[Prevention of bleeding during laparotomic myomectomy in Sub-Saharan Africa: Contribution to the tourniquet on the uterine isthmus]. / Prévention de l'hémorragie per myomectomie en Afrique subsaharienne : apport du garrot sur l'isthme utérin.

OBJECTIVES: To appreciate the decrease of bleeding by myomectomy by the use of a tourniquet on the uterine isthmus. METHODS: We conducted a case-control retrospective study from March 2014 to February 2016 in the Gynecology and obstetrics Department of the university hospital of Yopougon (Abidjan, Ivory Coast). It interested 100 patients of which 50 had a myomectomy with the tourniquet on the uterine isthmus and 50 without the tourniquet. None of the patients received pre-operative preventive treatment. The criteria for comparison were the blood loss per operative and the pre-and post-operative hemoglobin levels. RESULTS: The average age of patients was 33 years. Nulliparous women were the group most affected (68% of our patients) with 32% infertile women in the group with the tourniquet and 18% in the group without the tourniquet. Patients without tourniquet presented more bleeding than patients with tourniquet (X2=13.61) with a higher proportion of anemic patients in the group without the tourniquet. The differences were significant. The tourniquet has made it possible to realize the resection of a larger number of myoma. The duration of hospital stay was 4 days on average in both groups and no complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The application of a tourniquet on the uterine isthmus during laparotomic myomectomy has a benefit in reducing intraoperative blood loss.

[Functional symptoms and associations of women with genital prolapse]. / Prévalence des troubles fonctionnels et associations anatomo-fonctionnelles chez les femmes présentant un prolapsus génital.

OBJECTIVE: To assess functional symptoms related to genital prolapse and to test anatomo-functional associations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Observational study, performed between January 2005 and June 2012, on all patients operated for prolapse in a French tertiary referral centre. Data were collected from standardized patients' notes, including baseline characteristics, complete interview on urinary and colo-rectal functional symptoms, MHU score, and POP-Q (Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification) clinical evaluation. RESULTS: Three hundred and seventy-four patients, with a mean age of 65.1 years old, mean parity of 2.5, and mean BMI of 25.4, were included. These patients were post-menopausal in 92.5% of cases. Urinary symptoms were: SUI in 30.5%, urgencies in 44.4%, and voiding difficulties in 38.8%. Colo-rectal symptoms, such as defecatory dysfunction and anal incontinence, occurred in 25.1% and 18.5%, respectively. On clinical examination, anterior vaginal wall prolapses were the most common (74.1%). Patients with stage 3-4 cystocele suffered significantly more frequently of nocturia (P=0.04), voiding difficulties (P=0.04), and occult stress urinary incontinence (P<0.001). Patients with stage 3-4 rectocele suffered significantly more frequently of defecatory dysfunction (P=0.005) and performed more often maneuver for defecation (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Urinary and colo-rectal symptoms are commonly associated with genital prolapse. Anatomo-functional associations were shown regarding different prolapse types and stages. LEVEL OF PROOF: 4.

[Should we perform intra-operative endometrial biopsy during pelvic reconstructive surgery with uterine preservation?]. / Doit-on faire une biopsie d'endomètre peropératoire dans les cures de prolapsus avec conservation utérine?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the interest of systematic endometrial biopsy at the time of vaginal reconstructive surgery with uterine preservation. METHODS: We performed a retrospective monocentric study on all women who had vaginal reconstructive surgery with uterine preservation from 2005 to 2012. All following parameters have been studied: baseline characteristics (age, parity, BMI, hormonal status, medical history), prolapse stage using the POP-Q, preoperative pelvic ultrasound (endometrial thickness), and type of surgery. Women with previous hysterectomy were excluded. RESULTS: Four hundred and fourteen patients were operated during this period, and 268 have uterine preservation (64.7%). Baseline characteristics were mean age 64.7±10.7 (39 to 92), mean parity 2.6±1.5, mean BMI 25.5±4.2, menopause 238 (88.8%), HRT 32 (12%), previous breast cancer 16 (6%), diabetes mellitus 31 (11.6%), and hypertension 87 (32.5%). Prolapse were at stage II in 127 (47.3%), stage III in 99 (36.9%) and stage IV in 17 (6.3%). Preoperative pelvic ultrasound has been done in 255 patients (95.2%), and mean endometrial thickness was 5.1mm (range 1.6-16). Overall, 152 intra-operative endometrial biopsies were assessable (56.7%). In 24 cases (15.8%), samples were too small to be interpretable. Finally, the 128 interpretable biopsies (82.2%) have shown one carcinoma (0.8%), four hyperplasia (3.2%), two endometrial polyps (1.6%), and 121 normal endometria (94.5%). The only cancer was discovered on a 77 year old patient, with a history of previous breast cancer, and with a preoperative endometrial thickness of 7 mm. No patient with normal preoperative ultrasound endometrial screening had abnormal endometrial biopsy. CONCLUSION: Vaginal reconstructive surgery with uterine preservation implicates a preoperative endometrial evaluation by ultrasound. Intra-operative endometrial biopsy does not seem to be justified.

Can the PFDI (Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory) or PFIQ (Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaires) be used to predict outcome in pelvic reconstructive surgery?

OBJECTIVE: To determine a syndrome score threshold on PFDI or PFIQ predictive of a significant improvement in post-operative functional results. DESIGN: A retrospective case review (Canadian Task Force Classification II-2). SETTING: University and research hospital. POPULATION: Women diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse and repaired with synthetic vaginal mesh. METHODS: Quality of life was arbitrarily considered to have improved significantly if the score decreases by more than 50% between pre-operatively and 36 months post-operatively. We investigated the pre-operative cut-off score predictive of no quality of life improvement at M36 from a prospective trial for surgical pelvic organ prolapse treatment. RESULTS: The most accurate pre-operative cut-off score predicting a failure to improve quality of life at 36 months post-operatively was 62/300 (PFDI Score). This cut-off value had a positive predictive value of 83.6% and specificity of 62.1%. No significant threshold was obtained from the PFIQ score. CONCLUSION: The intensity of symptoms before surgery may interfere as a predictive factor for outcome.

[Placenta percreta: A rare etiology of spontaneous uterine perforation in the second trimester of pregnancy]. / Une étiologie particulière de perforation utérine spontanée au deuxième trimestre de grossesse : le placenta percreta.

Placenta accreta is an abnormal adherence of placenta to the uterine wall without interposition of decidua basalis. Placenta percreta is the rarest form but may complicate the pregnancy with acute severe hemorrhage. We report a case of placenta percreta with multiple perforations of an unscarred uterus reaveled by hemoperitoneum at 22 weeks in a 33-years-old gravida 2 para 1. Emergency total hysterectomy was performed. Risk factors, clinical approach and therapeutic managements are discussed.

[Value of hand disinfection by rubbing with alcohol prior to surgery in a tropical setting]. / Intérêt de la désinfection chirurgicale des mains par friction alcoolique en milieu tropical.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the value of hand disinfection by rubbing with alcohol in terms of prevention of surgical site infection (SSI) and cost in a tropical setting. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This prospective cohort study carried out in the Gynecology Obstetrics Department of the Yopougon University Teaching Hospital from May to September 2005 was designed to compare two different methods of hand disinfection, i.e., traditional 3-step hand scrubbing using an antiseptic preparation versus handwashing without an antiseptic preparation followed by two applications of an aqueous alcohol solution. RESULTS: The study population included 318 patients who underwent surgery during the study period. The SSI rate was 13.2% in patients operated on after traditional hand scrubbing and 11.5% after handwashing followed by rubbing with alcohol (not significantly different). Hand disinfection by rubbing with alcohol did not increase the risk of SSI and was considered as easier than traditional hand scrubbing by 90% of users. Skin tolerance was deemed good by 52% of users. Most users (69%) wished both hand disinfection methods to be available. Hand disinfection by rubbing with alcohol was much more cost-effective than traditional hand scrubbing both with regard to initial investment and to consumable costs (50% lower). CONCLUSION: This study shows that hand disinfection by rubbing with an alcoholic solution is not only as effective as traditional hand scrubbing for prevention of SSI but also more cost-effective. These findings indicate that rubbing with alcohol is a suitable alternative to traditional scrubbing for hand disinfection prior to surgery in our tropical setting.

[Internal iliac arteries ligation for intractable obstetrical hemorrhage in Africa]. / Ligature des artères iliaques internes face aux hémorragies obstétricales graves en milieu africain.

OBJECTIVES: Assess the efficiency of internal iliac arteries ligation in intractable obstetrical hemorrhage and ascertain success or failure factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It was a retrospective study which concerned 159 patients who underwent internal iliac arteries ligation for persistent and severe obstetrical hemorrhage from March 1992 to February 2007. Arrest of hemorrhage after ligation with survival of the patient was considered as successful; was considered as failure, persistence of hemorrhage in spite of the ligation or patient death. RESULTS: Internal iliac arteries ligation allowed hemorrhage control in 84.3% of cases. Main etiology of hemorrhage were: uterine atony (42.8%), abruptio placentae (31.4%). Coagulation disorders and hypovolemic shock, consequences of long delay of management were identified as bad prognosis factors. Blood transfusion was also singled out as a factor likely to ameliorate prognosis, especially in hemodynamic precarious situations. Surgical complications incidence was 1.89%, represented by two internal iliac vein lesions and one ureteral section successfully repaired. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Internal iliac arteries ligation is a prerequisite treatment of severe postpartum hemorrhage. The outcome is better when it is performed precociously (p=0.0000003) before the happening of disseminated intra vascular coagulation (p=0.006), hemodynamic troubles (p=0.0099) and acute severe anemia (p=0.02). It is a good alternative to arterial embolization in Africa.

Intérêt de la désinfection chirurgicale des mains par friction alcoolique en milieu tropical

Objectif. Determiner l'efficacite de la desinfection chirurgicale des mains par friction alcoolique en terme de survenue d'infection du site operatoire et en apprecier l'interet economique en milieu tropical. Materiel et methode. Il s'agissait d'une etude prospective de cohorte qui s'est deroulee de mai a septembre 2005 dans le service de gynecologie obstetrique du CHU deYopougon; comparant deux protocoles de desinfection des mains : le lavage chirurgical classique en 3 temps et la friction chirurgicale qui comprenait un lavage simple des mains suivi de deux applications successives d'une solution hydro alcoolique. Resultats. L'etude a porte sur 318 patientes. Les taux d'infection du site operatoire etaient de 13;2pour le groupe lavage et de 11;5pour le groupe friction (sans difference significative). La friction chirurgicale n'a pas expose a plus de risque d'infection et a ete jugee plus facile que le lavage chirurgical classique par 90des utilisateurs. La tolerance cutanee a ete jugee bonne dans 52des cas. Enfin; 69des utilisateurs souhaitaient que les deux protocoles soient maintenus. L'interet economique de la friction etait majeur par rapport au lavage tant en terme d'investissement que sur le prix des consommables; moins cher de 50. Conclusion. La friction chirurgicale s'est montree aussi efficace que le lavage chirurgical dans la prevention des infections du site operatoire tout en etant plus economique. Cette technique est une bonne alternative au lavage chirurgical des mains en milieu tropical

[Systematic controlled placenta birth: analysis of 200 cases recruited at the general hospital of Abobo (Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire)]. / La délivrance dirigée systématique: analyse d'une série de 200 cas recrutés a l'hôpital général d'Abobo (Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire).

Haemorrhage of placenta birth is one of the main reasons of maternal mortality in developing countries. The control of this third stage of delivery remains one of the means to stem the scourge. This survey shows that controlled placenta birth is a safe mean to reach this objective: 200 women who had normal vaginal deliveries at the Abobo North hospital were included in the survey. Among them, one hundred women had a controlled placenta birth whereas 100 had a normal one. The analysis of the results showed that: the haemorrhage rates during placenta birth slightly decrease in the group with controlled placenta birth and are clearly lower in the group of patients with risks factors of haemorrhage in 10% of the cases; the delay of placenta birth is twice shorter in the group having a controlled placenta birth than in the group with normal placenta birth; blood loss in the group with controlled placenta birth is three times less important than in the other group. This study speaks in favour of a systematic controlled placenta birth during the third stage of labour as it is already performed elsewhere.

[Craniopagus conjoined twins: difficulties of management in Africa]. / Jumeaux conjoints craniopages: difficultés de prise en charge en milieu africain.

Conjoined twins are the rare malformations of monozygotic-twins pregnancies associated with bad fetal prognosis. Craniopagus are even more rarely encountered and their management is complex particularly in our low-medical-equipment countries. From an observation of craniopagus twins, we present several difficulties in the management of the case. Diagnosis was late; because of the onset of labour, delivery was not prepared; the conditions of neonatal and social management were not adapted. Surgical treatment was not considered owing to the absence of appropriate technological conditions and means.