Short stay laparoscopic hysterectomy: An evaluation of feasibility and patient satisfaction

Background: Short-stay total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) could lead to reduced hospital costs and decrease complications associated with hospitalisation such as hospital acquired-infection and venous thromboembolism. Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, safety and patient satisfaction of a novel short ‘less than 23-hour’ stay TLH protocol. Material and Methods: Prospective cohort study, at Birmingham Women’s Hospital, United Kingdom including eligible women undergoing TLH for benign indications or early stage cervical/endometrial cancer. Main outcome measures: Feasibility of discharge within 23-hours following TLH. Surgical complications and readmission rates were collected within 30-days of hysterectomy and patient’s satisfaction was assessed at 6-weeks. Results: Of the 128 eligible women, 104/128 women (81%) were discharged within 23-hours of admission, of which 62/104 or 60% (48.4% of the whole cohort) were discharged on the same day. Adenomyosis/fibroids, and previous caesarean sections were associated with a greater likelihood of stay beyond 23-hours (P<0.05). The overall complications rate was 13/128 (10%) with two grade-3 Clavien-Dindo intraoperative complications; one serosal bowel injury oversewn and one ureteric injury requiring reimplantation. The readmissions rate was 5/128 (4%). 94% of patients were ‘happy’ or ‘very happy’ with the pathway, although satisfaction was higher in short-stay patients (RR 1.2; 95% CI 0.95–1.94). Conclusion: Hospital discharge within 23-hours of TLH appears to be safe, feasible and acceptable to patients where a standardised, multidisciplinary care protocol is used. What is new? Our study is the first prospective case series in the UK reporting the safety and acceptability for performing laparoscopic hysterectomy as a 23-hour day case procedure.

Ureteric Injury in Gynecology Surgery

It is the most serious and trouble-some complication of pelvic surgery and common reason for medico-legal action by the patient. It can be unilateral or bilateral. Lowest 3 cm of ureter is usually injured. 75% of injuries result from gynecological operations - 3/4th during abdominal and 1/4th during vaginal operations. As most injuries can be diagnosed intraoperatively, systematic assessment of urinary tract integrity should be part of the surgical plan. Intraoperative cystoscopy using either flexible or rigid instruments can aid in the diagnosis or exclusion of urinary tract injury. Identification of the mechanism of injury and its location guides immediate or delayed repair. Mobilization should be sufficient to allow a tension-free closure. Tissue interposition is typically recommended. Common sites for ureteral injury are found beneath the uterine vessels near the cardinal ligament and beneath the infundibulopelvic ligament and the tunnel of Wertheim. Successful ureteral repair relies on careful mobilization, wide spatulation, use of fine absorbable suture (4-0, 5-0), and temporary stenting. Postoperative signs and symptoms of ureteral injury may include unilateral flank pain, fever, prolonged ileus, and abdominal or pelvic fluid collection (urinoma).

Ureteric Injuries after Hysterectomy in a Tertiary Care Center of Nepal: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Pelvic surgery is the most common cause of iatrogenic ureteral injury. The incidence of ureteric injuries varies between skilled and inexperienced surgeons. The study aims to determine the prevalence of ureteric injuries sustained during hysterectomy in a tertiary care center of Nepal. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving the women attending the gynecological outpatient department of a tertiary care center of Nepal, for various benign and malignant conditions and later on underwent hysterectomy from June 2019 to June 2020 was done after obtaining ethical clearence from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference No. 245). Convenient sampling method was used. The data were entered in Excel and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 17. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data. Results: Altogether, 1 (0.63%) (0.55-0.71 at 95% Confidence Interval) out of 159 patients sustained the ureteric injury during hysterectomy in a tertiary care center of Nepal. The injury was seen during the exploratory laparotomy for adnexal mass. The injury was recognized intraoperatively and was repaired with double J stenting. A total of 159 patients were enrolled in the study that had undergone hysterectomy over one year for various benign and malignant conditions. Out of which 21 (13.2%) had undergone surgeries for malignant conditions and 138 (86.79%) for benign conditions. Conclusions: Iatrogenic ureteric is still a major cause of harm and concern in hysterectomy. Patients with ureteric injury should be evaluated and intervened at the earliest.

Placenta Previa Accreta Spectrum: Cesarean Hysterectomy

When cesarean hysterectomy is scheduled in cases of placenta previa accreta/increta/percreta, it is necessary that the departments of obstetrics, anesthesiology, blood transfusion, urology, and radiology hold a preoperative conference to assure full preparation for the surgery. A ureteral stent inserted just before cesarean section serves as a marker. A uterine incision should be made at a site free of placental contact. The presence/absence of bladder invasion by villi, adhesions, and the degree of vascularization greatly influence the amount of bleeding, and bleeding control is a key point. For prevention of massive hemorrhage, methods of blood flow blockage, such as balloon occlusion catheterization of the aorta or common iliac artery, should be considered. Stored autologous blood and Cell Saver should be prepared. When hysterectomy is performed with the placenta left in situ, handling of the elongated cardinal ligament, ureteric injury, and bladder injury are important issues because the lower uterine segment is enlarged with the placenta. If blood flow is not blocked, separation of the bladder at the area of placenta percreta should be performed as the last step, to reduce bleeding (Pelosi's method). At this time, after handling of the cardinal ligament, bladder separation can be performed more safely if the posterior vaginal wall is incised and exposed first.In cases of placenta accreta or partial placenta accreta/increta/percreta, a diagnosis of morbidly adherent placenta may not be obtained until separation of the placenta is performed. If bleeding from the placental separation surface cannot be controlled, total hysterectomy should be performed without hesitation.

Case of flank pain from ureteral injury after lumbar laminectomy

We present a case of an iatrogenic complete left proximal ureteric injury after a lumbar 1 laminectomy and intradural tumour excision and lumbar 4/5 transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. Initial management included a percutaneous nephrostomy for urinary diversion followed by definitive urinary reconstruction with an ileal ureter.

Etiology and Ureteral Reconstruction Strategy for Iatrogenic Ureteral Injuries: A Retrospective Single-Center Experience

Objective: To analyze the etiology, characteristics, and ureteral reconstruction strategies of iatrogenic ureteric injuries in a high-volume center. Methods: Between September 2010 and August 2019, we retrospectively collected patients who underwent ureteral reconstruction due to iatrogenic ureteric injuries. Patient profiles, laboratory data, imaging studies, perioperative data, and complications were recorded. Results: Sixty-eight patients were enrolled in this study. The upper, middle, and lower thirds of the ureter were affected in 30, 2, and 36 cases, respectively. Of the 68 ureteric injuries, 69.1% occurred during urological procedures, followed by gynecological procedures, general surgery, radiotherapy, and orthopedic surgery. The majority of urological injuries (41, 87.2%) occurred due to stone removal. There was a significant difference in the age, sex, and location of ureteric injuries between the urological and nonurological groups. The median follow-up time was 17.9 months. The overall symptom remission rate was 91.2% and ranged from 87.5 to 100% for different reconstructive surgeries. Conclusions: Urological procedures were the most common cause of iatrogenic ureteric injury; thus, extra care should be taken. Timely detection and appropriate treatment of the ureteric injuries are necessary. Treatment strategies should be depended on the location and length of injury.

Isolated Proximal Ureteric Injury after a Penetrating Stab Wound to Lumbar Region

Urological injuries fall far behind other abdominal injuries when it comes to involvement during trauma. Amongst urological trauma, ureteral injuries account for 1-2.5%. An isolated ureteral injury is infrequently encountered because of a safe retroperitoneal location and a smaller diameter of the ureter as compared to other organs. A high index of suspicion is needed as a delayed or missed diagnosis of penetrating ureteral trauma or an unrecognised and mismanaged ureteral injury can lead to significant complications, including formation of urinoma, abscess, ureteral stricture or urinary fistula, and potential loss of the ipsilateral kidney. The present case report is of a 35-year-old male who presented to the Emergency Department of tertiary care hospital with a stab injury in left lumbar region and was diagnosed with isolated ureteral injury on Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT). Without much delay, ureteroscopy was done, a double J stent was placed and ureteroureterostomy was performed.