Descending Perineum Syndrome: Are Abdominal Hysterectomy and Bowel Habits Linked?

PURPOSE This retrospective study evaluates the effect of abdominal hysterectomy on patients affected by descending perineum syndrome. METHODS Eighty-nine female patients affected by descending perineum syndrome and one group of 10 healthy women with normal bowel habits were studied retrospectively. Thirty-two descending perineum syndrome patients (Group 1) had received an abdominal hysterectomy for benign diseases, while 57 descending perineum syndrome patients (Group 2) had not undergone this surgery. All 99 subjects underwent clinical evaluation, computerized anorectal manometry, and defecography. RESULTS Dyschezia was found predominantly in Group 2 subjects (P < 0.05). Fecal incontinence was significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 (P < 0.05). The worst anal resting pressure was found in the incontinent Group 1 patients (P < 0.01). Rectoanal intussusception was a significant defecographic sign in Group 1 subjects (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Clinical evaluation and instrumental data suggested a possible link between fecal incontinence and abdominal hysterectomy in patients affected by descending perineum syndrome.     

The making of the ‘useless and pathological’ uterus in Taiwan, 1960s to 1990s

During the 1960s and 1970s, the notion that the uterus is a useless and pathological organ after a woman has had ‘enough’ children emerged alongside news reports of excessive hysterectomy in Taiwan. This notion and hysterectomy became two sides of the same coin, the former pointing to the burden of birth control and cancer risk, and the latter to sterilization and removing cancer risk. I explore how, in post-war Taiwan, the notion became commonplace through the intersection of three historical formations: the medical tradition of employing surgery to manage risk (such as appendectomy for appendicitis), American-dominated family planning projects that intensified the surgical approach and promoted reproductive rationality, and cancer prevention campaigns that helped cultivate a sense of cancer risk. The gender politics operating in the family planning and cancer prevention projects were apparent. The burden of birth control fell mainly on women, and the cancer prevention campaign, centring almost exclusively on early detection of cervical cancer, made cancer into a woman’s disease. I argue that the discourses of reproductive rationality and disease risk were parallel and, in several key ways, intersecting logics that rendered the uterus useless and pathological and then informed surgeons’ practice of hysterectomy. Exploring the ways in which the uterus was envisioned and targeted in the history of medicine in Taiwan, this paper shows overlapping bio-politics in three strands of research in an East Asian context – namely women’s health, family planning and cancer prevention – and offers a case for global comparison.     

Anesthetic management of placenta accreta in a low-resource setting: a case series

BackgroundCurrent recommendations for the anesthetic management of placenta accreta support a conservative approach with neuraxial anesthesia and uterine artery embolization. These are based on case series from experienced centers in developed countries. The aim of this study was to describe the anesthetic management of placenta accreta in a low-resource setting.MethodsA retrospective case note review was performed. From 1 August 2006 to 31 July 2011 placentas from cases of suspected placenta accreta were reassessed histologically to confirm the diagnosis. Patient charts were reviewed and information on anesthetic technique, monitoring, blood transfusion, maternal and fetal outcomes was extracted.ResultsThirty-nine cases were identified. Mean (±SD) maternal age was 33 ± 5.4 years. Hysterectomy was performed at the time of cesarean section in all cases. Thirty-four patients received neuraxial anesthesia, of whom 15 required conversion to general anesthesia. Invasive blood pressure monitoring was used in all patients and a central venous catheter was inserted in 33 cases. Complications associated with monitoring occurred in five patients. Median [IQR] blood loss was 2000 [1100–2700] mL and the median [IQR] number of units of red blood cell transfused was 2 [0–6]. Vasoactive medication was used in 14 patients and 15 patients were transferred to the intensive care unit postoperatively. No maternal or newborn deaths occurred.ConclusionA multidisciplinary approach can prove valuable when placenta accreta is suspected before delivery. In low-resource settings, lack of interventional radiology services and prenatal diagnostic capability may have an impact on anesthetic management in patients with placenta accreta. However, other than greater blood loss, our study demonstrated that good maternal and neonatal outcomes are possible in spite of limited resources.     

Feasibility and Safety of Outpatient Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy

Methods:We report a prospective, consecutive case series of 128 outpatient TLHs performed for benign gynecologic conditions in a tertiary care center.Results:Of the 295 women scheduled for a TLH, 151 (51%) were attempted as an outpatient procedure. A total of 128 women (85%) were actually discharged home the day of their surgery. The most common reasons for admission the same day were urinary retention (19%) and nausea (15%). Indications for hysterectomy were mainly leiomyomas (62%), menorrhagia (24%), and pelvic pain (9%). Endometriosis and adhesions were found in 23% and 25% of the cases, respectively. Mean estimated blood loss was 56 mL and mean uterus weight was 215 g, with the heaviest uterus weighing 841 g. Unplanned consultation and readmission were infrequent, occurring in 3.1% and 0.8% of cases, respectively, in the first 72 hours. At 3 months, unplanned consultation, complication, and readmission had occurred in a similar proportion of inpatient and outpatient TLHs (17.2%, 12.5%, and 4.7% versus 18.1%, 12.7%, and 5.4%, respectively). In a logistic regression model, uterus weight, presence of adhesions or endometriosis, and duration of the operation were not associated with adverse outcomes.Conclusion:Same-day discharge is a feasible and safe option for carefully selected patients who undergo an uncomplicated TLH, even in the presence of leiomyomas, severe adhesions, or endometriosis.     

子宫切除术后残端阴道上皮内瘤变临床分析

目的：探讨子宫切除术后残端阴道上皮内瘤变（VaIN）的临床特点、治疗及预后。方法2008年1月至2013年12月收治子宫切除术后残端阴道VaIN 43例,对其先期疾病、临床表现、辅助检查、治疗方法及预后进行回顾性分析。结果先期疾病有宫颈上皮内瘤变17例（39.5%）,子宫颈癌24例（55.8%）,子宫肌瘤1例,子宫内膜癌1例。继发VaIN的中位时间为术后21个月。24例(55.8%)无临床症状,13例（30.2%）阴道分泌物增多,6例(14.0%)有阴道烧灼感。病变多位于上段阴道（34/43,79.1%）。38例行高危型人乳头状瘤病毒（HPV）检测,阳性率为92.1%（35/38）,其中30例在两次病程中均为阳性。40例患者采用手术治疗：4例经腹行全阴道切除术,7例经会阴行阴道部分切除术,29例行高频氩气刀黏膜剥脱术。术后2例（4.7%）病变持续,5例（11.6%）缓解后复发,均为VaIN。4例再次行黏膜剥脱术,无一例进展为浸润癌。结论子宫切除术后残端阴道VaIN多见于子宫颈癌及宫颈上皮内瘤变,中位发病时间为术后21个月。HPV感染是其发生的主要原因,手术导致的阴道黏膜受损可能促进了VaIN的发生。高频氩气刀阴道黏膜剥脱术治疗VaIN是一种安全有效的治疗手段。     

腹腔镜下完成宫颈癌保留神经平面广泛子宫切除术的疗效及可行性探讨

目的:探讨腹腔镜下完成宫颈癌保留神经平面广泛子宫切除术(NPSRH)的疗效及可行性。方法:选择2009年1月至2014年3月收治的94例宫颈癌患者(Ib1期~Ⅱa2期),其中接受开腹NPSRH50例患者作为对照组,术中未应用特殊器械;接受腹腔镜NPSRH44例作为观察组,术中利用盆腔的固有间隙,将输尿管下方自主神经平面做整体保留,术中同时应用血管钉对神经平面周围的血管进行止血。比较两组患者的各手术相关指标及术后近期膀胱功能的恢复情况。结果:观察组的手术时间为(314.9±68.6)min要多于对照组的(273.5±58.6)min,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);失血量为(187.8±64.1)m L、输血者比例为6.8%(3/44)、术后住院时间分别为(9.1±2.0)d均明显低于对照组(474.6±67.3)m L、48%(24/50)、(11.3±3.1)d,差异均具有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。在拔尿管后,两组患者初次残余尿达标者的比例及导尿时间比较,差异均无统计学意义(均P>0.05)。结论:腹腔镜下完成NPSRH的疗效及保留神经的效果与开腹手术相当,但能明显减少患者术中的出血情况,且能促进患者的术后恢复。     

腹腔镜下子宫全切除术的麻醉体会

目的探讨全麻下腹腔镜子宫全切除术中气腹对患者呼吸及循环功能的影响。方法气腹前、气腹后10min、气腹后30min及放气后监测患者BP、HR、SpO2、Paw的变化情况,并进行统计学分析。结果术中CO2气腹后患者的BP、HR、Paw与气腹前相比明显增加,差异有统计学意义。结论腹腔镜子宫全切除术气腹后患者的BP、HR、Paw升高。     

腹腔镜在妇科恶性肿瘤中的应用现状与展望

腹腔镜在妇科肿瘤领域的应用范围越来越广。循证医学已证明腹腔镜全面分期手术可作为子宫内膜癌的理想术式,该手术与开腹手术的肿瘤结局没有差异,并且比开腹手术获益更多。许多回顾性研究已证实了早期宫颈癌的腹腔镜根治性子宫切除术安全有效,大规模的随机对照试验(RCT)正在进行中。越来越多的肿瘤中心尝试卵巢癌的腹腔镜肿瘤细胞减灭术,已初步证实其安全性和有效性。单孔腹腔镜手术以美观程度更高的优势开始应用于妇科肿瘤手术。越来越多的证据表明腹腔镜手术不改变妇科肿瘤患者的预后,而且创伤小、并发症少,提高了患者的生存质量。腹腔镜手术在妇科肿瘤中占据越来越重要的地位,使越来越多的妇科肿瘤患者受益。