Microlaparoscopy for an intact ectopic pregnancy and endometriosis with the use of a diode laser: case report. (1/27)

Microlaparoscopy is a development of endoscopic surgery which further reduces invasiveness of surgical procedures. The use of a diode laser in microlaparoscopy for the treatment of a patient with an intact ectopic pregnancy and endometriosis is described for the first time. As the diode laser has easy management and widely recognized precision, its use could be highly advantageous in such situations. The success achieved in this case contributes to the wider use of micro-endoscopic procedures.  (+info)

Co-existing tubal ectopic pregnancy and appendicitis--a case report. (2/27)

Appendicitis in pregnancy has a well documented high morbidity due to the difficulty in diagnosis. However, synchronous ectopic pregnancy and appendicitis is a rare event. This report describes the case of a 22-year-old lady of Bangladeshi origin who presented with both these conditions. The importance of prompt diagnosis and early surgical intervention, the inherent difficulties in diagnosis and the possible interrelated aetiological factors are discussed.  (+info)

The influence of hydrosalpinx on IVF and embryo transfer: a review. (3/27)

Several retrospective studies have shown an impaired outcome of IVF in the presence of hydrosalpinx. The retrospective data have been compiled and presented in meta-analyses, demonstrating a reduction by half in the probability of achieving a pregnancy in the presence of hydrosalpinx and a doubled rate of spontaneous abortion. The main theories trying to explain the underlying mechanisms have focused on potential embryotoxic properties of the fluid or impaired endometrial receptivity to implantation. Several mouse studies have suggested an embryotoxic effect of the hydrosalpingeal fluid, a finding which is not supported in studies on human embryos. It is believed that the fluid exerts a detrimental effect on the endometrium by altering the receptivity or simply by causing a mechanical hindrance for implantation. Different treatment options would then be tubal ligation, salpingostomy, aspiration of hydrosalpinx fluid or salpingectomy. The effect of aspiration has been studied in a few retrospective trials with contradictory results. Treatment with salpingectomy has entered into clinical practice without proper evidence for its benefit. Concerns have also been raised about the potential hazard of surgical intervention to ovarian circulation and function. A randomized controlled trial on salpingectomy prior to IVF has now been conducted as a multicentre study in Scandinavia. Laparoscopic salpingectomy prior to IVF was shown to be beneficial in patients with large hydrosalpinges that were visible on ultrasound, a result which supports the theory of the fluid being involved in the impaired implantation process.  (+info)

Hospital resources used for ectopic pregnancy treatment by laparoscopy and methotrexate. (4/27)

OBJECTIVE: To compare resources used in the medical and laparoscopic treatment of unruptured ectopic pregnancy. METHODS: We prospectively recorded all the medical resources required in the treatment of unruptured ectopic pregnancy. The study period ranged from January 1, 1995 to June 30, 1998. Single-dose intramuscular methotrexate injections were administered in 55 women (group I). This therapeutic option was provided on an outpatient basis in small EP (beta-HCG level < 5000 IU/L and hematosalpinx diameter < 3 cm). Serial clinical controls and biologic tests were performed until bHCG became negative. Forty women underwent a laparoscopic salpingostomy because they refused the methotrexate regimen or had "social" contra-indications (ie, predictable difficulties in the follow-up) (group II). Twenty-one patients underwent conservative laparoscopic treatment because of "medical" contraindications to methotrexate (group III). We recorded the resources used with the outpatient and inpatient treatment in each group (methotrexate consumption, operating room acts, length of hospital stay, clinical examinations, biological tests, and sonograms during the follow-up). RESULTS: We observed similar cure rates in each group, but it took significantly longer for beta-HCG to become negative in group 1. However, hospitalization was significantly less often required, and the length of hospital stay was shorter in this group. But length of follow-up, number of office visits, biological tests, sonograms, and subsequent readmissions were significantly more frequent after methotrexate. Despite more severe clinical presentations for patients in group III, we didn't find any significant differences in the hospital resources used in this group in comparison with those used in group II. CONCLUSIONS: The outpatient methotrexate option may result in low consumption of resources for a hospital because most of the follow-up can be performed by city practitioners and laboratories. For the laparoscopic option, efforts should be made to reduce the postoperative hospital stay.  (+info)

Prognostic significance of positive peritoneal cytology in endometrial carcinoma confined to the uterus. (5/27)

A retrospective analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic significance of peritoneal cytology in patients with endometrial carcinoma limited to the uterus. A total of 280 patients with surgically staged endometrial carcinoma that was histologically confined to the uterus were examined clinicopathologically. The median length of follow-up was 62 (range, 12-135) months. All patients underwent hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy with selective lymphadenectomy, and only three patients received adjuvant postoperative therapy. No preoperative adjuvant therapy was employed. In all, 48 patients (17%) had positive peritoneal cytology. The 5-year survival rate among patients with positive or negative peritoneal cytology was 91 or 95%, respectively, showing no significant difference (log-rank, P=0.42). The disease-free survival rate at 36 months was 90% among patients with positive cytology, compared with that of 94% among patients with negative cytology, and the difference was not significant (log-rank, P=0.52). Multivariate proportional hazards model revealed only histologic grade to be an independent prognostic factor of survival (P=0.0003, 95% CI 3.02 - 40.27) among the factors analysed (age, peritoneal cytology, and depth of myometrial invasion). Multivariate analysis revealed that histologic grade (P=0.02, 95% CI 1.21-9.92) was also the only independent prognostic factor of disease-free survival. We concluded that the presence of positive peritoneal cytology is not an independent prognostic factor in patients with endometrial carcinoma confined to the uterus, and adjuvant therapy does not appear to be beneficial in these patients.  (+info)

A postal survey of hydrosalpinx management prior to IVF in the United Kingdom. (6/27)

BACKGROUND: In the last decade, numerous studies have demonstrated concern about the presence of hydrosalpinx and its management in patients undergoing IVF. We evaluated the current management of hydrosalpinx prior to IVF treatment in the UK. METHODS: A total of 117 postal survey, anonymous, sealed questionnaires were sent to all IVF centres in the UK, to determine the policy for the management of hydrosalpinx in infertile women prior to IVF treatment. RESULTS: There were 88 (75%) responders, of which 80 (91%) indicated that they discussed the effect of hydrosalpinx on IVF outcome. Ten (12%) units did not recommend treatment of hydrosalpinx prior to IVF treatment, while 30 (36%), 27 (33%) and 16 (19%) recommended treatment weakly, strongly and very strongly respectively. The treatment options offered by clinicians were laparoscopic salpingectomy (75%), open salpingectomy (45%), salpingostomy (40%), proximal tubal occlusion (34%), transvaginal songraphic (TVS) aspiration during oocyte collection (23%) and TVS aspiration before oocyte collection (10%). The frequency of use varied from one option of treatment to another. Only 28% of the responders had a protocol or guidelines for the management of hydrosalpinx. CONCLUSIONS: More attention should be given to patients with hydrosalpinx prior to IVF treatment and patients should be counselled about the negative effect of hydrosalpinx on IVF outcome. There is a wide variation in the management of hydrosalpinx prior to IVF treatment in the UK and many treatment options may be questionable, as they are not yet based on evidence.  (+info)

Laparoscopic salpingotomy for tubal pregnancy: comparison of linear salpingotomy with and without suturing. (7/27)

BACKGROUND: The study was carried out to clarify the incidence of post-operative tubal adhesions, patency rate and pregnancy outcome after laparoscopic salpingotomy with and without suturing for tubal pregnancy. METHODS: From May 1996 to December 2002, a total of 97 cases of tubal pregnancy were treated in our centre by laparoscopic conservative surgery. The successful salpingotomy cases were randomly assigned to undergo salpingotomy without suturing (group I; n = 43) or with suturing (group II; n = 32). We compared these patients and assessed their surgical and pregnancy outcome by second look laparoscopy (SLL) 3 months after the first operation. RESULTS: Seventy-five cases (77%) were treated successfully by salpingotomy at initial laparoscopic surgery, and the remaining 22 cases were unsuccessful because of bleeding or complete tubal damage. Pelvic findings were assessed at SLL in 21 of 43 cases (49%) in group I and 17 of 32 (53%) in group II. There were no significant differences in gestational age, ectopic site, tubal diameter, tubal condition, intraperitoneal haemorrhage and pre-operative HCG levels between the two groups. Only the operation time was longer in group II than in group I (91 +/- 15 versus 69 +/- 15 min, P < 0.05). The tubal patency rate of the treated side was 90% (19/21) in group I and 94% (16/17) in group II. Also the peritubal adhesions were observed in 33% (7/21) in group I and 29% (5/17) in group II, and were mostly comprised of filmy adhesions. A tubal fistula occurred in two cases in each group. Pregnancy rate was 79% (15/19) in group I and 92% (12/13) in group II, and this did not reveal any significant difference of cumulative pregnancy rate between the groups. CONCLUSION: We recommend laparoscopic linear salpingotomy as a useful method in the management of cases with tubal pregnancy who desire future pregnancy. This preliminary study emphasizes that the procedure involving suturing has no additional benefit over the non-suturing technique during salpingotomy.  (+info)

External application of chinese drugs on acupoint Shenque combined with salpingostomy for treatment of sterility caused by obstruction of the fallopian tube--a clinical report of 45 cases. (8/27)

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of external application of Chinese drugs on acupoint Shenque (CV 8) combined with salpingostomy for treatment of sterility caused by obstruction of the fallopian tube. METHOD: 75 cases were randomly divided into the following 2 groups. Forty-five patients in the treatment group were treated with external application of Chinese drugs on acupoint Shenque (CV 8) combined with salpingostomy, while 30 patients in the control group were treated with salpingostomy only. RESULTS: The results showed that in the treatment group, 26 cases were cured, 11 cases improved, and 8 cases failed, with a total effective rate of 82.22%; while in the control group, 14 cases were cured, 7 cases improved, and 9 cases failed, with a total effective rate of 70.00%. There is a significant difference in the total effective rate between the two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of external application of Chinese drugs on acupoint Shenque combined with salpingostomy is better than that of salpingostomy only.  (+info)