Daniella de Batista Depes

Pain evaluation in office hysteroscopy: comparison of two techniques

PURPOSE to compare the pain reported by patients submitted to hysteroscopy by the standard technique with carbon dioxide (CO2) and to vaginal hysteroscopy with physiological saline (0.9% NaCl). METHODS this was a prospective cohort study conducted at an ambulatory hysteroscopy service. A total of 117 patients with indication for the exam were included, being randomly assigned to one of the groups. All patients answered an epidemiological questionnaire and scored the pain expected before the exam and that felt after the end of the procedure on a verbal pain scale from 0 to 10. A speculum, traction of the cervix, insertion of a 30 masculine light source and a diagnostic shirt with a total diameter of 5 mm were used for the standard technique. The cavity was distended with CO2 under a pressure of 100 mmHg controlled with a hysteroflator, and a biopsy was obtained with a Novak curette. Vaginoscopy was performed without a touch by distention of the vagina with fluid, direct visualization of the cervix and introduction of the light source with two continuous-flow shirts, with an accessory channel with an oval profile, the whole set measuring 5 mm in diameter. The medium distention was 0.9% NaCl and the pressure used was that considered to be necessary for an adequate visualization of the canal and of the cavity with an external pneumatic pressurizer. The biopsy was obtained in a directed manner using an endoscopic clamp. The mean and standard deviation were calculated for the quantitative variables and the frequency was calculated for the qualitative variables. The Students t-test was used to compare the means, and the chi-square or exact Fisher test was used (when n<5) for the categorical analysis using the SPSS 15.0 software. The study was designed for a 95% test power, with the level of significance set at p<0.05. RESULTS the groups were similar regarding age, parity, previous uterine surgeries, menopausal status, and the need for a biopsy. In comparison to the group submitted to the standard technique, the vaginoscopy group involved a lower technical difficulty (5.1 versus 17.2%, p=0.03), a higher rate of exams considered to be satisfactory (98.3 versus 89.7%, p=0.04) and a lower pain index (4.8 versus 6.1; p=0.01), as the difference were more evident when patients who never had a previous normal delivery were compared (4.9 versus 7.1; p=0.0001). When the pain scale was stratified as mild (0-4), moderate (5-7) or intense (8-10), the vaginoscopy technique was found to be associated with a 52% reduction of the frequency of intense pain (p=0.005). CONCLUSIONS vaginohysteroscopy was proved to be a less painful procedure than the technique based on the use of a speculum and CO2, regardless of age, menopause or parity, with more satisfactory results and lower technical difficulty.

Polipectomia endometrial histeroscópica: tratamento ambulatorial versus convencional

OBJECTIVE To compare results of hysteroscopic polypectomy of the endometrium performed in an outpatient clinic, under no anesthesia, to conventional hysteroscopic polypectomy under anesthesia in the operating theatre, assessing success rate, procedure time and complications; and to measure pain referred by patients in both groups. METHODS An observational cross-sectional study of 60 patients with hysteroscopic diagnosis of endometrial polyps, divided into two groups: the Outpatient Group, comprising patients submitted to outpatients hysteroscopic polypectomy by continuous flow vaginoscopy using endoscopic forceps under no anesthesia, and the Conventional Group with patients submitted to hysteroscopic polypectomy in the operating theater, using a monopolar resectoscope under anesthesia. RESULTS The groups were similar as to age, parity, mode of delivery and menopausal status. Both groups presented 100% efficacy in exeresis of polyps. The mean time of procedure was 7 minutes in the Outpatient Group and 35.16 minutes in the Conventional Group. In the Outpatient Group, menopausal patients (p=0.04) and those with polyps >1cm (p=0.01) had longer procedures. Using the Verbal Analog Scale of Pain, the mean score of pain referred by patients during the procedure was 2.93 in the Outpatient Group and, after anesthetic effect, 1.42 in the Conventional Group. There were no complications in the Outpatient Group. There was one case of uterine perforation and one case of false passage in the Conventional Group. CONCLUSION Hysteroscopic polypectomy performed in an outpatient setting under no anesthesia is a well-tolerated procedure. As compared to conventional treatment, it displays the same efficacy, but the procedure time is shorter and the complication rate is lower.

Premalignant and malignant lesions in endometrial polyps in patients undergoing hysteroscopic polypectomy

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the incidence of premalignant lesions and cancer in endometrial polyps, in patients undergoing hysteroscopic polypectomy. Methods: The results of 1,020 pathological examinations of patients submitted to hysteroscopic polypectomy were analyzed, as well as their diagnostic and surgical hysteroscopy findings. As to their menstrual status, 295 (28.9%) patients were in menacme. Of the total, 193 (65.4%) presented abnormal uterine bleeding, and 102 (34.6%) were asymptomatic with altered endometrial echo on transvaginal ultrasound. Out of 725 (71.1%) postmenopausal patients, 171 (23.6%) were symptomatic (abnormal uterine bleeding), and 554 (76.4%) were asymptomatic with endometrial echo >5.0mm. Results: Twenty-one (2.0%) patients presented premalignant lesions in the polyps, 13 had simple glandular hyperplasia, of which 5 had no atypia, and eight presented atypia. Eight polyps presented focal area of complex hyperplasia: 4 with atypia and 4 without lesions. Cancer was diagnosed in 5 (0.5%) polyps. Of the 21 polyps that harbored premalignant lesions, 12 were interpreted as benign in diagnostic and surgical hysteroscopy. Of the polyps with cancer, 4 were also histeroscopically interpreted as normal. Conclusion: Symptomatic polyps in menacme and in all postmenopausal women should be resected and submitted to histopathological examination, since they may have a benign aspect, even when harboring areas of cellular atypia or cancer.

Ablação histeroscópica do endométrio: resultados após seguimento clínico de 5 anos

PURPOSE To evaluate the clinical outcomes after a minimum period of 5 years of follow-up of patients with abnormal uterine bleeding of benign etiology who underwent endometrial ablation, analyzing the success rate of treatment defined as patient satisfaction and improvement in uterine abnormal bleeding, as well as late complications and factors associated with recurrence of symptoms. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted after a minimum period of 5 years after surgery in patients who underwent the procedure between 1999 and 2004. We analyzed the following data: age at the time of surgery, immediate and late complications and associated factors. Logistic regression with Odds Ratio (OR) calculation was performed to evaluate possible associations between the success rate of surgery and the analyzed variables. RESULTS A total of 114 patients underwent endometrial ablation between March 1999 and April 2004. The median follow-up was 82 months. The logistic regression model allowed the correct prediction of the success of endometrial ablation in 80.6% of cases. Age was directly related to the success of the procedure (OR=1.2; p=0.003) and previous tubal ligation showed a negative association with the success of endometrial ablation (OR=0.3; p=0.049). Among the patients with treatment failure, 21 (72.4%) underwent hysterectomy. In one of the hysterectomy cases, hydro/hematosalpinx was confirmed by the anatomopathological exam, characterizing the postablation-tubal sterilization syndrome. CONCLUSION Endometrial ablation has proven to be a worthwhile treatment option, maintaining high rates of patient satisfaction, even over long-term follow-up. The age at endometrial ablation influenced the therapeutic success. Further studies are needed to evaluate the factors that may influence the future indication for the procedure in selected cases.

Alteraçöes na expressäo do antígeno nuclear de proliferaçäo celular e dos receptores de estrogênio e de progesterona provocadas pela quimioterapia primária no carcinoma de mama

ABSTRACT PURPOSE: to evaluate the changes in the cell phenotype determined by primary chemotherapy. METHODS: we evaluated the expression of proliferating cells of nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the estrogen (RE) and progesterone (RP) receptors in 17 stage II breast cancer patients before and after chemotherapy by immunohistochemistry. The values were compared with menopausal status, tumoral clinical response and with axillary lymph node status. RESULTS: there was a significant decrease in the average index of anti-PCNA-stained cells before (time A) and after (time B) chemotherapy (p=0.041). Responder patients displayed a significant decrease in PCNA levels [time A=53.1 and time B= 30.7 (p=0.011)]. A similar trend was observed in patients with histologic grade GII/GIII [time A=63.1 and time B=38.7 (p=0.049)]. There was no significant difference in PCNA expression regarding menopause status and axillary lymph node involvement. There was a significant decrease in RE after chemotherapy in the premenopausal patients [time A=60.3 and time B=24.1 (p=0.027)] and in those who showed a therapeutic response [time A=59.1 and time B=37.9 (p=0.030)]. We observed a significant increase in RP after chemotherapy in the postmenopausal patients [time A=35.3 and time B=58.3 (p=0.023)]. There was no relationship between hormone receptors and axillary lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: the decrease in PCNA levels in patients with high histologic grade, in RE in premenopausal patients, and both, PCNA and RE, in the tumors with clinical response after chemotherapy shows that the drugs acted on proliferating cells, and therefore PCNA can be used as a parameter of treatment response.

Analysis of endometrial thickness measured by transvaginal ultrasonography in obese patients

ABSTRACT Objective To compare the endometrial echo values obtained by transvaginal ultrasonography with the body mass index of postmenopausal patients; to verify if there is higher prevalence of endometrial thickening in women with body mass index ≥30. Methods This is an analytical and cross-sectional study that evaluated 294 patients. Postmenopausal women were included, and those on hormone therapy were excluded. The variables evaluated were body mass index (considering obesity if >30), number of pregnancies, years since menopause, and age. These variables were correlated with endometrial echography. Results There was a statistically significant correlation between overweight and obese patients and increased endometrial thickness (p=0.0236). The correlation between age and endometrial echo was negative and statistically significant, that is, the older the woman, the lower the endometrial thickness (p=0.0478). Pregnancies and years since menopause showed no statistical significance in relation to endometrial echo, with p=0.0614 and p=0.115, respectively. Conclusion There was positive and significant correlation between body mass index ≥30 and endometrial thickeness.

Initial experience with hysteroscopic tubal occlusion (Essure

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate results of early tubal occlusions performed by hysteroscopy (Essure®). Methods This prospective study included 38 patients, 73.7% of them were white, mean age 34.5 years, they have had on average 3 pregnancies and 2.7 of deliveries. A total of 86.8% of patients previously prepared the endometrium. All procedures were carried out at outpatient unit without anesthesia. Results Insertion rate of the device was 100% at a mean time of 4 minutes and 50 seconds. Based on the analogical visual scale, average pain reported was three, and 55.3% of women did not report pain after the procedure. After 3 months, 89.5% of patients were very satisfied with the method. Simple radiographs of the pelvis showed 92.1% of topical devices, and one case of unilateral expulsion had occurred. A four years follow-up did not show failure in the method. Conclusions Tubal occlusion through hysteroscopy at outpatient unit and without anesthesia was a quickly and well-tolerated procedure. No serious complications were seen, the success rate was high, and patients were satisfied.

Achados histeroscópicos na cavidade endometrial após ablação endometrial

PURPOSE: To examine the aspect of the uterine cavity after hysteroscopic endometrial ablation, to determine the prevalence of synechiae after the procedure, and to analyze the importance of hysteroscopy during the postoperative period.METHODS: The results of the hysteroscopic exams of 153 patients who underwent outpatient hysteroscopy after endometrial ablation due to abnormal uterine bleeding of benign etiology during the period from January 2006 to July 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups: HIST≤60 (n=90) consisting of patients undergoing the exam 40-60 days after the ablation procedure, and the group HIST>60 (n=63) consisting of patients undergoing the exam between 61 days and 12 months after the procedure.RESULTS: In the HIST≤60 group, 30% of the patients presented some degree of synechiae: synechiae grade I in 4.4% of patients, grade II in 6.7% , grade IIa in 4.4%, grade III in 7.8%, and grade IV in 2.2%. In the HIST>60 group, 53.9% of all cases had synechiae, 3.2% were grade I, 11.1% grade II, 7.9% grade IIa, 15.9% grade III, and 4.8% grade IV. Hematometra was detected in 2.2 % of all cases in group HIST≤60 and in 6.3% of all cases in group HIST>60.CONCLUSIONS: The uterine cavity of the patients submitted to diagnostic hysteroscopy up to 60 days after endometrial ablation showed significantly fewer synechiae compared to the uterine cavity of patients who underwent the exam after 60 days. Long-term follow-up is necessary to fully evaluate the importance of outpatient hysteroscopy after endometrial ablation regarding menstrual patterns, risk of cancer and prevalence of treatment failure.

Esterilização histeroscópica de paciente com dispositivo intrauterino Mirena

ABSTRACT Tubal sterilization is the definitive procedure most often used worldwide to control fecundity. Laparoscopic ligature is safe, but invasive and with possible surgical and anesthetic risks. The hysteroscopic approach enables tubal occlusion at outpatients setting without the need of incisions or anesthesia. A microdevice (Essure®) is inserted directly into the tubes and its polyethelene fibers cause obstruction of tubes in about three months. During this period, it is recommended that patients continue the use of a temporary birth control method. Several women use the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system, which is called in the market as Mirena®. This report evaluated the possibility of inserting Essure® without remove the intrauterine device; patient tolerance to the procedure was also assessed. The tubal device was successfully placed in the patient without the need to remove Mirena®. After three months the intrauterine device was removed with no intercurrent events.

Avaliação da dor na histeroscopia diagnóstica ambulatorial com gás

RESUMOObjetivo:Avaliar a intensidade da dor referida pelas pacientes submetidas a histeroscopia diagnostica ambulatorial.Metodos:Exame realizado com otica de 5 mm, especulo, pincamento do colo com Pozzi e distensao da cavidade uterina com dioxido de carbono. Antes e depois do exame, as pacientes foram entrevistadas para definir, em uma escala verbal de 0 a 10, valores para expectativa de dor e dor experimentada apos seu termino, e tambem se elas repetiriam o exame se houvesse indicacao. Os dados foram analisados no Statistical [...]