Ablative or excisional laparoscopic surgery for endometriotic cysts: resolving the issue.

A logistic regression analysis was carried out to compare laparoscopic excision with ablation for endometriotic cysts. Four comparative studies were identified. Cyst recurrence (%, +/- SE) was twice as likely after the ablation treatment (26.6% +/- 0.032) than after the excision treatment (13.2% +/- 0.019), (p <.001, relative risk 1.9). Two comparative studies were identified where postprocedure pregnancy rates were an outcome measure. Postoperative pregnancy rates were not significantly different for the ablation treatment (41.6% +/- 0.138) than for the excision treatment (56.9% +/- 0.23). There was only one comparative study to investigate symptom relief, therefore logistic regression analysis to compare studies was not possible. Three studies compared excisional surgery and perioperative medication with excisional surgery only. Cyst recurrence rates were not significantly different for the group that received medication (10.3% +/- 0.033) than for the group that did not (4.0% +/- 0.02).

Patient satisfaction and changes in pain scores after ablative laparoscopic surgery for stage III-IV endometriosis and endometriotic cysts.

OBJECTIVE: To document the changes in pain scores 3-12 months following ablative laparoscopic surgery. Secondary outcome measures included patient satisfaction scores. DESIGN: A prospective, cohort study. SETTING: A tertiary referral center for the treatment of endometriosis. PATIENT(S): Seventy-three consecutive women with stage III-IV endometriosis and an endometrioma >2 cm. INTERVENTION(S): A laparoscopy was performed. The extraovarian endometriosis was ablated with a CO(2) laser, and the endometrioma capsule was fenestrated then ablated with the potassium-titanic-phosphate (KTP) laser or the Bicap bipolar diathermy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Pre- and postoperative visual analogue scores for pelvic pain were completed. Patient satisfaction was scored from 1 to 10, with a score of 10 being "most satisfied." RESULT(S): A total of 73 women with stage III-IV endometriosis and 96 cysts (23 cysts were bilateral). The mean revised American Fertility Society (AFS) score was 65.5 (range 22-128). At 12 months, the mean temporal decrease in the pain score for dyspareunia was 2.14 +/- 0.41; for dysmenorrhea, 1.52 +/- 0.38; and for chronic nonmenstrual pain, 2.37 +/- 0.43. Sixty-four (87.7%) patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the treatment. No surgical complications occurred. CONCLUSION(S): Laparoscopic ablative surgery for endometriomas in the presence of stage III-IV endometriosis is an effective treatment for relieving pelvic pain.

The laparoscopic appearance of Schistosomiasis may be mistaken for "non-pigmented" endometriosis.

The authors report the case history of a patient with symptoms and signs suggestive of endometriosis, who was found to have Schistosomiasis. The laparoscopic appearance was of gelatinous deposits throughout the pelvis which were thought to be "non-pigmented" endometriosis. However, histological examination of the biopsy specimens revealed Schistosomiasis.

Fertility after laparoscopic surgery for endometriomas.

There are a number of published studies documenting pregnancy rates after endoscopic surgery in patients with endometriomas. These reports present similar pregnancy rates regardless of the surgical technique used to treat the cyst. This finding indicates that it does not matter whether the endometrioma is excised or ablated. However, debate about the nature of the cleavage plane of the cyst has led some surgeons to suggest that excision may damage the follicular reserve of the ovary. Furthermore, pregnancy rates after surgery cannot be compared in the same way as pregnancy rates after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer because of lack of standardization. A review of the published studies relating to the laparoscopic management of endometriomas was performed to examine this issue further. Each paper was analysed using pre-set criteria to identify the methodology used and how the results were presented. Wide variation was found in the criteria used to select patients and in the way the results were reported. In view of these findings, there is an urgent need for surgical studies with consistent definitions of infertility and end-points, or a national system of audit.

Mechanical ventilation during long-range air transport.

Mechanical ventilation during long-range aeromedical transport presents significant challenges. Patient, crew member, and equipment are placed in an environment with reduced barometric pressure, noise, vibration, and limited space, oxygen, electrical power, and access to imaging technology. It is the transport team's responsibility to provide care in this environment, which approximates that given in the ICU as closely as possible. This is achieved through careful preparation and planning. Preparation starts with training of the personnel and selection of optimal equipment. Planning needs to consider the patient's physiologic reserve, available supplies of oxygen and electrical power, and the crew's ability to sustain high performance for the duration of the mission.

Endometrial adenocarcinoma arising from endometriosis of the rectosigmoid colon.

BACKGROUND: Only 21.3% of cases of malignant transformation of endometriosis occur at extragonadal pelvic sites. Forty cases of endometriosis-associated intestinal tumors are reported in the literature. Of these, 17 cases are primary adenocarcinomas arising in the rectosigmoid colon. In 8 of the 17 case reports the patients were using unopposed estrogen replacement therapy. CASE: The patient had previously undergone a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for deeply infiltrating rectovaginal endometriosis, and was using estrogen replacement therapy. She presented with rectal bleeding 12 years later, and a polyp was detected arising from the sigmoid colon. A biopsy detected malignant transformation of endometriosis to adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSION: This is the ninth case of a patient with this condition reported in the literature.

Conjugate release materials in lateral-flow assays.

Conjugate release materials are considered to be the most problematic area in lateral-flow strip development. This article describes how these materials can be optimised to give a high and consistent degree of conjugate release for a minimum of 18 months.

Pregnancy rates following ablative laparoscopic surgery for endometriomas.

BACKGROUND: In this prospective, cohort study we present the cumulative pregnancy rate following ablative laparoscopic surgery in patients with endometriomas. METHODS: The cyst was mobilized, fenestrated, and the capsule treated with the potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser or bipolar diathermy. Pre- and post-operative transvaginal ultrasound scans were performed, and a detailed fertility history recorded. RESULTS: There were 39 women (38 intention to treat as a single procedure) who had been trying to conceive for >12 months. The mean age of the patients was 33.8 years (range 20-43), and there were 42 cysts (three bilateral) with a mean diameter of 4.8 cm (range 2-25). The mean revised American Fertility Society score was 64.9 (range 22-124), and 29 (74.4%) patients had stage IV disease. Seven patients (18%) had previously had a live birth, and 17 (43.6%) had undergone assisted conception in the past. The cumulative pregnancy rate was 15/38 (39.5%). The pregnancy rate in patients with stage IV disease was 11/28 (39.3%). There were no major complications. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that laparoscopic cyst fenestration and capsule ablation is a safe and effective treatment for improving fertility.