Feasibility of Risk Reducing Salpingo-Oophorectomy at the Time of Abdominal Surgery for Correction of Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Urinary Incontinence.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to assess the perioperative outcomes when prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) is performed concomitantly with surgery to repair pelvic organ prolapse (POP) or stress urinary incontinence (SUI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective case-control study of patients who underwent abdominal surgery for the correction of POP and/or SUI with or without concomitant BSO at a tertiary care center. The primary outcome measures were postsurgery length of hospitalization, estimated blood loss, and 30-day readmission rate. The secondary outcome measure was detection of ovarian cancer precursor lesions. RESULTS: We identified 734 patients who had surgery for POP and/or SUI. The control group contained 385 patients, and the BSO group contained 349 patients. There was no difference between the control and BSO groups in the postsurgery length of stay (LOS) (35.2 h vs. 34.1 h; P = 0.49), and all-cause 30-day readmission rate (14.2% vs. 11.6%; P = 0.3085). However, there was decreased blood loss (40.8 ml vs. 67.2 ml, P < 0.0001) in the BSO group compared to the control group. Sub-analysis of primary outcomes in postmenopausal women (age > 55) showed decreased postsurgery LOS (33.4 h vs. 37.4 h; P = 0.0208) and decreased blood loss (35.9 ml vs. 82.7 ml; P < 0.0001) in the BSO group compared to control. CONCLUSION: Secondary to the lack of additional complications, we recommend surgeons give more consideration to finding appropriate candidates for a risk reducing BSO at time of abdominal surgery to repair POP or SUI.

Polypropylene Mesh Sling for Stress Urinary Incontinence: Does Memory Shaping of the Polypropylene Mesh Matter?

We report a case of a mid-urethral sling (Advantage Fit™, Boston Scientific Corporation, Marlborough, Massachusetts) freshly removed from its original package. Upon removal from the packaging, the sling was noted to have a deformation in positioning at the midpoint, with curvature opposite the natural curve of the sling in the body. The images show the comparison to a sling with the desired positioning. Mid-urethral slings are commonly made from polypropylene mesh which has memory properties. It is important that manufacturers ensure that any steps in the processing or packaging of slings do not result in changes in the shape of the sling that may have unknown impacts on its clinical outcome.

Ovariectomy due to a dermoid cyst in an orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus).

A large abdominal mass was identified during an elective preventative health examination in a 25-yr-old female hybrid orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus). Sonographically, the mass was fluid-filled and a presumptive diagnosis of a dermoid cyst or cystic teratoma of an ovary was made. Exploratory laparotomy, after assembly of a surgical team, confirmed that the 2.5-kg cystic mass was associated with the left ovary. Following ovariectomy, perioperative dissection of the mass revealed hair components, confirming the working diagnosis. Because the right ovary was slightly nodular and firmer than expected, and these germ cell tumors sometimes occur bilaterally, excision of the contralateral ovary was elected. Histopathology confirmed the left ovarian mass was a dermoid cyst; the right ovary contained a corpus hemorrhagicum but no evidence of neoplasia. Recovery was uneventful and the orangutan was prescribed hormone replacement therapy to mitigate potential problems associated with a chronic lack of estrogen and progesterone. This case report demonstrates the importance of elective examinations under anesthesia, even in well-trained great apes.