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Biomedical subjects

A Magos

Publications and source records attributed to A Magos.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Simple technique for rectus sheath closure after laparoscopic surgery using straight needles, with review of the literature.

The increasing use of laparoscopic surgery with more complicated procedures means that the use of multiple and larger ports is becoming commonplace. One well-known risk associated with the use of ports more than 10 mm in diameter is the development of an incisional hernia unless the deep fascia is closed adequately. This complication is estimated to follow 3% of major laparoscopic procedures. Closure of trocar incisions is therefore recommended for large sites. We have developed a closure technique using standard sutures with straight needles, a 5-mm laparoscopic grasper, and a 4-mm hysteroscope which we have found simple and fast, with the added advantage of low cost.

Fasciotomy↗
PubMed1999

Long term follow up of hysteroscopic myomectomy assessed by survival analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To identify patient characteristics which affect outcome after hysteroscopic myomectomy for submucous fibroids. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: A university teaching hospital. SAMPLE: One hundred and twenty-two consecutive patients treated by hysteroscopic myomectomy for submucous leiomyoma over a period of almost eight years. METHODS: Hysteroscopic electroresection of the leiomyoama using a continuous flow resectoscope. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The avoidance of further surgery and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: The average age of the patients at the time of their surgery was 42.8 years. A total of 194 fibroids were removed. The mean follow up period was 2.3 years (range 1-7.6). Of those asked, 71.4% were satisfied with the results of surgery. Sixteen women required further surgery for fibroids, and six ultimately underwent hysterectomy. Survival analysis showed that the risk of further surgery was 21% at four years after the myomectomy, and 0% thereafter. Univariate regression analysis suggested that outcome was significantly better in older women, and in cases where the uterus was equivalent in size to < or = 6 weeks of gestation, the fibroid was < or = 3 cm in diameter and mainly intra-cavitary, and the procedure time was < or = 20 minutes. The influence of hormonal pre-treatment and the number of fibroids excised was not statistically significant. After multivariate regression analysis, only overall uterine size and the position of the fibroid being removed were found to significantly influence the success of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Hysteroscopic myomectomy is an effective way to manage patients with symptomatic submucous leiomyomata, particularly when the uterus is not grossly enlarged and the fibroid(s) are mainly inside the uterine cavity.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

How to increase the proportion of hysterectomies performed vaginally.

OBJECTIVES: The main purpose of our study was to identify the patient characteristics of women undergoing hysterectomy and to estimate the proportion of hysterectomies that could be done vaginally by recognized surgical techniques. STUDY DESIGN: The records of 500 women who underwent hysterectomy were reviewed. The characteristics of patients without an absolute contraindication to vaginal hysterectomy were analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 96 (19.2%) of our study group underwent vaginal hysterectomy. A total of 382 (76.4%) women were judged not to have an absolute contraindication to this route. The most frequent characteristics of this group were lack of uterine prolapse (76.4%), a myomatous uterus (44.5%), and a need for oophorectomy (43.2%). We did not exclude women who did not have significant uterine prolapse or a history of pelvic surgery or pelvic tenderness and we included those requiring oophorectomy or with a uterine size up to that of 14 weeks' gestation; with these criteria more than two thirds of the entire study population could undergo vaginal surgery. CONCLUSIONS: To maximize the proportion of hysterectomies performed vaginally, gynecologists need to be familiar with surgical techniques for dealing with nonprolapsed uteri, uterine leiomyomas, and vaginal oophorectomy.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Myometrial scoring: a new technique for the management of severe Asherman's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a new hysteroscopic technique for the management of severe Asherman's syndrome. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Volunteers in an academic research environment. PATIENT(S): Seven patients with secondary infertility associated with amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea secondary to severe Asherman's syndrome. INTERVENTION(S): Six to eight longitudinal incisions were made into the myometrium extending from the uterine fundus to the isthmus with a resectoscope fitted with a Collins knife electrode. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Restoration of menses, symptomatic relief, and postoperative reproductive performance. RESULT(S): The amount of menstrual bleeding increased in all cases, including two women who were amenorrheic before their surgery. Pelvic pain decreased in two of the four symptomatic cases. Three to four months after surgery, hysteroscopy showed a normal sized uterine cavity in five cases. After a median follow-up of 12 months, three women conceived four pregnancies, including a missed abortion, a tubal abortion, an ongoing pregnancy currently at 7 weeks' gestation, and one child delivered at 36 weeks gestation after premature rupture of the membranes. CONCLUSION(S): Hysteroscopic myometrial scoring enlarges uterine cavity size in cases of severe Asherman's syndrome and improves menstrual function. Reproductive performance seems to be improved also, but longer follow-up is required.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Why do women choose endometrial ablation rather than hysterectomy?

OBJECTIVE: To determine why women choose endometrial ablation rather than hysterectomy for the treatment of menorrhagia. DESIGN: Observational study based on postal questionnaires. SETTING: A university hospital. PATIENT(S): One hundred eighty randomly selected patients from a cohort of 658 patients who underwent endometrial ablation for the treatment of menorrhagia during the past 7 years. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Patient attitude about endometrial ablation. RESULT(S): One hundred six questionnaires (58.9%) were completed satisfactorily. The average postoperative follow-up period was 45.1 months (range, 3-80 months). Eleven women (10.4%) had undergone repeated endometrial ablation and 8 (7.5%) had undergone hysterectomy. More than half the women indicated that they would find endometrial ablation acceptable even if there was no chance of amenorrhea, if the probability of menstruation becoming lighter was > or = 4:10, if the likelihood of menstrual pain decreasing was > or = 3:10, if the chance of requiring repeated endometrial ablation or hysterectomy was < or = 1:4, and if the risk of uterine cancer after surgery was < or = 1:200. The three most important advantages of endometrial ablation over hysterectomy were perceived to be the avoidance of major surgery, the fast return to normal functioning, and the short hospitalization. CONCLUSION(S): Most women who choose endometrial ablation rather than hysterectomy as therapy for menorrhagia are prepared to undergo hysteroscopic surgery even if the chance of success is relatively poor.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed1998

The "remote control" laparoscopic bag: a simple technique to remove intra-abdominal specimens.

BACKGROUND: To facilitate extraction and avoid intra-abdominal spillage during laparoscopic removal of adnexal masses, various designs and sizes of endopouches (bags) have been used. We describe a simple technique using a special laparoscopic bag that requires no additional instruments to hold, open, or close the bag. TECHNIQUE: The laparoscopic bag can be prepared from the sterile wrapping of disposable surgical items (eg, suction tubing) and two long sutures. The bag is introduced through the cannula of the laparoscope and is unfurled. By manipulation of the two long sutures threaded through the neck of the bag, the surgeon can easily open and close it. EXPERIENCE: We have performed this procedure "in vitro" on many occasions to ensure that the drawstring technique works. The laparoscopic bag has been used successfully in three patients undergoing oophorectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy. Our experience shows that this type of laparoscopic bag is easy to use and safe, reduces operative time, and is cost effective. Because the bag can be large, operating inside the bag is also possible. CONCLUSION: Our drawstring design allows easy manipulation of a laparoscopic bag to facilitate its opening and closure.

Equipment Design↗
PubMed1997

Endometrial ablation.

Endometrial ablation is associated with a shorter operative time, fewer complications, less use of analgesics, a shorter convalescence and a quicker time to return to work than hysterectomy in the treatment of menorrhagia. Endometrial resection costs the health service provider less money than hysterectomy; however, women randomized to hysterectomy have reported slightly higher rates of satisfaction than those randomized to endometrial resection.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Endometrial resection for the treatment of menorrhagia.

BACKGROUND: Endometrial resection is an alternative to hysterectomy in the treatment of women with menorrhagia, but it may not control the condition. We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of such resection. METHODS: We followed 525 consecutive women (mean age at initial surgery, 42 years) for up to five years after endometrial resection. The women were examined 6 to 12 weeks after the operation and were then sent yearly questionnaires seeking information about their condition. The mean duration of follow-up was 31 months. Thirty-seven women (86 percent of the 43 women available for five years of follow-up) were followed for the entire period. RESULTS: Endometrial resection was completed successfully in 95 percent of the women, with operative complications in 6 percent. Forty-eight women underwent subsequent resection. The yearly questionnaires indicated that 85 to 100 percent of the women (depending on the year of follow-up) had adequately controlled menorrhagia, 26 to 40 percent had amenorrhea, 71 to 80 percent reported either a lessening of menstrual pain or no pain, and 79 to 87 percent were satisfied with the results of their surgery. No further surgery was needed by 80 percent of the women, and only 9 percent underwent hysterectomy during the five years of follow-up, with 98 percent of those operations being performed in the first three postoperative years. CONCLUSIONS: Endometrial resection is an effective alternative to hysterectomy in women with menorrhagia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

2500 Outpatient diagnostic hysteroscopies.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of outpatient diagnostic hysteroscopy. METHODS: The outcome of 2500 consecutive outpatient hysteroscopies was analyzed. Cervical dilation was performed when necessary and local anesthesia was not administered routinely. Endometrial biopsy and minor hysteroscopic procedures were carried out when indicated. Findings and outcome were compared according to patient characteristics. RESULTS: The most common indication for hysteroscopy was abnormal uterine bleeding (87%). Hysteroscopy was performed successfully in 96.4%, and a complete view of the uterine cavity was obtained in 88.9%. Local anesthesia was used in 29.8% and was associated with the need for cervical dilation; both local anesthetic use and cervical dilation were significantly more often required in nulligravid, nulliparous, and postmenopausal women. Intrauterine pathology was diagnosed in 48%, the highest incidence being found in those 50-60 years old (53.7%). The presence of fibroids was the most common abnormality (24.3%) but was seen in only 6.8% of women older than 60 years. Conversely, the incidence of endometrial polyps increased with age, up to 20.5% in women over 60 years. Endometrial biopsy was performed in 68% and produced adequate tissue for histologic examination in 83.7%. Endometrial hyperplasia or carcinoma was detected in 1%. One hundred sixteen women (4.6%) underwent a minor hysteroscopic procedure. CONCLUSION: Outpatient diagnostic hysteroscopy is both feasible and acceptable in the overwhelming majority of cases, with a high detection rate for intrauterine pathology. This procedure may become as routine in the 21st century as D&C has been in the 20th.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Comparison of carbon dioxide and normal saline for uterine distension in outpatient hysteroscopy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate patient acceptance and the clinical feasibility of carbon dioxide compared with normal saline for uterine distension in outpatient hysteroscopy. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Outpatient hysteroscopy clinic in a university hospital. PATIENTS: One hundred fifty-seven patients undergoing outpatient hysteroscopy. INTERVENTIONS: Outpatient hysteroscopy was performed with carbon dioxide or normal saline with endometrial biopsy when indicated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Need for local anesthesia, cervical dilatation, view of uterine cavity, need to change from carbon dioxide to normal saline distension, procedure time, patient discomfort (lower abdominal pain, shoulder tip pain, nausea) and complications. RESULTS: Carbon dioxide was used for uterine distension in 79 women and normal saline was used in 78. Cervical dilatation was required more often with carbon dioxide hysteroscopy, although there was no increased requirement for local anesthesia. Hysteroscopic vision was similar between the two media, but eight carbon dioxide cases had to be converted to liquid distension. Procedure times were significantly longer for carbon dioxide hysteroscopy as was the occurrence of bubbles during the procedure. Lower abdominal pain and shoulder tip pain were significantly worse with carbon dioxide distension. Although the incidence of nausea and vomiting was higher with the use of carbon dioxide, the differences did not achieve statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The use of normal saline for uterine distension had no adverse affects on the hysteroscopic view. It provided a shorter operating time and was well accepted by patients. Because of its easy availability and low cost, normal saline is an excellent alternative to carbon dioxide in women undergoing outpatient hysteroscopy.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Long-Term Results of Endometrial Resection

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of initial and repeat transcervical resection of the endometrium (TCRE ) in the treatment of menorrhagia, and to estimate the likelihood of treatment failure, we reviewed 525 women treated over 5 years and analyzed our results by life table analysis. Total TCRE was completed in 95.3% of patients, and 112 patients had simultaneous hysteroscopic myomectomy. In 167 women TCRE was performed under local anesthesia. The complication rate was 7.2%. The satisfaction rate varied from 80% to 89.5% over the 5 years. Forty percent of women were amenorrheic at 1 year. Increasing uterine size, young age, fibroids, and lack of endometrial preparation were factors associated with negative outcome. Eighty-six women required further surgery after the initial TCRE, pelvic pain menorrhagia being the most common indications. Eighty percent of patients avoided further surgery and 90% avoided hysterectomy. The failures plateau after 4 years, and even if some women require further gynecologic surgery after this time, it is unlikely that this will have significant impact on the overall results.

Journal Article↗