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Objective To assess the incidence of serious complications and reoperations for recurrence after surgery for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and compare the three most common types of repair. Design Prospective cohort study using a registry. Setting Nineteen French surgical centres. Population A total of 2309 women participated between 2017 and 2019. Methods A multivariate analysis including an inverse probability of treatment weighting approach was used to obtain three comparable groups. Main outcome measures Serious complications and subsequent reoperations for POP recurrence. Results The median follow-up time was 17.6 months. Surgeries were native tissue vaginal repairs (n = 504), transvaginal mesh placements (n = 692) and laparoscopic sacropexies with mesh (n = 1113). Serious complications occurred among 52 women (2.3%), and reoperation for POP recurrence was required for 32 women (1.4%). At 1 year the cumulative weighted incidence of serious complications was 1.8% for native tissue vaginal repair, 3.9% for transvaginal mesh and 2.2% for sacropexy, and the rates for reoperation for recurrence of POP were 1.5, 0.7 and 1.1%, respectively. Compared with native tissue vaginal repair, the risk of serious complications was higher in the transvaginal mesh group (weighted hazard ratio, wHR 3.84, 95% CI 2.43-6.08) and the sacropexy group (wHR 2.48, 95% CI 1.45-4.23), whereas the risk of reoperation for prolapse recurrence was lower in both the transvaginal mesh (wHR 0.22, 95% CI 0.13-0.39) and sacropexy (wHR 0.29, 95% CI 0.18-0.47) groups. Conclusions Our results suggest that native tissue vaginal repairs have the lowest risk of serious complications but the highest risk of reoperation for recurrence. These results are useful for informing women and for shared decision making. Tweetable abstract Laparoscopic sacropexy had fewer serious complications than transvaginal mesh and fewer reoperations for recurrence than vaginal repair.

Many papers suggested that laparoscopic treatment of cancer could be achieved and taught safely. Although cases reports about trocar site metastasis and national survey about inadequate management of early ovarian cancer suggested that laparoscopic management of cancer may be dangerous. The current literature may be summarized as follows. An inadequate surgical management performed by laparoscopy as well as by laparotomy may worsen the prognosis of an early ovarian cancer. If the abdominal wall is protected with a bag and the tumour is not morcellated, the incidence of trocar site site metastasis is about 1%. Animal studies demonstrated that the laparoscopic management of cancer has both advantages and disadvantages. Preliminary results from prospective randomised trials in the treatment of colon cancer suggested that the survival rate is similar after laparoscopy and after laparotomy. The risk of dissemination appears high when a large number of malignant cells are present in patients operated using an increased abdominal pressure and a CO2 pneumoperitoneum. These data suggest that laparoscopic treatment of gynaecologic cancer is not dangerous if an adequate surgical technique is used. However morcellation of suspicious solid tumours, treatment of adnexal tumours with external vegetations but without peritoneal dissemination and of bulky lymph nodes should be considered as contra-indications to CO2 laparoscopy, puncture of an ovarian tumour with intracystic vegetations is a high risk situation which should be avoided whenever possible.

The laparoscopic management of adnexal tumeurs remains controversial because of the potentials risks of cancer dissemination suggested by many case reports and national surveys. From experimental data, the laparoscopic treatment of gynecologic cancer has potential advantages and disadvantages. The risk of dissemination appears high when a large number of malignant cells are present so that adnexal tumors with external vegetations, and bulky lymph nodes may be considered as contra-indications to CO2 laparoscopy. Laparoscopic surgery has become the gold standard in the treatment of benign adnexal tumeurs, whereas laparotomy remains the standard for the treatment of malignant tumors. The surgical diagnosis is the key to adequate management of adnexal tumeurs. In our experience, after a careful preoperative evaluation, the laparoscopic diagnosis of malignancy is reliable. Moreover in national surveys, many malignant tumeurs were considered as benign despite suspicious laparoscopic findings. Using strict guidelines, laparoscopic diagnosis can be proposed for both non suspicious and complex tumeurs, thus avoiding many unnecessary laparotomies for benign tumeurs suspicious at ultrasound. The more controversial limits of laparoscopic treatment are discussed. If a laparotomy was performed for all tumeurs suspicious at surgery, 80% of the cases would be treated by laparoscopy. The role of laparoscopy for restaging and second look operations for ovarian cancer requires further evaluation.

Objective To review and to discuss the current approaches which may be proposed to prevent adhesions in the surgical management of pelvic endometriosis. Methods The current literature was reviewed using a Medline search and data from the Cochrane Library. Results and conclusions Although not demonstrated in adequately designed prospective randomized trials, laparoscopy is considered to be less adhesiogenic than laparotomy. Adhesion re-formation is still a major problem after laparoscopy. The use of barrier agents, such as Interceed, or solutions such as Intergel should be considered in patients treated for moderate or severe endometriosis. Although effective, these products are not substitutes for a good surgical technique. As the treatment of adhesions is difficult, every effort should be made to prevent adhesion formation. To prevent severe postoperative adhesion formation, the following rules are proposed. Laparotomy should be avoided whenever possible. When the surgical treatment appears too difficult, a preoperative medical treatment may be used to delay the treatment, to facilitate the procedure, and to avoid a laparotomy. Laparoscopic procedures should be performed according to the principles of microsurgery which have been demonstrated to reduce adhesion formation at laparotomy.

The incidence of the spread of ovarian cancer after laparoscopic surgery is difficult to establish from the current literature. The prognosis incidence of a trocar site metastasis without peritoneal dissemination is not known. Data from general surgeons in prospective studies from a single institution suggested that in colon cancer the risk is low, whereas it seems to be much higher in multicentric studies of undiagnosed gallbladder cancer. Experimental studies suggested that laparoscopy has advantages and disadvantages. However, the risk of dissemination is high when a large number of malignant cells and a carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum are present, a situation encountered when managing adnexal tumours with large vegetations. Animal studies will allow the development of a peritoneal environment adapted to the treatment of cancer. The ovary is an intraperitoneal organ and ovarian cancer a peritoneal disease, so the risk of peritoneal spread may be higher in ovarian cancer than in other gynecological cancers. A careful preoperative evaluation appears to be the best way to prevent these risks. It should also be used to choose which patient should be operated by which surgical team. The second step is a careful and cautious laparoscopic diagnosis, so that more than 98% of ovarian cancers encountered can be treated immediately and effectively. The laparoscopic management of ovarian cancer remains controversial; it should be performed only in prospective clinical trials. Until the results of such studies become available, an immediate vertical midline laparotomy remains the gold standard if a cancer is encountered.

Laparoscopic surgery has become the gold standard in the treatment of benign adnexal masses, whereas laparotomy remains the standard for the treatment of malignant tumors. The laparoscopic management of adnexal masses remains controversial because of the potential risks of cancer dissemination suggested by many case reports and national surveys. Experimental data show potential advantages and disadvantages for the laparoscopic treatment of gynecologic cancer. Since the risk of dissemination appears high when a large number of malignant cells are present, adnexal tumors with external growths and bulky lymph nodes may be considered contra-indications to CO(2) laparoscopy. Surgical diagnosis is the key to adequate management of adnexal masses. In our experience, laparoscopic diagnosis of malignancy is reliable after a careful pre-operative evaluation has been performed. Moreover, national surveys have revealed that despite suspicious laparoscopic findings, many malignant masses were considered benign at the outset. Using strict guidelines, laparoscopic diagnosis can be proposed for both non-suspicious and complex masses, thus avoiding many unnecessary laparotomies for benign masses suspicious at ultrasound. The more controversial limits of laparoscopic treatment are discussed. If a laparotomy was performed for all masses suspicious at surgery, 80% of the cases would be treated by laparoscopy. The role of laparoscopy for restaging and second-look operations for ovarian cancer requires further evaluation.

Objective: To compare tumor growth, intraperitoneal implantation, and abdominal wall metastasis after laparotomy and CO2 pneumoperitoneum in a rat ovarian cancer model. Methods: To mimic intraoperative rupture of an ovarian tumor in a syngenic rat ovarian carcinoma model, 105 malignant cells were injected intraperitoneally after a 5-cm vertical midline laparotomy or after the insufflation of a CO2 pneumoperitoneum achieved with 4 mmHg or 10 mmHg intra-abdominal pressure. Two weeks later, the intraperitoneal tumor growth and the tumor dissemination were evaluated semiquantitatively with a scoring system. The scores attributed to each organ were added to calculate the dissemination score of each animal. Results: The mean (± SD) dissemination score was 83.4 ± 12 in the laparotomy group and 67.3 ± 16 and 71.9 ± 17 in the 4 and 10 mmHg CO2 pneumoperitoneum groups, respectively (P < .01). The scores for the peritoneum were 21.8 ± 3.8 in the 10 mmHg pneumoperitoneum group and 18 ± 2.4 in the laparotomy group (P < .01). In the laparotomy group, the implant found along the midline scar accounted for a mean of 62.6 ± 15% of the peritoneal score, whereas the trocar site metastases did not influence the peritoneal score in the pneumoperitoneum groups. The incidence of wound metastasis was 96% in the laparotomy group and 55% and 54% in the 4 mmHg and 10 mmHg pneumoperitoneum groups, respectively. Conclusion: In this model, tumor growth was greater after laparotomy than after laparoscopy, but peritoneal tumor dissemination was more severe after CO2 pneumoperitoneum.

During the past several years technological advances have led to the development of small diameter endoscopes (minilaparoscopes) which facilitate the performance of laparoscopy under local anesthesia. Minilaparoscopy promises many advantages and less complications. Today, indications of minilaparoscopy are mainly diagnostic and minimal interventions but technological development and clinical studies might reveal it as a substitute for conventional laparoscopy.

Objective(s): To study the fertility results after laparoscopic distal tuboplasty and compare them with the data in the literature. Study design: 194 laparoscopic distal tuboplasties were carried out from May 1992 to May 1994 in the Yaounde General Hospital (Cameroon). The results were analysed according to the age of the patients, the type and duration of infertility, past history of abortion, laparotomy and Chlamydia trachomatis infection, the tube and adhesion scores, surgical procedures and achievement of pregnancy. The fertility rates were calculated according to Cramer's method [11]. The cumulative pregnancy rate curves were drawn up from the life table [12] and compared using the Log-Rank test. Results: 53 patients obtained pregnancy (27.3%) of which 45 were inter-uterine (23.2%) and 8 ectopic (4.1%). Of the 45 intra-uterine pregnancies (IUP), 36 were obtained after fimbrioplasty (33.3%) and 9 after neosalpingostomy (10.5%). The monthly fertility rate at one year was 1.4%. The rate of IUP for tube stages I and II is significantly higher than that for stages III and IV (p

Objective: To evaluate the laparoscopic management of adnexal masses suspicious at ultrasound. Methods: In a prospective study, adnexal masses suspicious at ultrasound were managed by laparoscopy. Indications for laparotomy included general contraindications to laparoscopy, obviously disseminated ovarian cancer, and technically impossible laparoscopic treatment. After laparoscopic diagnosis, frozen sections were used to confirm a diagnosis of malignancy. Treatment was performed by laparoscopy whenever feasible. Results: Over a 3-year period, 247 of the 599 adnexal masses (41.2%) treated in our department were suspicious or solid at ultrasound. Seventeen patients were evaluated by laparotomy and 230 by laparoscopy. Overall, 204 women (82.6%) were treated by laparoscopy, including seven of the 37 malignant tumors (18.9%) and 197 of the 210 benign masses (93.8%). One case of tumor dissemination occurred after a laparoscopic adnexectomy and morcellation of a grade 1 immature teratoma. Conclusion: Laparoscopic diagnosis of adnexal masses suspicious at ultrasound avoids many laparotomies for the treatment of benign masses and allows an improved inspection of the upper abdomen. The laparoscopic treatment of adnexal masses suspicious at surgery should be evaluated further in carefully designed prospective studies.

From their experience and from data in the literature, the authors try to define the respective place of the different treatments for endometriosis, especially those of operative laparoscopy. In cases of endometriosis-associated infertility, operative laparoscopy is the first line treatment and assisted reproductive technology (ART) the second one. Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues are only useful in cases of extensive endometriosis to render surgery easier, and for ART. The average pregnancy rate following laparoscopic treatment is approximately 50% (range 34-80%). It is poorly related to the type of endometriosis except in cases of large adhesions and tubal involvement. However, duration of infertility, age and sperm quality have a direct influence on it. Therefore the authors propose a scheme for the management of endometriosis-associated infertility. In cases of pain, laparoscopic surgery can also be used; however, drugs have a more important role in these cases, to avoid recurrent surgery.

The new operative endoscopic techniques have been fully tried in the industrialized world and have spread to all surgical specialities. These new technologies present an obvious advantage for certain gynecologic pathologies which are particularly common in Africa. For pelvic inflammatory diseases, ectopic pregnancies and tubal sterility, laparoscopic surgery enables an initial assessment of disease, a less traumatic treatment and therefore a better long-term prognosis for fertility and reduced postoperative morbidity. Recently, an operative endoscopic unit performing laparoscopic surgery and endoscopic resections was created at the Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Yaoundé in Cameroon. This facility is the result of close collaboration between the University of Yaoundé and the University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand. This operative endoscopic unit has been functioning since April 1992. The authors discuss the difficulties involved in such projects, such as initial investment, maintenance of equipment and in particular training of the surgical team.

Objective To evaluate fertility results after laparoscopic distal tuboplasty and to compare these results with those obtained previously with microsurgery. Design Retrospective, nonrandomized. Setting Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, France. Patients All the distal tuboplasties performed between October 1985 and June 1989 were included. Adnexal damage was assessed using tubal and adhesions scoring systems described previously. Tuboplasty was carried out bilaterally except when one tube was absent or severely damaged (tubal stage III or IV and/or with severe adhesions). Patients with bilateral severe adnexal damages were treated only if they refused to undergo in vitro fertilization. Laparoscopic tuboplasty was performed either with the C0 2 laser or with conventional instruments. Main Outcome Measure Fertility after laparoscopic treatment was evaluated using simple and cumulative pregnancy rates (PRs) according to the adnexal damage and compared with the micro-surgical results using PRs according to the adnexal damage. Results The overall intrauterine and extrauterine PRs were 33.3% and 6.9%, respectively. Twenty-six of the 29 intrauterine pregnancies were obtained within the 1st postoperative year. According to tubal and adhesion stages, the results of laparoscopic distal tuboplasty are similar to those obtained using microsurgery. Conclusion We conclude that laparoscopic distal tuboplasty, when performed by experienced surgical laparoscopists, represents an effective alternative to microsurgery.

The laparoscopic management of ovarian endometrioma was reported more than 15 years ago. An anonymous survey conducted among gynaecologists in the UK showed that 50% of ovarian endometrioma are still managed by laparotomy. This surprising result is discussed emphasizing the difficulties of the learning curve, pitfalls in surgical training and mistakes of the pioneers. Endoscopic surgery will become the standard technique when all practising gynaecologic surgeons have been trained during their residency. The goal of the endoscopic surgeon should be to achieve adequate surgical treatment. Endoscopic surgery is not a technical gimmick used to avoid laparotomy and to attract patients.

The laparoscopic treatment of adnexal masses has become the gold standard within the last few years. However, there are few extensive descriptions of the procedure; it is generally summarised as a “stripping” procedure without any detail. Nevertheless, a good laparoscopic technique and adequate surgical management are required to ensure optimal patient care. In this chapter, we will discuss: the treatment technique that should be adapted to each pathological diagnosis; postoperative adhesions; the limits of the laparoscopic approach, accounting for all the clinical and experimental data recently reported about tumour dissemination.

Purpose of review To review recent literature on the laparoscopic management of adnexal masses, when this approach may be considered as a gold standard. Recent findings Cyst rupture was recently demonstrated to be a significant prognostic factor in stage I invasive epithelial carcinoma, and it was recommended to restrict the laparoscopic approach to patients with preoperative evidence that the cyst was benign. The laparoscopic approach is still highly controversial in masses suspicious at ultrasound. The limits of the laparoscopic approach are discussed reviewing recent literature and our experience. The laparoscopic management of adnexal masses appears to be safe in most hospitals even in developing countries. This approach is being used with increasing frequency in unusual indications such as newborns, children, adolescents and pregnant women. The learning curve for endoscopic surgery appears to be longer than expected. Many patients with benign adnexal masses, such as ovarian endometrioma, are still treated by laparotomy or with an inadequate endoscopic technique. Several studies have suggested that the stripping technique is a tissue-sparing procedure. Summary The laparoscopic puncture of malignant ovarian tumours confined to the ovaries is uncommon, and should be avoided whenever possible. The teaching of endoscopy is essential to promote adequate procedures performed according to the principles of microsurgery and to preserve postoperative ovarian physiology.

To compare the frequency of complications of total laparoscopic hysterectomy performed in the first and more recent years of our experience, and based on that, offer ways to prevent them.Retrospective, comparative study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).University tertiary referral center for endoscopic surgery.During 1989-1995 and 1996-1999, 695 and 952 women, respectively, with benign pathology.Total laparoscopic hysterectomy.No differences in patient characteristics were found between 1989-1995 and 1996-1999. Substantial decreases in major complication rates were noted, 5.6% and 1.3%, respectively. No major vessel injury occurred. Excessive hemorrhage (1.9%) and need for blood transfusion (2.2%) during the first period were statistically higher than in the second period (both 0.1%, p0.005). Urinary complications (2.2%) including 10 bladder lacerations, 4 ureter injuries, and 1 vesicovaginal fistula occurred more frequently in the first period than in the second period (0.9%), when 6 bladder and 2 ureter lacerations and 1 vesicovaginal fistula occurred (p0.005). One bowel injury and one bowel obstruction occurred in the first period, but no bowel complications in the second. Between periods, 33 (4.7%) and 8 (1.4%) conversions to laparotomy were necessary. During the first period there were nine reoperations; of six laparotomies, four were due to urinary injuries, one due to heavy vaginal bleeding, and one due to a vesicovaginal fistula; three diagnostic laparoscopies were required due to postoperative abdominal pain. Three reoperations during the second period were two laparoscopies due to heavy vaginal bleeding and one laparotomy due to a vesicovaginal fistula (p0.005). Statistically significant differences in median (range) uterine weight 179.5 g (22-904 g) and 292.0 g (40-980 g) and operating times 115 minutes (40-270 min) and 90 minutes (40-180 min), respectively, were recorded (p0.005).Laparoscopic hysterectomy was safe, effective, and reproducible after training, and with current technique, had a low rate of complications.

To evaluate short-term outcome of total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) performed in women with very enlarged uteri.Case control study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).Hospital gynecologic service.Thirty-four consecutive women with very enlarged uteri.Total laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign pathology.Women with uterine enlargement (group 1) were compared with 68 women with uteri weighing 300 g or less (group 2) who underwent TLH during the same period. Matching was based on patient age +/- 2 years, surgeon (experienced senior, fellow), whether or not Burch operation was performed, and whether or not adnexectomy was performed. The groups were compared for complication rates, operating time, hospital stay, change in perioperative hemoglobin concentration, and vaginal and laparoscopic uterine morcellation. They did not differ statistically significantly in terms of indications for surgery, parity, postmenopausal status, and preoperative hemoglobin levels. No difference was seen in complication rates between groups. Operating time was significantly shorter (p0.001) in women with smaller uteri than in those with very enlarged uteri, 108 +/- 35 and 156 +/- 50 minutes, respectively. The groups did not differ significantly in day 1 hemoglobin level drop, analgesia requirement (oral, intravenous opioid), time to passing gas and stool, or hospital stay. No conversion to laparotomy was required in either group.A very enlarged uterus should not be considered a contraindication for TLH. However, it may be necessary to undertake certain surgical steps to ensure optimal exposure of the operative field and more effective and safer excision of the uterine vascular pedicle.

Many papers suggested that laparoscopic treatment of cancer could be achieved and taught safely. Although cases reports about trocar site metastasis and national survey about inadequate management of early ovarian cancer suggested that laparoscopic management of cancer may be dangerous. The current literature may be summarized as follows. An inadequate surgical management performed by laparoscopy as well as by laparotomy may worsen the prognosis of an early ovarian cancer. If the abdominal wall is protected with a bag and the tumour is not morcellated, the incidence of trocar site site metastasis is about 1%. Animal studies demonstrated that the laparoscopic management of cancer has both advantages and disadvantages. Preliminary results from prospective randomised trials in the treatment of colon cancer suggested that the survival rate is similar after laparoscopy and after laparotomy. The risk of dissemination appears high when a large number of malignant cells are present in patients operated using an increased abdominal pressure and a CO2 pneumoperitoneum. These data suggest that laparoscopic treatment of gynaecologic cancer is not dangerous if an adequate surgical technique is used. However morcellation of suspicious solid tumours, treatment of adnexal tumours with external vegetations but without peritoneal dissemination and of bulky lymph nodes should be considered as contra-indications to CO2 laparoscopy, puncture of an ovarian tumour with intracystic vegetations is a high risk situation which should be avoided whenever possible.

Background Ovarian response during IVF cycles after laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy for endometriotic cysts >3 cm is controversial. A retrospective study was designed to study this problem. Methods At laparoscopy, endometriomas >3 cm were treated by ovarian cystectomy, whilst adhesions and peritoneal endometriosis were treated using conventional techniques. Ovarian stimulation was achieved with clomiphene and gonadotrophins or with gonadotrophins after a desensitization with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonists. Three groups of patients were retrospectively selected from an IVF-embryo transfer database: patients who underwent laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy for an endometrioma >3 cm (Group A, n = 41), patients with endometriosis without ovarian endometrioma (Group B, n = 139) and patients with tubal infertility (Group C, n = 59). Results The groups did not differ in age. In the first IVF cycle, the mean (+/- SD) numbers of oocytes and of embryos were 9.4 +/- 6.2 and 4.7 +/- 3.6 respectively in group A and 11.6 +/- 7.5 and 5.1 +/- 4.9 in group B (not significant). The results did not differ in cycles 2 and 3 or when compared according to age. No difference was found when comparing patients with endometriosis and patients with tubal infertility. Conclusion The number of oocytes and embryos obtained was not significantly decreased by laparoscopic cystectomy, suggesting that in experienced hands this procedure may be a valuable surgical tool for the treatment of large ovarian endometriomas. However, great care must be taken to avoid ovarian damage.

Peritoneal adhesions are a major problem for health and economy. An adequate and atraumatic surgical technique is essential in the prevention of peritoneal adhesions. Laparoscopic microsurgery should be developed and promoted. The following conclusions can be proposed about the treatments available Adequately designed clinical studies are too rare. Future studies are necessary to obtain information on pregnancy and pain as primary outcomes. Cost implications of adhesion prevention treatments also have to be addressed.

The laparoscopic management of adnexal tumeurs remains controversial because of the potentials risks of cancer dissemination suggested by many case reports and national surveys. From experimental data, the laparoscopic treatment of gynecologic cancer has potential advantages and disadvantages. The risk of dissemination appears high when a large number of malignant cells are present so that adnexal tumors with external vegetations, and bulky lymph nodes may be considered as contra-indications to CO2 laparoscopy. Laparoscopic surgery has become the gold standard in the treatment of benign adnexal tumeurs, whereas laparotomy remains the standard for the treatment of malignant tumors. The surgical diagnosis is the key to adequate management of adnexal tumeurs. In our experience, after a careful preoperative evaluation, the laparoscopic diagnosis of malignancy is reliable. Moreover in national surveys, many malignant tumeurs were considered as benign despite suspicious laparoscopic findings. Using strict guidelines, laparoscopic diagnosis can be proposed for both non suspicious and complex tumeurs, thus avoiding many unnecessary laparotomies for benign tumeurs suspicious at ultrasound. The more controversial limits of laparoscopic treatment are discussed. If a laparotomy was performed for all tumeurs suspicious at surgery, 80% of the cases would be treated by laparoscopy. The role of laparoscopy for restaging and second look operations for ovarian cancer requires further evaluation.

Genital prolapse is a common problem in women. The wide variety of surgical techniques used to treat this problem demonstrate how difficult it is to manage. Laparoscopic surgery offers a new approach. It allows a good view of the anterior and posterior compartments so that a global approach for the prolapse is possible by the same surgical route. Traditional promontofixation can be combined with a new approach to the posterior compartment. Laparoscopic promontofixation through installation of an intervesicouterine prosthesis for the treatment of hysterocele and cystocele is associated with paravaginal repair of lateral defects and a Burch anterior colposuspension for urinary stress incontinence. When combined with laparoscopic treatment of rectocele by myorrhaphy and reinforcement of the fascia by means of a prosthesis, it provides a complete range of treatment for all types of feminine prolapse. After 20 years of experience through laparotomy, promontofixation using a triangle has been carried out by laparoscopy at the authors' center since 1991 in an attempt to eliminate the cystocele by solidly anchoring the uterus and bladder floor to the promontory. This laparoscopic technique follows the usual steps for pelvic prolapse repair: 1. Total or subtotal hysterectomy or suspension of the uterus is performed in such a way that it returns to normal physiologic position, and a solid subvesical floor is created. 2. The physiologic axis of the vagina is restored by creating a strong, low posterior point of support and by performing culdoplasty. 3. Evident or latent stress incontinence is treated. It would be pointless to treat the hysterocele on its own because, once the prolapse has been cured, the subvesical mass will disappear and allow urinary incontinence to appear. 4. Reconstruction of the posterior rectovaginal support structures seems to be mandatory and is carried out in almost all cases. The first phase of the laparoscopic approach to pelvic prolapse allowed the authors to explore the technical aspects. Several approaches are possible by laparoscopy. Herein, the authors report 8 years of technical research and assessment. This experience confirms the tremendous potential of laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of all aspects of this pathology by the same route. Stress incontinence, cystocele, hysterocele, rectocele, or enterocele can be treated. The operative time is longer than with the open route, and the surgeon must be highly experienced. Based on their experience, the authors are discovering new concepts. More data are required before a conclusion can be drawn concerning this promising new approach.

Ovarian cancer is the most frequent cause of gynecologic cancer-related death in the United States. In patients with advanced disease, the initial steps of the treatment, surgical debulking and chemotherapy are efficacious as evidenced by negative second look laparotomies or laparoscopies. However 1 5% to 50% of the patients with negative second look will subsequently experience recurring disease whithin 5 years and will inevitably die from the disease.(1) Therefore any approach which would improve the sensitivity and decrease the invasiveness of this procedure would be very attractive to improve the management and the quality of life of these patients.

Twenty-six ectopic pregnancies located strictly within the isthmus were treated surgically using conservative laparoscopic techniques. In each and every case, the Triton monopolar electrode was used to perform salpingostomy which was followed by aspiration of the trophoblast. This therapeutic approach is very reliable since only one failure was observed (3.9%), requiring a further operation during which salpingectomy was carried out by laparoscopy. It was possible to evaluate subsequent fertility for 11 patients, seven of whom (63.6%) obtained an intrauterine pregnancy and only one patient (9.1%) had a recurrence. This highly satisfactory prognosis is perfectly comparable with that obtained with treatment via laparotomy with segmental resection of the isthmic portion of the tube and immediate or delayed anastomosis. These very encouraging results mean that conservative laparoscopic treatment presents an advantageous alternative to classic surgical treatment for isthmic ectopic pregnancies, in that the patients are spared a laparotomy.

In a carefully selected patient with stage Ia2 carcinoma of the cervix, a vaginally assisted laparoscopic radical hysterectomy with pelvic node dissection was performed using scissors, atr...

A stage IIIA borderline serous ovarian tumour was treated conservatively by laparoscopy to preserve the fertility of a 21 year old nulligravid woman. Six months later, recurrent lesions were resected. An 'urgent' IVF was performed to obtain frozen embryos. Oncological treatment was then completed by radical surgery with uterine conservation. Fifteen months later, two thawed embryos were successfully transferred and the patient delivered one baby. From this observation, the authors discuss an alternative to oocyte donation in cases of bilateral ovariectomy for stage IIIA borderline serous ovarian tumour.

Laparoscopic surgery has become the gold standard in the treatment of benign adnexal masses, whereas laparotomy remains the standard for the treatment of malignant tumors. The laparoscopic management of adnexal masses remains controversial because of the potential risks of cancer dissemination suggested by many case reports and national surveys. Experimental data show potential advantages and disadvantages for the laparoscopic treatment of gynecologic cancer. Since the risk of dissemination appears high when a large number of malignant cells are present, adnexal tumors with external growths and bulky lymph nodes may be considered contra-indications to CO(2) laparoscopy. Surgical diagnosis is the key to adequate management of adnexal masses. In our experience, laparoscopic diagnosis of malignancy is reliable after a careful pre-operative evaluation has been performed. Moreover, national surveys have revealed that despite suspicious laparoscopic findings, many malignant masses were considered benign at the outset. Using strict guidelines, laparoscopic diagnosis can be proposed for both non-suspicious and complex masses, thus avoiding many unnecessary laparotomies for benign masses suspicious at ultrasound. The more controversial limits of laparoscopic treatment are discussed. If a laparotomy was performed for all masses suspicious at surgery, 80% of the cases would be treated by laparoscopy. The role of laparoscopy for restaging and second-look operations for ovarian cancer requires further evaluation.

We performed a randomized experimental study in a rat model to evaluate the use of 5-aminolevulinic acid-induced (ALA) fluorescence in the laparoscopic diagnosis of peritoneal metastases of ovarian cancer.We injected 103 ovarian adenocarcinoma cells in the peritoneum of 31 rats. One week later, 5-aminolevulinic acid was injected in the peritoneum (100 mg/kg). After 3 h, we examined the rats using a 10-mm endoscope with a mono CCD camera and a light source developed for photodynamic diagnosis. Metastases on the parietal peritoneum were evaluated independently by two surgeons randomly assigned to use either a conventional light mode or the fluorescence mode.The mean number of metastases detected was 2.84 with conventional laparoscopic light and 5.74 with ALA-induced fluorescence (p0.0008). Metastases diagnosed by fluorescence were confirmed by pathologic examination. Random peritoneal biopsy specimens taken from nonfluorescent areas were negative.In this experiment, ALA-induced fluorescence improved the detection of peritoneal metastases of ovarian cancer.

Objective: To review the experimental studies on laparoscopy and cancer and to propose guidelines for the clinical management of gynecologic cancer. Methods: The literature in MEDLINE was searched from January 1992 to December 1998 using the terms ‘cancer’, ‘laparoscopy’ and ‘experimental or animal study’. Cross-referencing identified additional publications. Abstracts and letters to the editor were excluded. All the relevant papers were reviewed. Results: Depending on the model used, controversial results have been reported on the incidence of trocar site metastasis when comparing CO 2 laparoscopy and laparotomy. In contrast, the following conclusions can be proposed: (i) tumour growth after laparotomy is greater than after endoscopy; (ii) tumour dissemination is worse after CO 2 laparoscopy than after laparotomy; (iii) some of the disadvantages of CO 2 laparoscopy may be treated using local or intravenous treatments or avoided using other endoscopic exposure methods, such as gasless laparoscopy. Conclusions: The laparoscopic treatment of gynecologic cancer has potential advantages and disadvantages, and may only be performed in prospective clinical trials. The risk of dissemination appears high when a large number of malignant cells are present. Adnexal tumours with external vegetations, and bulky lymph nodes should be considered as contra-indications to CO 2 laparoscopy.

Laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy is becoming the gold standard in the treatment of benign ovarian cyst.1 Although difficulties may be encountered, and the ovaries are generally left open, the effectiveness of this procedure and postoperative adhesion formation have been rarely studied. The ovarian nonclosure, which is used by most authors,2,3 is highly controversial because surgical procedures that involve the ovarian cortex frequently result in periovarian adhesions and associated infertility.4,5

A new surgical section of operative laparoscopy was installed in General Hospital of Yaounde, Cameroon, in April 1992 after many years of collaboration between the University of Clermont-Ferrand and the University of Yaounde. A total of 735 laparoscopic operations were conducted in the first 5 years. Conditions facilitating such a project are discussed.

Adenomyosis keeps a strange and unknown feature. Indeed, therefore of an unclear physiopathology, the difficult diagnosis due to the lack of specificity of symptoms and the absence of effective conservative treatment, adenomyosis is still tightly bond at hysterectomy. Even so, a recent literature study shows that the fatality of hysterectomy could go away. The progress in imagery diagnosis and myometrial biopsy allows the use of less radical treatments. So a group of young patients with an earlier diagnosis appears, permitting to use with effectiveness the hormonal therapy or endoscopic surgery. Hysterectomy at once is saved for more than 40 years old patients, with a considerable uterine volume and deep lesions. In the others cases, the radical procedure remains the solution for the failure of conservative treatment.

Concerning laparoscopy and tumor dissemination, we know from several multivariate analyses that at laparotomy, if the tumor is entirely and immediately removed, the puncture of a stage I ovarian cancer has no influence on the prognosis. In contrast the inadequate surgical management of an undiagnosed ovarian cancer may worsen the prognosis. The diagnosis is the key step. To be able to immediately and completely treat an ovarian cancer when managing an ovarian tumor surgically, Laparoscopic diagnosis is safe and reliable when used cautiously. The surgical diagnosis may and should probably be performed by laparoscopy whatever the ultrasonographic appearance of the tumor. Masses diagnosed as suspicious at surgery should be treated by immediate laparotomy, since the results of laparoscopic treatment of an ovarian cancer are not known. In young patients, conservative surgery is the main advantage of laparoscopy, and should be achieved in most benign masses. The recent progresses of in vitro fertilization should be taken into account when managing an ovarian tumor in a patient who wishes to become pregnant. Frozen sections are useful, when treating highly suspicious masses, allowing an immediate staging and avoiding the disadvantages of a second surgical procedure. Whenever a malignant tumor has been missed at laparoscopy, restaging is required and should be considered to be an oncologic emergency.

To study the importance and the consequences of several managements options for adnexal cystic masses suspicious at ultrasound and/or at laparoscopy.The importance of this question was evaluated by studying the correlation between the ultrasonographic appearance, the macroscopic diagnosis and the pathologic diagnosis in a series of 1098 patients operated over a 14-year period. The laparotomy rates obtained with the managements proposed were calculated by adding the laparotomies which would be performed because of the suspicious appearance to the laparotomies effectively performed in the department when treating the non suspicious masses.32 of the 323 suspicious cases at ultrasound were malignant. The negative predictive value of the laparoscopic diagnosis of malignancy was 100%. Depending on the management used, the incidence of laparotomy could have varied from 6.1% to 31.3% between 1987 and 1991, and from 12.9% to 41.9% between 1992 and 1993. These results were related to preoperative selection.Using a simple management which includes diagnostic laparoscopy for masses suspicious at ultrasound and laparotomy for masses suspicious at laparoscopy, 80.1% of the patients would be treated by laparoscopic. This management seems reasonable until the long term results of large series about the laparoscopic treatment of ovarian cancer become available.

We report 6 cases of tuberculous peritonitis, focusing on the contribution of laparoscopic exploration. The initial diagnosis was erroneus in all cases: the polymorphous clinical presentations suggested another infectious disease or cancer disease. Laparoscopy was performed in 5 patients who had ascitis and in 1 with plastic peritonitis. At laparoscopy, the peritoneum showed miliary granulations and inflammatory adherences on the visceral or parietal sheats. Bacteriological analyses of the ascitic fluid were positive in only one case. The diagnosis was confirmed after culture of biopsy specimens and identification of the Kock bacilli or on the basis of objective evidence of an epithelioid giant-cell granuloma with caseous necrosis. Outcome was favorable after appropriate antibiotic therapy.

We report a study of 41 radical hysterectomies performed through laparoscopic approach for carcinoma of the cervix uteri. According to the FIGO staging, the tumors were classified as 12 stages Ia2, 24 stages Ib, 4 stages IIa and 1 stage IIb. 17 patients were treated by exclusive surgical procedure. 24 patients received a combination of radiation therapy and surgery 2 patients had a tumor of the cervical stump after subtotal hysterectomy. The mean duration of the procedure was 270 minutes. The post-op stay was 6.5 days. There was no major operative and postoperative complication. Only one patient required a blood transfusion. The intravenous pyelogram control was correct in all cases. At this time, with a 4 to 76 months follow-up, no recurrence was observed. This experience suggests the faisability of the laparoscopic radical hysterectomy. This approach seems to be convenient in young and non obese women with a tumor less than 4 cm in the greatest diameter.

Laparoscopic treatment of urinary stress incontinence and urogenital prolapse is a recent development of endoscopic surgery. The aim of this study was to describe the operative techniques of colposuspension and of treatment of urogenital prolapse and to provide data of the results. Although, long-term follow-up data remains to be collected, 12 to 18 month results demonstrate appropriate success rates in correction of urinary stress incontinence using laparoscopic approach to the retropelvic space. An expanded laparoscopic approach is now possible for treatment of urogenital prolapse. It is imperative that the techniques continue in order to provide multicentered clinical data by which clinical investigators and practitioners should thoroughly evaluate these surgical techniques.

Objective To study fertility of patients with adnexal abscesses treated by laparoscopy, antibiotic therapy, and second-look laparoscopy. Design A retrospective clinical study. Setting Department of Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Auvergne, University Hospital of Clermont Ferrand, France. Patient(s) Thirty-nine patients treated for adnexal abscesses between January 1983 and December 1992. Intervention(s) Laparoscopic drainage of adnexal abscesses was performed in all patients; 35 patients underwent a second laparoscopy 3 to 6 months later. Main Outcome Measure(s) Immediate and long-term clinical results, anatomical data obtained at second-look laparoscopy, spontaneous fertility. Result(s) No immediate reoperation was necessary within the first 2 months after the initial laparoscopic surgery. At second-look laparoscopy, an adhesiolysis was necessary in all cases. A distal tuboplasty was performed in 17 patients and 6 patients were referred to IVF-ET. Subsequently, 12 of 19 patients not using any contraception obtained a spontaneous intrauterine pregnancy (63%). Conclusion(s) This study confirms that laparoscopic surgery is a safe and efficient technique for treating adnexal abscesses. Anatomical results observed at second-look laparoscopy suggest that this second surgical step is essential for patients desiring future pregnancy.

Using technological progress, laparoscopic lymphadenectomy is becoming the standard for staging of pelvic cancer. In the same way more extensive procedures such as para-aortic lymph nodes dissection and radical hysterectomy have been demonstrated to be feasible by laparoscopy. This new approach appears very promising. In the future, because of its well known advantages, laparoscopic surgery may appear as a way to decrease the consequences of oncologic treatments in patients with low risks tumors and to propose more aggressive treatments of patients with bad prognosis tumors.

A laparoscopic approach for radical hysterectomy is described. The laparoscopic procedures are similar to those achieved previously by laparotomy, the extent of surgery being adapted to the volume of the tumour and to the associated treatments. From the results obtained in a preliminary study of 15 patients, this approach appears to be safe. This surgical treatment of cervical cancer which associates a radical procedure complying with oncological rules with a decreased morbidity seems very promising. However, laparoscopic radical hysterectomy should be considered investigational and reserved for oncology surgeons trained in extensive laparoscopic procedures. Large studies with long follow-up are necessary before this approach can be proposed as an alternative to conventional surgical approaches.

We describe the use of laparoscopic techniques in hysterectomy, and the epidemiology of hysterectomy. We review the advantages and complications of total laparoscopic hysterectomy and subtotal laparoscopic hysterectomy. Finally, we discuss long-term outcomes and the cost of these techniques.

Laparoscopic treatment of urinary stress incontinence and urogenital prolapse is a recent development. We describe the progress of the ideas and techniques, in this field. However, the literature lacks prospective randomized studies with sufficient follow up. So there is a need for these techniques, which seem attractive at first glance, to be fully assessed before they can be adopted as standard practice.

The goals of surgical treatment of endometriosis are to completely ablate and/or excise active endometriotic tissue and correct anatomic distortions caused by adhesions and cystic lesions.1 Over the past few years, laparoscopic surgery has become a valuable addition to conventional and microsurgical approaches by laparotomy. The choice of approach (laparotomy or laparoscopy), surgical technique (excision, coagulation, vaporization), and instruments (CO2 laser, electrocautery, or scissors) is according to the surgeon’s preference (see Figs. 10.1 through 10.6 and color plates 10.1 through 10.6). The key issue is to adequately identify and treat the disease. By selecting the most effective surgical modality for each location and each patient, the desired postoperative results can best be achieved. A wide variety of surgical and medical treatments are now available, but it is important to take into account the limits of each approach.

Evaluate short- and long-term follow-up of patients treated by laparoscopy and antibiotherapy for tubo-ovarian abscess.We report a retrospective study of 39 patients treated from January 1983 to December 1992. Clinical files were examined and a questionnaire was mailed to patients.None of the patients needed to be reoperated for failure of the first laparoscopic treatment. A laparoscopic control after 3 month was done in 35 cases, which allowed complete adhesiolysis in every patients. We performed distal tubal surgery in 17 patients at that time and oriented 6 patients directly towards IVF. Subsequent fertility, in 19 patients followed without contraception, demonstrated a rate of spontaneous intra-uterine pregnancy of 63%.This study confirms that laparoscopy remains the technique of choice in initial management of adnexal abscesses.