Demetrio Larraín

“Iatrogenic” Parasitic Myomas: Unusual Late Complication of Laparoscopic Morcellation Procedures

STUDY OBJECTIVE To describe our experience in diagnosing and managing parasitic myomas developing as an unexpected late complication of laparoscopic morcellation. DESIGN Observational study (Canadian Task Force classification II-3). SETTING University hospital. PATIENTS Retrospective chart review of all patients found to have parasitic myomas that developed after previous morcellation. INTERVENTION Laparoscopic morcellation. Review of the recent literature correlated with clinical, surgical, and pathologic features of our cases. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Four patients had heterogeneous pelvic masses after morcellation. In 3 patients, symptoms developed between 2 and 16 years after the primary surgery. One patient had no symptoms, and was referred because of a suspect pelvic mass. Vaginal examination revealed painful pelvic masses in the pouch of Douglas in 2 patients, and painless masses fixed to the vaginal vault and anterior vaginal wall, respectively, in the other 2 patients. Laparoscopic examination confirmed the presence of parasitic masses in 3 patients. In 1 patient, the mass was excised vaginally. Histologic analysis confirmed leiomyoma fragments in all patients. A well-differentiated endometrial carcinoma was incidentally found in 1 patient after hysterectomy. CONCLUSION These masses probably resulted from growth of missed fragments of uterine tissue after previous morcellation, culminating in development of symptomatic iatrogenic parasitic myomas. If morcellation is anticipated or required, exclusion of malignancy is mandatory. Meticulous inspection of the abdominal cavity is necessary after morcellation. In patients with a history of morcellation who have pelvic masses, iatrogenic parasitic myomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Proximal ectopic pregnancy: a descriptive general population-based study and results of different management options in 86 cases

OBJECTIVE To describe different approaches for diagnosis and management of proximal ectopic pregnancies (PP) in general population. DESIGN Observational population based-study. SETTING Regional ectopic pregnancy registry. PATIENT(S) Eighty-six PP registered from 1992 to 2008. INTERVENTION(S) Surgical (radical or conservative), medical, or combined therapies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Epidemiologic characteristics, clinical presentation, hCG level, treatments performed, failure rate, and recurrence. RESULT(S) Mean gestational age was 48.2 days. Estimated incidence of PP was 2.7%. Abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding were the commonest symptoms. Two patients were admitted in hypovolemic shock. Diagnostic modalities included transvaginal ultrasound, abdominal ultrasonography, and laparoscopy in 38 (44%), 7 (8%), and 39 (45%) cases, respectively. Mean hCG level was 10,759 IU/L. Thirty-four patients underwent primary cornual resection (39.5%) by laparoscopy (n = 32) or laparotomy (n = 2). Twenty-seven patients (31.4%) underwent primary conservative surgery by laparoscopy: cornuostomy (n = 18) or extended salpigostomy (n = 9). Primary medical treatment with methotrexate was attempted in 14 patients (16.3%). Expectant management was attempted in one case (1.2%). Eleven cases received combined therapies (11.6%). Failure rates for medical and surgical treatments were 35.7% and 28%, respectively. No failures were noted among patients who received combined therapies. CONCLUSION(S) Proximal ectopic pregnancy remains a life-threatening condition. Diagnosis is challenging and requires a high index of suspicion. Despite available conservative strategies, management of PP remains heterogeneous.

Educational Value of an Intensive and Structured Interval Practice Laparoscopic Training Course for Residents in Obstetrics and Gynecology: A Four-Year Prospective, Multi-Institutional Recruitment Study

OBJECTIVE To assess the educational value of an ongoing interval practice laparoscopy training program among obstetrics and gynecology residents. DESIGN Prospective cohort, multi-institutional recruitment study. We conducted structured laparoscopic training sessions for residents, using both inanimate and porcine models. The 6-day course was separated into two 3-day long modules conducted 2 months apart. A prospective evaluation of standardized tasks was performed using validated scales. Residents performance was compared using the Student t test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test when appropriate. SETTING International Center of Endoscopic Surgery (CICE), Clermont-Ferrand, France. PARTICIPANTS 191 PGY2 or PGY3 residents from different institutions. RESULTS Significant improvement in time and technical scores for both laparoscopic suturing and porcine nephrectomy was noted (p < 0.0001). After 2 months, we found no improvement in suturing time (p = 0.59) or technical scores (p = 0.62), and significant technical deterioration was observed for the right hand (p = 0.02). Porcine nephrectomy improvement remained significant after 2 months (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Despite significant short-term educational value of interval practice in laparoscopic performance, some acquired skills seem to deteriorate faster than anticipated.

Long-Term Follow-Up After Laparoscopic Management of Endometrial Cancer in the Obese: A Fifteen-Year Cohort Study

STUDY OBJECTIVE To assess the surgical outcomes and long-term results of laparoscopic treatment of endometrial cancer in obese patients, and compare these results with those of nonobese women. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING Two referral cancer centers. PATIENTS Fifty-two obese and 155 nonobese women with clinical stage I endometrial cancer managed by laparoscopy from 1990-2005 in two referral centers. INTERVENTIONS Demographic, surgical, perioperative and pathological characteristics of obese women and nonobese women with endometrial cancer treated by laparoscopy were analyzed and then compared. Recurrence-free and overall survival was calculated by use of Kaplan-Meier method. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Median BMI of the study population was 26.2 Kg/m(2). Median BMI among obese patients was 34.2 Kg/m(2). The conversion rate was independent from the BMI of the patient (3.8% vs 4.5%, p = .80). Neither mean operative time (187.5 vs 172 min, p = .11) neither hospital stay (5.2 vs 4.9 days, p = .44) were related with BMI. Lymphadenectomy was considered not feasible in 7 obese (17%) and 8 nonobese (7%) women (p = 0.09). Fewer lymph nodes were retrieved among obese women (8 versus 11, p <.0002). No differences were found between the groups in terms of perioperative complications. Median follow-up was 69 and 71 months for the obese and nonobese, respectively (p = .59). Overall and disease-free 5-year survival rates did not differ between obese and nonobese patients (90.3% and 87.5% versus 88.5% and 89.8%, respectively). CONCLUSION Despite some limitations, the laparoscopic approach seems to be particularly useful for obese patients with endometrial cancer, with similar survival and recurrence rates and without any more complications compared to the nonobese population.

Predictive factors of failure in management of ectopic pregnancy with single-dose methotrexate: a general population-based analysis from the Auvergne Register, France

In a general population setting, the existence of a learning curve for treatment of ectopic pregnancy with single-dose methotrexate has been demonstrated, because a significant decrease in failure rate can be achieved over time. Despite this finding, the risk of single-dose methotrexate failure increases significantly in patients with initial hCG levels>1,300 IU/L and/or in women who report having ever used combined oral contraception before pregnancy.

Predicting success of laparoscopic salpingostomy for ectopic pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate predictive factors for failure of laparoscopic conservative treatment of ectopic pregnancy using a standardized surgical technique. METHODS: We performed a population-based study from the Auvergne ectopic pregnancy registry. A total of 3,196 cases of ectopic pregnancy were registered between 1992 and 2008. Among conservative treatments (n=1,965), 1,306 (66.5%) patients underwent laparoscopic salpingostomy exclusively. For each case, collected data included: sociodemographic characteristics, previous surgeries, gynecologic and reproductive histories, conditions of conception, Chlamydiae trachomatis serology, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels, and ectopic pregnancy characteristics. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify risk factors for treatment. A receiver operating characteristic curve was also provided. Statistical significance was established at P<.05. RESULTS: We identified 86 treatment failures (6.6%). The failure rate remained stable through the study period. Pretherapeutic hCG level was the only factor significantly associated with treatment failure. Patients with an hCG level of at least 1,960 international units/L had a failure rate of 8.6% compared with 5.1% in patients with a lower hCG level (P=.03). Sensitivity and specificity of this cutoff limit were 47% and 67%, respectively (likelihood ratio(+)=1.4 and likelihood ratio(−)=0.8). CONCLUSION: The hCG level of at least 1,960 international units/L is the only factor related to treatment failure. However, the prognostic value of this cutoff is low and with limited clinical relevance. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II