Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm caused by a uterine manipulator

Life-threatening bleeding caused by artery pseudoaneurysm after endoscopic procedure successfully treated by artery embolization

The Kakinuma et al's case report shows that non-pregnancy-related arterial pseudoaneurysm is a relatively rare, little known by some gynecologists, endoscopists, surgeons or radiologists, which can cause massive bleeding. Arterial pseudoaneurysm is a condition in which the wall of a blood vessel collapses due to some invasive event, and the resulting leaked blood is engulfed by soft tissues, forming a cavity that is in communication with the vessel. It is a potentially life-threatening complication that could occurs after some deliveries and some gynecological invasive procedures. Remarkably, an undetermined percentage of pseudoaneurysms are asymptomatic, and in an asymptomatic patient it is difficult to predict the risk of haemorrhage and the attitude to follow, which depends on several factors, such as, the size and location of the vessel involved, changes in the size of the pseudoaneurysm, or the available therapeutic resources to be offered to patients, among others circumstances. The management of abdominal arterial pseudoaneurysm does not have consistent scientific evidence, but it seems that, regardless of the associated circumstances, the pseudoaneurysm could be treated at least initially, and mainly, through endovascular procedures, as done by Kakinuma et al.

Spontaneous rupture of uterine artery in a non-pregnant woman with adenomyosis: a case report and review of current literature

Spontaneous rupture of a uterine artery is a rare occurrence and more often associated with postpartum haemorrhage. It is even more unusual outside pregnancy. In this report, we will describe a case of spontaneous uterine artery rupture in a 40-year-old non-pregnant female with adenomyosis who presented with severe vaginal bleeding. We will also review the aetiology of rupture of uterine artery based on the current literature.

Laparoscopic myomectomy without uterine manipulator for maintaining endometrial cavity integrity

Background

Preserving the integrity of the endometrial cavity is crucial, particularly for preserving fertility during laparoscopic myomectomy (LM). This study aimed to compare the uterine breaching rate and clinical outcomes of LM performed with and without a uterine manipulator.

Methods

Data from women who underwent LM at our hospital between January 2020 and June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The primary outcomes included endometrial cavity breaching rate, conversion rate, abdominal port count, operative time, hospitalization duration, and blood loss. The secondary outcomes included adverse events such as postoperative anemia and emphysema.

Results

We analyzed the data from 50 participants, comparing those with (n=30) and without (n=20) manipulators. No significant differences were observed in age, body mass index, surgical time, hospitalization, blood loss, or hemoglobin drop. However, the incidence of endometrial cavity breach was higher in the manipulator group (p=0.007). The manipulator group required fewer abdominal ports (p < 0.001) than the manipulator group. Increased myoma size was associated with increased blood loss and surgical time.

Conclusions

The clinical outcomes of LM without a uterine manipulator were comparable to those of LM with a manipulator. The absence of a manipulator may aid in preserving the integrity of the endometrial cavity. An increase in myoma size was associated with longer surgical time and greater blood loss, while uterine manipulator use was linked to fewer trocars.

Post-cesarean section pseudoaneurysm of uterine artery: A case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm is an extraluminal collection of blood caused by damage to the arterial wall which can result from cesarean section, myomectomy, hysterectomy, laparoscopic excision of deep endometriotic lesions, dilation and curettage and uterine cervical conization. Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm may go unnoticed as a possible cause of post-partum hemorrhage.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a case of 25 years female who presented with 3 episodes of per vaginal bleeding on the 34th postoperative day of cesarean section. Computed tomography angiogram confirmed the aneurysm of the left uterine artery and the artery was embolized for the management of aneurysm. Follow-up scan showed normal blood flow and her symptoms were relieved after the procedure.

DISCUSSION

Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm can be diagnosed by Doppler ultrasound which shows intrauterine mass with swirling blood flow. The gold standard investigation is computed tomography angiography. Uterine artery embolization is the recent treatment approach which is both safe and effective.

CONCLUSION

Women who present with postpartum vaginal bleeding should be promptly evaluated for uterine artery pseudoaneurysm. Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm can then be effectively managed through embolization, ensuring timely intervention and improved maternal health outcomes.

Recurrent Postpartum Hemorrhage: A Case of Uterine Artery Pseudoaneurysm Probably Induced by Anticoagulants

Pseudoaneurysm formation often occurs when there is inadequate sealing at an arterial puncture site. We present the case of a 27-year-old primigravida with rheumatic heart disease and a history of mitral valve replacement on anticoagulants who experienced recurrent episodes of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). Despite conservative management and adjustments to anticoagulant therapy, the bleeding persisted. Further investigations revealed a small pseudoaneurysm originating from the left uterine artery. Bilateral uterine artery embolization (UAE) using polyvinyl alcohol particles was successfully performed. The patient's condition improved, and she was discharged on a carefully regulated medication regimen. This case highlights the importance of considering rare causes of PPH in high-risk patients, such as uterine artery pseudoaneurysm. Anticoagulants could be a potential contributor of its spontaneous rupture. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate intervention, such as UAE, can effectively manage PPH and prevent adverse outcomes.

Ultrasound Imaging of Acquired Myometrial Pseudoaneurysm: The Role of Manipulators as an Unusual Cause during Laparoscopic Surgery

An acquired uterine artery myometrial pseudoaneurysm can occur due to inflammation, trauma, or iatrogenic causes, such as surgical procedures, and can lead to profuse bleeding. The efficacy of uterine manipulators in gynecological surgery, particularly as a cause of a pseudoaneurysm, has been poorly discussed in the literature. In this paper, we discuss a case of a 39-year-old woman with profuse uterine bleeding that occurred seven days after operative laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis. The color Doppler ultrasound better evoked the arterial-like turbulent blood flow inside this cavity. These sonographic features were highly suggestive of uterine artery pseudoaneurysm, presumably related to a secondary trauma caused by the manipulator. The diagnosis was subsequently re-confirmed by angiography, and the patient was treated conservatively with uterine artery embolization. Ultrasound has been shown to be a valuable and safe tool for imaging pseudoaneurysm and guiding subsequent interventional procedures. Accordingly, we briefly review the most suitable manipulators used in benign gynecological surgeries to verify if the different types in use can guide the surgeon towards the correct choice according to surgical needs and thus prevent potentially dangerous trauma.

Role of uterine manipulator during laparoscopic endometrial cancer treatment

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most frequent gynecologic malignancy with 61,000 new cases diagnosed per year in the USA. Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) LAP2 randomized study demonstrated a superimposable 5-year overall survival between laparotomic and laparoscopic approaches in EC treatment. In this context the uterine manipulator (UM) represents a valuable tool in order to increase the ergonomics of surgical gesture during a laparoscopic total hysterectomy. Despite the proven safety of the minimally invasive approach in EC treatment, neither the indication whether to use or not, nor the recommendation concerning a specific type of UM are provided by international guidelines. This narrative review aims to collect all the main findings in the literature about UM use to investigate its safety in EC patients. Based on the analysis of the literature research, the main results were categorized into two manipulator-related problems: the iatrogenic LVSI, and the retrograde tumor spillage. LVSI is defined as the presence of tumor cells within an endothelium-lined space. An electronic search was performed using the following keywords: 'uterine manipulator', and 'endometrial cancer'. The electronic database search provided a total of 93 studies. Of whom, 12 case reports, 5 studies not in English language, and 65 works not fitting the review scope were excluded from the analysis. Eleven studies were considered eligible for the purpose of the study. The most recent studies have highlighted the safety of the uterine manipulator in the early-stage EC laparoscopic treatment. All types of manipulators are considered to be fairly safe but its application should be tailored according to tumor dimension and grade of myometrial infiltration.

Uterine manipulator requirement in laparoscopic surgery of Ectopic Pregnancy

Objective:

The advantages of laparoscopic surgery used in the treatment of ectopic pregnancy is well-known; however, the efficacy of uterine manipulators remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of uterine manipulators in the laparoscopic treatment of ectopic pregnancy.

Methods:

Overall, 118 patients who underwent laparoscopy due to ectopic pregnancy in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Tepecik Education and Research Hospital between January 2010 and January 2018 and who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Groups of patients undergoing surgery with or without the use of a uterine manipulator were compared in terms of demographic data, operative and postoperative results.

Results:

No difference was noted between the groups in terms of age, parity, body mass index, smoking, side of ectopic pregnancy mass, previous operations and pregnancy type. However, the size of ectopic pregnancy mass measured by ultrasonography was significantly larger (p = 0.006) and the operation time was significantly shorter (p<0.001) in the group where uterine manipulators were not used than in the uterine manipulator group.

Conclusion:

We concluded that not using a uterine manipulator in laparoscopic procedures for ectopic pregnancy did not increase operative complications and that operation time was higher in procedures using uterine manipulators.

Uterine manipulator in total laparoscopic hysterectomy: safety and usefulness

The aim of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of uterine manipulators in facilitating total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH). A literature search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, UpToDate, SpringerLink, ClinicalKey and Elsevier ScienceDirect databases was performed, and articles describing TLH with or without the use of uterine manipulators were retrieved. Complications related to the use of uterine manipulators are numerous, and although uterine manipulator seems to facilitate TLH, the procedure without a uterine manipulator seems to have a comparable safety and effectiveness, although evidence based on a direct comparison of the two approaches is limited without available controlled trials. Uterine manipulator may provide support in cases of large uteri, severe endometriosis, recto vaginal adhesions and regional anesthesia, while its use may increase complications in cases of vaginal stenosis and nulliparity. Therefore, to perform TLH, the surgeon should individualize for each case if uterine manipulator is needed and which manipulator best suits the surgical procedure requirements and case characteristics. Further studies comparing the two approaches are mandatory.