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Manipulator-Free Versus Manipulator-Assisted Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: Are Outcomes Comparable in Experienced Hands? - Article abstract #949649

Introduction: High recurrence rates and the emergence of resistance mechanisms in ovarian cancer necessitate exploring alternative therapeutic strategies except platinum-based chemotherapies. This has led to the development of bevacizumab, a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody targeting VEGF. Nevertheless, the continuation of bevacizumab treatment initiated alongside chemotherapy, especially after disease progression, remains a topic of debate. Materials and Methods: Our study involved a single-center retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients diagnosed with stage 3 and 4 epithelial ovarian cancer between June 2011 and January 2023. All patients in our study were platinum-sensitive. Results: Patients with residual disease > 1 cm following initial surgery had significantly worse median OS (p = 0.002). Post-progression, patients were divided into two groups based on whether bevacizumab was continued. More than half of the patients who continued treatment with bevacizumab and chemotherapy achieved a 5-year OS, which was statistically superior (p < 0.001). When comparing PFS between patients who did and did not receive bevacizumab in the second line following recurrence/progression, those treated with bevacizumab demonstrated a median PFS of 12.0 months (95% CI: 10.5– 13.4), which was significantly better (p < 0.001). The hazard ratio for mortality in patients continuing bevacizumab treatment beyond progression was 0.11 (95% CI: 0.05– 0.22) (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Many studies have shown the effectiveness and survival benefit of bevacizumab in epithelial ovarian cancer. In contrast, the literature offers limited studies addressing the survival benefits of continuing bevacizumab beyond disease progression. However, our study indicates that continuing bevacizumab beyond progression significantly contributes to both OS (p < 0.001) and PFS (p < 0.001). As larger studies with similar results to ours are conducted in the future, current guidelines may improve, and the decision to continue bevacizumab treatment after progression may become more evidence-based.

In this case study, a woman aged 72 years presents with abdominal discomfort and difficulty in micturition and defecation.

Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive technique utilized for both diagnostic and surgical approaches. Minimally invasive procedures compared to laparotomy offer the advantages of reduced hospital stay, lower morbidity, decreased pain, and faster recovery. Common methods for laparoscopic entry include Veress needle insertion (VNI), direct optical trocar entry, direct trocar insertion (DTI), and the Hasson technique. This study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of VNI and DTI in laparoscopic gynecological surgeries. An open comparative randomized prospective study was conducted involving 200 women aged 18 to 70 years, scheduled for laparoscopic surgery at 2 tertiary centers. Participants were randomized into 2 groups: 1 using VNI and other using DTI. The groups were homogeneous regarding age, parity, and body mass index. The mean age of the VNI group is 45.22 ± 11.65 and the DTI group is 44.89 ± 10.5 (P = .833). There were no statistical significance in terms of the presence of chronic diseases and history of previous abdominal surgery between the groups (P = .802 and P = .510, respectively). Entry time to the abdomen, the decrease in hemoglobin values, and hospitalization length were found to be statistically significant between the entry methods (P < .001, P = .002, and P < .001, respectively). Entry time, the decrease in hemoglobin value, and hospitalization length were higher in the VNI group. In conclusion, although there is no definitive consensus on the optimal laparoscopic entry technique, direct trocar entry is an effective alternative to the Veress needle insertion technique. Direct trocar entry is associated with shorter entry times, fewer perioperative complications, less reduction in hemoglobin levels, and shorter hospitalization duration compared to VNI.

Rationale: Pregnancy is a special term in life with physiological changes in both cardiorespiratory and immune systems; that is why severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in pregnancy may result in an altered response. With this, we present a case report of a young pregnant lady who was exposed to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection just before pregnancy and ended up with an affected fetus. The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exposure on neonatal outcomes has not yet been fully evaluated; by this article, we aim to find if COVID-19 exposure is linked to congenital anomalies. Patient concerns: A 25-year-old woman who has no history of genetic or chronic diseases applied to our clinic for routine control of pregnancy. She does not have a consanguineous marriage or any other potential risk factors for pregnancy. Diagnoses and interventions: She had a history of COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction positivity 2 days before the first day of the last menstruation period and hospitalization for 7 days. After 7 days of treatment with favipiravir and levofloxacin, enoxaparin sodium, famotidine, paracetamol, budesonide, dornaz alfa, and vitamin C; her general situation gets better, and discharged from the hospital on the seventh day of hospitalization without any further treatment prescription. Outcomes: During her routine controls for pregnancy at first-trimester evaluation ultrasonography; there was right forearm aplasia and deformities at both feet and legs. Lessons: In the literature, there is conflicting evidence about the impact of COVID-19 in pregnancy especially if the patient is confronted with the virus in the first trimester. Despite the increasing number of published studies on COVID-19 in pregnancy, there are insufficient good quality unbiased studies about the issue. Risk factors for COVID-19 overlap with the risk factors for pregnancy complications and the risk factors of the treatment prescribed. The impact of COVID-19 exposure on neonatal outcomes has not yet been fully evaluated; in this article, we aim to find if COVID-19 exposure is linked to congenital anomalies. Further research is needed to ascertain neonatal outcomes.

Aims: We aimed to investigate the level and predictive value of soluble nectin-4 in early onset preeclampsia (EOPE). Methods: Forty-three patients with EOPE and 41 healthy normotensive pregnant women participated in this prospective case-control study. The groups were matched for gestational age and gravidity. Serum nectin-4 levels were compared between groups. The ROC curve was drawn to show the predictive value of nectin-4 for EOPE. Patients were followed up until the end of labor, and perinatal outcomes were recorded. Results: The demographic characteristics of the two groups were similar. Serum nectin-4 level was significantly increased in EOPE cases compared to controls (226.46±119.6 ng/ml vs. 156.54±44.8 ng/ml, p=0.001). The ROC showed that at > 160.938, the sensitivity and specificity were 67.44% and 82.93%, respectively [AUC:0.822, (CI:0.724 - 0.897), and (p< 0.001)]. Significant inverse correlations were found between nectin-4 levels and poor obstetric outcomes. Conclusion: Maternal serum nectin-4 levels were significantly higher in patients with EOPE compared with controls. Increased nectin-4 levels may contribute to the development of EOPE through possible oxidative, immunological, and inflammatory mechanisms adversely affecting trophoblastic cells.

Introduction Surgical site infection (SSI) is a widely seen postoperative complication that causes a decrease in life quality and an economic burden. In this study, we aim to find the predictive values of preoperative and postoperative neutrophile lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR) values for SSI. Methods In this retrospective study, 698 patients who had total abdominal hysterectomy operations with benign indications and confirmed histopathological results were accessed. In this study, the correlation of preoperative NLR, preoperative PLR, postoperative NLR, and postoperative PLR, with the occurrence of postoperative surgical site infection complications were examined. Results The overall SSI rate was 9.46% (n = 66) with 30 days follow-up postoperatively. Preoperative NLR and PLR values of the patients who had SSIs were significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.05). Postoperative NLR and PLR values of the patients who had SSIs were significantly higher than control group (p < 0.05). In the patients who had postoperative SSIs, the increase of the values of postoperative NLR and PLR were significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions In our study, hematological markers of NLR and PLR were found to be independent and significant predictive markers for SSI.

Objectives: ACOG guidance confirms the use of uterine artery embolisation (UAE) as an alternative to hysterectomy or myomectomy. The main objective of this article is to evaluate the ability of preoperative magnetic resonance ımaging (MRI) to study the relationship between uterine fibroid reduction and diffusion coefficient (ADC) value after UAE. This is a relevant topic with the growing interest in using ADC as a noninvasive imaging biomarker for monitoring tissue changes and predicting uterine fibroid response to UAE over the past years. Material and methods: In this prospective controlled non-randomized trial; uterine fibroid volume, fibroid diameter, uterine volume, fibroid ADC and normal myometrium ADC were recorded before and after UAE. Wilcoxon test was used in the analysis of the dependent quantitative data. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between post-UAE uterine volume, fibroid volume, and average fibroid diameter reduction and the patient’s age, parity, gravidity, fibroid ADC and myometrial ADC before UAE. Results: The mean fibroid volume reduction was 36.0% (range between 17.3–77.7%). Mean fibroid diameter, fibroid volume, uterine volume, and myometrium ADC values after UAE were significantly lower than before the procedure (p = 0.002, < 0.001, 0.001, 0.006 respectively), but the decrease in fibroid ADC is not significant. As a result decrease in fibroid volume was greater as pre-UAE fibroid ADC values increased, and that finding may contribute to the selection of the patients for the procedure. Conclusions: The ADC value before UAE was positively correlated with fibroid volume reduction. Objectives: ACOG guidance confirms the use of uterine artery embolisation (UAE) as an alternative to hysterectomy or myomectomy. The main objective of this article is to evaluate the ability of preoperative magnetic resonance ımaging (MRI) to study the relationship between uterine fibroid reduction and diffusion coefficient (ADC) value after UAE. This is a relevant topic with the growing interest in using ADC as a noninvasive imaging biomarker for monitoring tissue changes and predicting uterine fibroid response to UAE over the past years. Material and methods: In this prospective controlled non-randomized trial; uterine fibroid volume, fibroid diameter, uterine volume, fibroid ADC and normal myometrium ADC were recorded before and after UAE. Wilcoxon test was used in the analysis of the dependent quantitative data. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between post-UAE uterine volume, fibroid volume, and average fibroid diameter reduction and the patient’s age, parity, gravidity, fibroid ADC and myometrial ADC before UAE. Results: The mean fibroid volume reduction was 36.0% (range between 17.3–77.7%). Mean fibroid diameter, fibroid volume, uterine volume, and myometrium ADC values after UAE were significantly lower than before the procedure (p = 0.002, < 0.001, 0.001, 0.006 respectively), but the decrease in fibroid ADC is not significant. As a result decrease in fibroid volume was greater as pre-UAE fibroid ADC values increased, and that finding may contribute to the selection of the patients for the procedure. Conclusions: The ADC value before UAE was positively correlated with fibroid volume reduction.