Optimization of peritoneal fluid and leukocyte collection in patients with endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: To propose a standardized protocol for peritoneal free fluid and leukocyte sample collection in women with endometriosis suitable for biomedical research on the basis of the surgical procedure, the clinical and technical conditions, and the quality of the samples obtained. DESIGN: Video showing the step-by-step collection procedure and the suitability of samples obtained for biomedical research. SUBJECTS: This study included 103 women with confirmed endometriosis by pathology analysis, who signed informed consent and were recruited from the Hospital "Virgen de la Arrixaca", Murcia, Spain. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of University of Murcia (CEI 3156/2020). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We analyzed the presence of free fluid in the peritoneal cavity and its relationship with hormonal treatment intake. In addition, the presence of blood contamination, the number of viable leukocytes and macrophages in free peritoneal fluid and lavages as well as their relationship with the lavage volume used, the body mass index, and the age of patients were analyzed. RESULTS: The presence of free peritoneal fluid, in which cells and molecules could be quantified, was scarce in the patients (21%), and it was not significantly related to hormonal treatment intake. The cell viability was higher than 98% in all collected samples; although 54% showed good quality and enough cellularity to be used in biomedical research, 40% were contaminated with blood and 6% had low cellularity. The number of leukocytes and macrophages recovered from the peritoneal lavages correlated positively with the lavage volume used and negatively with the body mass index and was independent of the age of the patients. CONCLUSION: We describe a standardized step-by-step procedure for peritoneal fluid and leukocyte collection in women with endometriosis, suitable for biomedical research, taking into account that not all women present free fluid in the peritoneal cavity. We propose to increase the lavage volume recommended by the World Endometriosis Research Foundation from 10 mL to at least 40 mL of sterile saline solution and its mobilization for at least 30 seconds within the peritoneal cavity, especially in patients with higher body mass index, to improve the efficiency of the procedure.

Measuring Resilience in Women with Endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a multifactorial disease with pathophysiological factors not yet well known; it also presents a wide symptomatic range that makes us think about the need for multidisciplinary management. It is a chronic disease in which there is no definitive treatment, and is associated in a large majority of cases with psychological pathology. Connecting comorbidities and multimorbidities on a neurobiological, neuropsychological, and pathophysiological level could significantly contribute to their more successful prevention and treatment. In our study, resilience is analyzed as an adjunctive measure in the management of endometriosis. Methods: A multi-centre, cross-sectional study was performed to analyse resilience levels in a sample of Spanish women suffering from endometriosis. CDRIS-25, CDRIS-10, BDI, the STAI, and the SF-36 Health Questionnaire were used for assessments. A representative group of 202 women with endometriosis was recruited by consecutive sampling. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed for both resilience scales. Results: Mean CDRIS-25 and CDRIS-10 scores were 69.58 (SD 15.1) and 29.37 (SD 7.2), respectively. Women with adenomyosis and without signs of deep endometriosis showed the lowest scores. The best predictive model included women's age, years of endometriosis evolution, number of pregnancies, and history of fertility problems as the best predictive factors. Conclusions: Women build resilience as the number of years of evolution of the disease increases. Symptoms such as dyspareunia and continued abdominal pain were more prevalent among less resilient women.

Correlates of Sexual Function in a Sample of Spanish Women with Endometriosis.

BACKGROUND: In the present study, we aim to report on the sexual function of women experiencing symptoms of endometriosis, analysing the clinical and psychosocial factors that may be associated. METHODS: A multicentre cross-sectional study was performed to analyse the sexual function in a sample of 196 Spanish women with endometriosis, using the Female Sexual Function Inventory. RESULTS: The Female Sexual Function Inventory (FSFI) was validated in our endometriosis study group. The mean FSFI score for the sample was 22.5 (SD 6.6), with 20.9 and 26.9 being in the 25th and 75th percentiles, respectively. Although physical sexual pain and dyspareunia were factors that influenced the sexual function of women with endometriosis, our results show that the impairment was multifactorial. CONCLUSIONS: We found impaired sexual function in women diagnosed with endometriosis. The final model included deep endometriosis, depression, age, and unemployment as strongest predictive factors for poor (deteriorated) sexual function.

The Role of Peritoneal Macrophages in Endometriosis.

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent gynecological disorder, defined as the growth of endometrial stromal cells and glands at extrauterine sites. Endometriotic lesions are more frequently located into the abdominal cavity, although they can also be implanted in distant places. Among its etiological factors, the presence of immune dysregulation occupies a prominent place, pointing out the beneficial and harmful outcomes of macrophages in the pathogenesis of this disease. Macrophages are tissue-resident cells that connect innate and adaptive immunity, playing a key role in maintaining local homeostasis in healthy conditions and being critical in the development and sustainment of many inflammatory diseases. Macrophages accumulate in the peritoneal cavity of women with endometriosis, but their ability to clear migrated endometrial fragments seems to be inefficient. Hence, the characteristics of the peritoneal immune system in endometriosis must be further studied to facilitate the search for new diagnostic and therapeutic tools. In this review, we summarize recent relevant advances obtained in both mouse, as the main animal model used to study endometriosis, and human, focusing on peritoneal macrophages obtained from endometriotic patients and healthy donors, under the perspective of its future clinical translation to the role that these cells play on this pathology.

Isolation of functional mature peritoneal macrophages from healthy humans.

Macrophages play an important role in the inflammatory response. Their various biological functions are induced by different membrane receptors, including Toll-like receptors, which trigger several intracellular signaling cascades and activate the inflammasomes, which in turn elicit the release of inflammatory mediators such as cytokines. In this study, we present a novel method for the isolation of human mature peritoneal macrophages. This method can be easily implemented by gynecologists who routinely perform laparoscopy for sterilization by tubal ligation or surgically intervene in benign gynecological pathologies. Our method confirms that macrophages are the main peritoneal leukocyte subpopulation isolated from the human peritoneum in homeostasis. We showed that primary human peritoneal macrophages present phagocytic and oxidative activities, and respond to activation of the main proinflammatory pathways such as Toll-like receptors and inflammasomes, resulting in the secretion of different proinflammatory cytokines. Therefore, this method provides a useful tool for characterizing primary human macrophages as control cells for studies of molecular inflammatory pathways in steady-state conditions and for comparing them with those obtained from pathologies involving the peritoneal cavity. Furthermore, it will facilitate advances in the screening of anti-inflammatory compounds in the human system.

Endometriosis sobre ligamento redondo extrapélvico / Endometriosis affecting the extrapelvic round ligament

La afectación del ligamento redondo por endometriosis es infrecuente, oscilando según la bibliografía entre un 0,3 a un 14 % de las pacientes afectadas por endometriosis. Se localiza mas frecuentemente en el lado derecho y en su porción extrapélvica. Produce efecto masa y dolor variable con el ciclo. Generalmente hay afectación del compartimento posterior pélvico. La sospecha diagnóstica se basa en la anamnesis y exploración física, donde se objetiva una masa en región inguinal dolorosa. El diagnóstico por imagen a través de ecografía y resonancia magnética presenta una lesión ocupante de espacio con las mismas características que las lesiones endometrió-sicas pélvicas. Su manejo en la mayoría de las veces implica cirugía para su exéresis. Presentamos un caso de endometriosis sobre el ligamento redondo extrapélvico en el contexto de una endometriosis compleja en una paciente de 23 años con uropatía obstructiva

Endometriosis of the round ligament is a rare entity, it accounts for 0.3 to 14 % of patients affected by endome-triosis. The right side at extrapelvic slice is the most usual affected area. It cause swelling and changing mens-trual pain. Inguinal endometriosis is usually associated with posterior compartment of pelvis affectation. The diagnostic approach is base on accurate anamnesis and physical examination with a painful groin swelling. An space occupying lesion with the same properties as endometriosis pelvics injuries is show in Ultrasonography and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. En-bloc resection surgery is the treatment of choice almost always. We report on a case of endometriosis of extrapelvic round ligament in a complex endometriosis 23 years-old patient, with obstructive uropathy context

Vesicouterine fistula: teaching video on diagnosis and surgical treatment.

INTRODUCTION: A 42-year-old woman presented with urinary incontinence 9 years after the last of four vaginal deliveries. She had also had one Caesarean section. Immediately after the last delivery, she presented with haematuria, which resolved within a few hours, but the drain remained prophylactically for 7 days. Nine years later, she was referred to a specialist hospital. METHOD: The patient presented with continuous urinary incontinence, and physical examination revealed a loss of urine from the vagina, the latter confirmed by a methylene blue test showing loss of urine from the uterine cervix. Other diagnostic techniques used were cystography, cystoscopy and uro-CT. Based on a literature review of the management options for such patients and the relevant clinical details of our patient, a decision was made to perform a total abdominal hysterectomy and fistula repair. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Six months following surgery, the results were entirely satisfactory, with full urinary continence and significant improvement in the patient's quality of life. A discussion about controversial approaches to diagnosis and management is included.

Embolización arterial selectiva en la hemorragia postparto. Experiencia en nuestro centro / Selective uterine artery embolization in the management of postpartum haemorrhage. Results at our centre

Objetivo: revisión de la casuística de nuestro centro desde la introducción de la radiología intervencionista en el manejo de la hemorragia postparto hace 6 años. Sujetos y métodos: estudio retrospectivo entre 2009 y 2014 en el que se recogen los datos de 18 pacientes. Resultados: la tasa de éxitos en nuestra serie fue del 88,24% y la tasa global de histerectomía tras embolización fue del 11,76%. Conclusiones: la hemorragia postparto complica el 5-15% de los partos y es la causa aislada más importante de mortalidad materna. Existen protocolos individualizados de manejo según el centro, siendo la radiología intervencionista un tratamiento de segunda línea, alternativo a la histerectomía. En nuestro hospital se ha evidenciado una influencia positiva en la disminución de la histerectomía obstétrica. Las complicaciones, aunque infrecuentes, no son despreciables y se precisan estudios a largo plazo que evalúen su impacto en la fertilidad y gestaciones posteriores (AU)

Purpose: To review the patients who presented to our hospital with postpartum haemorrhage and were treated with interventional radiology procedures since the introduction of this technique 6 years ago. Subjects and methods: We collected data from all postpartum haemorrhages treated with arterial embolization at our hospital (n = 18) between 2009 and 2014. Results: Our success rate was 88.24% and the overall rate of obstetric hysterectomy after embolization was 11.76%. Conclusions: Approximately 5-15% of deliveries are complicated by postpartum haemorrhage, which is the most important isolated cause of maternal mortality. There are specific protocols in each centre, interventional radiology being an alternative treatment to hysterectomy. The number of emergency hysterectomies decreased in our hospital after the introduction of the technique. Although infrequent, the complications of this technique are not negligible, and long-term studies are needed to evaluate fertility and the obstetric impact in these patients (AU)