Rafael F. Valle

Intrauterine adhesions: Hysteroscopic diagnosis, classification, treatment, and reproductive outcome

One hundred eighty-seven patients were evaluated and treated by hysteroscopy over a 10-year period. To assess therapeutic prognosis, these patients were classified according to the extent of uterine cavity occlusion seen on hysterosalpingography and the type of intrauterine adhesions observed at hysteroscopy. Forty-three patients had mild or filmy intrauterine adhesions, 97 had moderate or fibromuscular adhesions, and 47 patients were classified as having severe connective tissue adhesions. After hysteroscopic treatment, normal menstruation was restored in 88.2% of patients who had menstrual abnormalities including amenorrhea, hypomenorrhea, and dysmenorrhea. Among the 187 patients, 143 women achieved pregnancy; of those, 114 (79.7%) achieved a term pregnancy, 26 (18.2%) had a spontaneous abortion, and 3 (2.1%) had ectopic pregnancies. The reproductive outcome correlated with the type of adhesions and extent of uterine cavity occlusion, ranging from a term pregnancy rate of 81.3% in patients with mild disease to 31.9% in patients with severe disease.

Tissue response to the STOP microcoil transcervical permanent contraceptive device: results from a prehysterectomy study

OBJECTIVE The present study examines the safety, effectiveness, and local tissue response for a new transcervical fallopian tube permanent contraceptive device, the STOP device (Conceptus, Inc., San Carlos, CA). DESIGN Nonrandomized prospective evaluation of tubal occlusion and histologic response. SETTING Inpatient, university and university-affiliated medical centers in the United States and Mexico. PATIENT(S) Premenopausal and perimenopausal women with benign indications for hysterectomy who were able to defer their hysterectomy for 1 to 13 weeks. INTERVENTION(S) A transcervically placed microcoil (STOP device) was inserted into the fallopian tubes of women who were scheduled for hysterectomy, and the device was worn for 1 to 12 weeks. At hysterectomy, hysterosalpingography was done to determine tubal occlusion; subsequently, the tubes containing the STOP devices were processed, sectioned, and evaluated to determine the histologic response. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Ability to place a device and evaluate tubal occlusion and tissue response. RESULT(S) Devices were placed in 33 women, representing 57 tubes; the women wore the devices from 1 day to 30 weeks. Histology on 27 women (47 tubes) showed an acute inflammatory and fibrotic response in the short term that, over time, became a chronic inflammatory response with extensive fibrosis. CONCLUSION(S) The localized tissue response and notable absence of any normal tubal architecture in the segment of the fallopian tube containing the STOP device supports the postulated mechanisms of action of the device. Prehysterectomy study findings suggest the usefulness of the STOP device for pregnancy prevention, this is being evaluated in long-term safety and effectiveness studies.

Endometriosis: Treatment Strategies

Abstract: Endometriosis is often a perplexing medical condition for both the physician and the patient. Accordingly, development of treatment strategies based on the needs of the individual patient is highly desirable. Although endometriosis has been part of the clinical practice for almost a century, many questions remain relating to the relationship between endometriosis and infertility as well as endometriosis and pelvic pain. Endometriosis is a disease of reproductive‐age women, and it is now well recognized that a genetic susceptibility appears probable. The prevalence in the general population has never been clearly established. Factors to consider in management include the age and reproductive desires of the patient, the stage of the disease, and, most importantly, the symptoms. Therapeutic options include no treatment, medical therapy, surgery, or combination therapy. Oral contraceptives, androgenic agents, progestins, and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs have all been used successfully, although at the present time, the latter preparations are the most popular medical therapy for endometriosis. Leuprolide acetate, goserelin acetate, and nafarelin acetate are all effective agents. Surgical therapy is appropriate, especially for advanced stages of the disease. Laparoscopy is an effective surgical approach with the goal of excision of visible endometriosis in a hemostatic fashion. Since endometriosis is a chronic condition, it is not uncommon for recurrences to occur. While endometriosis remains an enigmatic disease, the introduction of new pharmacologic agents, such as GnRH analogs and newer endoscopic methods of surgical treatment, have facilitated and improved the overall management of this disease.

Hysteroscopic treatment of the septate uterus.

Twelve patients with symptomatic septate uteri underwent hysteroscopic division of the uterine septum, monitored by concomitant laparoscopy, over a six-year period. The preoperative reproductive performance included 42 pregnancies, with only three viable deliveries. Ten of the 12 patients conceived within one year after therapy, and eight of these patients delivered a live infant at term. Two patients had a spontaneous abortion at six and eight weeks after therapy, respectively, but in each, a subsequent pregnancy was carried to term. Three patients are currently pregnant (eight, 12, and 18 weeks). Two patients have not as yet conceived. Two patients required a second hysteroscopic operation because a partial residual septum was observed on the posttreatment hysterogram.

Hysteroscopy in the evaluation of female infertility.

Endometrial and tubal causes of female infertility have been sought with the use of endometrial biopsy, the Rubin test, hysterosalpingography, and laparoscopy. Hysteroscopy, used as an adjunct to these methods, can increase their effectiveness in evaluating uterine or tubal factors that may account directly or indirectly for reproductive failure. Hysteroscopy was included in the diagnostic evaluation of 142 patients with a diagnosis of primary or secondary infertility. In 62%, visually recognizable abnormalities were found, such as intrauterine adhesions, endometrial polyps, submucous leiomyomas, and uterine septa, that could explain the infertility. In 31.7% of 63 patients who had an abnormal hysterosalpingogram, hysteroscopy demonstrated a normal uterine cavity. Even though hysteroscopy is useful as a diagnostic and therapeutic adjunct to traditional methods for evaluation of uterine factors in infertility, it does not replace or exclude them. Rather, it complements the procedures, particularly when abnormal hysterosalpingograms have been obtained, when intrauterine adhesions are suspected, or when there is abnormal uterine bleeding. Performed concomitantly with laparoscopy, hysteroscopy becomes the most effective technique for evaluation of the uterine and tubal conditions that may play a role in female infertility.

Endometrial carcinoma after endometrial ablation: High-risk factors predicting its occurrence

Our purpose was to review reported cases of endometrial carcinoma after endometrial ablation and to evaluate high-risk factors predicting its occurrence. We present guidelines for the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding unresponsive to medical therapy in this high-risk group of patients. Eight detailed reports on endometrial carcinoma after endometrial ablation were reviewed. The indications, methods of treatment, follow-up, and associated high-risk factors for endometrial carcinoma were analyzed. A focused list of high-risk factors for endometrial carcinoma was developed on the basis of the data collected. Guidelines were established to enable surgeons to minimize the risks of subsequent uterine cancer in women with abnormal uterine bleeding that is unresponsive to medical therapy (ie, candidates for ablation). Women who had endometrial carcinoma develop after ablation had predictive high-risk factors for subsequent neoplasia, and all eventually underwent a hysterectomy. Women with abnormal uterine bleeding and high-risk factors for endometrial carcinoma who did not respond to medical treatment may safely undergo endometrial ablation but must have a preablation biopsy indicating normal endometrium. Persistent hyperplasia unresponsive to hormonal therapy should influence the selection of a hysterectomy. Careful screening of patients before undergoing endometrial destructive procedures is prescient because minimally invasive, nonhysteroscopic ablative techniques are now emerging.

Hysteroscopic metroplasty for the septate uterus: review and meta-analysis.

The introduction of hysteroscopy to diagnose and treat intrauterine conditions, specifically to divide the uterine septum, or metroplasty, has replaced the traditional laparotomy approach, and objective results demonstrate its salutary effects in women treated. Hysteroscopic metroplasty averts the implications of major invasive abdominal surgery, with good and satisfactory results in pregnancy and live-birth rates, despite the lack of prospective, randomized, controlled studies. A careful review of the published results supports this type of treatment when the uterine septum adversely affects normal reproductive function.

Role of vaginal sonography and hysterosonography in the endoscopic treatment of uterine myomas

OBJECTIVE To summarize the advantages and disadvantages of the various imaging techniques used to evaluate uterine leiomyomas preoperatively and to propose a classification system for intramural and subserosal leiomyomas that may better serve the endoscopist in surgical treatment. DESIGN A MEDLINE search of the available literature was performed. CONCLUSION(S) Selective use of the various imaging techniques is required based on the clinical situation. Classification systems that describe the degree of myometrial involvement are needed for appropriate case selection and counseling by the endoscopist.

Hysteroscopy: A clinical experience with 320 patients☆

Hysteroscopy has added a new dimension to the management of patients with common clinical problems, increasing the accuracy of diagnosis and serving as an adjunct in treatment of intrauterine conditions. This report summarizes the hysteroscopic experience with 320 selected patients, 104 in the reproductive age group with abnormal uterine bleeding, 91 who underwent hysteroscopy for location and retrieval of intrauterine contraceptive devices, 36 with primary or secondary infertility, 36 with postmenopausal bleeding, and 15 with uterine leiomyomas. Paracervical block anesthesia was used successfully in 214 patients. General anesthesia was used in the remainder because of planned additional surgical intervention. Uterine distention was achieved with D5W in 270 patients, with dextran 32% in 30 patients, and with CO2 gas insufflation in 20 patients. In 71.6 per cent of the patients,visually recognizable or pathologically suspicious intrauterine abnormalities were found. This study further demonstrated the utility of hysteroscopy in diagnosis of endometrial polyps, uterine submucous leiomyomas, uterine malformations, and intrauterine adhesions. Hysteroscopy was also helpful in taking directed biopsies of selected areas of the endometrium in patients with adenomatous hyperplasia and early adenocarcinoma of the endometrium and helpful in removal of intrauterine foreign bodies and evaluation of the recently pregnant uterus when there was a question of persistent pregnancy. Hysteroscopy is a safe ambulatory procedure that is appealing to both patient and gynecologist in its economy and simplicity.

Complications of fluid overload from resectoscopic surgery

Excess absorption of liquid distending media is one of the most frequent complications of operative hysteroscopy. Although most women recover uneventfully, we are seeing cases of permanent morbidity or death resulting from this complication.