Fertility outcome in laparoscopic single tube reanastomosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the fertility outcome in laparoscopic unilateral tubal reanastomosis. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective observational study. The medical records of all patients who underwent laparoscopic unilateral tubal reanastomosis from October 2003 to October 2010 at the Center for Advanced Endoscopy and Infertility Treatment, Paul's Hospital, Cochin, Kerala, India, were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 71 patients out of 81 could be followed up. Of those 71 women 39 (54.9%) conceived, and most of them within 1 year (36/39). Overall intra-uterine pregnancy rate was 52.11%. Thirty delivered a live infant (delivery rate 42.25%), 7 had abortions, 1 ectopic pregnancy was noted in the operated tube and 1 in the contralateral tube. Final tubal length of ≥ 5 cm showed statistically significant association with pregnancy rate (p = 0.0056). There was no significant difference in mean age, duration between sterilization and reanastomosis, or type of sterilization between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Though bilateral tubal reanastomosis is an ideal procedure, unilateral laparoscopic tubal reanastomosis gives an acceptable pregnancy rate. Unilateral laparoscopic reanastomosis is feasible in most of the cases, as most of the time only 1 tube is suitable for reanastomosis. Also, the surgical team can perform the unilateral procedure more efficiently, and the patient receives less anesthesia since the duration of surgery is shorter when compared to the bilateral procedure. Bilateral anastomosis is better when both tubes are accessible, especially in older women.

Secondary hemorrhage after total laparoscopic hysterectomy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to estimate the cumulative incidence, patient characteristics, and potential risk factors for secondary hemorrhage after total laparoscopic hysterectomy. METHODS: All women who underwent total laparoscopic hysterectomy at Paul's Hospital between January 2004 and April 2012 were included in the study. Patients who had bleeding per vaginam between 24 hours and 6 weeks after primary surgery were included in the analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1613 patients underwent total laparoscopic hysterectomy during the study period, and 21 patients had secondary hemorrhage after hysterectomy. The overall cumulative incidence of secondary hemorrhage after total laparoscopic hysterectomy was 1.3%. The mean size of the uterus was 541.4 g in the secondary hemorrhage group and 318.9 g in patients without hemorrhage, which was statistically significant. The median time interval between hysterectomy and secondary hemorrhage was 13 days. Packing was sufficient to control the bleeding in 13 patients, and 6 patients required vault suturing. Laparoscopic coagulation of the uterine artery was performed in 1 patient. Uterine artery embolization was performed twice in 1 patient to control the bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that secondary hemorrhage is rare but may occur more often after total laparoscopic hysterectomy than after other hysterectomy approaches. Whether it is related to the application of thermal energy to tissues, which causes more tissue necrosis and devascularization than sharp culdotomy in abdominal and vaginal hysterectomies, is not clear. A large uterus size, excessive use of an energy source for the uterine artery, and culdotomy may play a role.