P. Riss

Wertheim radical hysterectomy 1921–1986: Changes in urologic complications

SummaryIn order to assess the incidence and type of urologic complications associated with Wertheims radical hysterectomy we studied all 154 patients undergoing radical hysterectomy at our department between 1980 and 1986. More than 2/3 of patients had stage I carcinoma of the cervix, the mean age was 46.9 years (range 27–73 years). Various intraoperative reconstructive procedures were required in 5%. A comparison with the experience of Wertheim (before 1919) and that of a subsequent time period (1952–1967) showed that while the incidence of intraoperative injury to the lower urinary tract remained stable, the incidence of postoperative fistula formation decreased significantly (from 6.4% to 0.6%), possibly due to changes in the operative technique. We conclude that Wertheims radical hysterectomy now involves only a very low risk of injury to the bladder or to the ureter.

Relationship between the steroid and prolactin concentration in follicular fluid and the maturation and fertilizaton of human oocytes

Seventyeight follicles and their follicular fluid were aspirated from 46 women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures after stimulation of the ovaries with a low-dose human menopausal gonadotropin/human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation regimen. The concentrations of estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), testosterone (T), and prolactin (PRL) were measured in follicular fluid and related to the maturation of the oocyte-corona-cumulus complex (OCCC) and the fertilization of oocytes. Follicles containing mature oocytes had significantly higher follicular fluid E2 and P levels than follicles with intermediate and immature oocytes. A constant decrease in PRL and T values with advancing follicular maturation was observed. Similar results were obtained when the fertilizing ability of the oocytes was examined. The gradual decline in follicular fluid PRL and T levels during follicular development was connected with increasing E2 and P biosynthesis and therefore seems to be an important precondition for normal follicular and oocyte maturation.

Serum progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin in very early pregnancy: implications for clinical management

We studied beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG) and progesterone (P) in maternal serum in 71 patients with a positive urine pregnancy test with a threshold of 50 U HCG/liter urine and an ultrasound examination without demonstrable fetal heart beat. Patients were divided into three groups: ongoing intra-uterine pregnancy of more than 12 weeks duration (n = 23), ectopic pregnancy (n = 14), and abnormal intra-uterine pregnancy (blighted ovum, early spontaneous abortion) resulting in dilatation and curettage (n = 34). We found that both beta-HCG and progesterone levels were significantly lower in abnormal pregnancies but that there was less overlap between the progesterone values in normal, ectopic and abnormal pregnancy as compared to beta-HCG levels. There was a positive correlation between beta-HCG levels less than 5000 mU/ml and serum progesterone in ectopic pregnancies but not in normal or abnormal intra-uterine pregnancies. The size of the gestational sac correlated with serum beta-HCG levels but not with serum progesterone levels in normal intra-uterine pregnancies. We conclude that serum progesterone levels (cut-off point 15 ng/ml) in very early pregnancy can be helpful to differentiate between normal intra-uterine pregnancy and abnormal intra-uterine or ectopic pregnancy.

Follicular aspiration for in vitro fertilization: sonographically guided transvaginal versus laparoscopic approach

Laparoscopy is the most commonly used procedure for oocyte retrieval in an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) program. In this study we compared the results of 21 laparoscopic and 21 sonographically guided transvaginal oocyte retrievals using a vaginal probe. Laparoscopically 3.7 and transvaginally 4.8 oocytes per patient were recovered. Overall 6 pregnancies were achieved, giving a pregnancy rate of 14.1% per patient. Vaginal follicular aspiration resulted in a higher oocyte recovery rate. The advantages of the method were a shorter operation time, a superficial anesthesia and, compared to laparoscopy, a less invasive and simpler technique. Therefore this method is now commonly used for routine IVF procedures in our institution.

Development and application of simple expert systems in obstetrics and gynecology

Expert systems have become increasingly popular in medicine for the support of medical decisions, e.g. diagnosis or treatment. We describe the development and application of 2 simple rule-based expert systems, one used for cycle stimulation in our in vitro fertilization program and the other for preoperative assessment of urinary incontinence. The programs were written using a commercially available expert system shell, are run on a standard personal computer, and are in actual use in our department. Though it is doubtful that simple expert systems can be superior to a human expert we feel that expert systems are very useful in the standardization of protocols and are a valuable teaching instrument.

In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer program, second department of obstetrics and gynecology, university of Vienna, Austria

there appeared to be no significant difference in the number of two-cell embryos retrieved between the control and the experimental groups. No difference was noted in the percentages of embryos reaching [3 blastocyst. Although not significant, there did appear to be a decrease in mating when mice were stimulated more than once. Hillcrest Infertility Center Hillcrest Medical Center Tulsa, Oklahoma

Investigation of beta-endorphin and adrenocorticotropic hormone in placenta, amniotic membrane and umbilical cord using an immunoperoxidase technique

The identification of immunoreactive beta-endorphin, beta-lipotropin and ACTH from extracts of human placentas by radioimmunoassay suggests a probable synthesis of these peptides in the placenta. In this study we investigated the presence of beta-endorphin and ACTH in placenta, amniotic membranes and umbilical cord using a peroxidase-antiperoxidase staining technique. Tissues were obtained immediately after delivery, fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin. As control tissues autopsy specimens of pituitary glands from adults and newborns were used. All sections of pituitary glands showed a positive reaction; negative results were observed in sections of placentas, umbilical cords and amniotic membranes. We conclude that no intracellular storage of beta-endorphin and ACTH takes place in the examined tissues.

Comparison of the results of vaginal and abdominal follicle scans

SummaryThe hormonal profile and sonographical assessing of the number and size of the follicles are important in hyperstimulated cycles. Follicular imaging obtained by abdominal scanning may be distorted by echoes from the intestine or by unfavourable location of the ovaries and patients must have a full bladder. We compared the number and size of the follicles at abdominal sonography with the results obtained by vaginal sonography in 37 patients. Vaginal sonography showed more follicles than abdominal sonography because of improved imaging of small follicles on early days of cycle. This might help one to tailor the hyperstimulation to an individuals endccrine response.

Obstetric Analgesia and Immunoreactive Endorphin Peptides in Maternal Plasma during Labor

We studied the effect of obstetric analgesia on maternal plasma levels of immunoreactive endorphin peptides (ir-EP) during labor and the postpartum period in three groups of parturients: group I (n = 22) had no analgesia, group II (n = 20) received pethidine intramuscularly, and group III (n = 10) had continuous epidural analgesia. Initial levels of ir-EP were similar in all three groups. Patients without any medication and patients on pethidine showed a significant rise in ir-EP in late labor and at delivery. Epidural analgesia was characterized by constant levels of ir-EP during labor and an insignificant rise at delivery.

Factors influencing successful in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer: a matched pair study

In the present matched-pair study successful and unsuccessful IVF-ET trials in patients with similar preconditions were compared. Sixteen consecutive cases of clinical pregnancies after IVF and ET were included. For each pregnant patient the subsequent patient who fulfilled the matching criteria and who did not conceive was chosen as a control subject. The matching criteria were the stimulation regimen and the number of embryos transferred. Pregnant and nonpregnant patients were compared with regard to their age, the total dosage of hMG, the cycle day at oocyte retrieval, the E2 levels 48 and 24 hours before laparoscopy, the E2 rise, the number of retrieved oocytes, and the cleavage rate. In both groups the investigated variables showed no significant difference between pregnant and nonpregnant patients. In patients with the same cycle stimulation and the same number of embryos transferred, successful implantation was not predictable by the evaluated parameters.