A previous caesarean section is not a risk factor for tubal abnormalities in the infertile population

In this retrospective cohort study of 1716 cases of women undergoing infertility treatment between the years 1999–2012, we aimed to identify whether parturients with a previous surgical history are at a higher risk for tubal abnormalities as determined by hysterosalpingography (HSG) in this infertile population. Amongst the study population, tubal obstruction was identified on HSG in 15.8% of patients with no past history of an abdominal surgery and 16.3% of patients with a previous caesarean section (CS) delivery. These rates were significantly lower than those for women with a previous gynaecological surgery (34.7%) or abdominal surgery (27%) (p < .001 for all comparisons). Our results suggest that past history of CS poses no additional risk for tubal abnormality within the infertile population, whereas a history of other abdominal or gynaecological surgical procedures doubles this risk.Impact Statement What is already known on this subject? While numerous risk factors for tubal factor infertility have been established, to date, the relation between previous abdominal surgeries and the risk for tubal factor infertility remains inconclusive. What the results of this study add? In this study, we aimed to evaluate the correlation between previous CS history and the risk for having tubal factor infertility. Our results demonstrated that previous caesarean section delivery does not increase the risk for tubal factor infertility in the infertile population, whereas history of other abdominal or gynaecological surgical procedures doubles this risk. What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Further research is needed for further evaluation of this association and its clinical implications

The Effect of Bariatric Surgery upon Diabetes Mellitus: A Proof of Concept by Using the Case of the Mid-Term Effect of Lap Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB) on Patients with Diabetes

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic, with numbers on the rise in the world. Obesity is strongly correlated with increased morbidity and mortality. One of the major factors affecting this increase is comorbid diseases such as diabetes mellitus (DM), which is strongly associated with and dependent on the degree of obesity. Thus, it is not surprising that when efficient surgical treatments were found to battle obesity, researchers soon found them to be relevant and effective for battling DM as well. Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB) is a common surgical treatment for morbid obesity. LAGB has the potential to improve control of the comorbidities of morbid obesity, primarily diabetes mellitus (DM). Our hypothesis was that patients treated with LAGB would have a long-term improvement in the control of DM and that due to its unique mechanism of action, this can lend us a better understanding of how to battle diabetes in an efficient and effective way. This was a cohort study based on patients who underwent LAGB surgery in our institution 4 to 7 years previously and had DM type 2 at the time of surgery. Data were collected from patient&rsquo;s charts and a telephone interview-based questionnaire including demographics, health status, and quality-of-life assessment (Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System [BAROS]). Seventy patients participated in the current study. The average follow-up time was 5.1 &plusmn; 0.9 years post-surgery. The average weight prior to surgery was 122.0 &plusmn; 20.2 kg, and on the day of the interview it was 87.0 &plusmn; 17.6 kg (p &lt; 0.001). The average body mass index before surgery was 43.8 &plusmn; 5.1, and on the day of the interview it was 31.2 &plusmn; 4.8 (p &lt; 0.001). On the day of the interview, 47.1% of the participants were cured of DM (not receiving treatment, whether dietary or pharmacologic). The sum of ranks for diabetes was lower after the surgery (p &lt; 0.001), as was HTN and its treatment (p &lt; 0.001). We have shown in this study that LAGB is an effective treatment for morbid obesity, as well as two comorbidities that come with it&mdash;DM type 2 and Hypertension (HTN)&mdash;in a longer period than previously shown, and with a unique look at the underlying mechanism of action of this procedure. There is a need for further studies to consolidate our findings and characterize which patients are more prone to enjoy these remarkable surgical benefits

Skull-Base Surgery—A Narrative Review on Current Approaches and Future Developments in Surgical Navigation

Surgical navigation technology combines patient imaging studies with intraoperative real-time data to improve surgical precision and patient outcomes. The navigation workflow can also include preoperative planning, which can reliably simulate the intended resection and reconstruction. The advantage of this approach in skull-base surgery is that it guides access into a complex three-dimensional area and orients tumors intraoperatively with regard to critical structures, such as the orbit, carotid artery and brain. This enhances a surgeon’s capabilities to preserve normal anatomy while resecting tumors with adequate margins. The aim of this narrative review is to outline the state of the art and the future directions of surgical navigation in the skull base, focusing on the advantages and pitfalls of this technique. We will also present our group experience in this field, within the frame of the current research trends