Experience with laparoscopic hysterectomy

The experience of using laparoscopic hysterectomy for the period of 5 years is represented. 594 laparoscopic hysterectomies were performed since 1996 up to 2000. Indications and contraindications to this kind of operation were defined, optimal technique of the surgical intervention was offered. The analysis of complications was carried out, ways of prophylaxis having been elaborated.

Modern Rotational Radiation Techniques with Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy or Helical Tomotherapy for Optimal Sparing of the Lung and Heart in Left-Breast Cancer Radiotherapy Plus Regional Nodal Irradiation: A Comparative Dosimetric Analysis

Background: For advanced breast cancer with lymph node involvement, adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) with regional nodal irradiation (RNI) has been indicated to reduce cancer recurrence and mortality. However, an extensive RT volume is associated with normal organ exposure, which increases the toxicity and affects patient outcomes. Modern arc RT techniques can improve normal organ sparing compared with conventional techniques. The aim of this study was to explore the optimal technique for left-breast RT with RNI. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients receiving RT with RNI for left-breast cancer. We used modern arc RT techniques with either volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) or helical tomotherapy (HT) with a novel block technique, and compared differences in dosimetry parameters between the two groups. Subgroup analysis of RNI with or without internal mammary node (IMN) volume was also performed. Results: A total of 108 eligible patients were enrolled between 2017 and 2020, of whom 70 received VMAT and 38 received HT. The median RT dose was 55 Gy. No significant differences were found regarding the surgery, RT dose, number of fractions, target volume, and RNI volume between the VMAT and HT groups. VMAT reduced the heart mean dose more than HT (3.82 vs. 5.13 Gy, p < 0.001), as well as the cardiac parameters of V5-V20, whole-lung mean dose, lung parameters of V5-V20, and contralateral-breast and esophagus mean dose. In the subgroup analysis of RNI with IMNs, the advantage of VMAT persisted in protecting the heart, lung, contralateral breast, and esophagus. HT was beneficial for lowering the thyroid mean dose. For RNI without IMN, VMAT improved the low-dose exposure of the heart and lung, but HT was similar to VMAT in terms of heart, whole-lung, and contralateral-breast mean dose. Conclusions: For patients with left-breast cancer receiving adjuvant RT with RNI, VMAT reduced the exposure dose to the heart, lung, contralateral breast, and esophagus compared with HT. VMAT was superior to HT in terms of normal organ sparing in the patients who underwent RNI with IMN irradiation. Considering the reduction in normal organ exposure and potential toxicity, VMAT is the optimal technique for patients receiving RNI when deep inspiration breath-hold is not available.

Experimental substantiation of the optimal technique for choosing the rotation of the femoral component of the knee endoprosthesis

There was experimental justification of the optimal technique for choosing the rotation of the femoral component of the knee joint endoprosthesis carried out in this research. The individual morphometric characteristics of the femoral condyles and the condition of the collateral ligaments were taken into account in the experiment. The research was conducted on polymer-embalmed preparations of the knee joint, which were divided into three groups, according to the forms of the femoral condyles. We used the standard technique of positioning the resection block and the technique of individual selection of the rotation of the resection block (rotation of the femoral component of the endoprosthesis), based on the assessment of individual morphometric characteristics of the femoral condyles and the state of the auxiliary elements of the knee joint. To implement this surgical approach, typical resections of the proximal condyles of the tibia and distal condyles of the femur were performed, which technically did not differ from the sawdust used in the standard procedure. Then the knee joint was flexed to an angle of 90, Homan retractors were removed and two laminar dilators (Laminar Spreader) were installed in the gap between the proximal tibial sawdust and the posterior parts of the lateral and medial condyles of the femur. This technique provided isometric tension of the fibular and tibial collateral ligaments of the knee joint. Then carried out the positioning of the femoral resection block "four in one". In this case, only the line of the proximal tibial sawdust was used as a reference point, for which the posterior flange of the resection block was positioned parallel to the sawed upper articular surface of the tibia. It is established that the use of the considered technique of positioning the femoral resection block ensures the formation of a uniform flexor gap, regardless of the variant anatomy of the femoral condyles. Thus, there was research a uniform flexion gap in the experiment, which ensured isometric movements in the knee joint and its stability at the control points of the amplitude after implantation of the trial or final components of the endoprosthesis.