Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Vulvar extrauterine endometrial stromal sarcoma: A case report and literature review

Endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) is an extremely rare neoplasm accounting for only 0.2% of all uterine malignancies and for 15–26% of primary uterine sarcomas. The annual incidence of ESS is 1–2 per million women. Herein, to the best of our knowledge, we present the first reported case of ESS of the vulva in a 50-year-old female presenting with per vaginal spotting over a period of three months. Her past surgical history included a subtotal hysterectomy and left salpingo-oophorectomy for uterine fibroids ten years previously. On examination, a 3.5 × 3 × 2 cm cystic mass was found in the right labia majora. The mass was excised and the diagnosis of endometrial stromal sarcoma was made. Subsequent metastatic workup was negative and the patient was started on megestrol acetate. She has remained disease free with no signs or symptoms of recurrent or advanced disease for 28 months. Keywords: Endometrial stromal sarcoma, Vulva, Uterine sarcom

Adnexal masses in pregnancy: An updated review

Adnexal masses in pregnancy are not commonly encountered. The majority of these masses are discovered incidentally during routine follow-up. However, some of these masses become symptomatic due to their size, location, and impingement of adjacent structures. Several diagnostic modalities can be utilized for the detection of adnexal masses with different sensitivity and specificity rates. The differential diagnosis of adnexal masses discovered during pregnancy is broad and includes both benign and malignant lesions. The management of such lesions has been a subject of debate for years with no consensus regarding the best management plan. Tumor size, site, and the trimester of mass detection are all crucial in management. In this account, we review adnexal masses discovered in pregnancy, the diagnostic modalities utilized for detecting these lesions, their differential diagnosis, and management strategies