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Biomedical subjects

G B Candiani

Publications and source records attributed to G B Candiani.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Double uterus, blind hemivagina, and ipsilateral renal agenesis: 36 cases and long-term follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To review the experience of the Milan University First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in patients with double, didelphic, of bicornuate uterus, blind hemivagina, and ipsilateral renal agenesis, and to consider the frequently unsatisfactory surgical approach. METHODS: Thirty-six women with double, didelphic, or bicornuate uterus, blind hemivagina, and ipsilateral renal agenesis were identified from clinical records for the period 1962 to 1992. We evaluated demographic data, disease, symptoms, correctness of therapeutic approach, and definitive treatment. RESULTS: Seventeen patients previously had undergone incomplete surgery in other hospitals and 19 were treated by us for the first time. Total hysterectomy was performed on two of the 36 women and hemihysterectomy and hemicolpectomy were performed on four. In the other 30, the vaginal septum was excised and marsupialization was done. The pregnancy rate in the 15 women wanting children was 87% and the live birth rate was 77%. Serial biopsy specimens were obtained from the lateral fornix after the excision of the septum in 13 of the non-hysterectomized patients over 1-9 years and revealed progressively more extensive areas of squamous metaplasia of müllerian epithelium. In some isolated cases, papillary hyperplasia, mild dysplasia, and vaginal adenosis were found. At the end of follow-up, 16 patients still did not want children. Follow-up was possible in 34 cases. CONCLUSION: Early accurate diagnosis after menarche followed by excision and marsupialization of the blind hemivagina offers complete relief of symptoms and preserves reproductive potential. Partial morphologic changes are evident but metabolic modifications comparable to those of the adjacent normal vagina have not yet been documented.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Posthysterectomy fallopian tube herniation. A report of two cases.

BACKGROUND: Tubal herniation as a complication of hysterectomy is a rare phenomenon, markedly more frequent after vaginal hysterectomy. With the increasing use of the vaginal route, the ratio between tubal herniation after vaginal versus abdominal hysterectomy may exceed 3:1. CASE: We report two cases of tubal herniation into the vagina, one after vaginal hysterectomy and the other after total abdominal hysterectomy, in two patients, aged 36 and 37 years. CONCLUSION: A tubal prolapse in the vagina may be considered a hernia and occurs only if a communication exists between the peritoneal cavity and vaginal canal. It can be an early or late prolapse. Symptoms consist almost exclusively of persistent blood loss and/or leukorrhea, dyspareunia and chronic pelvic pain. Whether the abdominal or vaginal approach should be used in surgical correction of prolapsed tubes must be decided in each case according to the patient's individual characteristics. Both histologic pictures described merit careful attention, distinguishing between the terminal tubal segment and the more cranial tract (above the vaginal strangulation).

Adult↗

Fertility after conservative surgery for adenomyomas.

Reproductive performance was evaluated after conservative surgery for uterine adenomyoma in a prospective, observational study. Twenty-eight women with histologically proven adenomyomas had conservative surgery in the period 1985-1990. Eighteen patients wanting children were regularly followed for a mean +/- SD period of 53.2 +/- 23.5 months. Crude and cumulative pregnancy rates were calculated after the operation. Thirteen (72.2%) women conceived, for a total of 18 pregnancies: nine (50%) ended in term deliveries, seven (38.8%) in spontaneous abortions, one (5.6%) in ectopic pregnancy and one (5.6%) in a pre-term delivery with neonatal death. The cumulative pregnancy rate at 36 months of follow-up was 74.7%. This analysis of a small series indicates that conservative surgery for adenomyomas is associated with a good reproductive prognosis.

Adenomyoma↗

Buserelin acetate versus expectant management in the treatment of infertility associated with minimal or mild endometriosis: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: We performed a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of intranasal 400 micrograms buserelin three times daily for 6 months versus expectant management in the treatment of infertile women with pelvic endometriosis stage I or II of the revised American Fertility Society classification. STUDY DESIGN: Seventy-one consecutive patients (mean age 32 years) were studied at the First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Milan, and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ospedali Riuniti, Bergamo, between February 1988 and June 1989. Thirty-five women were randomly allocated to buserelin treatment and 36 to expectant management. The baseline distribution of subjects for age, disease stage, and reproductive history was similar in the two groups. All patients were followed regularly; median follow-up was 17 months in the buserelin group and 18 months in the women given expectant management. If pregnancy did not occur within 12 months of randomization, cycles were monitored by ultrasonography and hormone measurements, and when abnormalities were detected clomiphene citrate and human chorionic gonadotropin were administered. RESULTS: A total of 17 pregnancies were observed both in the buserelin-treated patients and in the expectant management group. The 1- and 2-year actuarial overall pregnancy rates were similar in the two groups, 30% and 61% in the former and 37% and 61% in the latter group, respectively. Spontaneous abortion occurred in five of the 17 pregnancies in the women treated with buserelin and in one of the 17 in those managed expectantly; this difference was, however, not statistically significant (chi 1(2) adjusted for disease stage and use of clomiphene citrate and human chorionic gonadotropin treatment = 3.01, p = 0.08). No fetal death or stillbirth was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists is unlikely to have a marked influence on the reproductive outcome of infertile women with minimal or mild endometriosis.

Adult↗

Presacral neurectomy for the treatment of pelvic pain associated with endometriosis: a controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of presacral neurectomy combined with conservative surgery for the treatment of pelvic pain associated with endometriosis. STUDY DESIGN: In a randomized, controlled study performed in a tertiary institution 71 patients with moderate or severe endometriosis and midline dysmenorrhea were randomly assigned to conservative surgery alone (n = 36) or conservative surgery and presacral neurectomy (n = 35). Main outcome measures were relief of dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, and deep dyspareunia after surgery according to a multidimensional and an analog pain scale. RESULTS: Presacral neurectomy markedly reduced the midline component of menstrual pain, but no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in the frequency and severity of dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, and dyspareunia in the long-term follow-up. After presacral neurectomy, constipation developed or worsened in 13 patients and urinary urgency occurred in three and a painless first stage of labor in two. CONCLUSION: Presacral neurectomy should be combined with conservative surgery for endometriosis only in selected cases.

Adult↗

Endometriosis and nonobstructive müllerian anomalies.

We reviewed the case records of all women (N = 748) who underwent laparoscopy for infertility in our department from 1985-1990. The patients were divided into two groups, cases and controls, according to the presence of nonobstructive müllerian anomalies (N = 198) or absence of such anomalies (N = 545); women with obstructive müllerian anomalies (N = 5) were excluded. The patients were analyzed for the presence of endometriosis, malformation class, and productive history. The frequency of endometriosis was 30.8% in the women with nonobstructive müllerian anomalies, versus 38.5% in the controls (P = .209). Among the subjects with unicornuate uterus, the prevalence of endometriosis (55%) was significantly greater compared with the patients with other nonobstructive müllerian anomalies (28%) (P less than .05), but not compared with the controls (38.5%). Overall, no differences were observed in the frequency of endometriosis between infertile women with and without nonobstructive müllerian anomalies. Our results seem to exclude a common pathogenetic factor underlying endometriosis and nonobstructive müllerian anomalies.

Adult↗

Pelvic denervation for chronic pain associated with endometriosis: fact or fancy?

The efficacy of presacral neurectomy and amputation of the uterosacral ligaments in the treatment of chronic pelvic pain has been debated for decades. These procedures used to be done mainly in women with normal pelves, but more recently they have been performed during conservative surgery for treatment of endometriosis. In the 1980s the rapid spread of laparoscopic surgery has led to an increasing number of endoscopic denervations in patients with chronic pelvic pain associated with endometriosis. However, an analysis of literature data has failed to prove that presacral neurectomy and amputation of the uterosacral ligaments are effective and did not demonstrate better results with the use of lasers rather than electrocoagulation. Moreover, no valid comparison has yet been made between laparotomy and laparoscopic methods.

Chronic Disease↗

Argon laser versus microscissors for hysteroscopic incision of uterine septa.

We performed hysteroscopic metroplasty in 21 women with repeated abortion and subseptate uterus. The patients were randomly allocated to septal incision with the argon laser (group I, 10 subjects) or microscissors (group II, 11 subjects) to compare these instruments in terms of surgical feasibility and anatomic results. The mean operating time was 57% longer in group I than in group II (p = 0.001), the intra- and postoperative morbidity of the whole series was negligible, and the anatomic results at abdominal ultrasonography and hysteroscopy performed 2 months postoperatively were similar in the two groups. This study confirms that microscissors are the simplest, fastest, most effective, and least expensive instrument to correct a septate uterus. The complete agreement of the findings at follow-up hysteroscopy and ultrasonography suggest the use of the latter as the method of choice to check the surgical results.

Adult↗

Secretory changes in preovulatory endometrium during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with buserelin acetate and human gonadotropins.

Twenty-one patients with unexplained infertility underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with buserelin acetate and human menopausal and chorionic gonadotropins, and follicular growth was monitored by ultrasonography and daily 17 beta-estradiol (E2) assays. Endometrial biopsy was performed when E2 levels were greater than or equal to 250 pg/mL per follicle and the follicular diameter was greater than or equal to 17 mm. As controls, we studied 20 preovulatory endometrial biopsies from patients with a male infertility factor. The biopsy material was examined at light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopes, and a morphometric analysis was performed. Preovulatory endometrial mucosa during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation showed accentuated proliferative aspects in both the glandular and stromal components and more frequent early secretory phenomena compared with the controls. The preovulatory progesterone (P) levels observed in our study seem to exclude the possibility that such early secretory aspects of the hyperstimulated endometrium are because of higher P concentrations in patients compared with controls.

Buserelin↗

Deficient antiendometrium lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity in patients with endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the possible role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. DESIGN: A cytotoxicity assay by 51Cr release was performed to determine the lymphocyte cytotoxic response toward endometrial targets and an erytroleukemic cell line (K562). SETTING: The assays were performed in an academic research environment. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-five control women and 25 patients with endometriosis were selected on the basis of laparoscopic examination. INTERVENTIONS: The lymphocyte cytotoxic activity was evaluated separately on endometrial stromal and epithelial cells after 4 hours' incubation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The study was designed to determine, in controls and endometriosis patients, the lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity toward stromal and epithelial cells of endometrium. RESULTS: The lymphocyte response in the presence of stromal cell antigens was significantly lower (P less than 0.02) in disease-affected women when compared with that obtained in controls (2.89 +/- 0.87 and 7.64 +/- 1.66, respectively). In contrast, when the same assay was performed on K562 cells, no difference was observed between endometriosis patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that an altered immune recognition might be one of the pathogenic mechanisms of endometriosis. Moreover, they indicate that this is not a general phenomenon but is specific for the endometrial target.

Adult↗

Reliability of the visual diagnosis of ovarian endometriosis.

The visual diagnosis of endometrioma at laparotomy in 245 women operated on for ovarian cysts demonstrated a sensitivity of 97%, specificity of 95%, positive and negative predictive value of 98% and 94%, respectively, and overall accuracy of 96%. Because the visual detection of endometriomas is remarkably accurate, ovarian biopsy, although desirable in some cases, would seem dispensable for a correct laparoscopic diagnosis and staging of the disease.

Adult↗

Conservative surgical treatment for severe endometriosis in infertile women: are we making progress?

Conservative surgery for severe endometriosis in infertile women is one of the most challenging situations for the pelvic surgeon. The second half of the 1980s saw an increase in the supporters of laparoscopic treatment even for more extensive disease. Two opposing factions were thus created: traditional gynecologic surgeons who accuse endoscopists of imprudence and technical inadequacy and enthusiastic supporters of operative laparoscopy who consider laparotomy obsolete and its associated morbidity needlessly high for the patient and health service. In the present review of the literature data we analyze laparotomy and laparoscopy techniques and compare the postoperative results in terms of reproductive success in an attempt to clarify whether conservative endoscopic treatment of severe endometriosis is only an inappropriate proposal with no future or whether, due to its efficacy, it will eventually limit interventions via laparotomy to exceptional circumstances.

Bias↗

Risk of recurrence after myomectomy.

The risk of recurrence of uterine myomas was analyzed in 622 patients who underwent myomectomy between 1970 and 1984 at the First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University of Milan. The cumulative 10-year recurrence rate was 27%, and this increased steadily up to the end of the observation period. Differences were not observed in frequency of recurrence by age at diagnoses or by the site of the myomas at surgery. Patients with a single myoma tended to experience a lower rate, but this finding was not statistically significant. Women who gave birth to a child after myomectomy had a 10-year recurrence rate of 15%, against 30% for those who did not; this difference was statistically significant.

Adult↗

Repetitive conservative surgery for recurrence of endometriosis.

We evaluated the recovery of fertility and the relief of pain symptoms in a long-term follow-up of 42 women undergoing repetitive conservative surgery for recurrent endometriosis. The mean age of the patients was 31.1 +/- 4.3 years. At the time of their second operation the disease was stage IV in 14 women, stage III in 25, and stage I in three. After reoperation, the patients were followed for a mean period of 41.8 +/- 30.3 months. Pain symptoms returned in eight women, dysmenorrhea and deep dyspareunia in eight, and pelvic pain in seven. Eight of the 28 women (28.6%) who attempted to conceive achieved a total of 13 pregnancies. The corrected pregnancy rate was 35%, and the cumulative rate at 27 months was 30.7%. A third operation was necessary in six women after a mean period of 35 months. Conservative surgery is an effective therapeutic option for infertile patients with recurrent endometriosis.

Adult↗

Inguinal endometriosis: pathogenetic and clinical implications.

In six women with a preoperative diagnosis of incarcerated hernia, surgical exploration of the groin revealed inguinal endometriosis and no hernia. The affected structure was always the extraperitoneal portion of the round ligament. Six of the seven lesions were on the right. Intraperitoneal endometriosis was demonstrated in all patients. Catamenial pain was the pathognomonic symptom in the differential diagnosis of the inguinal mass. Gynecologists and surgeons should bear in mind the possibility that endometriosis may be the cause of symptoms of a suspected incarcerated inguinal hernia. Should this disease be detected at inguinal exploration, a laparoscopy is indicated during the same operation.

Adult↗