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Biomedical subjects

A Dekel

Publications and source records attributed to A Dekel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Torsion of a fallopian tube following Pomeroy tubal ligation: a rare case report and review of the literature.

A case of unilateral fallopian tube torsion following Pomeroy tubal ligation, as well as a review of the literature, is presented. Although uncommon, this entity should be considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain in the female patient. Early surgical intervention by means of laparoscopy is mandatory in order to correctly diagnose and treat this complication.

Abdominal Pain

[Surgical treatment of extrauterine pregnancy: end of the era of laparotomy?].

Ectopic pregnancies can now be recognized very early, and in most cases, before the appearance of dramatic symptoms. This can be attributed mainly to improved diagnostic methods, such as endovaginal sonography and serial determinations of human, chorionic gonadotropin and progesterone. For this reason, extrauterine pregnancies can currently be treated by several methods, and emergency laparotomy is seldom indicated. Advances in treatment modalities, including tubal-conserving operations, laparoscopic approaches, medical treatment with methotrexate, and expectant management have all been proved to be safe and effective. Between January 1994 and June 1995, 166 patients were treated surgically for extrauterine pregnancy. Of these, 94.6% were treated by laparoscopy; laparotomy was required in only 9 (5.4%). Fecundity rates after laparoscopic treatment for ectopic pregnancy are comparable, if not better, than in those treated by laparotomy. Laparoscopic surgery offers advantages, such as reduction in operating time and shorter hospital stay and convalescence, as compared to conventional abdominal surgery. To date, surgical removal of an ectopic pregnancy remains the method of choice and this can be performed safely by laparoscopy.

Female

The residual ovary syndrome: a 20-year experience.

OBJECTIVE: To address the controversy of ovarian preservation during a hysterectomy for benign indications by using our experience with residual ovary syndrome (ROS). STUDY DESIGN: Over a period of 20 years, 2561 hysterectomies (during which one or both ovaries were preserved) were performed at the Golda Medical Center, Israel. A retrospective, quasi, case-control analysis was undertaken. RESULTS: The incidence of ROS was 2.85%. While chronic pelvic pain was the principle indication for subsequent reexploration in 52 patients (71.3%), an asymptomatic pelvic mass noted during routine follow-up examination accounted for 24.6% of operations for ROS. The majority (75.4%) of patients underwent surgery during the first 10 years, while the highest incidence occurred within the first 5 years (46.6%). Furthermore, histological examination revealed functional cysts, benign neoplasm and ovarian carcinoma in 50.7%, 42.6% and 12.3% of the cases, respectively (in nine patients more than one pathology was observed). CONCLUSIONS: Since ROS was found to occur in 1/35 women who had undergone previous hysterectomies mainly due to physiologic ovarian function and benign cyst formation, but not malignancy, we believe that routine oophorectomy is justified in premenopausal women over 45 years of age. However, the final decision to perform elective oophorectomy at the time of hysterectomy for benign disease should be established on an individual basis, taking into consideration age, individual and family risk factors, the patient's preference and ability to ensure long-term compliance to exogenous hormone replacement therapy.

Adult

Uterine activity after betamethasone administration for the enhancement of fetal lung maturation.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of steroids administered for the enhancement of fetal lung maturation on uterine activity. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis. SETTING: High-risk Pregnancy Unit, Golda Medical Center, Petah Tikvah, Israel. PATIENTS: Fifty-nine courses of betamethasone therapy prescribed for various indications other than premature contractions were studied in 29 pregnant women at 26-34 weeks' gestation. MEASUREMENTS: Uterine activity was monitored on the day of the first (but prior to) beta-methasone injection, then daily for the next 3 consecutive days. The number of uterine contractions during the first 30 min of each tocodynamometric tracing was assessed. RESULTS: The frequency of uterine activity after steroid administration is significantly higher in multiple pregnancies as compared to singletons, and significantly increases as the duration of pregnancy increases. However, labor was not induced and all women delivered at least 1 week after the last betamethasone injection. CONCLUSIONS: Since the increased uterine activity after administration of steroids for the enhancement of fetal lung maturation does not provoke labor, it is suggested that this increase in uterine activity seems to act as a temporary phenomenon. Therefore conservative management, rather than tocolysis, would seem appropriate.

Adult

The value of hysteroscopic evaluation in patients with preclinical in-vitro fertilization abortions.

The study was conducted on 144 women who experienced preclinical abortions, i.e. a transitory rise in beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) without any clinical or sonographic evidence of pregnancy, to identify the relationship between preclinical abortions and intrauterine pathology. Hysteroscopy was performed 1-2 weeks after the decline of beta-HCG concentrations to negative values. Intrauterine adhesions were detected in three patients (2.1%), most of these being of the mild type. Concomitant intrauterine abnormalities, mainly uterine septa, were found in 14 (9.7%) cases. We believe that preclinical abortions do not predispose intrauterine adhesions and curettage is superfluous. An incomplete uterine septum seems to be the major factor predisposing this early pregnancy wastage. Hysteroscopy following this condition is an easy and efficient means for both identifying intrauterine pathology and excluding adhesions.

Abortion, Spontaneous

Severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome despite low plasma oestrogen concentrations in a hypogonadotrophic, hypogonadal patient.

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is the most serious, life-threatening, iatrogenic complication of ovulation induction. The importance of excessive oestradiol concentrations on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration as a predictor and factor in the pathophysiology of OHSS has been extensively studied and discussed. We present the case report of a woman with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism who developed severe OHSS during ovulation induction with urinary human follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and HCG in the presence of low circulating oestradiol concentrations. The implication of FSH treatment and complications in hypogonadotrophic hypogonadal patients, and the role of preovulatory oestradiol concentrations in the prediction of OHSS, are discussed.

Adult

The perception of number from the separability of the stimulus: the Stroop effect revisited.

The literature on numerical perception is reviewed from the standpoint of research on selective attention, and predictions are made concerning the dimensional interaction between physical and numerical size of numerals. We manipulated stimulus differences to make the classification of numerical value slightly better (Experiment 1), substantially better (Experiment 2), or worse (Experiments 3-4) than classification of physical size. Garner, Stroop, and redundancy effects were used to gauge the degree of interactive processing. For nearly matched discriminability, both number and size appeared separable when the dimensions were varied orthogonally, but showed Stroop interference and redundancy gain when the dimensions were varied in a correlative fashion. When mismatched, asymmetric Garner and Stroop effects emerged in orthogonal contexts along with Stroop and redundancy gains in correlative contexts. These findings define a unique relation: Numerical value and physical size were optionally separable dimensions. We conclude that a magnitude representation is not mandatory for the perception of numerals. Our conclusions offer a new perspective for understanding both numerical perception and the Stroop phenomenon itself.

Adult

Polycystic ovary syndrome patients as oocyte donors: the effect of ovarian stimulation protocol on the implantation rate of the recipient.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of oocytes donated by women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) compared with oocytes donated by women with mechanical infertility. DESIGN: A retrospective study. PATIENTS: The outcome of 159 oocyte donation cycles with oocyte donated by PCOS patients were compared with 69 oocyte donation cycles with oocytes donated by patients with mechanical infertility. We compared the stimulation protocols in the donors to assess if the combination of GnRH analogue (GnRH-a), FSH, and hMG has an advantage over FSH and hMG alone with respect to their effect on fertilization and implantation rates in oocyte donation cycles. RESULTS: When treated with GnRH-a, pregnancy rates in PCOS and mechanical infertility donors were higher than those treated with FSH and hMG alone. The comparison between PCOS and mechanical factor oocyte recipients revealed no significant difference in the pregnancy and abortion rates, but the oocytes of patients with PCOS that were exposed to GnRH-a had a significantly higher implantation rate than those not exposed to GnRH-a. CONCLUSIONS: Oocytes obtained from PCOS patients had a fertilization potential equal to oocytes obtained from mechanical infertility donors. Furthermore, because the oocytes of patients with PCOS exposed to GnRH-a had a significantly higher implantation rate, a detrimental role of high LH on oocyte quality seems probable. However, because PCOS has a high familial prevalence, some reservations may arise due to a possible propagation of the problem in the next generation of oocyte donation programs.

Embryo Implantation

A severe case of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome despite the prophylactic administration of intravenous albumin.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of the recently suggested IV administration of human albumin solution as an effective preventive measure of severe ovarian hyperstimulation in high-risk patients. CASE: Presented here is, to the best of our knowledge, the first case of early severe ovarian hyperstimulation necessitating early transabdominal aspiration of ascites and intensive fluid and colloid (dextran and albumin) replacement, which developed despite administration of IV human albumin solution in an attempt to prevent severe ovarian hyperstimulation. CONCLUSIONS: Because IV albumin does not prevent severe ovarian hyperstimulation in absolute terms, its use in high-risk patients should not lead one astray. Further research should be directed at investigating the fundamental cause of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and developing a reliable predictive test for this complication.

Adult

Laparoscopic removal of an abdominal pregnancy adherent to the appendix after ovulation induction with human menopausal gonadotrophin.

The laparoscopic management of tubal pregnancies has become a standard form of treatment. We present, for the first time, a successful laparoscopic approach in the management of early abdominal pregnancy. Although it is difficult to reach conclusions from such limited published experience, it nevertheless appears that early abdominal pregnancies can be treated via operative laparoscopy. The possible advantages of such a therapeutic approach include lower morbidity and mortality, and a better fertility prognosis.

Adult

Laparoscopic unwinding of hyperstimulated ischaemic ovaries during the second trimester of pregnancy.

Successful unwinding of large, hyperstimulated, ischaemic-haemorrhagic adnexa by laparoscopy during the second trimester of pregnancy is described. Three women in their second trimester of pregnancy were treated by laparoscopy. In all cases, the ovaries were unwound and replaced in their anatomical position. Shortly after the procedure they became pink. Serial ultrasound examinations showed viable, intrauterine fetuses and ovaries with normal blood flow. Laparoscopic ovarian detorsion is a safe and easy procedure, and can be carried out in advanced gestation until approximately 20th week if special safety measures are adhered to.

Adult

Severe abdominal complications after transvaginal ultrasonographically guided retrieval of oocytes for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

Severe life-threatening complications as a result of ultrasonically guided ovum pick-up for IVF may rarely occur. We report 14 cases, out of 3,656 patients undergoing the procedure, presenting with a clinical picture of acute abdomen. In 9 patients tubo-ovarian and pelvic abscess were diagnosed; 3 were treated by laparotomy, whereas in the other 6, culdocentesis and drainage were performed. In 3 cases severe intra-abdominal bleeding occurred with 1 requiring laparotomy and hemostasis, whereas in the others laparoscopic drainage and hemostasis were sufficient. Ruptured endometriotic cystic masses caused acute abdomen in 2 patients; partial oophorectomy and drainage were essential operative procedures. We conclude that although severe postovum retrieval complications are rare, one has to be aware of their occurrence with the aim of accurate diagnosis and prompt intervention.

Abdomen, Acute

[Laparoscopic hysterectomy].

Abdominal hysterectomy is one of the most common major operations in gynecology. However, it is associated with considerable morbidity and relatively slow recovery. We describe a laparoscopic procedure for removal of the uterus, with or without the adnexa, in women in whom abdominal hysterectomy would otherwise be indicated. Laparoscopy is performed with the 3-puncture technic and an additional incision for the electrocoagulation instrument. The infundibulopelvic and round ligaments are dissected and divided if oophorectomy is to be done. If not, the broad ligament lateral to the uterine body is similarly treated and finally the dissections are extended to the uterine vessels and the uterosacral and upper parts of the transverse cervical ligaments. Surgery is completed vaginally after deflation of the abdomen, as in vaginal hysterectomy. Laparoscopy is repeated when the vagina has been closed, to ensure hemostasis. We have successfully performed laparoscopic hysterectomy, with or without salpingo-oophorectomy, in 7 women, aged 39-57. The procedure lasted 90-160 minutes and postoperative discomfort was minimal. All patients returned to normal activity within 4 weeks and were delighted with the outcome as well as with the cosmetic results. This technique offers an attractive alternative to conventional approaches and has significant advantages. Nevertheless, further studies are necessary to evaluate the true efficacy of the procedure.

Adult