Hemorrhage risk during operative hysteroscopy

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the risk of hemorrhage during hysteroscopic surgery. METHODS: Cases of hemorrhage during hysteroscopic surgery were assessed in a single center, observational, prospective study conducted from 1990 to 2000, including 2116 surgical hysteroscopies. Risk of hemorrhage was evaluated according to the hysteroscopic procedure. The management of this complication was also noted. RESULTS: Thirteen cases (0.61%) were reported. In six cases, hemorrhage stopped spontaneously. For six patients, a Foley (no. 10) probe was introduced into the uterine cavity and inflated for 24 h to stop hemorrhage. For one patient, immediately from the start of the procedure, the uterine arteries were ligatured through the vaginal route in order to stop bleeding. Haemorrhage risk was higher during hysteroscopic adhesiolysis compared with endometrial ablation (Relative risk [RR] 5.22 (1.26-21.64); p = 0.02), polyp [RR 5.3 (1.04-27.09); p = 0.04], and fibroid resections [RR 6.55 (1.58-27.17); p = 0.01]. Haemorrhage risk was however, comparable for endometrial ablation, uterus septa section, polyp, and fibroid resections (p = 0.92). CONCLUSIONS: Hemorrhage risk is higher during synechiolysis compared with other procedures. An inflated Foley probe may be an efficient means of stopping hemorrhage.     

宫腔镜电切术子宫穿孔16例分析

目的 探讨宫腔镜电切术子宫穿孔的发生原因、诊断、处理和预防方法。方法 1990年5月至2002年7月,5家医院共行宫腔镜电切术3541例次,其中宫腔镜子宫内膜切除术(TCRE)1431例,1468例次,宫腔镜子宫肌瘤切除术(TCRM)797例,宫腔镜子宫内膜息肉切除术(TCRP)783例,宫腔镜子宫纵隔切除术(TCRS)189例,宫腔镜子宫粘连切除术(TCRA)112例,宫腔镜宫腔异物取出术(TCRF)192例。术时均行B超和(或)腹腔镜监护,手术日前晚放置宫颈扩张棒或于阴道后穹窿放置米索前列醇200μg,手术步骤按不同的指征及目的进行。结果 发生子宫穿孔16例(0．45％),8例因放置器械所致,其中7例扩宫时穿孔,1例置镜时穿孔,8例为电切电极引起。子宫穿孔发生率,TCRA 4．46％(5／112),TCRF 3．12％(6／192),TCRE 0．27％(4／1468),TCRM 0．13％(1／797);TCRP及TCRS无子宫穿孔发生。16例穿孔均于术中发现,其中B超和(或)腹腔镜监护发现10例(62％),宫腔镜及临床发现6例(38％)。13例为完全子宫穿孔,其中腹腔镜监护发现2例,B超监护发现5例,宫腔镜先于B超发现4例,患者首先出现症状,然后B超证实子宫穿孔2例;子宫不全穿孔3例,2例腹腔镜监护发现,1例B超监护发现。结论 应尽量减少扩宫,置镜在直视下进行;术者的经验及手术类型如TCRA和TCRF与子宫穿孔的发生有关。宫腔镜电切术时B超、腹腔镜监护有助于预防,但不能完全防止子宫穿孔。     

Découvertes hystéroscopiques chez les femmes de 40 ans et moins avec saignement utérin anormal

Objective: describe hysteroscopic findings among women of 40 years old or less with abnormal uterine bleeding.Methods: this is a retrospective cohort study, using hospital and clinic files for the period of January 1988 to April 1997, where 191 patients 40 years old or younger had a diagnostic hysteroscopy for abnormal uterine bleeding. The rate of successful hysteroscopies, the type of anaesthesia, and hysteroscopic complications were listed. Type and frequency of intrauterine pathology, such as endometrial polyps, submucous myomas, hyperplasia and atrophy, were analyzed. Particular attention was devoted to the incidence of pathology which were not identified by endometrial biopsy (polyps and submucous myomas. Prior treatment before hysteroscopy was also assessed.Results: hysteroscopy was successfully completed in 95.8 percent of cases and the majority of the procedures 67.5% were done under local anaesthesia (paracervical block). No perforation or other major complication has been listed. Intrauterine pathology was diagnosed in 24 percent of patients and, among them, 9.8 percent had an endometrial polyp and 6.6 percent had a submucous myoma. About half of patients 45.9% had no treatment prior to hysteroscopy. Among those with previous treatments, 41 percent failed to respond to oral contraceptive therapy: in those patients, 13.3 percent had an endometrial polyp and 8.0 percent had a submucous myoma.Conclusion: hysteroscopy is a useful diagnostic approach for the investigation of patients 40 years old or less with abnormal uterine bleeding. In 24 percent of these patients, hysteroscopy enables the detection of intrauterine lesions. Most of which could not be detected by endometrial biopsy. According to this retrospective study, it seems preferable to recommend a diagnostic hysteroscopy rather than an endometrial biopsy for the investigation of abnormal uterine bleeding among women 40 years old or younger.     

Uterine rupture following operative hysteroscopy

The aim of this study was to attempt to identify factors predictive of uterine rupture following operative hysteroscopy. A MEDLINE and EMBASE search (1980 to April 2006) using the keywords "hysteroscopy", "uterine rupture" and "pregnancy" was performed with no limitations of languages. 18 cases of uterine rupture following operative hysteroscopy were retrieved. Hysteroscopic metroplasty (uterine septa and synechiae) was involved in 16 (89%) cases. Hysteroscopic resection was performed with monopolar current cutting, rigid scissors and laser in respectively 14 (78%), 3 (16.5%) and 1 (5.5%) cases. Uterine perforation occurred in 10 (55.5%) cases. The interval between hysteroscopy and subsequent pregnancies varied from 1 month to 5 years with an average delay of 16 months. Uterine rupture occurred between 19 and 41 weeks, with no labour in 12 (66.5%) cases. Four fetal and one maternal deaths followed uterine rupture. Hysteroscopic metroplasty may expose patients to an increased risk of uterine rupture in subsequent pregnancy. Uterine perforation and/or the use of current monopolar section during operative hysteroscopy increase this risk. Uncomplicated hysteroscopic resection of submucous myomas and endometrial polyps do not alter obstetrical outcome. Considering hysteroscopic metroplasty, the use of coaxial bipolar electrode should be preferred.     

Postoperative infection and surgical hysteroscopy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk of infection after surgical hysteroscopy. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT(S): One thousand nine hundred fifty-two patients requiring operative hysteroscopy during a 10-year period from January 1990 to January 2000. INTERVENTION(S): Two thousand one hundred sixteen operative hysteroscopies were performed: 782 fibroma resections, 422 polyp resections, 623 endometrectomies, 90 uterine septa sections, and 199 lyses of synechiae. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Postoperative infectious complications. RESULT(S): Thirty (1.42%) infections occurred. There were 18 (0.85%) cases of endometritis and 12 urinary tract infections. No other severe infectious complications were reported. The risk for early-onset endometritis was higher after lysis of synechiae compared with endometrectomy, fibroma, or polyp resections. However, the risk for early-onset endometritis was similar for endometrectomy, septa, fibroma, or polyp resections. CONCLUSION(S): Infectious risk following surgical hysteroscopy is low. No major infectious complications occurred. Risk for early-onset endometritis was higher after lysis of synechiae compared with other procedures.     

Complications of hysteroscopic surgery: predicting patients at risk

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of operative complications and whether they can be predicted by specific patient characteristics or type of hysteroscopic procedure. METHODS: We collected demographic and medical history information on 925 women who had hysteroscopies from 1995 through 1996. We compared differences in rates of operative complications of specific hysteroscopic procedures. Operative complications were defined as uterine perforation, excessive glycine absorption (1 L or more), hyponatremia, hemorrhage (500 mL or more), bowel or bladder injury, inability to dilate the cervix, and procedure-related hospital admissions. RESULTS: Operative complications occurred in 25 (2.7%) of 925 hysteroscopies. Excessive fluid absorption was the most frequent complication. Hysteroscopic myomectomy and resection of uterine septum were associated with greater odds of complications (odds ratio [OR] 7.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.3, 16.6 and OR 4.0, 95% CI 0.9, 19.6, respectively). Hysteroscopic polypectomy and endometrial ablation were associated with lower odds of complications (OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.0, 0.7 and OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.1, 3.3, respectively). Hysteroscopies done by reproductive endocrinologists and preoperative GnRH agonist therapy were associated with 4-7 times higher odds for operative complications. CONCLUSION: Complications during hysteroscopic surgery are rare. Among hysteroscopic procedures, myomectomies and resections of uterine septa have significantly higher rates of complications, especially excessive fluid absorption. Meticulous fluid management might limit the number of serious complications of these higher-risk procedures.     

行宫腔镜手术发生严重并发症35例临床分析

目的：探讨行宫腔镜检查和宫腔镜电切术发生严重并发症的早期诊断,治疗及预防。方法：对12921例患者行宫腔镜检查,同时行B超扫描;对2221例患行宫腔镜电切术,同时行B超或腹腔镜监护,结果：发生严重并发症35例,其中出血9例,经宫腔球囊置入、电凝、填塞或子宫体切除治愈;子宫穿孔11例,经保守治疗、腹腔镜或子宫切除治愈,空气栓塞1例,经抢救存活,术后感染4例,经抗生素治疗治愈,尿道电切前列腺（TURP）综合征5例,经利尿及静脉输注盐水治愈,子宫内膜去除－输卵管绝育术后综合征（PASS）4例,经扩宫、排出积血,行宫腔粘连或子宫切除治愈,术后8年发生子宫内膜癌1例,再次手术治疗,结论：行宫腔镜检查,以球囊压迫宫腔可有效控制出血,应注意B超腹腔镜监护不能完全防止子宫穿孔,控制灌流液压和手术时间,可减少TURP综合征的发生。行宫腔镜电切术后应加强随访,早期发现PASS和子宫内膜癌,避免空气栓塞的发生。     

A randomized prospective study of the use of endometrial ablation for prevention of recurrent endometrial polyps in breast cancer patients receiving tamoxifen

Objective: To assess the roles of endometrial ablation in prevention of recurrence of tamoxifen-associated endometrial polyps in breast cancer patients.Design: A randomized prospective study of tamoxifen-treated patients who underwent hysteroscopic removal of endometrial polyps with or without simultaneous resection of the endometrium.Materials and Methods: Twenty consecutive women (aged 43–61 years) undergoing hysteroscopic removal of tamoxifen-associated endometrial polyps were randomized via a computer-generated random table to undergo or not to undergo concomitant endometrial ablation. All patients had undergone endometrial sampling prior to the procedure. The patients were followed for at least 18 months (range 18–24 months). The follow-up included transvaginal ultrasonography every 6 months and hysteroscopy when endometrial irregularity was noted. The main outcome variable was recurrence of endometrial polyps while the occurrence of uterine bleeding was noted.Results: In the 10 study group women, who underwent endometrial ablation, only 1 patient had a 1 × 1 cm endometrial polyp diagnosed and removed during the follow-up period. Seven of the study women remained amenorrheic, and 3 experienced spotting a few days every month. In the control group, a recurrent endometrial polyp, necessitating hysteroscopic removal, was diagnosed postoperatively in 6 women (two-tailed Fisher’s Exact test; P < .06).Conclusion: Recurrence of endometrial polyps, one of the most common problems in breast cancer patients receiving long-term treatment with tamoxifen, can be significantly reduced by performing endometrial ablation at the time of hysteroscopic removal of the polyp. The possible risk of occult endometrial cancer is yet to be determined.     

Hysteroscopic diagnosis in patients with abnormal uterine hemorrhage and previous endometrial curettage]

Thirty-four patients, with a history of persistent abnormal uterine bleeding and dilatation and curettage or suction curettage performed within the previous year, were evaluated by office hysteroscopy and biopsy. For 16 patients (47%) the hysteroscopic diagnosis was in agreement with the curettage. Hysteroscopy revealed more information in 18 patients (53%): 8 had polyps, 6 had submucous or pedunculated myoma, 2 had endometrial neoplasia, 1 had myoma and polyp, 2 had endometrial neoplasia and 1 had synechia. Moreover in 3 patients with diagnosis of suspected myoma by curettage, hysteroscopy revealed a normal cavity. The high incidence of missed diagnosis of pathologic conditions by "blind" curettage supports the opinion that diagnostic hysteroscopy is the method of choice in the evaluation of abnormal uterine bleeding.     

Late complications of operative hysteroscopy: predicting patients at risk of uterine rupture during subsequent pregnancy

The main purpose of this study was to identify predictors of uterine rupture following operative hysteroscopy. We also attempted to assess possible clinical or imaging methods in order to detect and avoid impending ruptures. A MEDLINE and EMBASE search of the English, German and French literatures was performed to retrieve case reports of uterine rupture following operative hysteroscopy. A total of 14 cases were retrieved. Twelve patients had a history of hysteroscopic metroplasty. Uterine perforation complicated operative hysteroscopy in eight cases and electrosurgery was used in nine cases. The interval between hysteroscopy and subsequent pregnancies varied from 1 month to 5 years with an average range of 16 months. Hysterosalpingogram follow-up was carried out in six cases and was considered normal in five cases. During pregnancy, serial ultrasound scans were performed in two cases to detect impeding rupture without success. Hysteroscopic metroplasty subjected patients to high risks of uterine rupture during subsequent pregnancies. Uterine perforation and/or the use of electrosurgery increase this risk but are not considered an independent risk factor. Uncomplicated hysteroscopic resection of submucous myomas and endometrial polyps did not alter obstetrical outcome. Apart from favourable use of scissors for hysteroscopic metroplasty, no accurate methods to prevent or detect impending ruptures in subsequent pregnancies were found. Physicians providing care for patients with previous hysteroscopic metroplasty or complicated operative hysteroscopy, should be aware of the potential risks for uterine rupture during pregnancy.     

Outcomes of endometrial-polyp treatment with hysteroscopy in operating room

To assess the results of using a resectoscope in the hysteroscopic resection of endometrial polyps that were previously diagnosed by office hysteroscopy and to demonstrate the necessity of extraction for histological study. A prospective long-term follow-up study (level of evidence II-2). University Hospital. 303 women presenting a hysteroscopic image of an endometrial polyp. Interventions: Office hysteroscopy, hysteroscopic resection of polyps by means of a resectoscope and an anatomopathological study of the polyps. Statistical analysis was performed. 303 diagnosed endometrial polyp formations were resected by means of hysteroscopy during surgery. In all cases, biopsies of the uterine cavity or of the polyp were negative. Resection of the polyps with hysteroscopy in the operating room using a resectoscope proved to be a safe technique. The anatomopathological study of the polyps showed hyperplasia with atypias in 10 cases (3.3%) and endometrial cancer in 9 women (3.0%). Our study data suggest that endometrial polyps should be resected because they may harbor malignant or premalignant lesions. Hysteroscopic surgery is recommended for its simplicity and scant complications.     

Perioperative predictors of successful hysteroscopic endometrial ablation

OBJECTIVE: To determine which perioperative factors influence the success of hysteroscopic endometrial ablation in patients with menorrhagia. STUDY DESIGN: A longitudinal study of 128 women who underwent hysteroscopic endometrial ablation or resection. Clinical data included age, uterine size, the presence of intramural or submucosal myomas and polyps, and length of follow-up from initial hysteroscopic ablation to re-ablation or hysterectomy ('failure'). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, log-rank tests and Cox proportional hazard regression were used to evaluate the equality of survival distributions and to model the overall effects of the various predictor variables on surgical outcomes. RESULTS: Patients were followed for a median time of 44 months. Thirteen women (10.2%) underwent a second operative procedure. Multivariate analysis identified submucosal myoma as a statistically significant positive predictor of the risk of failure [hazard ratio (HR) 5.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.63, 16.73)]. Older age was associated with a marginally lower risk of subsequent surgery (HR 0.90 per additional year of age, 95% CI = 0.81, 1.00). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of submucosal myoma increases the risk of subsequent surgery in patients undergoing endometrial ablation.     

Control of intrauterine fluid pressure during operative hysteroscopy

Study Objective.To evaluate the safety of a commonly used piston pump that controls the infusion pressure of low-viscosity fluids in a continuous-flow hysteroscopic system during operative hysteroscopy.Design.Consecutive patients requiring operative hysteroscopy.Setting.Three hospital facilities in the Midwest.Patients.Sequential sample of 250 women who underwent operative hysteroscopy.Interventions.Endometrial ablations, resection of submucosal or pedunculated uterine leiomyomata with or without endometrial ablation, polyp resections, metroplasty, and lysis of synechiae.Measurements and Main Results.The most serious complication of operative hysteroscopy is fluid overload due to intravasation into the patient's vascular system. Low-viscosity fluids were infused by the Zimmer Controlled Distention Irrigation System. The instrument uses a closed-feedback loop to monitor cavity pressure and automatically regulates the flow to maintain the set point pressure. It is designed to operate in a pressure range of 0 to 80 mm Hg and at flows in excess of 450 ml/minute. In 250 operative hysteroscopies no fluid complications occurred when intrauterine pressure was maintained below 80 mm Hg. No clinically significant differences in intravasation were seen in any type of operative hysteroscopy.Conclusions.This controlled mechanical pump system with exact intrauterine pressure measurement reduced many technical difficulties associated with low-viscosity media, and created a safe environment for the media's use in operative hysteroscopy.     

Reoperative hysteroscopic surgery in the management of patients who fail endometrial ablation and resection

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and efficacy of reoperative hysteroscopic surgery for women who fail endometrial ablation and resection. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review and follow-up (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: Private office practice. PATIENTS: Twenty-six women who had undergone endometrial ablation or resection and experienced failure characterized by intolerable pain, bleeding, or asymptomatic hematometra. INTERVENTION: Sonographically guided hysteroscopic endomyometrial resection. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Mean length of time from initial treatment for abnormal uterine bleeding and reoperative hysteroscopic surgery was 41.2 +/- 47.9 months. Five (19.2%) women required simple dilatation and 21 (80.8%) required endocervical resection to achieve access to the uterine cavity. There were no operative complications. Mean operating time was 20.3 +/- 9.5 minutes. Mean specimen weight was 6.7 +/- 4.9 g. Adenomyosis was present in 15 (57.7%) specimens. Women were followed for a mean of 23.2 +/- 22.7 months. Twenty-three (88.5%) achieved satisfactory results and avoided hysterectomy. Three women (11.5%) eventually required hysterectomy because of recurrent pain or bleeding. CONCLUSION: Reoperative hysteroscopy is useful in managing women after failed endometrial ablation and resection. It produces excellent results in achieving amenorrhea and relief of cyclic pelvic pain, thereby avoiding hysterectomy in most patients.     

Late complications of operative hysteroscopy

The late complications of operative hysteroscopy result from either persistent endometrium after ablation or myometrial damage during surgery. Residual endometrium can become neoplastic, cause pain, or support a pregnancy. Myometrial damage can produce catastrophic consequences during a later pregnancy. These long-term problems place the impetus on the operating physician to select patients carefully, prepare the endometrium, and operate in such a way as to minimize the likelihood of residual endometrium and unnecessary myometrial damage. The value of operative hysteroscopy for infertility secondary to adhesions and uterine septa is unequivocal. Hysteroscopic surgery offers increased fertility rates while avoiding the risks of open surgery. For the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding, endometrial ablation can be performed safely, and the long-term benefits are durable. As more operative hysteroscopy is performed, more delayed complications will arise. Easy-to-perform global ablation techniques and multifunctional operative hysteroscopes have enticed more gynecologists to test the waters of endometrial ablation and operative hysteroscopy. Although they empower the hysteroscopist to offer more advanced and more valuable minimally invasive options to patients, these tools simultaneously can tempt the surgeon to forego meticulous preoperative evaluation. Evidence exists that too often women undergo surgery without complete diagnostic assessment. In one study, 50% of women underwent hysterectomy without any diagnostic evaluation of the endometrium. Hysterectomy possesses a saving grace in that it provides cover for many missed diagnoses. Conservative, nonextirpative procedures offer no such life raft. Meticulous diagnostic assessment and preoperative consideration of risk factors for residual endometrium and future pregnancy remain the keys to minimizing late complications.     

Role of endometrial suppression on the frequency of intrauterine adhesions after resectoscopic surgery

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To evaluate long-term effects of operative hysteroscopy on the development of intrauterine adhesions (IUA), and to determine whether hypoestrogenism has a modulatory role in preventing IUA. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized study (Canadian Task Force classification I). SETTING: Tertiary-care teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Ninety-five women requiring resectoscopic surgery. Intervention. Hysteroscopic surgery using the resectoscope and 1.5% glycine for uterine distention. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Indications for hysteroscopy were polyps (28 patients), solitary myoma (32), multiple myomata (20), and uterine septa (15). Patients in each group were randomized to endometrial suppression with danazol or placebo. Second-look office hysteroscopy with CO2 for uterine distention was performed after the first menses after surgery to assess the frequency, extent, and severity of IUA. The likelihood and severity of IUA depended on the pathology treated at initial surgery. Of women treated for polyps and uterine septa, in only one with septa (placebo group) developed IUA. Mild IUA formation was present in 10 patients (31.3%) with solitary fibroids and 9 (45.5%) with multiple myomata. The frequency was similar in placebo- and danazol-treated groups with both solitary and multiple myomas (50% and 44.4% vs 50% and 55.6%). All IUA were lysed during second-look surgery, except in one woman with multiple myomata who required repeat resectoscopy. CONCLUSION: Intrauterine adhesions are the major long-term complication of operative hysteroscopy, with frequency dependent on the pathology initially treated. Second-look office hysteroscopy is a cost-effective method of diagnosing and lysing IUA after resectoscopy.     

Long-term results of hysteroscopic myomectomy in 235 patients

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of transcervical resection of submucous fibroids according to type and size. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective follow-up of 235 women with submucous fibroids at outpatient hysteroscopy who underwent a hysteroscopic transcervical resection. The main indications were the abnormal uterine bleeding and fertility problems. Thirty-seven percent of patients had an associated endometrial ablation and 32% had a polyp resection. Fifty-one percent of women were menopausal. In cases of incomplete resection a repeat procedure was offered. RESULTS: Intra-operative complications were rare (2.6%) and there was no major complication. Eighty-four percent of cases were followed-up. The median follow-up was 40 months (range 18-66 months). The procedure was classed as a success in 94.4% of patients. Among the cases that were classed as a failure, four patients had a repeated hysteroscopic procedure, three patients had a subsequent hysterectomy and four patients presented with abnormal uterine bleeding at follow-up. CONCLUSION: The hysteroscopic transcervical resection of submucous fibroids is a safe and highly effective long-term therapy for carefully selected women presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding and fertility problems. It produces satisfactory long-term results with few complications.     

Endouterine Eingriffe – Abrasio, Hysteroskopie und Endometriumablation

Uterine bleeding disorders may cause diagnostic intrauterine interventions such as hysteroscopy and curettage or therapeutic procedures such as hysteroscopic polypectomy, myomectomy, or endometrial ablation. Hysteroscopic myoma resection has excellent results, as the bleeding pathology is directly correlated with the submucous location of uterine leiomyomata. Endometrial ablation is an established procedure; nevertheless, it is still not performed often in German-speaking countries. The long-term results of three prospective randomized trials comparing endometrial ablation with hysterectomy show a decrease in the advantages of endometrial ablation over time. Currently, several new techniques for endometrial ablation are under investigation, which are standardized, easy to perform, and avoid the hysterocopic mode of access.     

Diagnosis and treatment of uterine changes effecting fertility using hysteroscopy]

The aim of this study was evaluation of uterine factors in sterility and infertility using hysterosalpingographic and hysteroscopic techniques. Sixty five women ranged in age from 22 to 40 years were included in this study. The results of performed hysterosalpingographies and hysteroscopies were compared. Intrauterine changes found during diagnostic procedures were removed in operative hysteroscopy and the effectiveness of this treatment was estimated by pregnancy rate. The most frequent changes found within cervical canal and uterine cavity were adhesions and endometrial polyps. The rate of uterine septa and submucous myomas were considerable lower. Hysteroscopy was found the best diagnostic method in evaluation of intrauterine conditions for fertility and considerably increased the range of information about the type and location of uterine abnormalities. The removal of those changes during operative hysteroscopy increased the fertility rate in women treated with this procedure.     

Hysteroscopic ablation of the endometrium in cases of dysfunctional uterine bleeding--advantage of preparations including zoladex

Hysteroscopic endometrial ablation (HEA) is a new alternative for patients with dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB), resistant to medical treatment. The relatively thin endometrium is a big advantage at the time of operation. In this article the results of an initial series of hysteroscopic operations (HEA) are given--as a whole and depending on preoperative treatment with GnRH-agonist. Seventeen patients with DUB underwent HEA. Six of them were pretreated with Goserelin acetate (Zoladex 3.6 mg, Astra Zeneca) two subcutaneous application at 28 days interval. The other 11 women were operated in the early postmenstrual period without medical pretreatment. Comparison was made between the two groups regarding preoperative endometrial thickness, operative time, operative complications, duration of hospital stay, change of the menstrual pattern after 6 and 12 months. Results showed 41.2% achievement of persistent amenorrhoea in patients as a whole (62.7% in the Zoladex group and 27.2% in the untreated group). Better results in the patients with Zoladex pretreatment (shorter operative time, higher incidence of amenorrhoea, patient's higher evaluation of the operation) can be explained with the reduced endometrial thickness at the time procedure. The authors consider the hysteroscopic roller-ball endometrial ablation as an upto-date cost-effective method for treatment of DUB. The method is quick, with very low incidence of complications, easy toleration, immediately recovery of the patient and the only possibility for women with high anaesthesiologic and operative risk. Two depot-doses of Zoladex before hysteroscopy lead to better intra- and postoperative results.