How to Manage Endometriosis in Adolescence: The Endometriosis Treatment Italian Club Approach.

The evaluation of endometriosis in an adolescent girl is a challenging topic. The initial stage of the disease and the limited diagnostic instrument appropriate for the youth age and for its typical features can reduce the ability of the gynecologist. At the same time, missing a prompt diagnosis can delay the beginning of specific and punctual management of endometriosis, which could avoid a postponed diagnosis from 6 to 12 years, typical of adolescent girls complaining of dysmenorrhea. This article aimed to answer all the potential questions around the diagnosis and management of endometriosis in adolescents starting from a clinical case looking at the possible solution that is easily reproducible in the clinical practice.

"Better late than never but never late is better", especially in young women. A multicenter Italian study on diagnostic delay for symptomatic endometriosis.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to assess the length of diagnostic delay of symptomatic endometriosis in Italy and analyse the presence of correlations between the socio-demographic status of patients and the clinical characteristics/type of diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This multicenter cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted in 10 tertiary Italian referral centres for diagnosis and treatment endometriosis. A total of 689 respondents with histologically proven endometriosis and onset of the disease with pain symptoms completed an on-line self-reported questionnaire written in their own language (World Endometriosis Research Foundation-Endometriosis Phenome and Biobanking Harmonisation Project-Endometriosis Patient Questionnaire-Minimum) evaluating endometriosis related symptoms, family history of endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain, demographic data, as well as medical, reproductive, and obstetric history. RESULTS: The mean diagnostic delay found was of 11.4 years. The mean time (14.8 years) from symptoms onset to diagnosis was significantly longer among patients aged 9-19 vs patients aged 20-30 (mean 6.9 years, p < 0.001) and patients aged 31-45 (mean 2.9, p < 0.001). No significant association were found between a delayed diagnosis and any of the clinically relevant factors such as the number or severity of the reported symptoms, familiarity, hormonal therapy intake or methodology of diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The mean diagnostic delay of endometriosis in Italy is about 11 years. The delay can be up to 4 years longer in patients with pain symptoms onset under 20 years. Educating clinicians and patients on pathologic nature of endometriosis related pelvic pain is advisable to reduce waiting time to diagnosis, especially for young women.

Adenomyosis: What the Patient Needs.

A panel of experts in the field of endometriosis expressed their opinions on management options in a 28-year-old patient, attempting pregnancy for 1 year, with severe cyclic pelvic pain and with clinical examination and imaging techniques suggestive of adenomyosis. Many questions this paradigmatic patient may pose to the clinician are addressed, and all clinical scenarios are discussed. A decision algorithm derived from this discussion is also proposed.

How to Manage Bowel Endometriosis: The ETIC Approach.

A panel of experts in the field of endometriosis expressed their opinions on management options in a 35-year-old patient desiring pregnancy with a history of previous surgery for endometrioma and bowel obstruction symptoms. Many questions that this paradigmatic patient may pose to the clinician are addressed, and various clinical scenarios are discussed. A decision algorithm derived from this discussion is proposed as well.

Placenta Previa Percreta: A Case Report of Successful Management via Conservative Surgery.

Placenta percreta is one of the most serious complications of placenta previa and is frequently associated with severe obstetric hemorrhage usually necessitating hysterectomy. We present a case of placenta previa percreta diagnosed by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging techniques, in which we accomplished conservative management of postpartum hemorrhage. The management we propose includes the following steps: preventive catheterization of the descending aorta via transhumeral access; Stark cesarean delivery; uterotonics drugs; Affronti endouterine square hemostatic sutures; intrauterine application of Bakri balloon and partial filling with 100 mL of normal saline; B Lynch suture, hysterorrhaphy, and filling a Bakri balloon with up to 500 mL of normal saline; reversible radiological embolization; and/or surgical ligation of the uterine arteries. The bleeding stopped following placement of Affronti sutures combined with external (B-Lynch suture) and internal (Bakri balloon) uterine compression. Our experience indicates that this conservative method can be considered an option in the management of selected cases of pregnancy at high risk for intrapartum hemorrhage.

B-Lynch suture, intrauterine balloon, and endouterine hemostatic suture for the management of postpartum hemorrhage due to placenta previa accreta.

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience with a new conservative management approach to treat postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) due to placenta previa accreta. METHODS: A retrospective study of 9 patients with placenta previa accreta who underwent a conservative management protocol. The protocol consists of preventive radiological catheterization of the descending aorta, cesarean delivery, use of Affronti endouterine square hemostatic sutures, and placement of an intrauterine Bakri balloon in conjunction with B-Lynch suture. In the event of failure of the protocol, subsequent management employs ligation and/or reversible embolization of the uterine arteries followed by hysterectomy if unsuccessful. RESULTS: Conservative management of PPH was successful in all 9 patients evaluated and avoided the need for ligation and/or reversible embolization of the uterine arteries. CONCLUSION: Management of PPH is dictated by several considerations including hemodynamic status and desire to preserve fertility. The initial results of this conservative protocol for treatment of PPH in high-risk patients with placenta previa accreta are encouraging.

Ovarian torsion in in vitro fertilization-induced twin pregnancy: combination of Doppler ultrasound and laparoscopy in diagnosis and treatment can quickly solve the case.

OBJECTIVE: To diagnose and treat adnexal torsion in pregnancy. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Perugia Hospital. PATIENT(S): A 38-year-old woman, gravida 2, para 1 with bichorial twin pregnancy in the 10th week of gestation who was admitted for abdominal pain. She conceived after an IVF attempt. Even if symptoms compared 2 days before the admission, they aggravated just 2 hours before. INTERVENTION(S): An ovarian torsion was suspected, and Doppler ultrasound showed a complete absence of vascular flow. The dimension of the right ovary and the absence of ovarian blood flow were strong arguments in favor of the diagnosis of adnexal torsion, and laparoscopic ovarian adnexectomy was performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The ovarian torsion was confirmed, and right adnexectomy was necessary. RESULT(S): The patient had a quick convalescence and was discharged on the third postoperative day. She had no more pain. She underwent a cesarean section for placenta previa. She and her children have remained well. CONCLUSION(S): Considering the increased number of IVF pregnancies, an ovarian torsion should be less uncommon than in the past. Doppler ultrasound should be considered as a first-line exam. The complete absence of vascular flow in the ovary may be an indication for adnexectomy. An ovarian torsion in pregnancy should be treated laparoscopically.

Mesenteric chylous cysts simulating a pelvic disease: a case report.

Mesenteric chylous cysts, also known as retroperitoneal chylomatous cysts, mesenteric lymphangiomas or chyloma of the mesentery, are extremely rare and their aspecific clinical presentation can mimic other diseases. In addition, imaging techniques, which are rarely helpful in the correct diagnosis, can demonstrate aspecific features. The Authors report the case of a 62-year-old woman admitted to the hospital for two incidental abdominal masses diagnosed during a yearly monitoring examination and considered to be large adnexal masses. The abdominal masses were removed at laparotomy. Both frozen section and final histopathological examination showed mesenteric chylous cysts. Mesenteric chylous cysts are usually a benign abdominal pathology. As illustrated by this case, even if they are extremely rare, they should be not underrated. The Authors review the literature, confirming the rarity of the disease and defining its characteristics.

Examination of bacterial contamination at the time of embryo transfer, and its impact on the IVF/pregnancy outcome.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to examine the effect of bacterial contamination on in vitro fertilization treatment outcomes. METHOD: In a prospective clinical trial, 152 patients aged 23-38 years, mean 33.3 +/- 4.6, undergoing IVF treatment were selected for this study. During embryo transfer, separate samples were collected for microbial examination from the following sites: the fundus of the vagina, the cervix, the embryo culture medium prior and post-embryo transfer, the tip of the catheter, and the external sheet. All the samples were separately cultured to identify any bacteria or yeast present. RESULTS: Pregnancy rates in patients testing positive for Entrobacteriaceae (22.2% versus 51%) and Staphylococcus species (17.6% versus 44%) were significantly lower than those in the negative culture group (p < 0.001). The pregnancy rates do not seem to be affected by the other isolated microorganisms. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the presence of vaginal-cervical microbial contamination at the time of embryo transfer is associated with significantly decreased pregnancy rates.

Use of carbon dioxide versus normal saline for diagnostic hysteroscopy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare CO2 and normal saline as distention medium in diagnostic hysteroscopy. DESIGN: Prospective randomized study. SETTING: University-based artificial insemination and sterility center in Italy. PATIENT(S): Seventy-four women who underwent hysteroscopy. INTERVENTION(S): Hysteroscopy was performed with CO2 or normal saline. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Quality of intrauterine images, cervical dilatation, local anesthesia, and duration of the test. In addition, each patient evaluated pain during and after the examination, irritation of the phrenic plexus, analgesic use, and side effects. RESULT(S): The quality of the hysteroscopic image was statistically similar for both media. Dilatation of the cervical canal and use of local anesthesia was more often necessary in the CO2 group. The procedure time was 5.96 +/- 1.55 minutes in the CO2 group and 3.12 +/- 0.96 in the normal saline group. The CO2 group reported pain more frequently during and after the examination, shoulder pain, greater analgesic use, and more side effects. CONCLUSION(S): For hysteroscopy, normal saline is technically equal to CO2 in terms of image quality and ease of use but offers more advantages. Hysteroscopy with normal saline is more acceptable to patients, quicker to perform, and entails fewer additional procedures.