Search

Study Objective: To assess features of power morcellators (blade diameter, circular vs oscillating cutting, blade rotation speed, experience level) regarding their effect on the amount of tissue spill. In addition, the amount of tissue spill after the initial two-thirds and final one-third of the morcellated specimen was evaluated.Design: In vitro study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).Setting: Laparoscopic skills lab of an academic hospital.Patients: Not applicable.Intervention: Power morcellation of beef tongue specimens.Measurements and Main Results: Twenty-four trials were performed. Morcellation was performed in 2 phases (phase 1: initial two-thirds of the total tissue; phase 2: last one-third of the tissue). With larger blade diameter a decline was observed in both the weight of the spilled particles (phase 1) and the number of spilled particles (phases 1 and 2 and both combined) (weight phase 1: 6.5 g vs 6.3 g vs 2.2 g for 12.5 mm vs 15 mm vs 20 mm, respectively, p = .04; number particles: phase 1, 10.2 vs 7.2 vs 2.7, p = .01; phase 2, 22.9 vs 19.0 vs 8.9, p = .02; total, 34.7 vs 26.2 vs 11.6, p = .01). Also, spinning of the tissue mass due to torque applied by the rotating blade occurred later when blade size increased, and the size of the spilled particles was larger (weight of morcellated tissue at onset of torque: 136 g vs 198 g vs 222 g, p = .07; size: .6 g vs .9 g vs .8 g, p = .1). In the oscillation mode there was less total spill (6.8 g/100 g vs 21.3 g/100 g, p = .01, for oscillation and circular cutting, respectively).Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that less spill is created by power morcellators with an oscillating blade and/or a large diameter (≥20 mm). Furthermore, when using a large-diameter blade the spilled particles are larger, and less morcellation repetitions are needed. By combining these features with currently introduced contained morcellation, the safety of the morcellation process with respect to tissue spill can be further improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Objectives To assess the implementation of advanced laparoscopic gynecologic surgical procedures, assess the number of gynecologists performing these procedures, and highlight the distribution of surgical approaches to hysterectomy. Design Observational multicenter study. Design Classification Canadian Task Force classification II-2. Setting All hospitals in The Netherlands. Sample Minimally invasive surgical procedures performed in all 90 hospitals in the year 2012, and the number of gynecologists performing these procedures. Data were compared with national surveys conducted in 2002 and 2007. Interventions The number of advanced laparoscopic gynecologic procedures, the number of gynecologists performing these procedures, and the distribution of approaches to hysterectomy were collected through a Web-based questionnaire. Measurements and Main Results The response rate was 96% (86 of 90 hospitals). A total of 4979 advanced laparoscopic gynecologic procedures were performed in 2012 (mean per hospital, 58; median, 50.5; SD, 44.4), which is a significant increase over 2007 (95% CI, 30.3–46.5; p < .001). The proportion of laparoscopic hysterectomy increased from 3% in 2002 to 10% in 2007 and to 36% in 2012. The proportions of abdominal hysterectomy (68% in 2002, 54% in 2007, and 39% in 2012) and vaginal hysterectomy (29% in 2002, 36% in 2007, and 25% in 2012) decreased significantly. However, approximately 37% of gynecologists (n = 76) and 12% of hospitals (n = 9) performed fewer than 20 advanced laparoscopic procedures (level 3 and level 4) annually. Conclusions Implementation of advanced laparoscopic gynecologic procedures has accelerated tremendously in the last decade, owing mainly to the increased number of laparoscopic hysterectomies. A significant shift has occurred from abdominal and vaginal hysterectomies toward a laparoscopic approach. The vaginal hysterectomy should be brought back in focus, to prevent the deterioration of skills needed to perform this least invasive approach. Furthermore, the introduction of case volume as quality assessment is sure to have consequences for daily gynecologic surgical practice in The Netherlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Objective To assess the basic morcellation process in laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH). Proper understanding of this process may help enhance future efficacy of morcellation regarding the prevention of tissue scatter. Design Time-action analysis was performed based on video imaging of the procedures (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting Procedures were performed at Leiden University Medical Centre and St Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Patients Women undergoing LSH for benign conditions. Interventions Power morcellation of uterine tissue. Measurements and Main Results The morcellation process was divided into 4 stages: tissue manipulation, tissue cutting, tissue depositing, and cleaning. Stages were timed, and perioperative data were gathered. Data were analyzed as a whole and after subdivision into 3 groups according to uterine weight: <350 g, 350 to 750 g, and >750 g. A cutoff point was found at a uterine weight of 350 g, after which an increase in uterine weight did not affect the cleaning stage. The tissue strip cutting time was used as a measure for tissue strip length. With progression of the morcellation process, the tissue strip cutting time decreases. The majority of cutting time is of short duration (i.e., 60% of the cutting lasts 5 seconds or less), and these occur later on in the morcellation process. Conclusion With the current power morcellators, the amount of tissue spread peaks and is independent of uterine weight after a certain cutoff point (in this study 350 g). There is a relative inefficiency in the rotational mechanism because mostly small tissue strips are created. These small tissue strips occur increasingly later on in the procedure. Because small tissue strips are inherently more prone to scatter by the rotational mechanism of the morcellator, the risk of tissue spread is highest at the end of the morcellation procedure. This means that LSH and laparoscopic hysterectomy procedures may be at higher risk for tissue scatter than total laparoscopic hysterectomy. Finally, engineers should evaluate how to create only large tissue strips or assess alternatives to the rotational mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Study Objective: To assess all electromechanical morcellators used in gynecology to achieve an objective comparison between them and to make suggestions for improvements in future developments. Design: Literature review. Intervention: The PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and MAUDE databases were systematically searched for all available literature using the terms “morcellator,” “morcellators,” “morcellate,” “morcellation,” and “morcellated.” All articles with information on morcellation time and morcellated tissue mass or the calculated morcellation rate of electromechanical morcellators used for gynecologic laparoscopic surgery were included. For general data of an existing morcellator, the manufacturer was contacted and Google was searched. Data for morcellation rate, type of procedure, and general characteristics were compared. Measurements and Main Results: Seven articles were suitable for analysis, and 11 different morcellators were found. In the past decades the morcellation rate has increased. The described morcellation rate ranged from 6.2 to 40.4 g/min. Motor peeling is currently the fastest working principle. Comparing hysterectomy and myomectomy per device, the Morcellex and Rotocut morcellators demonstrated a higher morcellation rate for myomectomy, 25.9 vs 30 g/min and 28.4 vs 33.1 g/min, respectively, although the X-Tract morcellator showed a higher rate for hysterectomy, 14.2 vs 11.7 g/min. Conclusion: Over the years, the morcellator has improved with respect to the morcellation rate. However, the morcellation process still has limitations, including tissue scattering, morcellator-related injuries, and the inevitable small blade diameter, which all come at the expense of the morcellation rate and time. Therefore, development of improved morcellators is required, with consideration of the observed limitations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Study Objective: To determine whether economy of instrument movement can differentiate between skills levels during intracorporeal suturing using a box trainer model. Design: Prospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting: Skills laboratory of a university teaching hospital. Subjects: Forty-two volunteers participated including 19 medical students without previous laparoscopic experience (novices), 12 residents in obstetrics and gynecology (intermediates), and 11 practitioners of intracorporeal suturing who had performed at least 200 laparoscopic procedures including advanced surgery (experts). Interventions: Each participant performed 3 consecutive standardized intracorporeal sutures using a box trainer, and instrument movements were recorded using the TrEndo tracking device. Measurements and Main Results: Time, path length, motion in depth, and motion smoothness of the instrument tips were recorded. Performance in the 3 groups differed significantly (p <.001 for all parameters; Kruskal-Wallis test). Experts outperformed novices in all 4 parameters (p <.01; Bonferroni test). Conclusion: The construct validity has been suggested for time, path length, motion in depth, and motion smoothness for assessment of the laparoscopic suturing task using a box trainer. An expert level has been set for training and assessment purposes. The addition of economy of movement to time to complete the task has the potential to refine acquisition of skills. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The purpose of this study was to determine the amount of complications and the incidence of open- versus closed-entry (either by Veress needle or first trocar) technique in gynecologic laparoscopy in The Netherlands. Response rate was 98%. The procedures were performed by 187 gynecologists in 74 hospitals (72%) in The Netherlands. Groups I and II were comparable to each other, with respect to type of clinic (teaching vs nontcaching hospital), the number of procedures, and the experience of gynecologists. One hundred six gynecologists (57%) used only the closed-entry technique. This group reported 31 complications (0.1%) in 31,532 procedures. Even in the case of patients who were at risk for entry-related complications (previous laparotomy, obesity), pneumoperitoneum was established by the closed-entry technique. However, most gynecologists used an alter. native insufflation point (eg, Palmer's point). The remaining 81 gynecologists used both entry techniques. However, the open-entry technique was used on special indications and in only 2.0% of cases (range: 1–20%). These special indications were suspected adhesions or previous lap. arotomy (90%) and obese (7%) or very thin patients (3%). These 81 gynecologists reported 20,027 closed-entry procedures and 579 open-entry procedures and complication rates of 0.12% and 1.38%, respectively (P < .001). Significantly more visceral lesions were fount (P < .001) at open-entry technique in group II. Our literature search showed a calculated average entry complication rate for the closed-entry technique for visceral and vascular lesions of 0.44 of 1000 procedures and 0.31 of 1000 procedures, respectively. Although 43% of the gynecologists in this study performed the open-entry technique in laparoscopy. Dutch gynecologists seldom use this technique. When it is performed in selected patients, the number of complications is not reduced necessarily. In contrast to published data of general surgeons' findings, the number of entry-related complications in the open technique was significantly higher than the closed-entry technique. There is no evidence to abandon the closed-entry technique in laparoscopy. However, the selection of patients for an open- or alternative-entry procedure is still recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Abdominal pregnancy is a rare event that occurs in western countries in 1.3% of ectopic gestations. Delayed diagnosis and attempted removal of the fetus have occasionally resulted in massive and even fatal intraperitoneal hemorrhage. We present a case of an ectopic pregnancy at the intraabdominal surface of the left diaphragm, which was removed successfully with laparoscopic hydrodissection. This case report demonstrates that awareness of this condition is important when the location of the pregnancy cannot be found in the lower abdominal cavity, especially if the patient has unexplained complaints such as shoulder pain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The current health care system has an urgent need for tools to measure quality. A wide range of quality indicators have been developed in an attempt to differentiate between high-quality and low-quality health care processes. However, one of the main issues of currently used indicators is the lack of case-mix correction and improvement possibilities. Case-mix is defined as specific (patient) characteristics that are known to potentially affect (surgical) outcome. If these characteristics are not taken into consideration, comparisons of outcome among health care providers may not be valid.Objective: The objective of the study was to develop and test a quality assessment tool for laparoscopic hysterectomy, which can serve as a new outcome quality indicator.Study Design: This is a prospective, international, multicenter implementation study. A web-based application was developed with 3 main goals: (1) to measure the surgeon's performance using 3 primary outcomes (blood loss, operative time, and complications); (2) to provide immediate individual feedback using cumulative observed-minus-expected graphs; and (3) to detect consistently suboptimal performance after correcting for case-mix characteristics. All gynecologists who perform laparoscopic hysterectomies were requested to register their procedures in the application. A patient safety risk factor checklist was used by the surgeon for reflection. Thereafter a prospective implementation study was performed, and the application was tested using a survey that included the System Usability Scale.Results: A total of 2066 laparoscopic hysterectomies were registered by 81 gynecologists. Mean operative time was 100 ± 39 minutes, blood loss 127 ± 163 mL, and the complication rate 6.1%. The overall survey response rate was 75%, and the mean System Usability Scale was 76.5 ± 13.6, which indicates that the application was good to excellent. The majority of surgeons reported that the application made them more aware of their performance, the outcomes, and patient safety, and they noted that the application provided motivation for improving future performance.Conclusion: We report the development and test of a real-time, dynamic, quality assessment tool for measuring individual surgical outcome for laparoscopic hysterectomy. Importantly, this tool provides opportunities for improving surgical performance. Our study provides a foundation for helping clinicians develop evidence-based quality indicators for other surgical procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a reply to the letter to the editor in response to the article on the safety of the open-entry technique of laparoscopy.

Presents a reply to the letter to the editor in response to the article on the importance of closed-entry technique in laparoscopy.

Abstract: Objective: To evaluate and update the current status of the implementation of operative laparoscopy in gynaecology in The Netherlands by assessing diffusion and acceptance of each specific procedure per hospital. Study design: In 2003 a questionnaire was sent to all hospitals (n =102), which addressed the total number and type of laparoscopic procedures performed in 2002 stratified by level of difficulty (level 1: diagnostic laparoscopy, sterilization, tubal patency tests; level 2: adhesiolysis, ectopic pregnancy (EP), laparoscopic treatment of endometriosis, cystectomy, oophorectomy, LAVH, tubal surgery for infertility; level 3: myomectomy, total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) and sacropexy). Data were compared to previously published data of 1994. Results: Response rate was 79% (81/102). Diffusion and acceptance of level 2 procedures increased significantly, except endometriosis and tubal surgery for infertility. Diffusion of LAVH was only 58%. Four percent of hysterectomies were LAVH. TLH and sacropexy were not performed. The diffusion of myomectomy increased significantly (p =0.01), whereas its acceptance remained low. Conclusions: Although the diffusion of operative procedures has increased over the last decade, acceptance is still limited, especially for laparoscopic hysterectomy. The implementation of operative gynaecological laparoscopy in The Netherlands seems to develop at a slow pace. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To identify predictors of postsurgical adhesion formation in peritoneal fluid and plasma, and assess efficacy and safety of reteplase (recombinant plasminogen activator [r-PA]). Design: Prospective randomized study. Setting: University Medical Center. Patient(s): Twenty-six abdominal myomectomy patients with early second-look laparoscopy (ESL). Intervention(s): Randomization to IP treatment with 1 mg reteplase in 300 mL Ringer''s lactate or 300 mL Ringer''s lactate only. Scoring of adhesions and collecting peritoneal fluid during both surgical procedures and collecting plasma samples at ten time points. Main Outcome Measure(s): Incidence, severity, and extent of adhesions at ESL. Concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), and fibrin degradation products (FbDPs). Result(s): Significant correlation between the extent of uterine adhesion formation and preoperative plasma levels of CRP (rs = 0.558), PAI-1 (rs = 0.413), and the change in tPA concentration in peritoneal fluid from initial surgery to ESL (Δ+PA: rs = −0.636). No significant differences in adhesion scores between treatment and control groups. Conclusion(s): Our finding that preoperative plasma CRP and PAI-1-levels are significantly correlated with extent of adhesion formation points to a role of chronic inflammation in the disease process. Results are highly indicative for the paradigm that adhesions are caused by an insufficiency in peritoneal fibrinolytic capacity. For successful adhesion prevention therapy relatively high amounts of r-PA are required. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]