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Background: Few randomised controlled trials have sufficient power to show clear advantages of different designs of cervical smear collection devices. We studies whether the design of the cervical smear collection device affects rates of inadequate smears and detection of disease and whether the presence of endocervical cells in the smear affects detection of disease., Objectives: The false-negative rate of cervical smears varies between 1.5% and 55%. This variation may be partly due to differences in sampling device and technique. The objective of this review was to assess different cervical sampling devices for collecting endocervical cells, which are thought to be a surrogate for detection of abnormal cells and adequate smear rates., Search Strategy: We searched the Cochrane Gynaecological Cancer Group trials register and MEDLINE up to July 1997. We also handsearched 16 journals., Selection Criteria: Randomised and quasi-randomised trials and non-randomised comparative studies comparing cervical smear collection devices in women attending for primary screening, colposcopy following an abnormal smear or colposcopy after treatment., Data Collection and Analysis: Two reviewers independently abstracted data. Study quality was assessed., Main Results: Thirty-four trials and six observational comparative studies were included. The Ayre spatula was shown to be less effective compared with extended tip spatulas for collecting endocervical cells in eight trials (odds ratio 2.25, 95% confidence interval 2.06 to 2.44). Use of a spatula with the cytobrush was more effective than spatula alone at collecting endocervical cells (odds ratio 3.33, 95% 3.05 to 3.63) and the same effect was present for adequate smear rates (odds ratio 1.51 95% 1.19-1.92). Extended tip spatulas were also superior for the detection of dyskaryosis in seven trials (odds ratio 1.21, 95% confidence interval 1.10 to 1.33). Based on data from two trials and three observational studies, smears that contained endocervical cells were more likely to detect dyskaryosis, particularly in severe disease. The proportion of smears with endocervical cells present increased with increasing severity of the disease., Reviewer's Conclusions: Extended tip spatulas of various designs appear to be better for collecting endocervical cells than the commonly used Ayre spatula. The most effective combination appears to be the cytobrush with an extended tip spatula. The rate of detection of endocervical cells appears to be a valid and convenient surrogate for the ability to detect dyskaryosis and for adequate smear rates. The ability of the extended tip spatula with the cytobrush compared with the extended tip spatula alone to detect disease, needs to be evaluated in a trial.

Objectives: Progestagen therapy following primary surgery for endometrial cancer has been advocated to reduce the risk of recurrence. The objective of this review was to assess the effect of adjuvant progestagen therapy in endometrial cancer., Search Strategy: We searched the Cochrane Gynaecological Cancer Group trials register and MEDLINE up to May 1999., Selection Criteria: Randomised trials of progestagen therapy in women who have had surgery for endometrial cancer., Data Collection and Analysis: Trial quality was assessed and two reviewers abstracted data independently., Main Results: Six trials involving 4351 women were identified. Three trials included women with stage one disease only, whereas three included women with more advanced disease. Based on five trials, overall survival was not improved by adjuvant progestagen therapy (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.24). Endometrial cancer deaths and relapse of disease appears to be reduced by progestagen therapy OR 0.88 95% CI (0.71-1.1) and 0. 81 95% CI (0.65-1.01) respectively. However, non-endometrial cancer related deaths were more common in women treated with progestagens OR 1.33 (1.02-1.73)., Reviewer's Conclusions: Current evidence does not support the use of adjuvant progestagen therapy in the primary treatment of endometrial cancer.

Objectives: Good surgical technique and other interventions can reduce immediate and long-term blood loss which is a common complication of surgery for cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia. The objective of this review was to assess the effect of interventions to reduce blood loss due to surgery for cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia., Search Strategy: We searched the Cochrane Gynaecological Cancer Group trials register., Selection Criteria: Randomised and quasi-randomised trials of vasopressin, tranexamic acid, haemostatic sutures or Monsel's solution in women who have had surgery for intra-epithelial neoplasia., Data Collection and Analysis: Two reviewers independently abstracted data., Main Results: Seven trials were included. Vasopressin had a beneficial effect on peri-operative bleeding. Prophylactic tranexamic acid reduced haemorrhage after knife and laser cone biopsy. Packing with Monsel's solution resulted in less peri-operative blood loss and secondary haemorrhages than routine suturing. Elective suturing also appeared to increase the risk of amenorrhoea and dysmenorrhoea. Vaginal packing increased satisfactory colposcopy rates at follow-up and reduced post-surgical stenosis., Reviewer's Conclusions: Bleeding associated with surgery of the cervix appears to be reduced by vasopressin, which is used under local rather than general anaesthetic. Tranexamic acid appears to be beneficial after knife and laser cone biopsy. There are not enough data to assess the effects on primary haemorrhage. There is some evidence that haemostatic suturing has an adverse effect on blood loss, cervical stenosis and satisfactory colposcopy.

Background: Few randomised controlled trials have sufficient power to show clear advantages of different designs of cervical-smear collection devices. We studied by systematic review whether the design of cervical-smear devices affects rates of inadequate smears and detection of disease and whether the presence of endocervical cells in the smear affects detection of disease., Methods: We sought relevant randomised controlled trials by computer literature review by MEDLINE backed up by a manual search of 16 journals. Each trial was classified according to methodological quality criteria. Odds ratios were calculated where data allowed., Findings: 34 randomised controlled trials investigating cervical Papanicolaou smear collection devices were identified. All 34 trials compared the ability of devices to collect endocervical cells, and 19 compared the ability of devices to detect dyskaryosis. Meta-analyses showed that compared with other collection devices, the Ayre's spatula is an ineffective device for collecting endocervical cells (for example, odds ratio for comparison of extended-tip spatulas vs Ayre's spatula 2.25 [95% CI 2.06-2.44]) and also gives a lower yield of dyskaryosis (odds ratio for comparison of extended-tip spatulas vs Ayre's spatula 1.21 [1.20-1.33]). Devices that effectively collect endocervical cells also detect a higher proportion of abnormal cytology than those that do not., Interpretation: The widely used Ayre's spatula is the least effective device for cervical sampling and should be superseded by extended-tip spatulas for primary screening and investigation of women before and after treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. The presence of endocervical cells is a valid and convenient surrogate for the ability to detect dyskaryosis.

Objective: To evaluate the rate of recurrence after conservative treatment of Stage 1 borderline ovarian tumors., Methods: Retrospective case note review of all women with borderline ovarian tumours diagnosed at Aberdeen, U.K. and loannina, Greece between 1981-1993. Outcome measures comprised initial surgery, stage of disease, histological type, pregnancy rate, recurrence rate and disease-free interval., Results: Conservative surgery for borderline tumours in young women permitted high conception rates. Recurrence of tumour was high in this group, 71%, and presented late., Conclusion: Prolonged intensive follow-up is required for women treated conservatively for borderline malignant ovarian tumours.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of adjuvant progestagen therapy for the treatment of endometrial cancer., Design: Computerised literature review by MEDLINE backed up by a manual search of 16 journals published before January 1995, to identify relevant published randomised controlled trials. Trials were classified according to methodological quality criteria. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated where data allowed., Setting: Institute of Epidemiology and Health Service Research, University of Leeds., Subjects: Patients presenting with endometrial cancer., Intervention: Adjuvant progestagen therapy., Outcomes: Death (overall, cancer related and intercurrent) and relapse., Results: Six randomised controlled trials comparing adjuvant progestagen with no adjuvant therapy in the treatment of endometrial cancer were identified in the literature prior to January, 1995. Three trials had an acceptable method of randomisation. Meta-analysis demonstrated that overall survival was not improved by adjuvant progestagen therapy and may even have been adversely affected. Furthermore, this treatment was not associated with any reduction in relapse or death from endometrial cancer., Conclusion: Current evidence does not support use of adjuvant progestagen therapy in the primary treatment of endometrial cancer.

A case is reported of vestibulocochlear dysfunction following accidental dural tap during epidural anaesthesia in labour. The aetiology and the world literature are reviewed.