Medical management of deeply infiltrating endometriosis - 7 year experience in a tertiary endometriosis centre in London

Background: Deeply infiltrating endometriosis has an estimated prevalence of 1% in women of reproductive age. 90% have rectovaginal lesions but disease may also include the bowel, bladder and ureters. Current practice often favours minimally invasive surgical excision, however, there is increasing evidence that medical management can be as effective as long as obstructive uropathy and bowel stenosis are excluded. Our objective was to establish the proportion of women with deeply infiltrating endometriosis successfully managed with hormonal therapies within our tertiary endometriosis centre in West London. Secondary analysis was performed on anonymised data from the Trust’s endometriosis database. Results: 152 women with deeply infiltrating endometriosis were discussed at our endometriosis multidisciplinary meeting between January 2010 and December 2016. 75% of women underwent a trial of medical management. Of these, 44.7% did not require any surgical intervention during the study period, and 7.9% were symptomatically content but required interventions to optimise their fertility prospects. Another 7.0% were successfully medically managed for at least 12 months, but ultimately required surgery as their symptoms deteriorated. 26.5% took combined oral contraceptives, 14.7% oral progestogens, 1.5% progestogen implant, 13.2% levonorgestrel intrauterine device, 22.1% gonadotrophin releasing hormone analogues and 22.1% had analogues for 3–6 months then stepped down to another hormonal contraceptive. All women who underwent serial imaging demonstrated improvement or stable disease on MRI or ultrasound. Conclusions: Medical treatments are generally safe, well tolerated and inexpensive. More than half (52.6%) of women were successfully managed with medical therapy to control their symptoms. This study supports the growing evidence supporting hormonal therapies in the management of deeply infiltrating endometriosis. The findings may be used to counsel women on the likely success rate of medical management

The management of tubo-ovarian abscess - A retrospective analysis of a centre offering outpatient intravenous antibiotic therapy

Background Tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) carries long-term sequale in women of reproductive age. Consensus of the optimal treatment of tubo-ovarian abscess remains lacking. The aims of this study are to identify risk factors predicting the need for early drainage and compare clinical outcomes of current management practices of TOA. Methods From 2015 to 2019, a retrospective cohort study of 92 women admitted to a tertiary centre for gynaecological surgery was performed. Patients with diagnosed TOA were classified into two groups: treatment with antibiotics only, and those receiving additional drainage. Primary outcomes included length of hospital stay (LoS), length of antibiotic treatment (LoA) and need for re-intervention. Results In this study, 52 women (56.5%) were successfully treated with first line intravenous antibiotics; 40 (43.5%) received surgical drainage. Significant predictors for successful medical treatment only include age 35 years, pyrexia ≥ 38°C and a TOA size > 6cm may independently predict the need for drainage of TOA. Early identification of these patients is imperative for timely surgical intervention to avoid prolonged hospitalisation, antibiotic usage, and patient morbidity. More work is required to identify whether early drainage may reduce length of hospital stay and antibiotic treatment, including identifying certain patient groups who most likely to benefit from outpatient antibiotic intravenous therapy

Fibrin adhesive and the vaginal vault synthesis on female abdominal hysterectomis

To investigate the effectiveness of fibrin glue in comparison with polyglycolic acid suture to promote the closure of rabbit’s vaginal vault, after abdominal hysterectomy. Methods: Twenty female, adults, New Zealand rabbits, were submitted to abdominal hysterectomy and randomly distributed to polyglycolic acid suture (G-PA / n=10) or fibrin glue closure of vaginal vault (G-FG / n=10).Radiograph study allowed identifying vault vaginal suture disrupter or fistulas to urinary bladder or rectum. Videovaginoscopy study allowed identifying the presence of cellulites, abscess formation, tissue granulation or granuloma. Vaginal cuff burst test allowed to identify by the escape of air bubbles and rupture pression record. Histological sections stained with Picrosirius red allowed the measure of fibrous tissue healing. Results: The videovaginoscopy identified a significant difference (Fisher Test p<0.3142) of granulation tissue in the animals of G-PA (40%) in comparison with the G-FG (20%). The gross inspection showed the same relation in the granulation tissue occurrence (Fisher test p< 0.1749) with G-PA (50%) and G-FB (20%). The visceral adhesion to the vaginal vault wound was statistical significant (Fisher test p< 0.1749) with G-PA (50%) and G-FG (20%). The pressure of rupture (mm Hg) of the burst test was similar (p<0.0421) in the animals of G-PA (61.5±19.3) and G-FG (72.5±21.9). The collagen matrix of vault wound healing was similar (p< 0.0231) between the G-PA (31.63±15) and the G-FG (23.2±13.2). Conclusion: The vaginal vault closure using the fibrin glue is a safe and reliable procedure after abdominal hysterectomy in female rabbit model.Investigar a eficácia da cola de fibrina e da sutura usando fio de ácido poliglicólico para promover o fechamento da cúpula vaginal de coelhas, após histerectomia abdominal. Métodos: Vinte coelhos fêmeas, New Zealand, adultas foram submetidas à histerectomia abdominal e distribuídas para sutura da cúpula vaginal com fio de ácido poliglicólico (G-PA / n=10) ou cola de fibrina (G-FG / n=10).Estudo radiológico foi realizado para identificar deiscências ou fístulas vesicais ou retais.Videovaginoscopia foi realizada para identificar a presença de secreções, abscessos, tecido de granulação ou granuloma tipo corpo estranho. Teste in vitro de pressão de rompimento sob selo d’água foi realizado para identificar a perviedade da sutura. O tecido de cicatrização foi estudado pela coloração com picrosirius red para mensuração do tecido fibrótico. Resultados: A videovaginoscopia mostrou uma diferença significante (Teste de Fisher p<0,3142)no tecido de granulação do grupo G-PA (40%) em comparação com o grupo G-FG (20%). A análise macroscópica mostrou a mesma relação com o tecido de granulação (Teste de Fisher p< 0.1749) com G-PA (50%) e G-FB (20%). A aderência visceral à cúpula vaginal foi estatisticamente significativa (Teste de Fisher p< 0.1749) com o G-PA (50%) e G-FG (20%). A pressão de rompimento (mmHg) foi similar (p<0.0421) nos animais do grupo G-PA (61.5±19.3) e G-FG (72.5±21.9). A matriz colagenosa do tecido de cicatrização teve resultados semelhantes (p< 0.0231) entre G-PA (31.63±15) e G-FG (23.2±13.2). Conclusão: O fechamento da cúpula vaginal usando cola de fibrina é um procedimento seguro e confiável após histerectomia abdominal em coelhos fêmeas