Antibiotic prophylaxis for radical abdominal hysterectomy

Records of 35 patients with cervical cancer Stage IB operated with radical abdominal hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy were surveyed retrospectively for incidence of febrile morbidity and site-related infections. Febrile morbidity was observed in 6 patients (17%). No surgical site-related infections were observed. It is concluded that radical abdominal hysterectomy in our hospital does not carry any significant risk of postoperative site-related infections and that prophylactic antibiotics cannot be recommended.     

Comparative efficacy of short-term versus long-term cefoxitin prophylaxis against postoperative infection after radical hysterectomy: a prospective study

We report the results of a randomized, double-blind comparison of short-term versus long-term cefoxitin prophylaxis against infections after radical abdominal hysterectomy with pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. Of 113 evaluable patients, 54 (47.8%) received short-term (three doses) and 59 (52.2%) long-term (12 doses) prophylaxis with intravenous cefoxitin (2 g per dose). No significant differences in demographics, preoperative risk factors, or clinical course were detected between the two groups; nor did we detect significant differences in the incidence of surgical-site-related infections (7.4 versus 5.1%, respectively, P = .61), postoperative urinary tract infection, or other febrile morbidity. We conclude that short-term and long-term cefoxitin prophylaxis are equally effective for the prevention of post-operative surgical-site-related infections after radical hysterectomy.     

Infection after radical abdominal hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy: prevention of infection with a two-dose peri-operative antibiotic prophylaxis

Surgical site-related infections occurred in 21% of 87 consecutive patients undergoing radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy (RHPL) without planned peri-operative prophylaxis. A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 68 consecutive RHPL patients. In the 32 available patients with two-dose cefuroxime and metronidazole prophylaxis no surgical site-related infections developed as opposed to a rate of 14% in the 28 patients in the placebo group ( P < 0.05). In a prospective, randomized double-blind study two two-dose antibiotic prophylactic regimens were compared in 105 consecutive patients. Surgical site-related infections developed in one (2%) patient in the cefuroxime plus metronidazole group, and in six (12%) patients in the moxalactam group. This difference did not achieve statistical significance. The mean length of the postoperative hospital stay of the patients with scheduled surgical prophylaxis was significantly shorter ( P < 0.01) than that of the patients operated on without surgical prophylaxis. A two-dose antibiotic regimen is recommended, because levels of antibiotics assayed in samples collected during the course of the operation indicated a rapid clearance of the antibiotics from the operative site, most likely due to the high volume of peri-operative blood loss.     

Postoperative infections and antibiotic prophylaxis in radical hysterectomy. Retrospective study]

Radical hysterectomy is associated with a high risk of postoperative infectious morbidity. A series of 73 patients who underwent abdominal radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy is presented. Hospital charts were reviewed to determine the influence of surgical characteristics and of different antibiotic prophylaxis regimens on postoperative septic complications. The overall incidence of postoperative infections was 31.5%; in 13 patients had urinary tract infections (17.7%), 3 surgical site-related infections (4.1%) and 6 febrile morbidity (8.2%). There were also 3 cases of phlebitis and 3 infectious events at distant sites. No interaction was observed between the examined risk factors and the overall infectious morbidity. Time of surgical procedure and average blood transfusion show a trend toward increased values in patients with complications compared to patients with regular postoperative course. The most important current controversy about the use of prophylaxis in radical hysterectomy concerns the duration of postoperative treatment. In this series the major part of the subjects received a long-term antibiotic prophylaxis regimen (greater than 72 hours), and only 18% received a perioperative prophylaxis. Women without postoperative complications were more frequently treated with a long-term antibiotic prophylaxis (82%) compared to women with infectious morbidity (65%). Moreover, in patients with complications, the proportion of cases who needed an additional antibiotic therapy was lower in the group receiving long-term prophylaxis (20%) compared to the short-term group (83%).     

Perioperative use of cefoxitin in primary cesarean section

We performed a randomized, double-blind trial on a relatively low-risk population comparing the use of three doses of cefoxitin vs. placebo in the prevention of infection following primary cesarean section. Major site-related morbidity (endometritis, wound infection and septicemia) was significantly reduced in the cefoxitin group (8.9% vs. 27.8%; p = 0.017). Febrile morbidity alone tended to occur in the cefoxitin group (15.6% vs. 3.7%; p = 0.091), and all five urinary tract infections occurred in the cefoxitin group as well. Total morbidity was therefore not significantly different (cefoxitin, 35.6%; placebo, 31.5% [not significant]). Duration of hospitalization (mean, 6.0 days) and need for further postoperative antibiotic therapy were similar in the two groups. Our study demonstrated a modest benefit from the perioperative use of antibiotics in relatively low-risk patients undergoing primary cesarean section. Issues that need further study include definition of the optimal prophylactic regimen and of high-risk populations for whom prophylaxis would be most helpful.     

Prophylactic antibiotics in gynecologic surgery.

A 2-year prospective double-blind study of prophylactic antibiotics in 317 patients undergoing elective total abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy was conducted. Patients randomly received placebo, penicillin, or cefazolin 30 minutes prior to surgery and at 6-hour intervals thereafter for 48 hours. Rigid criteria for postoperative morbidity were established. Vaginal hysterectomy patients given either penicillin or cefazolin prophylaxis had fewer postoperative infections (P less than 0.01) compared to those given placebo. A similar trend was noted among women undergoing abdominal hysterectomy; however, this trend was not statistically significant (P greater than 0.05). Despite continuous surveillance, no change in nosocomial flora or antibiotic sensitivity of bacterial isolates was noted. Adverse drug effects and antibiotic-resistant secondary infections were encountered with similar frequency in all treatment groups.     

Comparison of total laparoscopic and abdominal radical hysterectomy for patients with early-stage cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE: To compare intraoperative, pathologic, and postoperative outcomes of total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy with abdominal radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy for women with early-stage cervical cancer. METHODS: We reviewed all patients who underwent total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy or abdominal radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy between 2004 and 2006. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients underwent abdominal radical hysterectomy, and 35 underwent total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy. Mean age was 41.8 years, and mean body mass index 28.1. There was no difference in demographic or tumor factors between the two groups. Mean estimated blood loss was 548 mL with abdominal radical hysterectomy compared with 319 mL with total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (P=.009), and 15% of patients who underwent abdominal radical hysterectomy required a blood transfusion compared with 11% who underwent total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (P=.62). Mean operative time was 307 minutes for abdominal radical hysterectomy compared with 344 minutes for total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (P=.03). On pathologic examination, there was no significant difference in the amount of parametrial tissue, vaginal cuff, or negative margins obtained. A mean 19 pelvic nodes were obtained during abdominal radical hysterectomy compared with 14 during total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (P=.001). The median duration of hospital stay was significantly shorter for total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (2.0 compared with 5.0 days, P<.001). For abdominal radical hysterectomy, 53% of patients experienced postoperative infectious morbidity compared with 18% for total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (P=.001). There was no difference in postoperative noninfectious morbidity. There was no difference in return of urinary function. CONCLUSION: Total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy reduces operative blood loss, postoperative infectious morbidity, and postoperative length of stay without sacrificing the size of radical hysterectomy specimen margins; however, total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy is associated with increased operative time.     

Prevention of major infection after elective abdominal hysterectomy: individual determination required

A retrospective chart analysis of women undergoing elective abdominal hysterectomy in Parkland Memorial Hospital indicated significant postoperative antibiotic administration. For that reason, we conducted a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to determine the incidence of infection and febrile morbidity in this patient population and to evaluate the efficacy of perioperative cefoxitin in modifying the incidence of these conditions. Three 2 gm intramuscular doses of cefoxitin over 12 hours significantly reduced the incidence of major infection to 12% from 32% observed in the placebo group. The mean hospital stay for women given cefoxitin (5.6 days) was also significantly reduced when compared to that for women given placebo (6.4 days). The incidence of febrile morbidity not requiring therapy was significant and was not altered by perioperative cefoxitin. Febrile morbidity was observed in 42% of women given cefoxitin and in 34% of women given placebo. Administration of perioperative antimicrobial agents is necessary for women undergoing elective abdominal hysterectomy in our hospital, but we believe that individual determination is required.     

Survival of women with surgical stage II endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to report survival and determine prognostic factors and results of therapy in women with surgical stage II endometrial cancer. METHODS: Forty-eight consecutive women with surgical stage II endometrial cancer treated at the University of Vermont between March 1984 and March 1998 were reviewed. Patients' characteristics, surgical procedure, postoperative treatment and its complications, and tumor recurrence and its treatment were recorded. In addition, a formal review of their pathological material for confirmation of the diagnosis was performed. RESULTS: The median duration of follow-up was 6.2 years. Three patients (6.3%) had tumor recurrence and two (4.2%) died of their disease. The estimated 5-year overall survival and disease-free survivals were 92.1% (SE = 5.5%, 95% confidence interval: 81.3, 100%) and 89.9% (SE = 5.8%, 95% confidence interval: 78.5%, 100%), respectively. None of the patients treated by total abdominal hysterectomy followed by both whole pelvic and vaginal cuff radiation therapy (the main line of treatment for patients in whom cervical involvement was diagnosed following hysterectomy, n = 20) or by radical hysterectomy (the main line of treatment for patients in whom cervical involvement was known before hysterectomy, n = 11) had tumor recurrence. Three of 17 (17.6%) patients treated with total abdominal hysterectomy followed by either whole pelvic (n = 13) or vaginal cuff (n = 4) radiation therapy had tumor recurrence. The difference between those two groups was statistically significant (0/31 versus 3/17, P = 0.02). There was no difference in survival among women with stage IIA and IIB or women who underwent radical abdominal hysterectomy and those who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy with postoperative pelvic and vaginal cuff radiation. Morbidity secondary to therapy was mild. Age, depth of myometrial invasion, tumor histology, and grade were not significantly related to recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Survival of women with surgical stage II endometrial cancer is excellent especially among those treated with total abdominal hysterectomy followed by both pelvic and vaginal cuff radiotherapy or by radical abdominal hysterectomy.     

Multicenter comparison of cefoxitin versus cefazolin for prevention of infectious morbidity after nonelective cesarean section

A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled comparison of prophylactic cefoxitin, an antibiotic with good activity against anaerobic bacteria, with cefazolin, an agent effective predominantly against aerobes, was undertaken in 354 women who underwent nonelective cesarean section (124 receiving cefoxitin, 119 cefazolin, and 111 placebo). Among the placebo group, 24.3% developed genital tract-related infection, in comparison to 5.6% of the cefoxitin patients and 6.7% of the cefazolin patients (P less than 0.001). Standard febrile morbidity, fever index, and duration of postoperative hospital stay were also significantly less in the antibiotic prophylactic groups. For patients with febrile morbidity, the mean fever index was less in the cefoxitin group (24.8 degree-hours) than that in the cefazolin group (42.7 degree-hours), and this difference approached statistical significance (P less than 0.1, greater than 0.05). Postoperative hospital stay longer than 1 week for infectious morbidity occurred in 26% of cefoxitin patients, a significantly lower incidence compared to the 66% rate for patients who received cefazolin, and the 57% incidence for patients in the placebo group (P less than 0.05).     

Efficacy and safety of two cephalosporins in the perioperative prophylaxis in patients undergoing abdominal or vaginal hysterectomies or gynaecological laparotomies: a prospective randomized study

The aim of this study was to compare efficacy and safety of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in patients undergoing abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy or gynaecological laparotomy to improve the prevention of surgical wound infections. One hundred and ninety-nine patients were prospectively randomized into two groups: the first group (n = 100) received perioperative prophylaxis using 1 g cefotiam (Spizef) and 0.5 g metronidazole (Clont) intravenously 30 min before surgery, whereas the second group (n = 99) was treated with 2 g cefoxitin (Mefoxitin) intravenously, also 30 min before surgery. The efficacy of the perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis was assessed clinically and on the basis of laboratory parameters. No wound infections were observed in 97 patients (97%) of the cefotiam-treated group and in 94 patients (94%) of the cefoxitin-treated group. No systemic postoperative infections were observed in 81% of the patients treated with cefotiam combined with metronidazole and in 85% of the patients treated with cefoxitin. The good tolerability of the drugs administered was proven in 98% of the patients treated with cefotiam and metronidazole and in 97% of the patients treated with cefoxitin. In both groups 3 patients developed nausea and/or vomiting, respectively, due to the antibiotic prophylaxis. A low infection rate after gynaecological surgery was observed. Cefotiam as a low dosage combined with metronidazole was as effective as cefoxitin. Cephalosporins of the second generation in combination with metronidazole can, therefore, be considered effective and safe drugs in the prevention of postsurgical infections.     

Prophylactic transfusion in sickle cell disease

This prospective study was designed to compare the relative efficacy of two antibiotic regimens for the treatment of operative site infections subsequent to pelvic operations. Patients with endomyoparametritis after delivery or pelvic cellulitis subsequent to hysterectomy were randomized to treatment with the combination of penicillin-gentamicin or the single agent cefoxitin. Seventeen of the 26 patients (65%) with endomyoparametritis who were treated with penicillin-gentamicin were cured by antibiotic therapy alone, in comparison to 15 of 23 (65%) patients treated with cefoxitin. Fifty-eight percent of the patients with pelvic cellulitis who were treated with penicillin-gentamicin responded favorably, in comparison to 50% of the patients treated with cefoxitin. None of these differences was statistically significant. In this study, neither antibiotic regimen provided satisfactory initial treatment for surgically induced soft tissue pelvic infection. Moreover, 11 of the 28 patients with treatment failures (40%) developed serious sequelae of their primary infection.     

Cost-benefit analysis of cephradine and mezlocillin prophylaxis for abdominal and vaginal hysterectomy

Four hundred patients (300 abdominal and 100 vaginal hysterectomies) were randomized to receive a single, pre-operative intravenous injection of saline (placebo), 2 g cephradine or 5 g mezlocillin. The frequency of wound and pelvic infections was significantly reduced (P less than 0.05, chi 2- or Fisher's exact test) in the abdominal hysterectomy patients who received cephradine (16% vs 23% mezlocillin, 29% placebo) and in the vaginal hysterectomy patients who received cephradine or mezlocillin (0% mezlocillin, 6% cephradine vs 27% placebo). These results are similar to those of previous studies and suggest that prophylaxis is more effective for vaginal than for abdominal hysterectomy. However, a cost-benefit analysis supported the opposite conclusion. Cephradine prophylaxis for abdominal hysterectomy resulted in cost savings to the hospital and the community health services with measurable benefits to the patient. In contrast, cephradine or mezlocillin prophylaxis for vaginal hysterectomy resulted in increased costs to the hospital, no savings to community services and no significant benefit to the patient. We conclude that cost-benefit analysis provided valuable additional information to the conventional, statistical analysis of wound or pelvic infection rates.     

Short-term prophylactic antibiotic for elective abdominal hysterectomy: how short?

A prospective double-blind study was conducted in order to evaluate the effect of antibiotic prophylaxis on patients undergoing elective abdominal hysterectomy. In the first stage of the study, 116 patients received, on call to the operating room and subsequently 8 and 16 h post-operatively, cefazolin sodium or placebo. In the second stage of the study, 90 patients received the same antibiotics, but treatment was extended to 6 doses, 8 h apart. Of the 53 women who received placebo, 27 (50.9%) became morbid, while only 15 of the 63 (23.8%) who received 24 h prophylaxis were classified as morbid (p less than 0.005). By extending the prophylactic treatment to 48 h further reduction of the morbidity was achieved. Of the 90 patients only 11 (12.2%) became morbid (P less than 0.005). When morbidity rates were compared between different ethnic groups, over-weight and normal weight patients, pre- and post-menopausal women, it was not possible to define a group which is at a higher risk for post-operative morbidity. It was thus concluded that prophylactic antibiotics should be administered routinely to all patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy, preferably for 48 h.     

The long-term survival of women with surgical stage II endometrioid type endometrial cancer

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival estimates, treatment outcomes, prognostic factors, and recurrence patterns of patients with surgical stage II endometrial cancer. METHODS: Forty-eight stage II endometrial cancer patients treated between 1982 and 2000 were included. All the patients were subjected to the initial surgical staging procedure consisting of peritoneal cytology, infracolic omentectomy, abdominal hysterectomy (radical or simple), bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and complete pelvic-paraaortic lymphadenectomy. Of these 48 patients, 21 (44%) were treated with radical hysterectomy (RH) without adjuvant therapy. The remaining 27 (56%) patients were treated with simple hysterectomy plus adjuvant radiotherapy. With respect to the prognostic factors, no statistically significant difference was found between these two groups. The median follow-up period was 5 years (range, 2-9). RESULTS: The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 55.8 years (range, 34-75). The 5-year disease-free and overall survival (OS) rates of entire group were 83% and 86%, respectively. These figures for 27 (56%) patients treated with simple hysterectomy plus radiation were 81% and 83%, respectively. For 21 (44%) patients who were treated with radical hysterectomy without adjuvant therapy, the 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates were 85% and 90%, respectively. When these two groups were compared, survival rates were not significantly different from each other (P = 0.60 for disease-free survival and P = 0.46 for overall survival). In multivariate analysis, only the high grade predicted poor survival significantly (P = 0.04). Eight patients (17%) had recurrence: two local, five distant, and one both local and distant. Initial therapeutic approach was not related with the subsequent site of relapse. Two patients with only local failure were successively treated, but all the six patients who had distant component of relapse died within the same year. Surgical morbidity was seen in six (12.5%) patients. No surgical mortality was seen, and no patient developed a major complication directly related to the radical hysterectomy or lymphadenectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Without adjuvant radiotherapy, initial surgical staging procedure consisting radical hysterectomy and complete pelvic-paraaortic lymphadenectomy achieved excellent survival and minimal morbidity in stage II endometrial cancer. Distant failure was the main problem.     

Postoperative infections and antibiotic prophylaxis for hysterectomy in Sweden: a study by the Swedish National Register for Gynecologic Surgery

AIM: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the current use of antibiotic prophylaxis, the rate of postoperative infections, and risk factors for postoperative infections in patients undergoing elective hysterectomy for non-malignant pathology. METHODS: The study was performed during the time period July 2000 to 1 January 1 2003, using data from the Swedish National Register for Gynecologic Surgery, covering 26 of 49 clinics and approximately 50% of the Swedish population. During this time period, 3267 women undergoing elective hysterectomy for non-malignant pathology (mainly dysfunctional bleeding and fibromas) and with complete data on the use of antibiotic prophylaxis and postoperative follow up were included. A postoperative infection was considered to have developed if patients or the physician reported an infection related to the surgical site, together with reported use of antibiotic treatment. RESULTS: Among the 3267 patients, 341 (10.4%) were considered to have developed a postoperative infection. In cases where antibiotic prophylaxis had not been given, total abdominal hysterectomies and vaginal hysterectomies were associated with the highest frequency for postoperative infections P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively. Notably, also women undergoing subtotal hysterectomy reported significantly lower rates of postoperative infections if prophylactic antibiotics had been given, P < 0.05. Risk factors for postoperative infection were non-use of antibiotic prophylaxis, hospital, age less than 40 years, and BMI > 30 kg/m(2). CONCLUSIONS: The study results have indicated the need of prospective clinical trials on antibiotic prophylaxis for patients undergoing supravaginal abdominal hysterectomy. Also, a need to further evaluate the current prophylactic antibiotic protocols used for obese patients and younger women undergoing any kind of hysterectomy is warranted.     

Randomized double-blind comparison of mezlocillin versus cefoxitin prophylaxis for vaginal hysterectomy

One hundred patients undergoing vaginal hysterectomy were enrolled in a randomized double-blind comparative antibiotic prophylaxis study. Forty-six patients received mezlocillin and 54 patients received cefoxitin. No significant difference was found among patients who developed febrile morbidity. Failure rate for mezlocillin was 17 per cent and for cefoxitin, 15 per cent. There was an increase in colonization of Streptococcus faecalis and Enterobacter species in patients receiving three doses of cefoxitin prophylaxis.     

The adverse effects of cervical cancer treatment on bladder function

Bladder dysfunction is a recognized complication following radical hysterectomy, however, the effect of radiation alone or in combination with surgery on bladder function has received little attention. Thirty patients who underwent radical hysterectomy with postoperative whole pelvis radiation (RH + RT) were matched for age, stage of disease, and time interval since therapy, with 30 patients who had radical hysterectomy alone (RH) and 30 patients who were treated with pelvic radiotherapy (RT). Bladder function was assessed by symptoms and urodynamic evaluation. Altered bladder sensation and voiding problems were associated with surgery, and were more frequent after RH or RH + RT than RT (P = 0.002). fifty percent of RH patients voided by abdominal straining compared to 10% who had only RT. No greater problem was seen after RH + RT compared to RH. Urinary incontinence was present in 15% of patients prior to therapy. After treatment, incontinence requiring protection developed in 23% of RT patients, 26% of RH patients, and 63% of RH + RT patients. The severity of the incontinence was greater after RH + RT. Bladder neck and urethral function was similar in all groups, however, bladder compliance was reduced in RT patients and significantly (P = 0.0001) reduced after RH + RT compared to RH alone. This reduction was related to the bladder dose of external radiation and was a factor in the etiology of the urinary incontinence seen in RH + RT patients.     

Cost-benefit analysis of cephradine and mezlocillin prophylaxis for abdominal and vaginal hysterectomy

Summary. Four hundred patients (300 abdominal and 100 vaginal hysterectomies) were randomized to receive a single, pre-operative intravenous injection of saline (placebo), 2 g cephradine or 5 g mezlocillin. The frequency of wound and pelvic infections was significantly reduced (P<0.05, χ²- or Fisher's exact test) in the abdominal hysterectomy patients who received cephradine (16% vs 23% mezlocillin, 29% placebo) and in the vaginal hysterectomy patients who received cephradine or mezlocillin (0% mezlocillin, 6% cephradine vs 27% placebo). These results are similar to those of previous studies and suggest that prophylaxis is more effective for vaginal than for abdominal hysterectomy. However, a cost-benefit analysis supported the opposite conclusion. Cephradine prophylaxis for abdominal hysterectomy resulted in cost savings to the hospital and the community health services with measurable benefits to the patient. In contrast, cephradine or mezlocillin prophylaxis for vaginal hysterectomy resulted in increased costs to the hospital, no savings to community services and no significant benefit to the patient. We conclude that cost-benefit analysis provided valuable additional information to the conventional, statistical analysis of wound or pelvic infection rates.     

A prospective randomized study of doxycycline as a prophylactic antibiotic in patients undergoing radical hysterectomy

A prospective randomized study was undertaken to evaluate doxycycline as a prophylactic antibiotic in patients undergoing radical abdominal hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. Although 69 patients were initially randomized, 64 patients (34 study, 30 control) are the basis of this report: 5 patients were omitted because large pelvic lymph nodes positive for tumor were found at laparotomy and radical hysterectomy was abandoned. The two study groups were similar in both preoperative and operative risk factors. There was a statistically significant reduction in the 7- and 14- day febrile index in the doxycycline group. The rate of cuff and/or pelvic cellulitis was 2.3 times higher in the control group. Thus, single-dose doxycycline as a prophylactic antibiotic reduced both febrile morbidity and the rate of serious infections in the radical hysterectomy patient.