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Study Objective: Several studies have been published on hysteroscopic treatment of cesarean scar defect using the 26 Fr resectoscope. This study compared the effects of the 26 Fr resectoscope with those of the 16 Fr mini-resectoscope in terms of efficacy, safety profile, and peri- and postoperative complications.Design: A prospective cohort study.Setting: Tertiary care university hospital (S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy).Patients: Three hundred and nine women having symptoms and with a cesarean scar defect diagnosis were divided into 2 groups according to a temporal criterion: from March 2012 to March 2015, 155 consecutive women (control group) underwent isthmoplasty with the 26 Fr resectoscope (Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany), whereas from April 2015 to March 2018, 154 consecutive women (study group) underwent isthmoplasty with the 16 Fr mini-resectoscope (Gubbini system, Tontarra Medizintechnik, Tuttlingen, Germany).Interventions: One hundred and fifty-five women (control group) underwent isthmoplasty with the 26 Fr resectoscope, and 154 women (study group) underwent isthmoplasty with the 16 Fr mini-resectoscope. The so-called "channel-like" 360° endocervical resection technique was applied.Measurements and Main Results: The isthmoplasty time with the 2 resectoscopes, excluding cervical dilatation, was similar (p = .25), whereas the overall surgical time was shorter in the case of the mini-resectoscope. The use of the 16 Fr mini-resectoscope was significantly associated with a reduced volume of distension medium used (p <.001) and a lower fluid absorption (p <.001). A significant increase (p = .01) in postoperative complications in the control group (9/155; 5.8%) compared with the study group (1/154; 0.7%) was also found. No significant reduction in discharge time was observed between the 2 groups (p = .13). Patient satisfaction immediately after surgery was significantly higher (p <.001) in the study group than in the control group.Conclusion: Isthmoplasty with a 16 Fr mini-resectoscope seems to be as effective as isthmoplasty with a 26 Fr resectoscope in reducing postmenstrual abnormal uterine bleeding and suprapubic pelvic pain. It is associated with a significant reduction in overall surgical time owing to the non-necessity of performing cervical dilatation. The 16 Fr mini-resectoscope facilitates surgery in small anatomical spaces such as the cervical canal and reduces the complication rate linked to blind maneuvers not respecting the uterine anatomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Objective: To show the technique of hysteroscopic channel-like 360° repair of a cesarean scar defect performed with a Gubbini 16F miniresectoscope (GUBBINI system; Tontarra Medizintechnik, Tuttlingen, Germany).Design: A step-by-step demonstration of the surgical technique using slides, pictures, and a video (an instructive video [Video 1]).Setting: A university hospital (Bologna University Hospital, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic, Bologna, Italy).Patients: A 35-year-old woman with a history of a previous cesarean section complaining of pelvic pain and postmenstrual spotting.Interventions: With the vaginoscopic approach, the isthmocele was localized; a high-frequency 90° angled circular loop electrode and pure cutting current of 100 W were used to resect the fibrotic tissue of the proximal (step 1) and distal (step 2) part of the niche. We performed resection not only of the fibrotic tissue underneath the niche but also of the inflamed tissue placed around the niche and on the opposite site (the so-called channel-like 360° endocervical ablation). A high-frequency angled ball electrode was used to obtain focused coagulation of all residual inflamed tissue still present on the niche surface and on the cervical canal walls (step 3); the aim of this step is to facilitate the re-epithelialization of the cervical canal walls by the paraphysiological endocervical epithelium. The procedure was ended by controlling any bleeding of the endocervical vessels by reducing the inflow and pressure of the distending medium and by focused electrocauterization with a ball electrode (step 4).Measurements and Main Results: The operative time was 14 minutes. The small diameter of a 16F resectoscope and the use of a miniaturized loop without cervical dilation allow the operative procedures to be performed without cervical dilation and without anatomic distortion of the defect, reducing the risk of complications. The small diameter of the sheaths also makes the surgical gesture faster with an easier and faster approach to the niche compared with isthmocele hysteroscopic standard surgery.Conclusion: The presence of a uterine scar defect is usually asymptomatic or refers to postmenstrual spotting with dark red or brown discharge, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, infertility, or a dull sensation after menstruation. Several factors may play a role in isthmocele development such as a low uterine incision, a deficient suturing technique of the uterine incision, and patient-related factors that impair wound healing or increase inflammation or adhesion formation. Different techniques were used as reconstructive therapies of the cesarean scar defect including laparoscopic or robot-assisted laparoscopic excision, vaginal repair, or hysteroscopic treatment. All of these procedures remove or ablate the niche fibrotic tissue with the aim of relieving symptoms. Asymptomatic cases should not be treated. According to the most recent literature, hysteroscopic repair of a cesarean scar represents an effective and safe surgical option in cases of a symptomatic isthmocele. The persistence of symptoms has been reported in up to 18% of cases, so adequate counseling should be performed before the procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cesarean scar myometrial defect as known as niche is associated with postmenstrual spotting, suprapubic pain and secondary infertility. Hysteroscopic isthmoplasty has been proposed in the treatment of niche. This study aims to determine the safety and effectiveness of hysteroscopic isthmoplasty in postmenstrual spotting treatment and improvement of spontaneous conceiving., Materials and Method: A prospective study was performed at Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Vietnam. We studied women who developed postmenstrual spotting related to niches and had desired to conceive for more than six months. Women with residual myometrium less than 2.5 mm were excluded. Twenty-three eligible women underwent hysteroscopic isthmoplasty with four main steps, including identification of relevant anatomy, resection of the cephalad edge of fibrosis, resection of the caudal edge of fibrosis, and ablation of the niche base. Participants were followed up at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively., Results: The mean surgical duration was 17 min, and no complications took place. The number of women with improved postmenstrual spotting symptoms after 1, 3, and 6 months were 39.1% (9/23), 61.9% (13/21) and 68.8% (11/16), respectively. Suprapubic pain resolved in 94% (15/16) of the women in the first month. The rate of spontaneous pregnancies within 6 months of isthmoplasty was 30.4% (7/23). There were no differences in depth niche and residual myometrium thickness on ultrasound in the period before and after hysteroscopy., Conclusion: Our study supports that hysteroscopic isthmoplasty is a safe and effective procedure for women with a niche and postmenstrual spotting and wish to conceive., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Study Objective: To demonstrate our technique for surgical hysteroscopy performed with a standard-size resectoscope or miniresectoscope in 3 cases of isthmocele.Design: Step-by-step demonstration of the technique using slides, pictures, and video (educative video) (Canadian Task Force classification III).Setting: Isthmocele is a characteristic semidiverticular anomaly of the anterior isthmic wall of the uterus, located at the site of a previous cesarean delivery scar. The etiopathogenesis of isthmocele remains poorly understood, although several hypotheses have been proposed. Factors that may possibly play a role in niche development include a very low incision through cervical tissue, inadequate suturing technique during closure of the uterine scar, surgical interventions that increase adhesion formation, and patient-related factors that impair wound healing or increase inflammation or adhesion formation. The treatment of isthmocele focuses on relieving symptoms (i.e., postmenstrual spotting, suprapubic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and infertility), and, consequently, asymptomatic cases should not be treated. Various surgical approaches have been described to treat isthmocele-related symptoms, including hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, vaginal, robotic, and combined techniques.Intervention: Our local Institutional Review Board approved the study protocol. The procedures were performed in operative room using a 26 Fr and 16 Fr continuous-flow resectoscope under general anesthesia. The surgical technique involves resection of the fibrotic tissue of the lower margin and then the upper margin of the pouch using a cutting loop, until the underlying muscular tissue is reached, followed by resection of the inflamed and necrotic tissue of the base of the pouch. Similar surgical maneuvers are performed on the contralateral side (right anterolateral wall) for complete ablation of the isthmic region (inverted ablation).Conclusion: According to the most recent literature, hysteroscopic hystmoplasty appears to be a safe and effective treatment option in cases of isthmocele with a niche at least 2 mm deep and a residual myometrial thickness of at least 3 mm to improve postmenstrual bleeding. When residual myometrial thickness is <3 mm, the hysteroscopic approach is not recommended, mainly because of the risk of bladder injury. In these symptomatic cases, laparoscopic or vaginal repair may be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]