Olivier Garbin

Equipment Failure: Causes and Consequences in Endoscopic Gynecologic Surgery

STUDY OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence of equipment failure in gynecologic endoscopy and investigate causes and consequences. DESIGN A prospective observational single-center study between January and April 2006. SETTING Gynecologic surgery department of a university hospital. INTERVENTIONS In all, 116 endoscopic interventions were included: 62 laparoscopies, 51 operative hysteroscopies, and 3 fertiloscopies. Emergency and equipment testing procedures were excluded. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Equipment malfunctions were divided into 4 categories with regard to imaging, transmission of fluids and light, the electric circuit, and surgical instruments. We also found cases with faulty connections between elements. Factors including human error, loss of time, and actual or potential consequences were analyzed. At least 1 equipment failure was noted in 38.8% of operative procedures, 41.9% of laparoscopies, and 37.3% of hysteroscopies. Fluid, gas, and light transmission was faulty in 36.2%, surgical instruments in 29.3%, the electric circuit in 22.4%, and imaging in 12.1%. Of malfunctions, 46.6% were a result of faulty connection between 2 elements. The most common cause for concern was bipolar forceps and cables in laparoscopy (42.3%) and the assembly of small parts in hysteroscopy (47.4%). Personnel were implicated in 43% of cases (nurses in 72%, surgeons in 12%, both in 16%). One equipment failure increased the total duration of laparoscopy by 7% and of hysteroscopy by 20%. The mean delay was 5.6+/-4.0minutes by equipment failure. Of the incidences, 19% could have led to serious complications for the patient; however, no morbidity or mortality actually occurred in this series. CONCLUSION Equipment malfunction is common in endoscopic surgery and concerns both laparoscopy and hysteroscopy. Consequences are potentially serious. It is mandatory to identify and rectify causes of equipment failure so as to optimize the daily use of endoscopic instruments and improve patient safety. The implementation of systematic checklists is currently under evaluation.

Updated French guidelines for diagnosis and management of pelvic inflammatory disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is commonly encountered in clinical practice.

Uterus transplantation in France: for which patients?

OBJECTIVE Uterine infertility (UI), which can be caused by a variety of congenital or acquired factors, affects several thousand women in Europe. Uterus transplantation (UTx), at the current stage of research, offers hope for these women to be both the biological mother and the carrier of their child. However, the indications of UTx still need to be defined. The main aim of the study was to describe the different etiologies of UI and other data as marital and parental status from women requesting UTx who contacted us in the framework of a UTx clinical trial. Secondarily, we discussed the potential indications of UTx and their feasibility. STUDY DESIGN This is an observational study. RESULTS Of a total of 139 patients with UI, 105 patients (75.5%) had uterine agenesis, making it the leading cause of UI in this sample. Among the patients with uterine agenesis, 25% had a solitary kidney and 44.7% had undergone vaginal reconstruction. Peripartum hysterectomy, hysterectomy for cancer, and hysterectomy for benign pathologies accounted for 9.4%, 7.2% and 5% of cases, respectively. Less common causes of UI included complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (2.2% of patients) and prenatal diethylstilbestrol exposure (0.7%). Approximately 14% of the women already had at least one child and 66% were in a couple living together for at least 2 years. CONCLUSION UTx is still under evaluation and further research is under way. Nulliparous patients with no major medical or surgical history and with normal ovarian function, who meet the legal criteria for medically assisted reproduction, represent the best indications for UTx at this stage of its development.

How to deal with a rare entity: the coexistence of a complete mole and a healthy egg in a twin pregnancy?

The association of a normal and a molar egg within a twin pregnancy is extremely rare. The key to diagnosis is the fetal karyotype, thus allowing elimination of its principal differential diagnosis: partial triploid mole. We report a case where the evolution of the pregnancy was complicated by severe toxemia. Interruption of pregnancy was then necessary, even though a conservative attitude had first been considered. Throughout this case, we discuss the means of diagnosis and the clinical handling of this rare entity.

Uterus transplantation: Where do we stand in 2018?

Absolute uterine factor infertility affects several thousand young women in France. The first healthy child delivered to a uterus transplant recipient took place in 2014, and uterus transplantation is developing rapidly in many countries. The French College of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF) formed a uterus transplantation committee (CETUF) in 2015 to advance this technology in France. The CETUF sets out the criteria for the designation of Uterus Transplantation Centres. The objectives, requirements, operation and responsibilities of these centres have been described. Their responsibilities for organizing geographical coverage, continuity of care, communication, training, research and evaluation have been defined. This document will serve as a guide for the authorities concerned, to ensure that the means are provided to adequately manage patients with absolute uterine factor infertility who require uterus transplantation.

Organizing a uterus transplantation programme: The designation of Uterus Transplantation Centres in France

Absolute uterine factor infertility affects several thousand young women in France. The first healthy child delivered to a uterus transplant recipient took place in 2014, and uterus transplantation is developing rapidly in many countries. The French College of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF) formed a uterus transplantation committee (CETUF) in 2015 to advance this technology in France. The CETUF sets out the criteria for the designation of Uterus Transplantation Centres. The objectives, requirements, operation and responsibilities of these centres have been described. Their responsibilities for organizing geographical coverage, continuity of care, communication, training, research and evaluation have been defined. This document will serve as a guide for the authorities concerned, to ensure that the means are provided to adequately manage patients with absolute uterine factor infertility who require uterus transplantation.

Hysteroscopic enlargement metroplasty for T-shaped uterus: 24 years’ experience at the Strasbourg Medico-Surgical and Obstetrical Centre (CMCO)

STUDY QUESTION What is the impact of hysteroscopic enlargement metroplasty for T-shaped uterus on the live birth rate? SUMMARY ANSWER Performing enlargement metroplasty appears to improve the obstetrical prognosis and fertility in patients with a T-shaped uterus. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY T-shaped uterus is linked to an excess of myometrium in the uterine walls giving rise to a subcornual constriction ring which causes dysmorphism and hypoplasia of the uterine cavity. It is commonly associated with infertility or a sequence of repeated miscarriages. STUDY DESIGN Single-centre observational cohort study in 112 patients who underwent enlargement metroplasty for T-shaped uterus between 1992 and 2016 in a Strasbourg university hospital centre. MAIN RESULTS The mean age of patients was 33.2; they had been attempting to conceive on average for 56 months for subfertile patients and 42.2 months for infertile patients. Prior to surgery, patients had succeeded in becoming pregnant 161 times, i.e. a mean gravidity of 1.4 pregnancies. For subfertile patients the mean gravidity was 2.67. Mean parity was 0.04. In the overall population, one hundred pregnancies occurred following enlargement metroplasty. The live birth rate increased in a statistically significant manner following enlargement metroplasty: 4 (2.5%) vs. 60 (60%), p < 0.05. In parallel, the miscarriage rate was statistically reduced: 126 (78.3%) vs. 22 (22%), pnull< .05. Intraoperative complications were 1 case of cervical laceration (0.9%) and 1 case of false passage (0.9%). Subsequent pregnancies remained at risk of miscarriage (22%) and premature delivery (20%) but not extra uterine gestation. Delivery took place by Caesarean section in 61% of cases. In the subgroup of infertile patients, the live birth rate was also markedly increased and 49% of pregnancies which occurred were spontaneous. LIMITATIONS This study was descriptive and retrospective. WIDER IMPLICATIONS These results are consistent with those in the literature. Hysteroscopic enlargement metroplasty is now a well-established technique with few complications but which should nevertheless be reserved for symptomatic patients.

Risk of malignancy on suspicion of polyps in menopausal women

Improved performances in gynaecological ultrasonography have enabled an increasing number of often asymptomatic endometrial polyps to be detected. Most of these polyps are removed surgically, as a precautionary measure, so as not to miss a case of endometrial cancer. Nonetheless, this management strategy is based solely on the sonographers judgement and a number of these operations, which are probably of no benefit, could be avoided. In order to do so, risk factors for malignancy need to be identified. OBJECTIVE Estimate the prevalence of lesions in menopausal patients with a pre-operative diagnosis of endometrial polyp. Establish risk factors for malignancy. STUDY DESIGN This is a single-centre retrospective study. Enrolment criteria were menopausal patients aged over 45 who had undergone hysteroscopic resection of a polyp. Pre-op diagnosis was made either by ultrasonography or diagnostic hysteroscopy. Malignant lesions included cancers and atypical hyperplasia. Benign lesions consisted of simple polyps, non-atypical simple hyperplasia and non-atypical complex hyperplasia. Risk factors studied were existing abnormal uterine bleeding, endometrial thickness, personal or first-degree family history of gynaecological cancer (breast, cervix, endometrium, ovary) and age on diagnosis. RESULTS 631 patients were enrolled of whom 30 presented a malignant disorder (4.75%); 579 patients (91.76%) presented a simple polyp, 11 a non-atypical simple hyperplasia (1.74%) and 11 a non-atypical complex hyperplasia (1.74%). On univariate analysis age alone proved to be statistically significant (OR 1.05; 95%CI=[1.02-1.09] p<0.01), with a threshold of 59 years of age on the ROC curve. On multivariate analysis, factors predictive of a malignant lesion were age (OR=1.06; 95%CI [1.02-1.10]), existence of AUB (OR=2.4; 95% CI [1.07-5.42]) and family history (OR=2.88; 95%CI [1.08-7.67]). Neither the univariate nor multivariate model was able to demonstrate a statistically significant relationship with respect to endometrial thickness. The risk of malignancy was 12.3% in patients aged over 59 presenting AUB. For all other subgroups, the risk varied between 2.31 and 3.78%. CONCLUSION The risk of a malignant lesion appears to be high (12%) in menopausal patients aged over 59 presenting an endometrial polyp detected when there is pre-existing AUB. In this situation, hysteroscopic resection of endometrial polyps should therefore be routinely proposed. For other patients, the risk of a malignant lesion is low but not insignificant, standing at about 3%. Each patient record should therefore be discussed on an individual case basis, taking into consideration the patients pre-existing conditions, after providing clear and appropriate information.