Hysterectomy: Let's Step Up the Ladder of Evidence to Look Over the Horizon

Comparison of Perioperative Outcomes Between V-NOTES and Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: A Retrospective Analysis

BACKGROUND

This retrospective study compared the perioperative outcomes of vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (V-NOTES) and total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This analysis included 62 patients: 32 underwent V-NOTES and 30 underwent TLH. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) >30, a history of endometriosis, multiple cesarean sections, or a uterine size >12 week were excluded. Perioperative data-including visual analog scale (VAS) scores, analgesia use, mobilization time, hospitalization duration, and hemoglobin deficit-were compared using independent sample t tests and Mann-Whitney U tests.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in BMI, number of pregnancies, or operative time (p > 0.05). VAS scores at 6 and 24 h were significantly lower in the V-NOTES group (p < 0.001). Patients in the V-NOTES group required less analgesia, had shorter mobilization and hospitalization periods, and returned to daily activities sooner (p < 0.001). However, the hemoglobin deficit was higher in the V-NOTES group (1.85 g/dl vs. 0.7 g/dl, p < 0.001). The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was lower in the V-NOTES group (p = 0.013), whereas the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and mean platelet volume (MPV) did not differ significantly between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

V-NOTES offers advantages such as reduced postoperative pain and faster recovery compared to TLH. The higher hemoglobin deficit observed with V-NOTES may be related to the surgeon's experience. Further randomized studies are warranted to validate these findings and define appropriate patient selection criteria.

Post-radical hysterectomy ovarian torsion-A gynecological emergency: a case series

BACKGROUND

Ovarian torsion is a surgical emergency whereby the ovary twists, or torts, on its ligamentous support and potentially compromises vascular supply to both the ovary and Fallopian tube. It accounts for 2-3% of all acute gynecological emergencies, yet is a condition that is rarely reported to occur after hysterectomy. While it is well established that ovarian torsion can occur after laparoscopic hysterectomy, we report on the rare occurrence of ovarian torsion occurring post the supposedly preventative ovarian transposition suspension procedure or ovariopexy. This highlights that further evaluation of laparoscopic surgical techniques are required to prevent this exquisitely painful gynecological condition occurring postoperatively.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report two cases of ovarian torsion post-primary laparoscopic radical hysterectomy performed for cervical malignancy. Both patients were Caucasian, multiparous, premenopausal female patients, aged 37 and 39 years old. Ovarian transposition suspension was performed at the primary procedure to allow ovarian function to be preserved if the patient's required postoperative pelvic irradiation if surgically upstaged. Both patients underwent emergency laparoscopic detorsion, with one torsion due to reoccurrence of her cervical cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Adnexal torsion is estimated to occur between 1% and 8% in post-hysterectomy cases. It can be a difficult to diagnose condition, with prudent history-taking, relevant investigations, and a low threshold to consider laparoscopy forming essential clinical acumen. Unfortunately, the suspension of the ovaries post-hysterectomy does not exclude future ovarian torsion. With rising rates of cervical cancer in premenopausal women, reportedly increasing by 37% in the 25-34 age range in the United Kingdom (National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service, Public Health England. 2021), further research is needed to improve techniques to allow for safe ovarian conservation for these patients while undergoing operative treatment of cervical cancer.

Laparoscopic prediction of primary cytoreducibility of epithelial ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer affects thousands of women every year and represents the female cancer with the highest mortality rate. Effectively, it is a severe disease that requires a multidisciplinary approach for optimal treatment. Surgery currently is the cornerstone of its treatment and numerous methods have been analyzed and developed to predict the possibility of obtaining a residual tumor of 0 (RT=0). This review aimed to analyze the available data in the literature about minimally invasive surgical methods to predict an RT=0 in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma undergoing primary debulking surgery. An accurate review of the literature has been performed on the available data about the surgical criteria of cytoreducibility during primary debulking surgery. An accurate assessment of the extent of intra- and extra-abdominal pathology is essential to guide the surgeon in the most appropriate therapeutic choice for patients with ovarian cancer and multidisciplinary approaches that combine different methodologies such as radiological methods (magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography and computed tomography), surgical (mini-laparotomy, laparoscopy) and serological (CA-125, HE4) data provide a complete picture in determining the extent of the tumor and an enormous aid in personalizing the therapeutic approach.

Transvaginal natural orifice endoscopic surgery for hysterectomy: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) is widely recognized for its advantages, including reduced postoperative pain and the absence of visible scarring. However, the anatomical specificity required for vNOTES may increase the risk of injury to nearby organs, such as the rectum and bladder. This study aims to evaluate the safety and potential benefits of vNOTES compared to transumbilical laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) for Hysterectomy.

METHODS

The Longitudinal Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery Study (LovNOTESS), conducted in Chengdu, China, included 192 patients who underwent hysterectomy between May and October 2023. This study prospectively collected and compared perioperative and follow-up data between the two groups.

RESULTS

The vNOTES group demonstrated shorter surgery times, postoperative flatus time, and hospital stays, but it also had a higher conversion rate. Specifically, the vNOTES approach reduced surgery duration by approximately 29.8 min (95% CI: -41.31, -18.34, P < 0.001) but increased intraoperative blood loss by about 41.82 mL (95% CI: 25.81, 57.82, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

By combining laparoscopy with traditional vaginal surgery, vNOTES offers advantages such as shorter surgery times, faster postoperative recovery, reduced hospital stays, greater minimal invasiveness, and improved cosmetic outcomes. However, it is essential for surgeons to continually enhance and standardize preoperative assessments and surgical techniques to minimize conversion rates and reduce intraoperative blood loss.

TRIAL REGISTRY NUMBER

ChiCTR2200059282, China Clinical Trials Registry, April 28, 2022.

Interim analysis of robot-assisted radical hysterectomy in Japan: a multicenter, prospective interventional single-arm clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy and safety of robot-assisted radical hysterectomy (RARH) as a minimally invasive procedure in patients with cervical cancer that is curable by surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was a multicenter, open-label, single-arm clinical trial. The short-term outcome of open radical hysterectomy was used as the historical control. The primary endpoint was successful surgery with minimal blood loss (300 mL or less) and negative surgical margins. Secondary endpoints included surgical outcomes, recurrence-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS) rates.

RESULTS

Overall, 101 cases were enrolled in this study at 10 participating medical institutions and 100 underwent RARH. Among these cases, 89 met the primary endpoint, exceeding the threshold of 0.75 set by the lower limit. At 2 years postoperatively, 17 cases had recurrences, 4 were classified as International federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology Stage IB1 or lower, while 13 as IB2 or higher. There were three deaths, including one in Stage IB1 and two in Stage IIB in the second postoperative year, all of which had lymph node metastasis. The oncological outcomes for all cases showed RFS and OS rates of 82.7% and 96.9%, respectively, over a median observation period of 37 months. For cases with Stage IB1, RFS and OS were 94.1% and 98.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

RARH demonstrated a significant reduction in blood loss while ensuring radicality, indicating the safety and efficacy of this procedure compared to conventional RH. Although it is conceivable that the results of this oncological analysis could change, as the data collection has not been fully completed, we plan to further evaluate the oncologic outcomes of RARH in future studies.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

UMIN-CTR: UMIN000022278, registered on 11th May 2016.

Screening of prognostic factors and survival analysis based on histological type for perimenopausal endometrial carcinoma treated with hysterectomy

PURPOSE

This study aimed to explore the prognostic factors and survival patterns based on the histological type for the perimenopausal endometrial carcinoma (PIPEC) patients treated with hysterectomy.

METHODS

The PIPEC patients were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Methods of random survival forest (RSF) and Cox regression were used to identify the possible prognostic factors of PIPEC patients. Then overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) of PIPEC data were analyzed by histological types with regional lymph nodes status and SEER-stage to investigate the survival patterns of the PIPEC patients.

RESULTS

A total of 14,178 PIPEC patients were included in the study. We found tumor size, grade, histology, SEER-stage, AJCC-stage, AJCC-T stage, metastasis to distant organs and regional lymph nodes status had a significant survival outcome for PIPEC both for OS and CSS (all p < 0.05). Regardless of regional lymph nodes status and SEER-stage for OS and CSS, the low-grade endometrioid carcinoma had the best prognosis outcome, followed by the mix cell adenocarcinoma and high-grade endometrioid carcinoma, while the carcinosarcoma and undifferentiated carcinoma had relatively poor prognosis outcome. And the survival patterns of different histological types of PIPEC were diverse and changed along with the time.

CONCLUSION

We identified the possible prognostic factors of PIPEC patients treated with hysterectomy. And survival analysis based on the regional lymph nodes status and SEER-stage revealed the different histological types of PIPEC had diverse survival patterns, which will be helpful for guiding clinical practice.

The comparison of 2D and 3D systems in total laparoscopic hysterectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To evaluate the existing evidence regarding the comparison between 2 and 3D systems in Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy (TLH) in terms of surgical outcomes.

METHODS

A systematic review of electronic databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE and Web of Science, was conducted to identify relevant studies comparing 2D and 3D systems in TLH. The search employed a combination of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and keywords related to the topic. Studies meeting predefined criteria were included, while case reports and studies not directly comparing 2D and 3D systems were excluded. Two independent reviewers evaluated study eligibility and performed quality assessment. The quantitative synthesis was conducted using meta-analysis techniques.

RESULTS

A statistically significant longer operation time in the 2D group compared to the 3D group (7 studies, mean difference [MD]: 13.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 9.35-18.00, I2 = 16%). However, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups in terms of vaginal cuff closure time (2 studies, MD: 3.22, CI - 6.58-13.02, I2 = 96%), complication rate (7 studies, odds ratio [OD]: 1.74, CI 0.70-4.30, I2 = 0%), blood loss (3 studies, MD: 2.92, CI - 15.44-21.28, I2 = 0%), and Hb drop (3 studies, MD: 0.17, CI - 0.08-0.42, I2 = 1%).

CONCLUSION

Our results revealed a significant difference favoring 3D systems in operation time, while clinical outcomes between the two systems were found to be comparable in TLH. However, further research, particularly prospective studies with larger cohorts and longer-term follow-up, along with economic analyses, is needed to provide clinicians and healthcare decision-makers with essential guidance for practice and resource allocation.

Total laparoscopic hysterectomy with posterior cul-de-sac obliteration: step-by-step procedures based on precise anatomical landmarks

BACKGROUND

Dense adhesion due to severe endometriosis between the posterior cervical peritoneum and the anterior sigmoid or rectum obliterates the cul-de-sac and distorts normal anatomic landmarks. Surgery for endometriosis is associated with severe complications, including ureteral and rectal injuries, as well as voiding dysfunction. It is important to develop the retroperitoneal avascular space based on precise anatomical landmarks to minimize the risk of ureteral, rectal, and hypogastric nerve injuries. We herein report the anatomical highlights and standardized and reproducible surgical steps of total laparoscopic hysterectomy for posterior cul-de-sac obliteration.

OPERATIVE TECHNIQUE

We approach the patient with posterior cul-de-sac obliteration using the following five steps. Step 1: Preparation (Mobilization of the sigmoid colon and bladder separation from the uterus). Step 2: Development of the lateral pararectal space and identification of the ureter. Step 3: Isolation of the ureter. Step 4: Development of the medial pararectal space and separation of the hypogastric nerve plane. Step 5: Reopening of the pouch of Douglas.

CONCLUSION

Surgeons should recognize the importance of developing the retroperitoneal avascular space based on precise anatomical landmarks, and each surgical step must be reproducible.

A nomogram model based on SII, AFR, and NLR to predict infectious complications of laparoscopic hysterectomy for cervical cancer

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the potential risk factors associated with postoperative infectious complications following laparoscopic hysterectomy for cervical cancer and to develop a prediction model based on these factors.

METHODS

This study enrolled patients who underwent selective laparoscopic hysterectomy for cervical cancer between 2019 and 2024. A multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors associated with postoperative infectious complications. A nomogram prediction model was subsequently constructed and evaluated using R software.

RESULTS

Out of 301 patients were enrolled and 38 patients (12.6%) experienced infectious complications within one month postoperatively. Six variables were independent risk factors for postoperative infectious complications: age ≥ 60 (OR: 3.06, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06-8.79, P = 0.038), body mass index (BMI) ≥ 24.0 (OR: 3.70, 95%CI: 1.4-9.26, P = 0.005), diabetes (OR: 2.91, 95% CI: 1.10-7.73, P = 0.032), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) ≥ 830 (OR: 6.95, 95% CI: 2.53-19.07, P < 0.001), albumin-to-fibrinogen ratio (AFR) < 9.25 (OR: 4.94, 95% CI: 2.02-12.07, P < 0.001), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) ≥ 3.45 (OR: 7.53, 95% CI: 3.04-18.62, P < 0.001). Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated an area under the curve (AUC) of this nomogram model of 0.928, a sensitivity of 81.0%, and a specificity of 92.1%.

CONCLUSIONS

The nomogram model, incorporating age, BMI, diabetes, SII, AFR, and NLR, demonstrated strong predictive capabilities for postoperative infectious complications following laparoscopic hysterectomy for cervical cancer.

Nomogram for predicting difficult total laparoscopic hysterectomy: a multi-institutional, retrospective model development and validation study

BACKGROUND

Total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) is the most commonly performed gynaecological surgery. However, the difficulty of the operation varies depending on the patient and surgeon. Subsequently, patient's outcomes and surgical efficiency are affected. The authors aimed to develop and validate a preoperative nomogram to predict the operative difficulty in patients undergoing TLH.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 663 patients with TLH from Southwest Hospital and 102 patients from 958th Hospital in Chongqing, China. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent predictors of operative difficulty, and a nomogram was constructed. The performance of the nomogram was validated internally and externally.

RESULTS

The uterine weight, history of pelvic surgery, presence of adenomyosis, surgeon's years of practice, and annual hysterectomy volume were identified as significant independent predictors of operative difficulty. The nomogram demonstrated good discrimination in the training dataset [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), 0.827 (95% CI, 0.783-0.872], internal validation dataset [AUC, 0.793 (95% CI, 0.714-0.872)], and external validation dataset [AUC, 0.756 [95% CI, 0.658-0.854)]. The calibration curves showed good agreement between the predictions and observations for both internal and external validations.

CONCLUSION

The developed nomogram accurately predicted the operative difficulty of TLH, facilitated preoperative planning and patient counselling, and optimized surgical training. Further prospective multicenter clinical studies are required to optimize and validate this model.

Intraoperative frozen section pathology of vaginal margin in radical hysterectomy on the prognosis and quality of life for patients with IB2-IIA2 cervical cancer: study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Several risk factors have been identified that compromise the treatment outcome in patients with early-to-mid-stage cervical cancer (CC) who are primarily treated with radical surgery. However, there is no report on the impact of intraoperative frozen pathology examination of vaginal margins on the prognosis of patients with CC. This study aimed to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to determine whether selective vaginal resection can reduce the incidence of operative complications and the risk of postoperative radiotherapy. The impact of the length of the vagina removed in radical hysterectomy (RH) on prognosis and quality of life (QoL) for IB2-IIA2 CC patients will be investigated.

METHODS

A multicenter, non-inferiority, RCT at 7 institutions in China is designed to investigate the effect of intraoperative frozen pathology exam of vaginal margin in RH on the survival outcomes for patients with IB2-IIA2 CC. Eligible patients aged 18-70 years will be randomly assigned online by one-to-one random allocation to receive intraoperative frozen pathology exam of vaginal margin or not. If frozen pathology indicates positive margin, continue resection of 1 centimeter of vaginal tissue until negative margin is achieved. The primary end point is 2-year disease-free survival (DFS). Adverse events (AEs) caused by further vagina resection, 5-year DFS, 2-year overall survival (OS), 5-year OS and AEs caused by radiotherapy and QoL are secondary end points. A total of 310 patients will be enrolled from 7 tertiary hospitals in China within 3-year period and followed up for 5 years.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2000035668.

A case control study of vNOTES hysterectomy with the da Vinci surgical system and conventional vNOTES hysterectomy

The aim of the case control study was to compare surgical outcomes of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) hysterectomy with the da Vinci surgical system (dVSS) and conventional vNOTES. A case control study was performed on 25 cases in our hospital. Patients (n = 8) who underwent vNOTES hysterectomy with dVSS were selected to compare with the control group (n = 17) consisted of patients who underwent conventional vNOTES. Patients in the 2 groups underwent different operations respectively, and no case was transferred to transabdominal laparoscopy. In the conventional vNOTES group, 1 patient happened intraoperative hemorrhage of about 1000 mL, and was treated with blood transfusion, and the other one of vNOTES hysterectomy with dVSS had poor incision healing within 1 month after surgery. The other patients had no intraoperative and postoperative complications. The difference of pain scores on the first day (P = .006) and the third day (P = .045) after the 2 surgical methods differed significantly. No statistical differences were observed in operation time, median hospital stay, blood loss, decreased hemoglobin 3 days after surgery, and postoperative white blood cell count. vNOTES hysterectomy with dVSS is safe and feasible, and can achieve the same effect as the conventional vNOTES hysterectomy. And this method may alleviate the pain of patients.

Unveiling the uncommon: vault hematoma and vault cellulitis following hysterectomy - a comprehensive narrative review

Hysterectomy is a common surgical procedure performed to remove the uterus. This is considered as a clean-contaminated surgical procedure. It is a safe procedure, but major and minor complications can occur, including vault hematoma and vault cellulitis, which are specific to the surgical site. Vault hematoma is the accumulation of blood within the vaginal vault, while vault cellulitis is an infection of the vaginal vault or the surgical cuff following a hysterectomy. Vault hematoma may be caused by trauma during surgery, improper hemostasis or infection. Smaller hematomas may resolve with conservative management, but larger vault hematomas and infected hematomas may need surgical drainage and antibiotic coverage. Vault cellulitis typically occurs due to the introduction of bacteria into the surgical site which may occur due to inappropriate postoperative care and contaminated materials. The patient may present with pelvic pain and fever. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are typically prescribed to treat the infection. While both these complications are relatively rare and appear to be mild, healthcare providers should be vigilant in recognizing and managing them promptly to prevent adverse outcomes. Prophylactic antibiotics should be administered before the surgery to reduce the risk of infection. Care should be taken to minimize tissue trauma, ensure proper hemostasis, and maintain strict aseptic techniques during surgery.

Key drivers of hysterectomy among women of reproductive age in three states in India: comparative evidence from NFHS-4 and NFHS-5

PURPOSE

According to the 4th and 5th rounds of National Family Health Survey (NFHS), there is high prevalence of hysterectomies in the three states of Andhra Pradesh Telangana and Bihar. The three said states have more than double the number of hysterectomies taking place than the national average. Our purpose is to analyse whether these rates are increasing, decreasing or have stabilized and their reasons thereof. Such an analyses will help the policy makers in recommending good clinical practices within their states.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We used data from NFHS-4 (2015-16) and NFHS-5 (2019-2021) rounds. We calculated the differences in predicted probabilities for various factors, performed a Fairlie Decomposition analyses to quantify the positive and negative contributors in the prevalence of hysterectomy across the three states over two time points, and assessed the association of various socio-demographic characteristics to hysterectomy through a multilevel logistic regression model.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

The results show that out of a total of 80,976 eligible respondents from the states under study, 5826 respondents self-reported that they had a hysterectomy done. It was found that older age, living in rural areas, belonging to other backward classes and higher wealth quintile, and higher parity positively contributed to the increased prevalence of hysterectomies in the three states. Higher educational attainment and previous use of family planning methods acted as protective factors. Characteristics at the household level had the highest intra-class correlation value in the prevalence of hysterectomy among women, followed by the Primary Sampling Unit and District levels, indicating high clustering in the prevalence of hysterectomy at the household level in all three states. Heavy menstrual bleeding/pain was the leading cause of hysterectomies in all three states, followed by fibroids/cysts in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and Uterine disorder/ prolapse in Bihar. Over 80% of hysterectomies took place in the private hospitals.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The study recommends better, more efficient and accountable hysterectomy surveillance to ensure more sustainable woman's reproductive health services in India. Government should adopt and implement standard regulatory guidelines to prevent provider-driven avoidable hysterectomies. Moreover, we recommend informing primary care professionals about the long-term health effects of hysterectomy and promoting alternate therapies for treating uterine fibroids and heavy bleeding.

Comparing the efficacy and safety of three surgical approaches for total hysterectomy (TSATH): protocol for a multicentre, single-blind, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Hysterectomy is the most common surgical procedure in the field of gynaecology. The traditional multiport laparoscopy, transumbilical laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (TU-LESS) and transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) hysterectomy approaches have been implemented to varying degrees in clinical practice. At present, although their feasibility has been proven, there are no large randomised controlled studies on postoperative rehabilitation. This study aims to evaluate postoperative recovery and assess the safety and effectiveness of these three surgical approaches for total laparoscopic hysterectomy.

METHOD AND ANALYSIS

This is a multicentre, randomised, single-blind, three-arm, parallel-group, interventional clinical trial. Recruitment will be carried out in five tertiary hospitals in China. Patients diagnosed with benign uterine disease or precancerous lesions will be assigned to the vNOTES group, TU-LESS group and conventional laparoscopy group at a 1:1:1 ratio. The achievement rate of comprehensive indices of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) within 24 hours postoperatively will be considered the primary outcome (the comprehensive indicators of ERAS include fluid intake, passing flatus, urination after catheter removal, ambulation and a Visual Analogue Scale score ≤3.) This study will use a non-inferiority test, with a power (1-ß) of 80% and a margin of -0.15, at a one-sided α of 0.0125. The sample size will be 480 patients (including an assumed 15% dropout rate), calculated according to the primary outcome.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study was approved on 25 April 2022 by the Medical Ethics Committee of West China Second University Hospital (2022(057)), Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. All participants will be required to provide informed consent before their participation in the study. The results of the trial will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at international conferences.

PROTOCOL VERSION

V.3.0, 31 August 2023.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR2200057405.

Factors influencing same-day discharge after minimally invasive hysterectomy for malignant and non-malignant gynecological diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

To explore the factors influencing the successful implementation of same-day discharge in patients undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy for malignant and non-malignant gynecological diseases.

Method

We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and Clinical Trials.gov from inception to May 23, 2023. We included case-control and cohort studies published in English reporting same-day discharge factors in patients undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy for malignant and non-malignant gynecological diseases. STATA 16.0 was used for the meta-analysis. Risk factors were assessed using odds ratios (OR) (relative risk (RR)/hazard ratios (HR)) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), and logistic regression determined the same-day discharge rate (%).

Results

We analyzed 29 studies with 218192 patients scheduled for or meeting same-day discharge criteria. The pooled rates were 50% (95% CI 0.46-0.55), and were similar for malignant and non-malignant gynecological diseases (48% and 47%, respectively). In terms of basic characteristics, an increase in age (OR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.05), BMI (OR: 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01-1.03), and comorbidities including diabetes and lung disease were risk factors affecting SDD, while previous abdominal surgery history (OR: 1.54; 95% CI: 0.93-2.55) and hypertension (OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 0.80-2.93) appeared not to affect SDD. In terms of surgical characteristics, radical hysterectomy (OR: 3.46; 95% CI: 1.90-6.29), surgery starting after 14:00 (OR: 4.07; 95% CI: 1.36-12.17), longer surgical time (OR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.06), intraoperative complications (OR: 4.68; 95% CI: 1.78-12.27), postoperative complications (OR: 3.97; 95% CI: 1.68-9.39), and surgeon preference (OR: 4.47; 95% CI: 2.08-9.60) were identified as risk factors. However, robotic surgery (OR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.14-1.42) and intraoperative blood loss (OR: 1.16; 95% CI: 0.98-1.38) did not affect same-day discharge.

Conclusions

An increase in age, body mass index, and distance to home; certain comorbidities (e.g., diabetes, lung disease), radical hysterectomy, surgery starting after 14:00, longer surgical time, operative complications, and surgeon preference were risk factors preventing same-day discharge. Same-day discharge rates were similar between malignant and non-malignant gynecological diseases. The surgery start time and body mass index have a greater impact on same-day discharge for malignant diseases than non-malignant diseases.

OS and DFS are affected by different diagnostic methods and hysterectomy procedures in endometrial cancer patients: A single-center retrospective study

PURPOSE

We aimed to evaluate whether hysteroscopy increases the risk of intraperitoneal dissemination or worsens the prognosis of endometrial carcinoma (EC) patients and whether radical hysterectomy (RH) improves overall survival (OS) or disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with stage II to III EC and to investigate the effects of different procedures for identifying EC and the effects of different surgical methods on the OS and DFS of endometrial cancer patients.

METHODS

Four hundred sixty-five women with EC were included in this retrospective study. Log-rank tests and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used for the outcome comparisons of the effects of the EC diagnostic method and different hysterectomy procedures. A Cox proportional hazards model was used for univariate regression analysis.

RESULTS

Among the three procedures for diagnosing EC (diagnostic curettage, hysteroscopy, and hysterectomy), the incidences of fallopian tube and ovarian invasion were not significantly different (p = 0.506 and 0.066, respectively). The diagnostic methods for EC had no significant effect on OS (p = 0.577) or DFS (p = 0.294). In addition, type II RH and type III RH did not improve the prognosis of patients with FIGO stage II and III disease (log-rank p = 0.914 and 0.810 for OS; log-rank p = 0.707 and 0.771 for DFS, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Based on the current study evidence, the use of diagnostic hysteroscopy procedures is safe and does not increase the risk of fallopian tube and ovarian invasion of intraperitoneal dissemination or worsen the prognosis of EC patients. Type II and type III RH did not demonstrate a benefit for stage II-III EC patients.

A retrospective analysis of robot-assisted total hysterectomy by transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery

Objective

The present study aimed to explore the feasibility and safety of robot-assisted total hysterectomy by transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES).

Methods

In this study, the clinical data of 37 patients who underwent da Vinci robot-assisted total hysterectomy by vNOTES between September 1, 2019 and March 31, 2022 at the Department of Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical characteristics, operative postoperative complications, surgical outcomes, and postoperative pain scores were collected and analyzed.

Results

The average age of the patients included in the study was 47.43 ± 4.44 years. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated using the formula BMI = body weight (kg)/height2 (m2). The average BMI was 23.16 ± 2.72 kg/m2. Among the 37 patients, 30 patients underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy, of which 11 patients underwent ovarian cystectomy simultaneously. Among these 11 patients, three had bilateral ovarian cysts and eight had unilateral ovarian cysts, with the largest cyst diameter measuring 8 cm. The remaining seven patients underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The average operative time was 86.19 ± 17.83 min, and the estimated intraoperative blood loss was 24.46 ± 15.40 mL, with no intraoperative complications reported. The time to the first postoperative exhaust was 18.51 ± 6.63 h, and the average postoperative length of hospital stay was 3.81 ± 1.05 days. The postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores were 5.30 ± 0.91 at 24 h after surgery, 3.30 ± 0.70 at 36 h after surgery, and 1.14 ± 0.92 at 48 h after surgery. Only one patient experienced a fever exceeding 38.5 °C, which resolved after receiving antibiotic treatment.

Conclusion

The use of the da Vinci robot-assisted total hysterectomy by vNOTES demonstrated safety and offers several advantages. These include reduced surgical trauma, an aesthetic incision, decreased pain, and shorter duration of postoperative exhaust time and hospital stay. These benefits contribute to accelerated postoperative rehabilitation.

Early-stage cervical cancer treatment - what's new?

The gold standard of treatment for patients with early-stage cervical cancer is radical hysterectomy, in agreement with the entire scientific community. During the last decade, growing evidence has supported the minimally invasive approach. Several studies have suggested that the minimally invasive approach could improve surgical and perioperative outcomes. Because of these findings, ESCO/ESTRO/ESP guidelines state that a "minimally invasive approach is favoured" in comparison with open surgery, as a grade B recommendation. Because of the lack of a grade A recommendation, this randomized Laparoscopic Approach to Cervical Cancer trial evaluated open vs. minimally invasive approach in the early stage. It demonstrated an increase in mortality among patients treated with minimally invasive surgery, revolutionizing current thinking on the primary surgical approach to early cervical cancer. The aim of this study is to analyse which is the best treatment for early cervical cancer and which approach is the most effective at the moment. Further studies are needed to state with certainty the appropriateness of the treatments offered to patients with early cervical cancer.

Analgesic Efficacy of Intraoperative Superior Hypogastric Plexus (SHP) Block during Abdominal Hysterectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Controlled Trials

Background and Objectives: Abdominal hysterectomy is a major surgery that is often associated with pronounced postsurgical pain. The objective of this research is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and nonrandomized comparative trials (NCTs) that have surveyed the analgesic benefits and morbidity of intraoperative superior hypogastric plexus (SHP) block (intervention) compared with no SHP block (control) during abdominal hysterectomy. Materials and Methods: The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Embase were searched from inception until 8 May 2022. The Cochrane Collaboration tool and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale were used to evaluate the risk of bias of RCTs and NCTs, respectively. In a random effects mode, the data were pooled as risk ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Five studies (four RCTs and one NCT) comprising 210 patients (SHP block = 107 and control = 103) were analyzed. The overall postsurgical pain score (n = 5 studies, MD = -1.08, 95% CI [-1.41, -0.75], p < 0.001), postsurgical opioid consumption (n = 4 studies, MD = -18.90 morphine milligram equivalent, 95% CI, [-22.19, -15.61], p < 0.001), and mean time to mobilization (n = 2 studies, MD = -1.33 h, 95% CI [-1.98, -0.68], p < 0.001) were significantly decreased in the SHP block group contrasted with the control arm. Nevertheless, there was no significant variance between both arms regarding operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postsurgical NSAID consumption, and hospital stay. There were no major side effects or sympathetic block-related aftermaths in both groups. Conclusions: During abdominal hysterectomy and receiving perioperative multimodal analgesia, the administration of intraoperative SHP block is largely safe and exhibits better analgesic effects compared to cases without administration of SHP block.

Hysterectomy Using Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery Compared with Classic Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: A New Advantageous Approach? A Systematic Review on Surgical Outcomes

INTRODUCTION

Minimally invasive surgery aims to reduce surgical trauma and post-operative morbidity. Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery is a safe and valid surgical option for hysterectomy. The present systematic review aims to compare hysterectomy by transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) with laparoscopic hysterectomy in terms of efficacy, surgical outcomes, complications, and cost.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. It includes randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, prospective or retrospective cohorts, case-control studies, and previous systematic reviews. Inclusion criteria are as follows: female patients undergoing hysterectomy for benign pathologies by vNOTES or laparoscopic hysterectomy. The assessed outcomes were the following: conversion rate, mean uterus weight (g), operative time (mins), hospital stay (days), peri-operative complications, post-operative complications, peri-operative blood loss (mL), blood transfusion needs, post-operative day 1 hemoglobin (Hb) change (g/dL), post-operative pain level (VAS), and cost (USD) in both techniques.

RESULTS

Seven studies were included. vNOTES hysterectomy was not inferior to laparoscopic hysterectomy regarding surgical outcomes, with a shorter operative time, shorter recovery time, less post-operative pain, and fewer post-operative complications. There was no significant difference in the rate of peri-operative complications and no differences in peri-operative blood loss, post-operative day 1 Hb change, and transfusions. Nevertheless, vNOTES hysterectomy was shown to be more expensive than its laparoscopic counterpart.

CONCLUSIONS

While the feasibility and safety of the vNOTES hysterectomy were already established, this review also underlines the noninferiority of this technique when compared to laparoscopic hysterectomy in terms of surgical outcomes. In addition, vNOTES hysterectomy was associated with faster operating time, shorter hospital stay, and better post-operative pain scores compared with laparoscopic hysterectomy.