Alireza A. Shamshirsaz

Laparoscopic management of early ovarian and fallopian tube cancers: surgical and survival outcome

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the role of laparoscopy for staging of early ovarian cancers. STUDY DESIGN Case series conducted at the University Hospital with 36 patients who had presumed early-stage adnexal cancers. Laparoscopic staging/restaging was performed. RESULTS Cases included 20 invasive epithelial tumors, 11 borderline tumors, and 5 nonepithelial tumors. Mean number of peritoneal biopsies, paraaortic nodes, and pelvic nodes were 6, 12.23, and 14.84, respectively. Eighty-three percent of the patients had laparoscopic omentectomy. On final pathology, 7 patients were upstaged. Postoperative complications included 1 small bowel obstruction, 2 pelvic lymphoceles, and 1 lymphocele cyst. Mean duration of follow-up is 55.9 months. Three patients had recurrences. All patients are alive without evidence of the disease. CONCLUSION This represents 1 of the largest series and longest follow-ups of laparoscopic staging for early-stage adnexal tumors. Laparoscopic staging of these cancers appears to be feasible and comprehensive without compromising survival when performed by gynecologic oncologists experienced with advanced laparoscopy.

Fetoscopic Repair of Meningomyelocele.

BACKGROUND: Currently, maternal-fetal surgery for repair of myelomeningocele requires an upper-segment hysterotomy, which likely increases maternal postsurgical risks. If fetoscopic repair of myelomeningocele achieves similar or better fetal outcomes while decreasing maternal risks, it would be a better option. CASE: A patient with a fetus with a L3–S1 meningomyelocele underwent a laparotomy and fetoscopic repair using a two-port, in-CO2 approach at 23 2/7 weeks of gestation. The neonate was delivered at 30 6/7 weeks of gestation by lower segment cesarean delivery and required no further surgery, has not needed a shunt (5 months), and has normal, age-appropriate neurologic function. CONCLUSION: This innovative fetoscopic approach may offer an alternative to open fetal surgery and may prevent the need for hysterotomy and cesarean delivery in index and subsequent pregnancies.

A single-institution evaluation of factors important in fallopian tube carcinoma recurrence and survival.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify prognostic factors and markers that influence clinical outcomes in patients with primary fallopian tube carcinoma at a single tertiary health care center. These prognostic factors may be of clinical importance and can subsequently be included in future clinical trials. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of our Tumor Registry and Gynecologic Oncology database was conducted to include any patients with a diagnosis of fallopian tube carcinoma between the years 1994 and 2005. We identified clinicopathological data to evaluate factors important in recurrence, disease-specific and overall survival. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated, and log-rank tests were used to evaluate survival differences. Results: Thirty-six patients had a diagnosis with primary fallopian tube carcinoma at a median age of 69 years. Patients most frequently presented with abdominal pain (19%) and a palpable mass (14%). The most common histological subtype was papillary serous adenocarcinoma in 56% of cases. Stage III disease (39%) and poorly differentiated tumors (81%) were most common. The median follow-up was 39.6 months. The 5-year cancer-specific survival was 42%, and the overall survival rate was 34%. Factors important in disease-free survival were International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, tumor laterality, and serum CA-125, whereas International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, serum CA-125, and residual disease were prognostic factors for overall survival. The most common locations of recurrence were pelvis and abdomen (63%) as opposed to distant sites. Factors associated with recurrence were stage, tumor laterality, and serum CA-125. Conclusions: Fallopian tube malignancies are rare. We have identified factors associated with recurrence, disease specific survival, and overall survival that could be further examined and included in larger clinical trials involving this uncommon malignancy.

Prenatal Diagnosis of Renal Vein Thrombosis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Background: Renal vein thrombosis (RVT) is a well-characterized condition among neonates; however, this complication is rarely diagnosed prenatally. Methods: In this report, we describe a fetus with unilateral RVT and summarize the literature regarding prenatal diagnostic criteria and postnatal prognosis. We searched the English, French and Spanish literature (MEDLINE, PubMed and EMBASE) for cases with prenatal diagnosis of RVT. Results: Including our case, a total of 23 fetuses with fetal RVT were reviewed in the present study. All cases were diagnosed in the third trimester, and the survival rate among these cases was 63%. Enlargement of the kidney was the most commonly associated initial ultrasound finding. The only ultrasound finding significantly associated with mortality was the presence of bilateral RVT. Discussion: The etiology of fetal RVT is still unclear. Considering the large number of cases with RVT that manifest in the first days of life, prenatal diagnosis of this condition has relevance.

Low-Fidelity Simulator for the Standardized Training of Fetoscopic Meningomyelocele Repair

BACKGROUND Fetoscopic meningomyelocele repair in a gas-filled uterus is a new technique performed in very few centers. There are few opportunities as well as ethical prohibitions on the initial development and subsequent refinement of innovative fetal surgery techniques in humans, and using an animal model is both very expensive and logistically difficult. METHOD We developed a low-fidelity endoscopic fetal surgery simulation using a plastic doll and pieces of chicken breast to simulate a fetal meningomyelocele, and a polyurethane ball to simulate a gas-filled uterus, along with a standard endoscopy system and instruments. EXPERIENCE A unique two-port technique with significant differences from the standard laparoscopic surgery procedure was developed and refined through an iterative phase into a standardized methodology, and the simulator was then used to train three other teams to perform standardized fetoscopic meningomyelocele repair. CONCLUSION A low-fidelity fetoscopic surgery simulator is a useful tool for developing new fetoscopic operations and for training multidisciplinary fetal surgery teams without the need for extensive use of an animal model. This simulator may be used to further explore the human uterus as a new surgical space for additional fetal surgeries.

Chylous Ascites Complicating Modified Radical Hysterectomy for Placenta Percreta.

BACKGROUND: Chylous ascites is defined as the pathologic accumulation of lymphatic fluid within the peritoneal cavity and has been reported to complicate gynecologic surgeries, with an incidence of 0.17–2%. We report a case of chylous ascites after complex surgery for placenta percreta. CASE: A 26-year-old woman underwent cesarean delivery followed by bilateral uterine artery embolization and modified radical hysterectomy at 26 5/7 weeks of gestation for placenta percreta invading the urinary bladder. No surgical dissection was performed above the pelvic brim or deep into the pelvic sidewalls. On postoperative day 4, milky fluid consistent with chylous ascites was noted coming from a percutaneous drain. This completely resolved after 12 days of conservative management with intravenous nutritional support. CONCLUSION: Chylous ascites is a potential complication of modified radical hysterectomy for placenta percreta that responds to conservative management.