Preoperatively predicting non-home discharge after surgery for gynecologic malignancy

Objective

Returning home after surgery is a desirable patient-centered outcome associated with decreased costs compared to non-home discharge. Our objective was to develop a preoperative risk-scoring model predicting non-home discharge after surgery for gynecologic malignancy.

Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy Utilizing a Robotic Surgical System

Objectives:

To describe the use of a robotic surgical system for total laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Methods:

We report a series of laparoscopic hysterectomies performed using the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System. Participants were women eligible for hysterectomy by standard laparoscopy. Operative times and complications are reported.

Results:

We completed 10 total laparoscopic hysterectomies between November 2001 and December 2002 with the use of the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System. Operative results were similar to those of standard laparoscopic hysterectomy. Operative time varied from 2 hours 28 minutes to 4 hours 37 minutes. Blood loss varied from 25 mL to 350 mL. Uterine weights varied from 49 g to 227 g. A cystotomy occurred in a patient with a history of a prior cystotomy unrelated to the robotic system.

Conclusion:

Total laparoscopic hysterectomy is a complex surgical procedure requiring advanced laparoscopic skills. Tasks like lysis of adhesions, suturing, and knot tying were enhanced with the robotic surgical system, thus providing unique advantages over existing standard laparoscopy. Total laparoscopic hysterectomy can be performed using robotic surgical systems.     

Comparison of maternal mortality and morbidity between trial of labor and elective cesarean section among women with previous cesarean delivery

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to assess the safety of trial of labor after previous cesarean delivery. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of 308,755 Canadian women with previous cesarean delivery between 1988 and 2000. Occurrences of in-hospital maternal death, uterine rupture, and other severe maternal morbidity were compared between women with a trial of labor and those with an elective cesarean section. RESULTS: Rates of uterine rupture (0.65%), transfusion (0.19%), and hysterectomy (0.10%) were significantly higher in the trial-of-labor group. Maternal in-hospital death rate, however, was lower in the trial-of-labor group (1.6 per 100,000) than in the elective cesarean section group (5.6 per 100,000). The association between trial of labor and uterine rupture was stronger in low volume (<500) than in high volume (> or =500 births per year) obstetric units. CONCLUSION: Trial of labor is associated with increased risk of uterine rupture, but elective cesarean section may increase the risk of maternal death.     

Emergency peripartum hysterectomy in Northern Jordan: indications and obstetric outcome (an 8-year review)

Objective To review cases of emergency peripartum hysterectomy regarding their incidence, risk factors, indications and complications and their results were carefully analysed.Materials and methods A retrospective study of cases of emergency peripartum hysterectomy which were performed in the period between February 1994 and February 2002 at the Princess Badeea Teaching Hospital in Northern Jordan. Demographic and clinical data were extracted and closely interpretedResults In the study period there were a 70,252 deliveries and 61 cases of emergency peripartum hysterectomies. The overall incidence was 0.87 peripartum hysterectomies per 1,000 deliveries. There were 50 cases (82%) delivered by caesarean section and 11 cases (18%) were delivered vaginally. Caesarean hysterectomy was performed in 50 cases and postpartum hysterectomy was performed in 11 cases. Total hysterectomy was performed in 39 cases (64%) and subtotal hysterectomy was performed in 22 cases (36%). The main indications for hysterectomy were morbidly adherent placenta (47.5%), ruptured uterus (27.9%) and uncontrollable haemorrhage from uterine atony (21.3%). There were two maternal deaths and 7 cases of stillbirths and 4 cases of early neonatal deaths.Conclusion Peripartum hysterectomy is a dramatic with high risk but a life saving operation. It is usually associated with significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Obstetricians should identify patients at risk and anticipate the procedure and complications, as early intervention and proper management facilitate optimal outcome.     

Cervical stump cancer: a study of 14 cases

Case report. This is a report on 14 patients with cervical stump cancer, aged 30 to 68 years old (median = 53 years), seen in a public university hospital. Over a 15-year period, 363 cases of cervical cancer were treated, of which fourteen (3.85%) were in the cervical stump. The time interval between subtotal hysterectomy and the diagnosis of the neoplasm varied from 9 days to 27 years (median = 9.3 years). 28.6% of the patients were in stage I, 42.9% in stage II and 28.6% in stage III. Fibromyoma was the major reason for the subtotal hysterectomy. Three patients underwent Wertheim-Meigs surgery, 1 in association with radiotherapy, and the other 11 patients had radiotherapy alone. The survival ranged from 12 to 120 months (median = 53.3 months). Conclusion. Subtotal hysterectomy should be avoided whenever possible in populations with restricted access to screening programs for cancer of the uterine cervix.     

Successful salvage therapy of resistant gestational trophoblastic disease with etoposide,methotrexate, actinomycin-d,etoposide, cisplatin (EMA/EP)

A 26-year-old woman who had been treated for nonmetastatic gestational trophoblastic tumor with three courses of methotrexate with folinic acid rescue and had been lost to follow up for 4 years was referred with the fractional curettage diagnosis of choriocarcinoma that had been performed for abnormal vaginal bleeding. Her serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin (βhCG) was 706,000 mIU/mL and there were multiple pulmonary metastatic foci. The uterus was 12 weeks pregnant-size and a 6×6-cm tumor mass was seen within the anterior uterine wall at ultrasonography. Following total abdominal hysterectomy etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin-D, vincristine and cyclophosphamide (EMA/CO) regimen was given. Whole brain radiation of 30 Gy in 3 weeks for brain metastasis, discovered in magnetic resonance imaging was given after the first course. Since serum βhCG levels plateaued after three courses of chemotherapy and multiple pulmonary metastases persisted, treatment was shifted to etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin-D, etoposide, cisplatin (EMA/EP) regimen. She was in remission after three courses of chemotherapy.     

Abdominal hysterectomy for the enlarged myomatous uterus compared with vaginal hysterectomy with morcellation

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare intraoperative and postoperative complications of abdominal hysterectomy for the enlarged, myomatous uterus with vaginal hysterectomy with morcellation. STUDY DESIGN: Medical records of 139 patients who underwent vaginal hysterectomy with morcellation and 244 patients who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy for an enlarged, myomatous uterus between August 1990 and July 2001 were reviewed. Uterine weights of >982 g were excluded because this was the largest uterus removed vaginally, which left 208 evaluable cases of total abdominal hysterectomy. The perioperative and postoperative course of the two groups was compared. The Student t test was used for continuous variables, and the Fisher exact test was used for binary or categoric data. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in surgical or anesthetic risk factors (P>.05). Operative time was similar between the groups (P>.05). Length of hospital stay was increased significantly with total abdominal hysterectomy (mean, 3.9 days vs 2.6 days; P<.001). Perioperative complications were increased with the abdominal route (10% vs 25%, P<.001). CONCLUSION: In this large series, uterine morcellation at the time of vaginal hysterectomy is safe and facilitates the removal of moderately enlarged and well-supported uteri and is associated with decreased hospital stay and perioperative morbidity rate compared with the abdominal route.     

子宫颈癌患者腹腔镜下广泛子宫切除术联合淋巴结切除术的临床效果评估

目的 评估腹腔镜下广泛子宫切除术联合盆腹腔淋巴结切除术用于治疗子宫颈癌的临床效果。方法 对57例Ⅰa～Ⅱb期的子宫颈癌患者,施行腹腔镜下广泛子宫切除术联合盆腔及腹主动脉周围淋巴结切除术。其中子宫颈鳞状细胞癌48例,腺癌7例,腺鳞癌2例。结果 除2例外,所有患者均在腹腔镜下完成手术,平均手术时间为186min(150～320min),术中平均出血168ml(120～700ml),切除盆腔和腹主动脉周围淋巴结数量平均为18．6个和8．2个;8例患者淋巴结为阳性。所有切除组织边缘大体检查均为阴性。术中2例膀胱损伤、1例静脉损伤,均于镜下修补成功;2例中转开腹。术后肛门排气时间平均为2．3d,恢复自主排尿时间平均为10．2d。手术后每3个月随访1次,发现轻度输尿管狭窄1例,尿潴留2例,阴道残端复发3例,病情未控1例。结论 腹腔镜下广泛子宫切除术联合盆腹腔淋巴结切除术j治疗子宫颈癌手术创伤小、并发症少、术后恢复快,是一种治疗子宫颈癌的理想方法。     

Women''s Decision Making Regarding Hysterectomy

OBJECTIVE: To describe the decision-making process of women who choose hysterectomy for treatment of benign disease or distressing symptoms. DESIGN: Qualitative design based on grounded theory, using semistructured interviews. SETTING: Participants were interviewed in their homes or at their place of employment. PARTICIPANTS: Ten women who were premenopausal prior to hysterectomy. RESULTS: Decision making began when the women recognized abnormal body changes or bothersome symptoms. Four major processes were identified. "Seeking Solutions" was characterized by information seeking, information processing, and utilization of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments in an attempt to cure the disease and/or alleviate symptoms. "Holding On" included managing symptoms, rearranging activities of daily living to accommodate symptoms, and waiting. "Changing Course" was characterized by an abrupt change from Holding On to focusing on hysterectomy as the solution to the distressing symptoms. During "Taking Charge," the women displayed purposeful actions directed at arranging and preparing for surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the process of decision making will enable nurses to provide support for women who choose hysterectomy for treatment of benign gynecologic diseases and/or distressing gynecologic symptoms. Nurses' support of women's decision making should include referrals, education, and emotional support. In addition, nurses can help these women improve their quality of life by assisting them with symptom management.     

Uterine Preservation or Hysterectomy at Sacrospinous Colpopexy for Uterovaginal Prolapse?

This study retrospectively compared 34 women who had a sacrospinous hysteropexy and 36 who had a vaginal hysterectomy and sacrospinous fixation for symptomatic uterine prolapse. All women underwent independent review and examination, with a mean follow-up of 36 months in the hysterectomy group and 26 months in the hysteropexy group.  The subjective success rate was 86% in the hysterectomy group and 78% in the hysteropexy group (P = 0.70). The objective success rate was 72% and 74%, respectively (P = 1.00). The patient-determined satisfaction rate was 86% in the hysterectomy group and 85% in the hysteropexy group (P = 1.00). The operating time in the hysterectomy group was 91 minutes, compared to 59 minutes in the hysteropexy group (P<0.01). The mean intraoperative blood loss in the hysterectomy group was 402 ml, compared to 198 ml in the hysteropexy group (P<0.01). The sacrospinous hysteropexy is effective in the treatment of uterine prolapse. Vaginal hysterectomy may not be necessary in the surgical treatment of uterine prolapse.