[Essure implants for tubal sterilisation in France]

Association of Hysteroscopic vs Laparoscopic Sterilization With Procedural, Gynecological, and Medical Outcomes

IMPORTANCE

Safety of hysteroscopic sterilization has been recently questioned following reports of general symptoms such as allergy, tiredness, and depression in addition to associated gynecological results such as pelvic pain, perforation of fallopian tubes or uterus, and unwanted pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the risk of reported adverse events between hysteroscopic and laparoscopic sterilization.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

French nationwide cohort study using the national hospital discharge database linked to the health insurance claims database. Women aged 30 to 54 years receiving a first hysteroscopic or laparoscopic sterilization between 2010 and 2014 were included and were followed up through December 2015.

EXPOSURES

Hysteroscopic sterilization vs laparoscopic sterilization.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Risks of procedural complications (surgical and medical) and of gynecological (sterilization failure that includes salpingectomy, second sterilization procedure, or pregnancy; pregnancy; reoperation) and medical outcomes (all types of allergy; autoimmune diseases; thyroid disorder; use of analgesics, antimigraines, antidepressants, benzodiazepines; outpatient visits; sickness absence; suicide attempts; death) that occurred within 1 and 3 years after sterilization were compared using inverse probability of treatment-weighted Cox models.

RESULTS

Of the 105 357 women included (95.5% of eligible participants; mean age, 41.3 years [SD, 3.7 years]), 71 303 (67.7% ) underwent hysteroscopic sterilization, and 34 054 (32.3%) underwent laparoscopic sterilization. During the hospitalization for sterilization, risk of surgical complications for hysteroscopic sterilization was lower: 0.13% for hysteroscopic sterilization vs 0.78% for laparoscopic sterilization (adjusted risk difference [RD], -0.64; 95% CI, -0.67 to -0.60) and was lower for medical complications: 0.06% vs 0.11% (adjusted RD, -0.05; 95% CI, -0.08 to -0.01). During the first year after sterilization, 4.83% of women who underwent hysteroscopic sterilization had a higher risk of sterilization failure than the 0.69% who underwent laparoscopic sterilization (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 7.11; 95% CI, 5.92 to 8.54; adjusted RD, 4.23 per 100 person-years; 95% CI, 3.40 to 5.22). Additionally, 5.65% of women who underwent hysteroscopic sterilization required gynecological reoperation vs 1.76% of women who underwent laparoscopic sterilization (adjusted HR, 3.26; 95% CI, 2.90 to 3.67; adjusted RD, 4.63 per 100 person-years; 95% CI, 3.38 to 4.75); these differences persisted after 3 years, although attenuated. Hysteroscopic sterilization was associated with a lower risk of pregnancy within the first year of the procedure but was not significantly associated with a difference in risk of pregnancy by the third year (adjusted HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.83-1.30; adjusted RD, 0.01 per 100 person-years; 95% CI, -0.04 to 0.07). Risks of medical outcomes were not significantly increased with hysteroscopic sterilization compared with laparoscopic sterilization.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Among women undergoing first sterilization, the use of hysteroscopic sterilization was significantly associated with higher risk of gynecological complications over 1 year and over 3 years than was laparoscopic sterilization. Risk of medical outcomes was not significantly increased over 1 year or over 3 years. These findings do not support increased medical risks associated with hysteroscopic sterilization.

A Meta-Analysis of Bilateral Essure® Procedural Placement Success Rates on First Attempt

Background: The Essure® (Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Leverkusen, Germany) female sterilization procedure entails using a hysteroscope to guide a microinsert into the Fallopian tube openings. Failed placement can lead to patient dissatisfaction, repeat procedures, unintended or ectopic pregnancy, perforation of internal organs, or need for subsequent medical interventions. Additional interventions increase women's health risks, and costs for patients and the health care industry. Demonstrated successful placement rates are 63%-100%. To date, there have not been any systematic analyses of variables associated with placement rates. Objectives: The aims of this review were: (1) to estimate the average rate of successful bilateral Essure microinsert placement on first attempt; and (2) to identify variables associated with successful placement. Materials and Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted on 64 published studies and 19 variables. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, all published studies between November 2001 and February 2015 were reviewed. The studies were taken from from PubMed and Google Scholar, and by using the the "snowball" method that reported variables associated with successful bilateral Essure placement rates. Results: The weighted average rate of successful bilateral microinsert placement on first attempt was 92% (0.92 [95% confidence interval: 0.904-0.931]). Variables associated with successful placements were: (1) newer device models; (2) higher body mass index; and (3) a higher percent of patients who received local anesthesia. Conclusions: The data gathered for this review indicate that the highest bilateral success rates may be obtained by utilizing the newest Essure device model with local anesthesia in heavier patients. More standardized data reporting in published Essure studies is recommended. (J GYNECOL SURG 31:308).

[Evaluation of satisfaction after hysteroscopic tubal ligation. About a study from the CHU of Besançon]

OBJECTIVE

The Essure(®) system is a hysteroscopic sterilization method. The purpose of our study was to retrospectively evaluate the sterilization procedure with Essure(®) devices without anesthesia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The descriptive study included all tubal sterilizations with Essure(®) devices performed without anesthesia, with MEOPA, from January 1st, 2013 till February 28th, 2014 in the CHU of Besançon. The evaluation of the global satisfaction of the patients was collected by telephone survey.

RESULTS

A hundred and forty-three patients benefited from Essure(®) without anesthesia during the period of study in the CHU of Besançon and among them, 120 patients answered the telephone survey questionnaire. The average age was of 41.3 years. As regards the satisfaction and the tolerance, 89.2% of the patients declared to be globally satisfied by this procedure and 95.8% would recommend it to a friend. Indeed, 66.6% of the patients declared to have felt no pain or moderate pain. Furthermore, the MEOPA was well tolerated at 79.9% of the patients. As regards the procedure of Essure(®) inserts without anesthesia the rate of failure was 9.2% and at 3 months the radiological control was satisfactory in 94.5% of the patients.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The tubaire sterilization by implants Essure(®) is a fast and effective procedure. Our study shows, that at present, this technique can be realized without anesthesia, during a dedicated consultation, with an important rate of global satisfaction of the patients. It thus allows to decrease the number of hospitalization in ambulatory surgery and to decrease the cost of this intervention.

Tubal sterilization: pregnancy rates after hysteroscopic versus laparoscopic sterilization in France, 2006-2010

OBJECTIVE

To compare the rates of pregnancy among women who underwent Essure hysteroscopic sterilization versus tubal ligation in France between 2006 and 2010.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Hospital care in France (nationwide). Anonymised database of all hospital discharge summaries in France.

PATIENTS

Recruitment was based on procedure codes in the national database of hospital discharge summaries. The study included all women who underwent tubal sterilization by Essure microinserts or by tubal ligation and subsequently were hospitalised either for all unexpected pregnancies related diagnosis (e.g., miscarriage, legal abortion, or delivery) or for pregnancies following reversal microsurgery or invitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

During the study period, French hospitals performed 109,277 tubal sterilization procedures: 39,169 Essure sterilizations and 70,108 laparoscopic tubal ligations. The respective indication of both techniques depended on the surgeons' skill. The median age of the two populations was similar, 41 years (range 28-52) for Essure patients and 40 years (range 27-54) for those undergoing tubal ligation (p=0.42). A Cox model has been performed. Following sterilization, after adjustment on age Essure patients became pregnant at a significantly lower rate than laparoscopic ligation patients 0.36% versus 0.46%, respectively (HR=0.62 (040-096)), and their pregnancy rate of post-sterilization procedure was significantly lower (reversal microsurgeries: 0.02% versus 0.19% (p<0.001), IVF treatment: 0.08% versus 0.27%) (p<0.001). The pregnancy rates after IVF were 12.5% and 5.35%, respectively, and 0% and 11.36% after tubal repair.

CONCLUSION

This nationwide study of tubal sterilization demonstrates that Essure was associated with lower rates of pregnancy versus tubal ligation.

Concomitant hysteroscopic endometrial ablation and Essure procedure: feasibility, efficacy and satisfaction

OBJECTIVE

Hysteroscopic endometrial destruction procedures for abnormal uterine bleeding are an alternative to hysterectomy. Such procedures are not contraceptive and are performed on fertile patients, requiring long-term contraception. This is the first study evaluating long-term results of a combined procedure associating endometrial destruction and concomitant hysteroscopic tubal sterilization by Essure(®) micro-inserts. Our goal is to evaluate efficacy of endometrial destruction as well as hysteroscopic sterilization and satisfaction after a combined procedure in the case of abnormal uterine bleeding in non-menopausal patients.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a retrospective study (Canadian task force II-2) that includes 131 patients operated with combined endometrial destruction and hysteroscopic tubal sterilization between 2002 and 2011 at our university hospital. The patients were contacted to answer a questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed with SAS© version 9.2. (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC).

RESULTS

Ninety-three patients out of 131 could be reached. The mean follow-up was of 37.8 months (min=8, max=87, SD=6.2). Thirty-eight patients (29%) were lost to follow-up. Essure(®) micro-inserts introduction success rate (evaluated on 131 patients) was 95.8%, and their position was appropriate in 81.1% of the 106 patients with position control. Efficacy of the procedure on the haemorrhagic symptoms (evaluated on 93 patients) was 80.6%. Twelve patients (12.9%) underwent a hysterectomy, 7 of which (58.3%) were a direct consequence of treatment failure. No pregnancies were reported. Satisfaction rate was of 90.3%.

CONCLUSION

Inadequate position rates of the micro-inserts after 3 months seem somewhat above literature findings, though no pregnancy has been reported. However, recurrent bleeding symptoms and hysterectomy rates are consistent with those observed after an endometrial destruction procedure alone. Limitations are the limited number of patients, the bias inherent to retrospective studies (lost of follow-up, selection bias). The concomitant endometrial destruction and tubal sterilization by micro-inserts is a safe and efficient procedure.

[Robot-assisted coelioscopic proximal tubal reanastomosis]

We report two cases of robot-assisted coelioscopic proximal tubal reanastomosis after proximal tubal ligature. Patients were aged 43 and 34 years respectively and had previously undergone proximal tubal ligation by coagulation section at 37 years of age for the first patient, and by Filshie clip at 24 years for the second one. Both had regular menstrual cycles and their ovarian reserve was good. Their partners were presenting with normal sperm criteria. Proximal tubal reanastomosis was carried out in September 2010 by robotic coelioscopy with five extramucous vicryl 5-0 stitches on each tube and positive blue testing. Total durations of the interventions were 200 and 220minutes respectively. Postoperative outcomes were simple and patients had spontaneous pregnancy at 4 and 2.5 months respectively. Both pregnancies show normal progress currently. This is a contribution to literature data meant to determine the role of robotics in proximal tubal reanastomosis.

Hysteroscopic placement of tubal sterilization implants: virtual reality simulator training

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To assess face and construct validity of a new virtual reality (VR) training simulator for hysteroscopic placement of tubal sterilization implants.

DESIGN

Nonrandomized, controlled trial comparing responses and performance of novices and experts on the simulator.

DESIGN CLASSIFICATION

Canadian task force II-1.

SETTING

Forty-six gynecologists were personally invited or recruited at the 33rd Conference of the French National College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF) from December 9 to 12, 2009, grouped as 20 experts and 26 novices. They all performed the defined sequence of virtual procedures on the simulator (case 1 for familiarization, case 4 for study assessment) and finally completed the study questionnaire.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Responses to realism, educational potential, and general opinion were excellent, proving face validity. Significant differences between novices and experts were assessed for 7 of the 15 metrics analyzed, proving construct validity.

CONCLUSIONS

We established face and construct validity for EssureSim, an educational VR simulator for hysteroscopic tubal sterilization implant placement. The next steps are to investigate convergent and predictive validity to affirm the real capacity of transferring the skills learned on the training simulator to the patient in the operating room.

[Ambulatory Essure implant placement sterilization procedure for women: prospective study comparing general anesthesia versus hypnosis combined with sedation]

OBJECTIVE

implant placement Essure, sterilization procedure for women, were performed under hypnosedation (HYP) and compared to the operative anxiety and analgesia of 12 patients operated-on under general anesthesia (GA).

STUDY DESIGN

prospective and comparative group study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

two groups of twelve patients were matched and compared based on the choice of anesthetic technique: hypnotics (HYP) with possible additional sedation by propofol and remifentanil or GA involving propofol, sevoflurane and remifentanil. The assessment of anxiety and pain based on a visual analogy scale (0-10) and use of analgesics were studied in the recovery room and at discharge of hospital. The statistical analysis relies on nonparametric tests for paired data (Wilcoxon test).

RESULTS

all patients were operated. The two groups are statistically comparable. The preoperative anxiety before premedication is lower in the HYP group (p<0.05). No conversion to general anaesthesia is necessary in the HYP group, but five patients were using sedatives drugs but doses are very low compared to general anaesthesia. The analgesic consumption was equivalent in both groups.

CONCLUSION

we conclude that hypnosedation is a valuable alternative to traditional anesthetic techniques for ambulatory Essure implant. The use of hypnotic tool is an interesting alternative for the management of patients during invasive medical procedures or surgical, providing psychological benefits to the patient.