Management of Bartholin's cyst and abscess using the Word catheter: implementation, recurrence rates and costs.

OBJECTIVE: Bartholin's cysts and abscesses occur in about 2% of women. None of the surgical or conservative treatment approaches have been proven to be superior. The Word catheter is an outpatient treatment option, but little is known about aspects of implementing this therapy in an office setting. The present study's focus is on recurrence rates and organizational requirements of implementing outpatient treatment of Bartholin's cyst and abscess and compares costs of Word catheter treatment and marsupialization. STUDY DESIGN: Between March 2013 and May 2014 30 women were included in the study. We measured time consumed for treatment and follow-up and analyzed costs using the Word catheter and marsupialization under general anesthesia. We also assessed the ease of use of the Word catheter for application and removal using a standardized visual analog scale (VAS 1-10). RESULTS: Word catheter treatment was successful in 26/30 cases (87%). Balloon loss before the end of the 4-week treatment period occurred in 11/26 cases with a mean residence time of 19.1 (±10.0) days. None of the patients with early catheter loss developed recurrent cyst or abscess. Recurrence occurred in 1/26 cases (3.8%). Difficulty-score of application was 2 [1-10] and of removal 1 [1], respectively. Costs were € 216 for the treatment in the clinic as compared with € 1584/€ 1282 for surgical marsupialization with a one-night stay or daycare clinic, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that the Word catheter is an easy to handle, low cost outpatient procedure with acceptable short-term recurrence rates. Treatment costs are seven times lower than for marsupialization.

Immediate laparoscopic adrenalectomy versus observation: cost evaluation for incidental adrenal lesions with atypical imaging characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Because of controversy in the management of nonfunctional adrenal masses <6 cm with lipid-poor imaging characteristics, the study was conducted to compare the costs of observation versus immediate laparoscopic adrenalectomy. METHODS: A total of 370 patients who were evaluated for incidental adrenal masses between January 1999 and December 2007 were identified, and 32 (8.7%) patients had lesions with imaging characteristics that were inconsistent with a benign adenoma (ie, atypical appearing). Sixteen patients underwent immediate surgery and 16 had observation with serial imaging and biochemical studies. The associated total costs were subjected to intention-to-treat analysis. RESULTS: In the observation cohort, 7 patients converted and underwent adrenalectomy after a mean of 13.1 months. Initially, costs of immediate surgery exceeded those of observation ($12,015.72 vs $11,601.18, P = .10). After projecting costs of annual surveillance, a cost advantage for immediate surgery was demonstrated after 9 years (P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with <6 cm atypical-appearing adrenal lesions, the costs of surgery and of observation are initially equal. After 9 years, the costs of surveillance exceed that of initial laparoscopic adrenalectomy.

Use of the NICO Myriad device for tumor and cyst removals in a developing country.

PURPOSE: To describe the use of the NICO Myriad, a new side-cutting aspiration device for the resection of tumors, in a developing country. METHODS: The 11-, 13-, and 15-ga handpieces were used to resect tumors exposed via craniotomies, and the 19-ga handpiece was used down the side channel of a Storz Oi endoscope to resect tumors exposed endoscopically. RESULTS: The Myriad was used to resect 23 tumors, including spinal cord tumors, posterior fossa tumors and pineal tumors, and the cysts associated with two craniopharyngiomas. No complications were associated with the Myriad. Handpieces that were re-sterilized in Steranios after the initial use could each be used two to four times thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: The Myriad is the first effective tumor removal device that can be introduced down the side channel of most endoscopes, greatly expanding the spectrum of tumors that can be treated endoscopically. Its minimal diameter allows better visibility in small, deep sites such as the pineal region than is usually available when ultrasonic aspirators are used. The cost of the device, and particularly the handpieces, will limit their utility in developing countries until re-usable handpieces are developed.

Cost-reductive retroperitoneal excision of large adrenal pseudocyst: a case report and review of the literature.

We report a case of a non-functioning cystic adrenal mass. It was detected on an abdominal ultrasound carried out for right flank pain in a 45-year-old lady. Biochemical parameters like 24-hour urinary free cortisol, catecholamines and serum potassium level were normal. Retroperitoneoscopic excision of the large cystic mass was done by using our cost-reductive technique as previously described. Histopathology turned out to be a pseudocyst with wall fibrosis and calcification.

[Economic effectiveness of the introduction of a new method of conservative treatment of chalazion]. / Ekonomicheskaia éffektivnost' vnedreniia novogo sposoba konservativnogo lecheniia khalaziona.

The authors analyze the economic efficacy of a new method for chalazion therapy: corticosteroid injections deep into the pathologic focus. Such therapy may be carried out on an outpatient basis, the patients do not have to cease work for it. The authors emphasize high socioeconomic significance of introducing this method into clinical practice.