in our clinical practice and to contribute more data to the published evidence, to help advance the surgical treatment of patients with this disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational, descriptive, and retrospective study carried out in the Gynecologic Oncology Unit of the Virgen Macarena Regional Hospital of Seville, Spain, between June 2013 and February 2020. Surgical reports of patients operated on for any premalignant or malignant endometrial condition were collected. Study variables: age, BMI, previous surgeries, histopathological diagnosis and stage, surgical access route and adjuvant therapy. Outcomes related to surgical complications and cure rate are presented, as well as operation time, surgical access route and hospital stay. RESULTS: 250 patients were studied, the majority (76%) with a diagnosis of endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma. The most used surgical access route was laparoscopy (51.6%), with a percentage of intraoperative complications of 10% and postoperative complications of 9.2%. 88.4% of patients remain alive free of disease after treatment, with relapses in only 11.6% and 8% deaths. CONCLUSIONS: The initial treatment of choice in patients with hyperplasia with atypia or early-stage endometrial cancer is surgery, by hysterectomy, double adnexectomy and in some cases associated lymphadenectomy. The choice of surgical approach must be individualized to the conditions of each patient. Laparoscopy offers multiple advantages; it is a technique that is on the rise and is being used more and more frequently.

Ureteral Avulsion During Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery: When the Unexpected Happens.

We report the case of a 49-year-old woman affected by bilateral urinary stones. Bilateral semirigid ureteroscopy was performed followed on the left side by a flexible ureteroscopy, caused by localization of the stone. Unfortunately, disinsertion of the left ureter occurred during the intervention. Open conversion was performed in the same single procedure for left ureteral reimplant. After an easy recovery, the patient was rehospitalized on day 9 postintervention for left pyelonephritis. This case report discusses the management of this rare but serious complication, including the necessity for quick thinking and decision making.

Frontotemporal brain sagging syndrome: Craniospinal hypovolemia secondary to a T6-T7 cerebrospinal fluid-venous fistula.

BACKGROUND: The frontotemporal brain sagging syndrome (FTBSS) is defined as an insidious/progressive decline in behavior and executive functions, hypersomnolence, and orthostatic headaches attributed to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) hypovolemia. Here, a T6 CSF-venous fistula (e.g., between the subarachnoid CSF and a paraspinal vein) resulted in a CSF leak responsible for craniospinal hypovolemia. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 56-year-old male started with orthostatic headaches and fatigue after scuba diving. His symptoms included progressive, vertigo, tinnitus, nausea, lack of judgment, inappropriate behavior, memory dysfunction, apathy, tremor, orofacial dyskinesia, dysarthria, dysphagia, and hypersomnolence. The lumbar puncture revealed an opening pressure of 0 cm H2O. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings included brain sagging, bilateral temporal lobe herniation, and pachymeningeal enhancement. The computed tomography (CT) myelogram showed a thoracic diverticulum and a CSF-venous leak at the T6-T7 level. Surgery, which comprised a T6-T7 laminotomy, allowed for dissecting, clipping, and ligating the diverticulum/fistula. The patient improved postoperatively (e.g., cognitive, behavioral, and brainstem symptoms). The follow-up MRI's showed the reversion of the sagging index/uncal herniation. CONCLUSION: The FTBSS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an early onset frontotemporal dementia. Establishing the diagnosis and localizing the site of a spinal CSF/venous leak warrant both MRI and myelogram CT studies, to pinpoint the CSF leak site for proper surgical clipping/ligation of these thoracic diverticulum/CSF-venous leaks.

Carcinoma papilar difuso de tiroides: microcalcificaciones fuera del nódulo tiroideo / Diffuse Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Microcalcifications Outside the Thyroid Node

Resumen: Introducción: La incidencia de cáncer papilar de tiroides (PTC) ha aumentado de 1975 a 2015. Basados en criterios publicados, el ultrasonido (US) es muy efectivo para predecir el riesgo de malignidad. Todos estos criterios se enfocan en los nódulos tiroideos; sin embargo, 2% de los casos se pueden presentar como focos ecogénicos difusos sin un nódulo identificable. Caso: Mujer de 17 años con historia de 3 meses con una masa palpable en la región anterior derecha del cuello, sin otros síntomas. El US de cuello revela múltiples focos ecogénicos de distribución difusa en el parénquima tiroideo con un nódulo de 6 mm TI-RADS 5 en el lóbulo izquierdo y ganglio linfáticos con componentes sólidos y quísticos, pérdida del hilio graso y con puntos ecogénicos. Se le realizó tiroidectomía total con linfadenectomía bilateral. Discusión: Las microcalcificaciones son muy sugestivas de CPT. Los ecos puntiformes se correlacionan en patología con una forma de calcificación distrófica llamada cuerpos de Psammoma, los cuales se depositan en tejido no viable. La tiroiditis crónica también puede presentar calcificaciones distróficas. Por lo tanto, un parénquima tiroideo normal con presencia de microcalcificaciones, obliga a realizar una biopsia con aguja fina para descartar CPT. Estudios recientes sugieren que la lobectomía es una opción viable y debe ser la primera elección en CPT localizado (< 2 cm). Sin embargo, esto no se debe realizar en estos pacientes, ya que la presencia de microcalcificaciones difusas nos indica un tamaño del tumor mucho mayor y resultaría en un pronóstico desfavorable. Conclusión: Las microcalcificaciones difusas deben obligar al radiólogo a sospechar la variedad difusa del CPT como primera sospecha diagnóstica.

Abstract: Introduction: The incidence of thyroid papillary cancer (PTC) has increased from 1975 to 2015. Ultrasound is effective for predicting thyroid malignancy based on published criteria. All of these criteria focus on thyroid nodules but also 2% of the cases may appear as diffuse punctuate echogenic foci without an identifiable nodule. Case: A 17-year-old female with a 3-month history of a palpable mass on the right anterior side of the neck without any further symptoms. Neck ultrasound revealed multiple punctuate echogenic foci scattered along the thyroid parenchyma with a 6 mm nodule TI-RADS 5 on the left lobe, lymph nodes with cystic and solid components, loss of echogenic hilum and punctuate echogenic foci. The patient underwent a total thyroidectomy with bilateral lymphadenectomy. The pathology report revealed diffuse distribution of papillary cancer with a nodule on the left lobe and metastatic disease on the lymph nodes. Discussion: Microcalcifications are highly suggestive of PTC. Punctuate echogenic foci correlate in pathology with a form of dystrophic calcifications, called Psammoma bodies, which are deposited in nonviable tissue. Chronic thyroiditis may also present dystrophic calcifications. Thus, a normal thyroid parenchyma with microcalcifications should encourage the radiologist to perform a fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Recent studies suggest that lobectomy is a viable option and should be pursued in the setting of localized PTC (<2 cm). A lobectomy should not be performed in patients with diffuse microcalcifications since it would result in an unfavorable outcome. Conclusions: Diffuse microcalcifications should immediately make the radiologist suspect diffuse PTC as a first diagnostic option.

Spatial cognitive implications of teleporting through virtual environments.

Teleporting is a popular interface to allow virtual reality users to explore environments that are larger than the available walking space. When teleporting, the user positions a marker in the virtual environment and is instantly transported without any self-motion cues. Five experiments were designed to evaluate the spatial cognitive consequences of teleporting and to identify environmental cues that could mitigate those costs. Participants performed a triangle completion task by traversing 2 outbound path legs before pointing to the unmarked path origin. Locomotion was accomplished via walking or 2 common implementations of the teleporting interface distinguished by the concordance between movement of the body and movement through the virtual environment. In the partially concordant teleporting interface, participants teleported to translate (change position) but turned the body to rotate. In the discordant teleporting interface, participants teleported to translate and rotate. Across all 5 experiments, discordant teleporting produced larger errors than partially concordant teleporting which produced larger errors than walking, reflecting the importance of translational and rotational self-motion cues. Furthermore, geometric boundaries (room walls or a fence) were necessary to mitigate the spatial cognitive costs associated with teleporting, and landmarks were helpful only in the context of a geometric boundary. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Look4TRs: a de novo tool for detecting simple tandem repeats using self-supervised hidden Markov models.

MOTIVATION: Simple tandem repeats, microsatellites in particular, have regulatory functions, links to several diseases and applications in biotechnology. There is an immediate need for an accurate tool for detecting microsatellites in newly sequenced genomes. The current available tools are either sensitive or specific but not both; some tools require adjusting parameters manually. RESULTS: We propose Look4TRs, the first application of self-supervised hidden Markov models to discovering microsatellites. Look4TRs adapts itself to the input genomes, balancing high sensitivity and low false positive rate. It auto-calibrates itself. We evaluated Look4TRs on 26 eukaryotic genomes. Based on F measure, which combines sensitivity and false positive rate, Look4TRs outperformed TRF and MISA-the most widely used tools-by 78 and 84%. Look4TRs outperformed the second and the third best tools, MsDetector and Tantan, by 17 and 34%. On eight bacterial genomes, Look4TRs outperformed the second and the third best tools by 27 and 137%. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: https://github.com/TulsaBioinformaticsToolsmith/Look4TRs. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Endoscopic treatment of lower pole stones: is a disposable ureteroscope preferable? Results of a prospective case-control study.

INTRODUCTION: The best option for lower pole stone management is still under debate. With the recent incorporation of disposable ureteroscopes, discussion on this topic has been renewed. The aim of the present study was to compare the results obtained with flexible disposable ureteroscopes with those obtained using reusable ureteroscopes in the treatment of inferior calyx stones. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A case-control study was carried out using data registered prospectively in a database at our center. The clinical results obtained in two groups of patients were analyzed. In the first group of patients, a reusable flexible fiber-optic ureteroscope (Cobra®, Richard Wolf) was used, and in the second group, a disposable flexible ureteroscope was used (Uscope 3022®, Pusen Medical). The variables analyzed included: operative time, fluoroscopy time, need for postprocedure ureteral catheter, stone-free rate (fragments <1 millimeter) and complications. The results were evaluated using a Student's t test, a Mann-Whitney test and a Fisher's test. RESULTS: There were 31 cases with disposable ureteroscopes and 30 cases with a reusable ureteroscope. Both groups were comparable in their demographic and clinical variables. The characteristics regarding length, width and angle of the infundibulum (measured by retrograde ureteropyelography) were also comparable. There were no differences in the clinical findings with respect to the stone-free rate, need for a ureteral catheter, complications or hospital stay. Significant differences were found in the average surgery time (56.1 vs. 77 minutes; P = 0.01) and in the fluoroscopy time (66.1 vs. 83.4 seconds; P = 0.02), both favoring the use of single use ureteroscopes. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, disposable flexible ureteroscopes have been validated as an option that is in the least equivalent to reusable ureteroscopes based on clinical results. The shorter surgical and fluoroscopy durations are possible advantages considering the high costs associated with time spent in the operating room and the need to reduce ionizing radiation.

Adenosarcoma de alto grado de endocérvix y cavidad endometrial con componente heterólogo de rabdomiosarcoma. Reporte de caso y revisión de la literatura / High grade adenosarcoma of endocervix and endometrial cavity with a heterologous component of rhabdomyosarcoma. Case report and review of the literature

Objective: To present the case of a patient diagnosed with high grade adenosarcoma of the endocervix and the endometrial cavity, with a heterologous component, and to conduct a review of the literature focusing on the diagnosis and therapeutic management of this disease condition. Materials and methods: We present the case of a 31-year-old female patient who came to Virgen Macarena University Hospital of Seville, a Level III regional institution, complaining of genital bleeding arising from an endocervical polypoid mass. The biopsy of the mass revealed a high grade, poorly differentiated leiomyosarcoma of the endocervix. The patient was taken later to total abdominal hysterectomy. The study of the surgical specimen provided the following result: adenosarcoma of the endocervix and endometrial cavity with a heterologous rhabdomyosarcoma component. A search was conducted in the Medline database via Pubmed using the terms "adenosarcoma," "endocervical," "cervix," "uterus," "heterologous." The search in- cluded literature review articles, case reports and clinical case series describing aspects of cervical adenosarcoma and the heterologous rhabdomyosar- coma component, published in English and Spanish since 1974. Results: Six articles corresponding to literature reviews, case reports or case series in which the most relevant aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of this disease condition are described were retrieved. Conclusions: This condition is characterized, on occasions, by rapid and aggresive growth, hence the importance of early diagnosis and optimal treatment based on a combination of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. However, due to its low prevalence, further studies are needed in order to confirm these data.

Objetivo: presentar el caso de una paciente con diagnóstico de adenosarcoma de alto grado de en- docérvix y de cavidad endometrial, con componente heterólogo, y hacer una revisión de la literatura con especial atención al diagnóstico y manejo terapéutico de esa patología. Materiales y métodos: Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 31 años, que consulta al Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena de Sevilla, institución regional de tercer nivel, por presentar san grado genital originado por una masa polipoidea endocervical que se llevó a biopsia con resultado de un leiomiosarcoma poco diferenciado de alto grado de endocérvix. Posteriormente fue llevada a histerectomía total abdominal. En el estudio de la pieza quirúrgica el resultado fue: adenosarcoma de endocérvix y cavidad endometrial, con componente heterólogo de rabdomiosarcoma. Con los términos: "adenosarcoma", "endocervical", "cérvix", "uterus", "heterologous", en las bases de datos Medline vía PubMed se realizó una búsqueda de artículos de revisión bibliográfica, reportes y series de casos clínicos que describían aspectos del adenosarcoma cervicouterino y del componente heterólogo de rabdomiosarcoma, en inglés y español, publicados desde 1974. Resultados: se hallaron seis artículos correspondientes a revisiones de la literatura, reportes o series de casos, donde se describen los aspectos más importantes referentes al diagnóstico y tratamiento de esta patología. Conclusiones: esta patología se caracteriza, en ocasiones, por un crecimiento rápido y agresivo, donde es importante el diagnóstico precoz y el tratamiento óptimo, basado en una combinación de cirugía, radioterapia y quimioterapia, aunque dada su baja prevalencia se necesitan aún más estudios para poder confirmar estos datos.

High grade adenosarcoma of endocervix and endometrial cavity with a heterologous component of rhabdomyosarcoma. Case report and review of the literature / Adenosarcoma de alto grado de endocérvix y cavidad endometrial con componente heterólogo de rabdomiosarcoma. reporte de caso y revisión de la literatura

RESUMEN Objetivo: presentar el caso de una paciente con diagnóstico de adenosarcoma de alto grado de endocérvix y de cavidad endometrial, con componente heterólogo, y hacer una revisión de la literatura con especial atención al diagnóstico y manejo terapéutico de esa patología. Materiales y métodos: Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 31 años, que consulta al Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena de Sevilla, institución regional de tercer nivel, por presentar san grado genital originado por una masa polipoidea endocervical que se llevó a biopsia con resultado de un leiomiosarcoma poco diferenciado de alto grado de endocérvix. Posteriormente fue llevada a histerectomía total abdominal. En el estudio de la pieza quirúrgica el resultado fue: adenosarcoma de endocérvix y cavidad endometrial, con componente heterólogo de rabdomiosarcoma. Con los términos: "adenosarcoma", "endocervical", "cérvix", "uterus", "heterologous", en las bases de datos Medline vía PubMed se realizó una búsqueda de artículos de revisión bibliográfica, reportes y series de casos clínicos que describían aspectos del adenosarcoma cervicouterino y del componente heterólogo de rabdomiosarcoma, en inglés y español, publicados desde 1974. Resultados: se hallaron seis artículos correspondientes a revisiones de la literatura, reportes o series de casos, donde se describen los aspectos más importantes referentes al diagnóstico y tratamiento de esta patología. Conclusiones: esta patología se caracteriza, en ocasiones, por un crecimiento rápido y agresivo, donde es importante el diagnóstico precoz y el tratamiento óptimo, basado en una combinación de cirugía, radioterapia y quimioterapia, aunque dada su baja prevalencia se necesitan aún más estudios para poder confirmar estos datos.

ABSTRACT Objective: To present the case of a patient diagnosed with high grade adenosarcoma of the endocervix and the endometrial cavity, with a heterologous component, and to conduct a review of the literature focusing on the diagnosis and therapeutic management of this disease condition. Materials and methods: We present the case of a 31-year-old female patient who came to Virgen Macarena University Hospital of Seville, a Level III regional institution, complaining of genital bleeding arising from an endocervical polypoid mass. The biopsy of the mass revealed a high grade, poorly differentiated leiomyosarcoma of the endocervix. The patient was taken later to total abdominal hysterectomy. The study of the surgical specimen provided the following result: adenosarcoma of the endocervix and endometrial cavity with a heterologous rhabdomyosarcoma component. A search was conducted in the Medline database via Pubmed using the terms "adenosarcoma," "endocervical," "cervix," "uterus," "heterologous." The search included literature review articles, case reports and clinical case series describing aspects of cervical adenosarcoma and the heterologous rhabdomyosarcoma component, published in English and Spanish since 1974. Results: Six articles corresponding to literature reviews, case reports or case series in which the most relevant aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of this disease condition are described were retrieved. Conclusions: This condition is characterized, on occasions, by rapid and aggressive growth, hence the importance of early diagnosis and optimal treatment based on a combination of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. However, due to its low prevalence, further studies are needed in order to confirm these data.

Direct trocar insertion without previous pneumoperitoneum versus insertion after insufflation with Veress needle in laparoscopic gynecological surgery: a prospective cohort study.

The aim of this study was to determine whether direct trocar entry without prior pneumoperitoneum at umbilical level (DTI) can be a safe alternative to access the abdominal cavity in gynaecological laparoscopic surgery. We present a prospective observational analytical study of cohorts, comparing DTI with umbilical entry with trocar after previous insufflation with a Veress needle at umbilical level (V). The study period was performed from June 2013 to April 2016; data was collected on 600 patients who underwent gynaecological laparoscopic surgery. There were no significant differences in the risk of suffering a complication during the access manoeuvres between DTI (6.49%) and V (7.39%), OR 0.89 (95% CI: 0.42-1.81). The duration of the access manoeuvres was 69 s in DTI and 193 s in V (p < .001). The percentage of patients in whom two or more access attempts were performed was lower in DTI (7.8%) than in V (12.3%) (p > .05). We concluded that DTI is at least as safe as V, regarding the risk of suffering complications arising from access into the abdominal cavity. DTI has advantages with regard to V, such as: the shorter duration of access manoeuvres or the lesser number of unsuccessful entry or insufflation attempts. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? There are few international publications comparing DTI and V. When we conducted a search in PubMed for the terms 'Veress needle and direct trocar insertion', 51 publications were obtained. When we increased the restriction and added the terms 'laparoscopic entry and laparoscopy complications', 27 publications were obtained; thus, the uniqueness of our study. What do the results of this study add? We present a 3-year observational prospective study of cohorts that included 600 patients. The aim of this study was to determine that in laparoscopic gynaecological surgery, DTI is an access method to the abdominal cavity at least as safe as V, with respect to the risk of complications. On the other hand, DTI has some advantages such as the shorter duration of access manoeuvres or the lower number of failed entry attempts. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Given the limited number of publications that compared both techniques, our study indicates that DTI can be a safe alternative for access to abdominal cavity in gynaecological surgery, compared to the traditional V.