Very Low Rates of Ureteral Injury in Laparoscopic Hysterectomy Performed by Fellowship-Trained Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeons

Operative complications of open and minimally invasive adnexal surgery compared with cases with hysterectomy: A narrative review

The decision to add hysterectomy to planned adnexectomy is often nuanced and likely increases the complexity of the planned procedure; however, these risks are not well characterized in practice. We conducted a comprehensive search in the PubMed database for English-language articles from 1997 to 2022, identifying studies reporting complication rates for open and minimally invasive surgery (MIS) hysterectomy and adnexal surgeries. We calculated medians and first and third quartiles for each complication and used a Mann-Whitney U test to calculate differences between complications for minimally invasive hysterectomy and adnexal case data. We identified 135 appropriate studies for inclusion. There were higher prevalences of blood loss requiring transfusion (1.70% versus 0.13%, P = 0.01) and urinary tract injury (0.80% versus 0.20%, P = 0.001) in MIS hysterectomy cases compared with MIS adnexal surgery, respectively. MIS hysterectomy cases were similar to MIS adnexal surgery cases in the risk of surgical site infection (1.20% versus 1.49%, P = 0.74), bowel injury (0.50% versus 0.35%, P = 0.45), vascular injury (0.20% versus 0.9%, P = 0.82), and conversion to laparotomy (1.95% versus 3.84%, P = 0.49). There were not enough data on open adnexal surgery complications to make a meaningful comparison between complications of open hysterectomy and adnexal-only cases. Patients should be counseled that the addition of hysterectomy to planned MIS adnexal surgery likely increases the risk of blood loss requiring transfusion and urinary tract injury. The increased comorbidity associated with adding hysterectomy to planned open adnexal removal is less clear.

The Impact of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Subspecialty Training on Outcomes of Myomectomy: A Retrospective Cohort Study

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To compare surgical outcomes among patients undergoing minimally invasive myomectomy (MIM) or abdominal myomectomy (AM) with MIGS subspecialists versus general obstetrician/gynecologists (OB/GYNs), and to characterize the complexity of myomectomies by surgeon type.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Quaternary care institution.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients who underwent MIM (laparoscopic or robotic) or AM with a fellowship-trained MIGS subspecialist or general OB/GYN from March 15, 2015 to March 14, 2020.

INTERVENTIONS

Myomectomy.

RESULTS

Of 609 myomectomies, 460 (75.5%) were MIM, 404 (87.8%) of which were performed by MIGS subspecialists. The remaining 149 (24.5%) cases were AM, 36 (24.1%) of which were performed by MIGS subspecialists. Compared to general OB/GYNs, MIGS subspecialists excised a greater number of fibroids for both MIM (median 3.0 [range 1.0-30.0] vs 2.0 [1.0-9.0], p <.001) and AM (21.0 [10.0-60.0] vs 6.0 [1.0-42.0], p <.001), and had a greater proportion of uteri >20 weeks size for AM (22.2% vs 3.5%, p = .003). Composite perioperative complication rates were significantly higher for general OB/GYNs than for MIGS subspecialists (29.0% vs 11.8%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.48-4.92). In a subgroup analysis of MIM only, general OB/GYNs had higher rates of composite perioperative complications (28.6% vs 9.9%, aOR 4.51, 95% CI 2.27-8.97), excessive blood loss and/or transfusion (10.7% vs 3.0%, unadjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.92, 95% CI 1.41-10.91), surgery time ≥ 90th percentile (25.0% vs 8.9%, aOR 5.05, 95% CI 2.39-10.64), and conversions to laparotomy (10.7% vs 0.2%, unadjusted OR 48.36, 95% CI 5.71-409.93). For AM only, there were no significant differences in perioperative complication rates between groups.

CONCLUSION

Fellowship-trained MIGS subspecialists had improved surgical outcomes for MIM compared to general OB/GYNs, with fewer conversions to laparotomy, reduced surgery time, and less blood loss, while outcomes for AM were similar by surgeon type. MIGS subspecialists excised a greater number of fibroids regardless of surgical approach, highlighting a level of comfort in complex benign gynecology beyond endoscopic surgery at our institution.

The Impact of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Subspecialty Training on Outcomes of Benign Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: A Retrospective Cohort Study

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To compare surgical outcomes among patients undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy (MIH), laparoscopic or robotic, with minimally invasive gynecologic surgery (MIGS) subspecialists, gynecologic oncologists (GOs), or general obstetrician/gynecologists (OB/GYNs).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Quaternary care academic hospital.

PATIENTS

Patients undergoing MIH for benign indications from March 2015 to March 2020 were included.

INTERVENTIONS

MIH.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The primary outcome was the odds of a composite of any intra- or postoperative complications within 30 days of surgery by surgeons' group. A total of 728 MIHs were performed during the study period and constituted the cohort, of which 368 (50.5%) were performed by MIGSs, 144 (19.8%) by GOs, and 216 (29.7%) by OB/GYNs. Intra- and postoperative complications occurred in 11.7% of the MIGS group, 22.9% of the GO group (odds ratio [OR], 2.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36-3.71), and 25.9% of the OB/GYN group (OR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.70-4.12). Major intra- or postoperative complications were associated with surgeons' groups (OR, 7.02; 95% CI, 2.67-18.47, and OR, 6.84; 95% CI, 2.73-17.16 for GO and OB/GYN compared with MIGS, respectively). Intraoperative complication rates were significantly lower for MIGS surgeons (1.4%) than for GOs (9.0%; OR, 7.21; 95% CI, 2.52-20.60) and OB/GYNs (9.7%; OR, 7.82; 95% CI, 2.90-21.06). There was a higher odd of postoperative complications for OB/GYNs than MIGS (18.5% vs 10.9%; OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.16-3.00). Rates of conversion to laparotomy were lowest among MIGS surgeons (0.3%) compared with GOs (7.6%) and OB/GYNs (7.9%). Estimated blood loss 90th percentile or higher and surgery time 90th percentile or higher were more common for OB/GYNs than MIGS surgeons (OR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.07-4.22; OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.49-4.12, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Fellowship-trained MIGS subspecialists had improved surgical outcomes for benign MIH compared with GOs and OB/GYNs, with lower rates of perioperative complications and fewer conversions to laparotomy.

Use of prophylactic ureteral stents in gynecologic surgery

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate rate of complications with the use of prophylactic ureteral localization stents (PULSe) in gynecologic surgery. To compare the occurrence of complications according to the indication of surgery.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 1248 women who underwent 1275 different gynecologic surgeries with PULSe between 2007 and 2020. Data was collected regarding patient characteristics (age, sex, race, ethnicity, parity, previous pelvic surgery, creatinine), operative characteristics (trainee, guidewire use, indication) and complications in the first 30 days (ureteral injury, urinary tract complication, re-stenting, hydronephrosis, urinary tract infection (UTI), pyelonephritis, emergency room visit, re-admission).

RESULTS

Median age was 57 years (range: 18-96 years), most women were Caucasian (88.9%), and had previous pelvic surgery (77.7%). Indication of surgery was benign for 459 (36.0%), female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery (FPMRS) for 545 (42.7%), and gynecologic oncology (gyn-onc) for 271 (21.3%). Disabling complications occurred rarely with 8 patients (0.6%) having a ≥III Clavien Dindo Grade (CDG), and only 1 (0.08%) ≥IV CDG. Statistically significant differences between benign, FPMRS, and gyn-onc groups were noted for re-stenting (0.9% vs. 0.0% vs. 1.1%, P=0.020), hydronephrosis (0.9% vs. 0.2% vs. 2.2%, P=0.014), UTI (4.6% vs. 9.4% vs. 7.0%, P=0.016), and re-admission (2.4% vs. 1.1% vs. 4.4%, P=0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of 30-day CDG III and IV complications after PULSe placement is low. FPMRS patients had a higher rate of complicated UTI, however gyn- onc patients appear to be at overall higher risk of stent related complications when compared to surgeries for FPMRS or benign indications.

Impact of fellowship training for specialists on thyroidectomy outcomes of patients with thyroid cancer

We aimed to evaluate the impact of fellowship training (FT) for thyroid specialists on the outcomes of patients with thyroid cancer. We reviewed surgeries performed for thyroid cancer before (non-FT group) and after (FT group) fellowship training and compared several variables, including length of stay of patients, tumor diameter, surgical method, lymph node dissection, parathyroid implantation, surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative complications. Compared with the non-FT group, the FT group had a shorter hospital stay, more adequate fine needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid, less intraoperative blood loss, higher rate of parathyroid implantation, higher lymph node dissection rate, and lower nerve injury and hypoparathyroidism rates. When the surgical duration was < 200 min and/or only central lymph node dissection was performed, the FT group had a lower incidence of postoperative complications than the non-FT group. When, the incidence of postoperative complications, including postoperative nerve injury and hypoparathyroidism. In conclusion, FT for thyroid specialists is beneficial for patients with thyroid cancer and may allow a shorter hospital stay and reduced incidence of postoperative complication. Accordingly, FT may facilitate a more appropriate surgical approach with a preoperative pathological diagnosis.

Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery Hysterectomy Deconstructed: Expanding Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeons' Toolbox

Background

The introduction of vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) to the toolbox of gynecologic surgeons has the potential to reverse the trend of vaginal hysterectomy declines.

Methods

This review discusses nuances of the vNOTES technique applied to hysterectomy; describes vNOTES hysterectomy, step-by-step (including tips and tricks for low- and high-complexity cases for surgeons who may want to incorporate vNOTES hysterectomy into their surgical repertoires); and examines evidence and research trends in this field.

Results

The descriptions in the text, figures, tables, and videos all contribute to giving readers a clear understanding of vNOTES, its advantages, limitations, and research potentials.

Conclusions

vNOTES hysterectomy is a unique blend of vaginal, laparoscopic, and laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) techniques and is not a new procedure, but rather another tool to use in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. (J GYNECOL SURG 40:78).

Pre-operative ureteric catherisation for major endoscopic gynaecological surgery

BACKGROUND

Several strategies have been implemented to better identify the course of the ureters intra-operatively due of the morbidity associated with ureteric injuries especially during gynaecological surgery. We described our experience with pre-operative ureteric catherisation in women who underwent major endoscopic gynaecological surgery.

METHODS

A case-controlled study of 862 women who underwent major endoscopic gynaecological surgery sourced from two health institutions were conducted. Two groups were compared: those who had pre-operative prophylactic ureteric catherisation (study group) and those who had routine cystoscopy performed immediately post surgery (control group).

RESULTS

There were no intra-operative ureteric injuries or associated complications noted in the study group. When compared to the control group, length of hospital stay (2 days vs 5 days; p < 0.05) and overall mean time for cystoscopy (11 min vs 35 min; p < 0.05) was significantly shorter in the study group. There was no long-term morbidity recorded in the study group.

CONCLUSION

Our experiences with prophylactic pre-operative bilateral ureteric catheterisation for major endoscopic gynaecological surgeries were favourable and are associated with low complication rates. Routine or adjunct use before major gynaecological and pelvic surgery combined with meticulous surgical technique can help reduce iatrogenic and unintentional ureteric injuries.