Risk of Essure microinsert abdominal migration: case report and review of literature

Confirmation of the systematic presence of tin particles in fallopian tubes or uterine horns of Essure implant explanted patients: A study of 18 cases with the same pathological process

OBJECTIVE

To examine associations between local and systemic symptoms and the wear of the tin weld of Essure implants.

DESIGN

study of a series of cases.

SETTINGS

Two French hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS

Eighteen patients explanted by hysterectomy and salpingectomy for removal of their Essure implants between September 2019 and July 2020, have had a common anatomopathological process.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

anatomopathological examination by optical microscopy and mineralogical analysis of the fallopian tube or uterine horn with scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX). Evaluation of local and systemic symptoms with a questionnaire. Examination of blood metal assays (nickel, chromium, and tin).

RESULTS

anatomopathological examination highlights foreign body granulomas, fibrosis, adenomyosis, nonspecific inflammation, cysts and myomas in the Fallopian tubes, uterine horns, or both and mentions the presence of foreign bodies in seven cases. SEM-EDX analyses showed, systematically, the presence of tin particles integrated in the wall near the weld, generally in clusters, and with a size ranging from about one micron to several dozen microns. The questionnaire shows that the most frequent local symptoms were pelvic pain, urinary disorders, bleeding, and pains during intercourse. The most common systemic symptoms were: asthenia, visual disturbances, amnesia, giddiness, dorsal pains, headaches, and joint pains. The majority of local and systemic symptoms decreased after explantation, but sometimes incompletely. Before explantation, high levels of nickel, tin and chromium were observed in 11/17, 1/7 and 2/17 patients. After explantation, tin levels were high in 3/11 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

our new anatomopathological process systematically demonstrates the presence of tin particles in tissue near the weld. These particles could be responsible for granulomatous inflammations as well as local symptoms. Many of the systemic symptoms are consistent with chronic organotin poisoning but further studies are needed to find out whether tin from the solder can be converted to organotin in the patients' bodies.

Identification of inorganic particles resulting from degradation of ESSURE® implants: Study of 10 cases

OBJECTIVE

Approximately 750,000 women worldwide have undergone ESSURE hysteroscopic sterilization since 2002. In 2015, an increase in adverse effects was noted, with gynaecological and systemic symptoms reported. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of fallopian tube and uterine horn tissues and implants, after hysterectomy or salpingectomy, revealed the presence of inorganic particles resulting from implant degradation.

STUDY DESIGN

Ten patients (age 42-53 years) were included in this study. Of these, eight patients had undergone hysterectomy and two patients had undergone salpingectomy. Mean exposure time was 85.5 months (standard deviation 26.8 months, range 34-105 months). Mineralogical analyses were performed on 13 tissue biopsies and four implants by SEM coupled with energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry.

RESULTS

In five of the 10 patients, tin particles were observed in fallopian tube or uterine horn tissues with inflammatory cell reactions. In the other five cases, iron, chromium, nickel or platinum particles were observed. For implants, major deterioration of the weld zone was observed with either destroyed appearance or the presence of an organic coating containing numerous particles.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Analysis of the preclinical studies performed by the manufacturer suggests that degradation of the tin weld plays a major role in these adverse events, with increasing leaching and corrosion between 3 and 6 months for an intratubal insert that si designed to remain in an woman's body for her entire life. For patients with gynaecological symptoms (e.g. pain, metrorragies) needing explantation, these findings raise the question of a causal relationship between tin particles from implant degradation and the inflammatory tissue response. For patients with systemic symptoms (e.g. blurred vision, headache, asthenia, myalgia), the hypothesis that these symptoms may be related to the formation of organotin (chemical compounds based on tin with hydrocarbon substituents) in the body has yet to be proven. Tin levels in blood have to be measured before and after explantation. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to report significant degradation of the ESSURE implant weld, evidenced by the detection of tin particles in the uterine tissue of patients and comparison of the welding zone between unused and used implants.

Laparoscopic Removal of a Retroperitoneal Hysteroscopic Microinsert Using Fluoroscopy

Perforation during placement of hysteroscopic microinserts for permanent sterilization occurs in approximately .9% to 2.6% of women undergoing the procedure. Most of the time perforation results in intraperitoneal placement of the hysteroscopic microinsert requiring laparoscopy or laparotomy for removal of the device. Herein we present a case of hysteroscopic microinsert perforation with subsequent retroperitoneal identification of the device. This is the first such case to our knowledge of retroperitoneal identification and retrieval of a perforated device that required real-time fluoroscopy during laparoscopy.

Combined hysteroscopy-laparoscopy approach for excision of pelvic nitinol fragment from Essure contraceptive device: Role of intraoperative fluoroscopy for uterine conservation

We describe the successful removal of a pelvic contraceptive coil in a symptomatic 46-year-old patient who had Essure devices for four years, using a combined hysteroscopy-laparoscopy-fluoroscopy approach. Following normal hysteroscopy, at laparoscopy the right Essure implant was disrupted and its outer nitinol coil had perforated the fallopian tube. However, the inner rod (containing polyethylene terephthalate) had migrated to an extrapelvic location, near the proximal colon. In contrast, the left implant was situated within the corresponding tube. Intraoperative fluoroscopy was used to confirm complete removal of the device, which was further verified by postoperative computed tomography. The patient's condition improved after surgery and she continues to do well. This is the first report to describe this technique in managing Essure complications remote from time of insertion. Our case highlights the value and limitations of preoperative and intraoperative imaging to map Essure fragment location before surgery.

Referrals for complications following hysteroscopic sterilisation: characteristics associated with symptomatic patients after the Essure procedure

OBJECTIVE

This report summarises recent experience with a series of symptomatic Essure® patients with an emphasis on clinical presentation, preoperative imaging, surgical intervention, and outcome.

METHODS

This case series presents Essure® patients (n = 7) who sought medical consultation for various complications. This retrospective analysis is based on consultations during a six-month interval beginning in April 2015.

RESULTS

In this sample, mean (± SD) patient age was 35.9 ± 3.4 yrs. The gravida/parity status was 3.6 ± 1.1 and 2.4 ± 1.4, respectively. Average duration of exposure to Essure® coils among these patients was 25.6 ± 24.5 (range 5-67) months. Except for one woman, these patients had hysteroscopic sterilisation (HS) either with heavy sedation or under general anaesthesia. More than two Essure® devices were implanted in two women. Complications reported after HS included device migration, coil fragmentation, tissue perforation, and vaginal expulsion of Essure® fragment. Three of seven women have required hysterectomy.

CONCLUSION

The current series offers evidence of migration of contraceptive coils as well as Essure® inserts perforating tissue and being spontaneously expelled. Evaluation of symptomatic HS patients should include determining how many devices have been implanted, as some women have more than two.

Surgical excision of Essure® devices with ESHRE Class IIb uterine malformation: sequential hysteroscopic-laparoscopic approach to the septate uterus

OBJECTIVE

While contraindications to Essure® placement have been provided by the manufacturer, there is no consensus on how best to remove these contraceptive devices. Here, we describe a non-hysterectomy removal of Essure® for a patient with a septate uterus (ESHRE Class IIb uterine malformation).

CLINICAL CASE

A 35yr old G4 P2 presented for removal of Essure® implants after three years of gradually increasing pelvic pain, weight gain, headache, dizziness, lower extremity paresthesia, and fatigue which followed hysteroscopic sterilization (HS). Prior to HS, the patient was in good general health. She did not smoke and had never had a miscarriage. HS was performed under general anesthesia in October 2012. HSG obtained three months later, confirmed bilateral tubal occlusion but revealed an abnormal uterine cavity. A repeat HSG in 2015 showed minimal device migration, no contrast dye spill and a deeply bifid uterine cavity. At our center laparoscopic cornual dissection and bilateral partial tubal resection achieved removal of both devices intact and the patient was discharged three hours after surgery. Her postoperative recovery was uneventful.

CONCLUSION

The presence of a Müllerian anomaly is a relative contraindication to the Essure® procedure. This is the first reported description of successful removal of Essure® coils in the setting of an ESHRE Class IIb uterine anomaly, and underscores the importance of careful patient selection, accurate pre-operative imaging and a conservative technique which renders hysterectomy unnecessary.

Essure Microinsert Abdominal Migration after Hysteroscopic Tubal Sterilization of an Appropriately Placed Essure Device: Dual Case Reports and Review of the Literature

Background. The Essure device is a method of permanent sterilization widely used in the US that has proven to be safe and effective in most cases. However, there have been reports of device migration that have led to failed tubal occlusion as well as several other serious complications resulting from the presence of the device in the abdominal cavity. Case. This paper represents two cases of failed tubal occlusion by an appropriately placed Essure device without signs or symptoms of further complications related to device migration. Conclusion. Although there have only been 13 reported cases of abdominal device migration since November 2014, this case indicates that the actual number may be higher than reported since it is possible for migration to occur without additional complications. In the majority of reported cases of abdominal migration a major complication requiring surgical correction occurred, such as adhesions, small bowel obstruction, bowel perforation, or persistent pelvic pain. To avoid these complications it is recommended that migrating implants be removed; however, this case also represents an example of when a migrating device may remain in situ in an asymptomatic patient.

Contraceptive failure after hysteroscopic sterilization: Analysis of clinical and demographic data from 103 unplanned pregnancies

Objective

This investigation examined data on unplanned pregnancies following hysteroscopic sterilization (HS).

Methods

A confidential questionnaire was used to collect data from women with medically confirmed pregnancy (n=103) registered after undergoing HS.

Results

Mean (±SD) patient age and body mass index (BMI) were 29.5±4.6 years and 27.7±6.1 kg/m², respectively. Peak pregnancy incidence was reported at 10 months after HS, although <3% of unplanned pregnancies occurred within the first three months following HS. Mean (±SD) interval between HS and pregnancy was 19.6±14.9 (range, 2 to 84) months. Patients age ≥30 years and BMI <25 reported conception after HS somewhat sooner than younger patients, although the differences in time to pregnancy were not significant (P=0.24 and 0.09, respectively). The recommended post-HS hysterosalpingogram (to confirm proper placement and bilateral tubal occlusion) was obtained by 66% (68/103) of respondents.

Conclusion

This report is the first to provide patient-derived data on contraceptive failures after HS. While adherence to backup contraception 3 months after HS can be poor, many unintended pregnancies with HS occur long after the interval when alternate contraceptive is required. Many patients who obtain HS appear to ignore the manufacturer's guidance regarding the post-procedure hysterosalpingogram to confirm proper device placement, although limited insurance coverage likely contributes to this problem. The greatest number of unplanned pregnancies occurred 10 months after HS, but some unplanned pregnancies were reported up to 7 years later. Age, BMI, or surgical history are unlikely to predict contraceptive failure with HS. Further follow-up studies are planned to capture additional data on this issue.