Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND:Endometrial cancer recurrences in the vagina after surgery and radiation therapy are traditionally treated with pelvic exenteration. However, this operation is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and thus alternative surgical options should be explored. CASE/METHODS:We present a case of laparoscopic resection of recurrent endometrial cancer at the vaginal apex in the setting of prior brachytherapy and 32P intraperitoneal therapy. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Laparoscopic radical parametrectomy and partial vaginectomy may be an option for patients with small central recurrences of endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:We compared the perioperative morbidity of laparoscopic hysterectomy for gynecologic oncologic (group A) and benign gynecologic (group B) indications at a single institution. METHODS:This is a retrospective analysis of 159 consecutive cases of laparoscopic hysterectomy at a tertiary care university hospital. It includes 74 women with gynecologic cancers and 85 women with benign gynecologic conditions. RESULTS:Patients in group A were significantly older and had higher body mass index (P < or = 0.001). The differences in mean blood loss (A, 201.1 mL; B, 183.6 mL, P=0.504), conversion to laparotomy (2 for each group), and wound infection (none) were not significant in the 2 groups. The mean operating time (253.2 and 188.2 minutes, P<0.001) and the mean length of hospital stay (3.5 days and 2.5 days, P<0.001) were significantly longer in group A. Transfusion was required for 2 patients in group A and 4 in group B. One intraoperative injury to the bladder occurred in group A. CONCLUSIONS:In spite of older age and longer operative time in cancer patients, there was no difference in perioperative complications associated with laparoscopic hysterectomy for gynecologic malignancies compared with benign gynecologic conditions.

BACKGROUND:Laparoscopic surgery has revolutionized the concept of minimally invasive surgery for the last 3 decades. Robotic-assisted surgery is one of the latest innovations in the field of minimally invasive surgery. Already, many procedures have been performed in urology, cardiac surgery, and general surgery. In this article, we attempt to report our preliminary experience with robotic-assisted laparoscopy in a variety of gynecological surgeries. We sought to evaluate the role of robotic-assisted laparoscopy in gynecological surgeries. METHODS:The study was a case series of 15 patients who underwent various gynecologic surgeries for combined laparoscopic and robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery. The da Vinci robot was used in each case at a tertiary referral center for laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. An umbilicus, suprapubic, and 2 lateral ports were inserted. These surgeries were performed both using laparoscopic and robotic-assisted laparoscopic techniques. The assembly and disassembly time to switch from laparoscopy to robotic-assisted surgery was measured. Subjective advantages and disadvantages of using robotic-assisted laparoscopy in gynecological surgeries were evaluated. RESULTS:Fifteen patients underwent a variety of gynecologic surgeries, such as myomectomies, treatment of endometriosis, total and supracervical hysterectomy, ovarian cystectomy, sacral colpopexy, and Moskowitz procedure. The assembly time to switch from laparoscopy to robotic-assisted surgery was 18.9 minutes (range, 14 to 27), and the disassembly time was 2.1 minutes (range, 1 to 3). Robotic-assisted laparoscopy acts as a bridge between laparoscopy and laparotomy but has the disadvantage of being costly and bulky. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgeries have advantages in providing a 3-dimensional visualization of the operative field, decreasing fatigue and tension tremor of the surgeon, and added wrist motion for improved dexterity and greater surgical precision. The disadvantages include enormous cost and added operating time for assembly and disassembly and the bulkiness of the equipment.

Vaginal clear cell adenocarcinoma arising from pelvic endometriosis has not been reported in the literature. We report a case of a 50-year-old woman with stage I clear cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina who was found to have endometriosis adjacent to the vaginal tumor. She was treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation, laparoscopically assisted radical vaginal hysterectomy, radical upper vaginectomy, and pelvic lymphadenectomy followed by combination chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE:We evaluated the role of MRI as a preoperative diagnostic tool for leiomyoma and adenomyosis. METHOD/METHODS:This is a retrospective chart review at a university-based hospital. The study included 1517 women who underwent hysterectomy or myomectomy over a 5-year period, and 153 women with a preoperative pelvic MRI were included. Comparisons were made between the results of the MRI and postoperative pathology reports. RESULTS:The MRI and pathology report were the same for 136 of 144 women with leiomyoma and 12 of 31 women with adenomyosis. The MRI had 94% sensitivity and 33% specificity for leiomyoma and 38% sensitivity and 91% specificity for adenomyosis. Positive and negative predictive values of MRI for leiomyoma were 95% and 27% with 90% accuracy. Positive and negative predictive values of MRI for adenomyosis were 52% and 85%, respectively, with 80% accuracy. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:MRI has a high sensitivity and a low specificity for diagnosing leiomyoma and a high specificity and a low sensitivity for diagnosing adenomyosis. Due to the high cost and technical variations, we suggest using MRI only as an adjunctive diagnostic tool when ultrasound is not conclusive and differentiation between the 2 pathologies ultimately affects patient management.

OBJECTIVE:To critically examine the possible association between ovulation-inducing drugs and ovarian cancer. DESIGN/METHODS:Medline literature review and cross-reference of published data. RESULTS(S)/RESULTS:The studies that have adjusted for the effects of confounding factors such as duration of oral contraceptive use and number of pregnancies have noted an increased risk of ovarian cancer among infertile women who remain childless despite long periods of unprotected intercourse. Whether such women are at risk due to the primary basis for their infertility or factors such as ovulation-inducing drugs, has been the subject of several studies. Overall, the findings on ovarian cancer (especially invasive epithelial and non-epithelial) risk associated with fertility drug treatment are reassuring. However, a stronger association between fertility drug use and borderline tumors of the ovary has been observed. CONCLUSION(S)/CONCLUSIONS:Despite the overall reassuring findings of the available studies, there is a need for well-designed clinical trials to understand the possible carcinogenic effects of the ovulation-inducing drugs.

STUDY OBJECTIVE/OBJECTIVE:To describe the feasibility and outcome of total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy with or without pelvic lymphadenectomy for patients with stage I cervical cancer or severe pelvic endometriosis using harmonic shears as the sole instrument for dissection, division, and maintenance of hemostasis of all major surgical pedicles. DESIGN/METHODS:Retrospective review (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING/METHODS:University hospital and affiliate institutions. PATIENTS/METHODS:Seven patients who underwent total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy using harmonic shears for International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IA2 to IB1 cervical cancer and pelvic endometriosis at our institution or affiliate hospital from January 2004 through February 2005. INTERVENTION/METHODS:A retrospective review of patients that underwent total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy with or without pelvic lymphadenectomy at our institution using harmonic shears was performed. Information regarding preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative events was recorded and analyzed. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS/RESULTS:Pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed in all cancer cases. Mean patient age was 40 years (range 30-53 years). Mean estimated blood loss was 143 mL (range 100-200 mL). Mean operating time was 293 minutes (range 255-385 minutes). Mean pelvic node count was 27.8 (range 24-34) for cancer cases. Mean hospital stay was 3.2 days (range 2-7 days). One patient developed a vaginal cuff abscess postoperatively that was managed conservatively with drainage in the office setting followed by intravenous antibiotics. Another patient developed urinary retention for 2 weeks after surgery. There were no other intraoperative or postoperative complications. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy using harmonic shears is a technically feasible and safe procedure. Larger studies and long-term follow-up are required to determine the oncologic outcomes of these patients.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the feasibility, safety and utility of the ultrasonic shears for laparoscopic pelvic and para-aortic lymph node retrieval in the treatment of gynecologic cancers. METHODS:Data on laparoscopic lymphadenectomy performed for gynecologic malignancies using ultrasonic shears over a 5-year period were collected and analyzed prospectively. RESULTS:Laparoscopic lymphadenectomy using ultrasonic shears was performed on 100 patients with a median age of 58 (17-87) years. The types of malignancies included cervical (n = 29), endometrial (n = 48), ovarian (n = 15), fallopian tube (n = 2), malignant mixed mesodermal tumor (n = 2), vaginal (n = 2) and synchronous ovarian and endometrial cancers (n = 2). Sites of lymphadenectomy included pelvic (n = 49), para-aortic (n = 30) or both pelvic and para-aortic (n = 21). The median nodal yield was 22 (0-87). 66/100 were complete lymphadenectomies with a median nodal yield of 28 (2-71). The median length of hospital stay was 2 (1-13) days and the average blood loss was 148 (0-500) ml. Overall complication rate was 13%. There were 3 intra-operative complications, which were all managed laparoscopically. There were no unplanned conversions to laparotomy. There were 10 post-operative complications including port-site metastasis in a patient with positive nodes (n = 1), trocar-site hernia requiring a second laparoscopy (n = 1), deep leg vein thrombosis (n = 1), and a small bowel obstruction (n = 1). CONCLUSIONS:This is the largest series to date demonstrating the safety and efficacy of ultrasonic shears in laparoscopic lymphadenectomy for gynecologic malignancies. In addition to the potential for lowering the risk for tissue damage, ultrasonic shears offer multifunctionality which allows for a simpler technique with the use of fewer instruments.

OBJECTIVE:To report outcomes of laparoscopic management of patients with ovarian remnant (OR). DESIGN/METHODS:Retrospective chart review. SETTING/METHODS:Referral practice and tertiary medical center. PATIENT(S)/METHODS:Sixty-four patients with confirmed OR who underwent laparoscopic treatment between July 1989 and September 2003. INTERVENTION(S)/METHODS:Laparoscopic excision of OR. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)/METHODS:Technical feasibility and recurrence. RESULT(S)/RESULTS:Sixty-nine laparoscopies were performed to remove ovarian remnants, with five patients requiring two laparoscopies. Two cases were converted to laparotomy and one to mini-laparotomy for bowel resection. In 64% (41 out of 64), pelvic mass was diagnosed by imaging (35 by ultrasound, 5 by computerized tomography [CT], and 1 by both). The majority of ovarian remnants were found attached to one or more of the following: ureter, bowel, pelvic sidewall, bladder, rectum, and uterosacral ligament. Intraoperative complications occurred in four cases: three enterotomy and repair; one cystotomy and repair. Twelve minor postoperative complications occurred including urinary tract infection, hematuria, umbilical incision infection, and transient tachycardia. Three major postoperative complications occurred: one umbilical omental hernia, one wound abscess requiring operation, and one vesicovaginal fistula. Adhesions were present in all cases, endometriosis in 55% (35 out of 64), and fibrosis in 30% (19 out of 64). CONCLUSION(S)/CONCLUSIONS:In experienced hands, laparoscopic treatment of OR results in acceptable outcomes with its associated advantages over laparotomy.