A. Bricou

Surgical Management Modifications Following Systematic Additional Shaving of Cavity Margins in Breast-Conservation Treatment

BackgroundPositive wide local excision margins are the most important risk factor of local breast-carcinoma recurrence. Shaving additional margins could lower the need for re-excisions when wide local excision margins are positive and cavity margins are negative.Materials and MethodsThis retrospective study, from January 2007 to December 2008, included 99 women with breast carcinomas who underwent wide local excision with 4 additional, systematically shaved, surgical cavity margins. All therapeutic decisions concerning post-wide local excision treatment were made by consensus during multidisciplinary meetings.ResultsThis systematic cavity-shaving strategy avoided 25 re-excisions (25.3%), and 6 patients required new surgery because of carcinoma found in the additional cavity-shaving margins, despite negative wide local excision margins. No preoperative factor predictive of positive cavity margins was identified.ConclusionsSystematic shaving of additional cavity margins changed the surgical management after breast-conservation treatment.

Anaphylactic shock during the sentinel lymph node procedure for cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND Patent blue is a commonly used agent in the detection of sentinel nodes (SN) in solid cancer. Similar to any drug, it is possible to have an allergic reaction during surgery. Anaphylactic reactions to patent blue have been rarely reported especially in cervical cancer. CASE We reported here a rare case of anaphylactic shock due to patent blue in response to injection of patent blue for SN mapping in a woman with cervical cancer. We presented our management of the shock, our diagnostic process of the allergen and the treatment of the cervix cancer after the anaphylactic reaction. CONCLUSION Surgeons and anesthetists must be aware of the potential allergic of patent blue during the SN procedure.

Endometriosis Fertility Index ou classification de l’American Society of Reproductive Medicine pour les patientes infertiles endométriosiques opérées. Lequel est le plus pertinent ?

The revised American Fertility Society classification system has been most used after surgery by all consensus on endometriosis fertility. However, it does not predict pregnancy. The EFI score has been recently developed to aim at predicting clinical pregnancy after surgery. Several study performed its external validation. It may be a useful new tool to counsel couples for personalized postoperative management.

Place actuelle de la procédure ganglion sentinelle dans le cancer de l’endomètre

Lymph node status is a major prognostic element in endometrial cancer and affects the choice of adjuvant therapy. The sentinel lymph node (SLN) procedure is proposed as an alternative to lymphadenectomy. This review aims to assess its feasibility. To this end, 19 studies have been analysed. It appears that double detection (colorimetric and isotopic) is better than single detection, independent of injection site. Hysteroscopic injection is technically more difficult, yet can be done near the tumoral lesion. The cervical site does not accurately reflect the lymphatic drainage of the uterine body but is easier to access. SLN detection rate is notably identical between these two injections sites. Lomboaortic detection rate is lower for cervical injections than for endometrial ones. The myometrial site is also difficult to access (intraoperatively), due to same limitations as the hysteroscopic route, and can be deceiving (insufficient detection rate and high false-negative rate). The SLN allows for ultrastadification (micrometastases and isolated tumoral cells) with the development of new pathological techniques (serial sections and immunohistochemistry). Data on SLN in endometrial cancer is very heterogeneous in terms of methodology and populations studied. Despite being well-known, the SLN procedure in endometrial cancer remains in its feasibility stage. Its place in therapeutic strategies needs to be further explored and its potential benefit remains to be confirmed.

Stadification ganglionnaire des cancers du col utérin avancé

Lymph node staging in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer is the most important prognostic factor and also leads to adjuvant treatment choice. Because of the lymphadenectomy associated morbidity and delay in the beginning of adjuvant therapy, noninvasive approaches were developed during the last decennia. Recently, positron emission tomography employing a glucose analogue (FDG-PET) has been shown to be more sensitive and more specific than magnetic resonance imaging or than computed tomography usually used in diagnosis of pelvic and para-aortic lymph node metastases. Even if recent studies have reported promising results, surgical pelvic and para-aortic staging remains actually the most accurate procedure for evaluating lymph node metastases. This procedure should be accomplished by transperitoneal or extraperitoneal laparoscopy, with the benefits of minimal morbidity, shorter length of hospital stay and no significant increase of complications comparing to laparotomy approach. Laparoscopy also allows an early start of adjuvant treatment, this delay constituting an important prognostic factor for patients with locally advanced cancer. However, the survival benefit of lymph node dissection is still controversial and should be proved in randomised studies.

Place actuelle de la procédure ganglion sentinelle dans le cancer de l’endomètreCurrent position of the sentinel lymph node procedure in endometrial cancer

Lymph node status is a major prognostic element in endometrial cancer and affects the choice of adjuvant therapy. The sentinel lymph node (SLN) procedure is proposed as an alternative to lymphadenectomy. This review aims to assess its feasibility. To this end, 19 studies have been analysed. It appears that double detection (colorimetric and isotopic) is better than single detection, independent of injection site. Hysteroscopic injection is technically more difficult, yet can be done near the tumoral lesion. The cervical site does not accurately reflect the lymphatic drainage of the uterine body but is easier to access. SLN detection rate is notably identical between these two injections sites. Lomboaortic detection rate is lower for cervical injections than for endometrial ones. The myometrial site is also difficult to access (intraoperatively), due to same limitations as the hysteroscopic route, and can be deceiving (insufficient detection rate and high false-negative rate). The SLN allows for ultrastadification (micrometastases and isolated tumoral cells) with the development of new pathological techniques (serial sections and immunohistochemistry). Data on SLN in endometrial cancer is very heterogeneous in terms of methodology and populations studied. Despite being well-known, the SLN procedure in endometrial cancer remains in its feasibility stage. Its place in therapeutic strategies needs to be further explored and its potential benefit remains to be confirmed.

Y a-t-il un intérêt au curage lomboaortique dans les cancers de l'endomètre opérables ?

The indication and extent of lymph node dissection in the surgical management of endometrial cancer remains controversial especially concerning the para-aortic lymph nodes. The therapeutic benefit of the lymph node dissection is criticized mainly for low-risk patients for extra-uterine spread. Surgically staging patients is the best method to predict node involvement and it allows an optimal decision for adjuvant therapy to be taken. The different prognostic factors for para-aortic lymph nodes metastasis are histological grade and size of the tumour, myometrial wall invasion and lymphovascular dissemination, as well as positive pelvic lymph nodes. However, these elements are not correctly evaluated before and during the surgery. Positive para-aortic lymph nodes can be found without a lymphatic spread to the pelvic area. Even though the prevalence of para-aortic node involvement is weak, it seems legitimate to propose in selected cases of important lymph node involvement, its complete dissection if a pelvic lymphadenectomy is indicated and if it is surgically possible.

Use of the endometriosis fertility index in daily practice: A prospective evaluation

OBJECTIVE To perform a prospective evaluation of postoperative fertility management using the endometriosis fertility index (EFI). STUDY This prospective non-interventional observational study was performed from January 2013 to February 2016 in a tertiary care university hospital and an assisted reproductive technology (ART) centre. In total, 196 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis-related infertility. Indications for surgery included pelvic pain (dysmenorrhoea, and/or deep dyspareunia), abnormal hysterosalpingogram, and failure to conceive after three or more superovulation cycles with or without intra-uterine insemination. Multidisciplinary fertility management followed the surgical diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis. Three postoperative options were proposed to couples based on the EFI score: EFI score ≤4, ART (Option 1); EFI score 5-6, non-ART management for 4-6 months followed by ART (Option 2); or EFI score ≥7, non-ART management for 6-9 months followed by ART (Option 3). The main outcomes were non-ART pregnancy rates and cumulative pregnancy rates according to EFI score. Univariate and multivariate analyses with backward stepwise logistic regression were used to explain the occurrence of non-ART pregnancy after surgery for women with EFI scores ≥5. Adjustment was made for potential confounding variables that were significant (p<0.05) or tending towards significance (p<0.1) on univariate analysis. RESULTS The cumulative pregnancy rate was 76%. The total number of women and pregnancy rates for Options 1, 2 and 3 were: 26 and 42.3%; 56 and 67.9%; and 114 and 87.7%, respectively. The non-ART pregnancy rates for Options 1, 2 and 3 were 0%, 30.5% and 48.2%, respectively. The ART pregnancy rates for Options 1, 2 and 3 were 50%, 60.6% and 80.3%, respectively. The mean time to conceive for non-ART pregnancies was 4.2 months. The benefit of ART was inversely correlated with the mean EFI score. On multivariate analysis, the EFI score was significantly associated with non-ART pregnancy (odds ratio 1.629, 95% confidence interval 1.235-2.150). CONCLUSION In daily prospective practice, the EFI was useful for subsequent postoperative fertility management in infertile patients with endometriosis.

Critères objectifs de gravité en cas d’hémorragie grave du post-partum : à propos de 310 cas

OBJECTIVES Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is a major contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality in France. The objective of our study was to reveal predictive factors of severity or cure, allowing an adapted management as less invasive as possible, in case of severe PPH. PATIENTS AND METHODS This retrospective study included 310 patients, who had been treated for a severe PPH in Lariboisière university hospital from April 2007 to April 2009. RESULTS The predictive factors found for an invasive management (surgery or embolization) are: at clinical examination, heart rate (88 versus 100 pulses per minute), importance of bleeding and the tonicity of the uterine globe. At biological examination, they are haemoglobin level (9 versus 8.2g/dL) and clotting factors, especially fibrinogen (3 versus 2g/L) and prothrombin time (PT) (76 versus 63%). The identified cure factors are the same ones as severity factors. With multivariate analysis, initial independent predictive factors about an invasive management were: the tonicity of the uterine globe (OR=0.14), heart frequency (OR=1.3) and PT (OR=0.76). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION In case of severe haemorrhage, there may be the question of transfer of the patient. The difficulty is to avoid unnecessary transport, without delay for the future care. Very few studies searched predictive factors of severity or cure. Our study found, as predictive factors of invasive treatment, elements of physical examination (heart rate and the tonicity of the uterine globe) and biological factors (hemoglobin level and clotting factors).

Colpohystérectomie élargie par voie cœlioscopique dans les cancers du col utérin : étude de qualité de vie. À propos de 22 cas

OBJECTIVE Laparoscopic radical hysterectomy is currently the surgical treatment of cervical cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of life of patients with cervical cancer treated by radical hysterectomy by laparoscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Quality of life was evaluated in 22 patients with cervical cancer (FIGO stade IB1-IIB) treated by laparoscopic radical hysterectomy. The study employed two types of survey questionnaires: EORTC QLQ-C 30 and QLQ-OV 28. RESULTS After a median follow-up of 25 months (range: 12-48 months), the average global health scores and quality of life after the surgery was high, indicating a good overall quality of life. The symptoms most commonly implicated were fatigue and insomnia. The average symptom scores (abdominal, peripheral neuropathy, side effects of chemotherapy) was low, meaning little inconvenience. It noted, however, an exception for the symptoms of menopause that generate significant discomfort in several patients. Among patients with a regular sexual activity, most described a change in frequency and quality of reporting. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Patients with cervical cancer treated by laparoscopy have good overall quality of life. The function that is most affected by the treatment in the majority of patients is sexual function. A comparative prospective study with laparotomy would be necessary.