Haemorrhagic morbidity after diathermy loop excision: effect of multiple pre-treatment variables including time of treatment in relation to menstruation

Emerging Treatment Options for Cervical Dysplasia and Early Cervical Cancer

DISCUSSION

of treatment strategies for cervical cancer precursors, review of medical therapies and emerging therapeutics for treatment of cervical cancers, and updates on new approaches to treating early-stage cervical cancers.

Delayed hemorrhage effect of local anesthesia with epinephrine in the loop electrosurgical excisional procedure

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate factors preventing delayed hemorrhage after the loop electrosurgical excisional procedure (LEEP).

METHODS

Medical records of patients who underwent LEEP at one university affiliated hospital from October 2013 to January 2015 were reviewed. Patients with or without delayed hemorrhage were classified. LEEP was performed either in an operating room under general anesthesia or in a procedure room with local anesthesia in the outpatient clinic. Delayed hemorrhage was defined as excisional site bleeding occurring between 1 and 30 days after the LEEP requiring intervention such as electro-cauterization, gauze packing, or application of another hemostatic agent.

RESULTS

During the study period, 369 patients underwent LEEP. Twenty-three (6.2%) patients with delayed hemorrhage returned to our hospital either to the outpatient clinic or to the emergency unit. A third of the population (103, 27.9%) underwent LEEP in the operating room under general anesthesia without injection of local anesthesia. The remaining patients (266, 72.1%) underwent LEEP with local anesthesia (lidocaine HCl 2% with epinephrine 1:100,000) in the office procedure room. Patients given local anesthesia including epinephrine had significantly lower delayed hemorrhage compared to patients with general anesthesia without injection of local anesthesia (P=0.001). Hemostats, such as fibrin glue or patch, were used for the majority of patients (346, 93.8%) during the procedure. However, using hemostats was not statistically associated with delayed hemorrhage (P=0.163).

CONCLUSION

Local anesthesia with the powerful vasoconstrictor epinephrine is effective not only to control perioperative bleeding, but also to prevent delayed hemorrhage after LEEP.

The role of genital pathogens in morbidity following diathermy loop excision of the transformation zone of the uterine cervix

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the role of genital pathogens in postoperative morbidity following diathermy loop excision of the transformation zone (LETZ) of the uterine cervix.

METHODS

Patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) who underwent diathermy LETZ were included in a prospective study. Cervical swabs for genital pathogens were collected before the diathermy procedure. After surgery, women were followed-up regarding the occurrence and severity of postoperative pain, bleeding, and discharge.

RESULTS

Genital pathogens were present in 463 of 788 (58.8%) cases. The most frequently isolated groups of microorganisms were group B β-hemolytic Streptococcus, α-hemolytic Streptococcus, Enterococcus species, and coliforms. In patients with genital pathogens, postoperative pain was present in 298 (37.8%), discharge in 262 (33.2%), and bleeding in 236 (29.9%) cases. In patients without genital pathogens, 199 (25.3%) experienced pain, 181 (23.0%) discharge, and 143 (18.1%) bleeding. The differences between the 2 groups were not statistically significant (χ(2) for pain=0.675; χ(2) for discharge=0.031; χ(2) for bleeding=3.444; P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Genital pathogens are very common among patients with CIN and do not affect the occurrence or severity of pain, discharge, or postoperative bleeding after diathermy LETZ.

Topical antiseptic agent after large loop excision of the transformation zone: results of a randomised controlled trial

One hundred patients undergoing large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) were randomised to receive postoperative local treatment with sultrin (sulphathiazole 3.42%, sulphacetamide 2.86%, sulphabenzamide 3.7%) pessaries: one pessary twice daily for 5 days, or no treatment. Outcome measures included duration and severity of vaginal bleeding, discharge, pelvic pain, need for oral antibiotic therapy and unplanned hospital admission. There was no significant difference in the severity of symptoms in the treatment and control groups for bleeding, discharge or pain, averaged over the study period. Postoperative morbidity following LLETZ was frequent but mild. Use of prophylactic antiseptic agents is not recommended.

The use of vaginal antimicrobial after large loop excision of transformation zone: a prospective randomised trial

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether the use of an antibacterial vaginal pessary containing tetracycline and amphotericin B would reduce complications from large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ).

DESIGN

Prospective randomised controlled trial.

SETTING

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Hong Kong.

POPULATION

A total of 321 women who underwent LLETZ.

METHODS

Women were randomised to either receiving an antimicrobial vaginal pessary twice a day for 14 days after LLETZ or no medication. Before LLETZ, endocervical and high vaginal swabs were taken for the detection of Chlamydia and other pathogens. All women were given a diary to record the degree of symptoms, such as vaginal discharge, bleeding and pain for 3 weeks. These were then compared between the two groups.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Bleeding, vaginal discharge and pain after LLETZ.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the total bleeding, vaginal discharge and pain scores between the two groups. However, for women who had positive endocervical or high vaginal swabs, the treatment group had significantly less bleeding in the second week (Z=-2.083, P= 0.037) and less overall vaginal discharge (Z=-2.024, P= 0.043).

CONCLUSIONS

An antimicrobial vaginal pessary containing tetracycline and amphotericin B did not provide any significant benefit after LLETZ, except for a subgroup of women with positive vaginal or endocervical swabs. Given that this group of women cannot be identified before the procedure since swabs are not routinely taken, the use of routine prophylactic topical antibiotics cannot be recommended for the general population.

Needle excision of the transformation zone: A new method for treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

OBJECTIVE

This study was undertaken to evaluate a new needle electrode for conization of the cervix that was developed in my department.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a prospective study of 58 unselected women with histologically verified cervical intraepithelial neoplasia who underwent conization with the diathermy needle. The operations were performed with local anesthesia as outpatient procedures. Follow-up time was 5 years.

RESULTS

All cones were removed in one piece and were of high histologic quality. Mean (+/-SD) operating time, including anesthesia, was 7.9 +/- 2.7 minutes. Mean depth of thermal damage was 0.29 +/- 0.21 mm, and mean blood loss was 12.5 +/- 9.4 mL. No late complications have been noted, and 94.8% of patients have required no further treatment.

CONCLUSION

Needle excision of the transformation zone is a simple and effective outpatient procedure that yields a one-piece cone specimen of high quality and carries a success rate of 94.8%.

Do routine antibiotics after loop diathermy excision reduce morbidity?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether routinely giving an antibiotic after loop diathermy excision of the cervical transformation zone reduced post-operative vaginal loss.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomised, double-blind placebo controlled parallel study.

PARTICIPANTS

Five hundred women undergoing loop diathermy excision in a colposcopy clinic.

INTERVENTION

Administration of either ofloxacin 400 mg (2x200 mg) once daily for 5 days or an identical placebo.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Vaginal loss, assessed using a pictorial chart.

RESULTS

No significant difference in post-operative vaginal loss was found.

CONCLUSION

Routine antibiotic prophylaxis after loop diathermy excision is not justified.