Laparoscopic hysterectomy is currently considered the standard procedure in many patients who need hysterectomy. To reduce incisional morbidity and improve cosmetic outcomes we performed transumbilical single-port total laparoscopic hysterectomy using a special "single three-channel port" and standard laparoscopic tools with virtually no scar. We used an Alexis wound retractor (Applied Medical, CA, USA) and a surgical glove as the "single three-channel port". In this paper, we report four cases of total laparoscopic hysterectomy performed exclusively through an umbilical incision using a single three-channel port.
Cicatrix ; Cosmetics ; Gloves, Surgical ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Laparoscopy

OBJECTIVE: Incompetent internal os of cervix is one of the most common causes of midtrimester abortion in which interventions such as, transvaginal cerglage and transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage (TCIC) have been performed to prolong pregnancy. Transabdominal cerclage is beneficial in treating patients with cervices that are either extremely short, congenitally deformed, deeply lacerated after operative delivery, or markedly scarred because of previously failed transvaginal cerclage procedures. Due to technical difficulties and the fact that a cesarean section is necessary for delivery, has not been a procedure easily adopted. The purpose of our study was to compare the effectiveness of selected Modified McDonald cerclage (MTVC) and TCIC was compared in patients who had history of a previously failed transvaginal cerclage in other hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pregnancy outcomes of 13 patients who underwent TCIC from November 1997 to January 2002 and those of 28 patients who underwent MTVC from January 2000 to January 2002 were compared. Statistical analysis was done using Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney. RESULTS: The fetal salvage rates for total 13 cases of TCIC and 28 cases of MTVC were 100% (13/13) and 85.7% (24/28), respectively. The fetal salvage rates between these two groups were not statistically different. The mean gestational age at the time of operation in TCIC group was 13.15 (+/-1.63) weeks, mean gestational weeks delayed until delivery was 23.85 (+/-3.24) weeks and mean fetal body weight was 2780.77 (+/-667.33) gm. Comparably, the mean gestational age at the time of operation in MTVC group was 15.00 (+/-2.05) week, mean gestational weeks delayed until delivery was 9.96 (+/-6.65) week and mean fetal body weight was 2530 (+/-1071.26) gm. CONCLUSION: In patients who had a history of failure of TVC, the effectiveness of TCIC and MTVC had no statistical significance. Treatment with MTVC should be considered since TCIC is technically difficult and requires cesarean section.
Cervix Uteri* ; Cesarean Section ; Cicatrix ; Female ; Fetal Weight ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of further successful pregnancies and prognosis after delivery where the band was not removed from a transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage (TCIC) after a first successful pregnancy. The candidates of TCIC were those who were diagnosed with incompetent internal os of cervix (IIOC) and either had failed to maintain pregnancy after undergoing transvaginal cerclage (TVC) or could not undergo TVC due to cervical abnormalities. METHODS: During the period from May of 1991 until November of 2002, there were total 20 cases in which the band was not removed after previous TCIC, followed by a first successful pregnancy. RESULTS: In the 20 patients who had undergone TCIC, the average age, average gestational age at the time of operation, average number of previous pregnancy, average number of surviving fetus, average number of preterm delivery, and average number of fetal death were 32 years old, 12.8 weeks, 5.4, 0.2, 2 and 2.2, respectively. Cesarean section was performed at an average gestational age of 37.1 weeks in which the average birth weight was 2903 g in the first born child among 19 patients. In the following pregnancies, the average age of the patients were 34 years old in which there were 17 successful deliveries out of 20 cases where the average gestational period was 35.4 weeks and an average weight of 2661 g. There was an average of 22.5 months between the time of the first and second delivery. CONCLUSION: When the location and tension of the band had been confirmed after the first delivery in a total of 20 patients, there was a high successful delivery rate of 85% (17/20) in the next pregnancy. In this study, there was no evidence to support the complications reported in previous studies of difficulty in removal of trophoblastic tissue after abortion, dysmenorrhea, and increase in infertility associated with non removal of bands.
Adult ; Birth Weight ; Cervix Uteri* ; Cesarean Section ; Child ; Dysmenorrhea ; Female ; Fetal Death ; Fetus ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infertility ; Pregnancy* ; Prognosis ; Trophoblasts

OBJECTIVE: To assess the ability of risk of malignancy index (RMI) based on ultrasound findings, serum levels of CA 125, and menopausal status to discriminate between benign and malignant ovarian masses for preoperative screening. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of 255 women with ovarian masses admitted for operation at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hanyang University Hospital between 1999 and 2003. The sensitivity and specificity of serum levels of CA 125, ultrasound findings, and menopausal status were calculated both separately and combined into a RMI to diagnose malignancy. RESULTS: There were significant preoperative differences of ultrasound findings, serum CA 125 level, serum CA 19-9 level, platelet count and menopausal status between benign and malignant ovarian masses (P<0.05). Using a cut-off value of 100 to indicate malignancy, the RMI gave a sensitivity of 81.7%, specificity of 81.9%. The RMI was more accurate in predicting malignancy than each one of its components measured individually. CONCLUSION: The RMI is able to correctly discriminate between malignant and benign ovarian masses. This preoperative evaluation of women with ovarian masses is anticipated to help plan their management.
Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Menopause ; Obstetrics ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Platelet Count ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the acute toxicity of rofecoxib during concurrent use with cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in patients with cervical cancer. METHODS: We evaluated 67 FIGO stage IB2-IVA cervical cancer patients treated with CCRT between June 2002 and July 2004. The study group included patients who received rofecoxib (N=30) and the control group included patients who received CCRT only (N=37). The patients' medical records were retrospectively reviewed for patient characteristics, toxicity related to CCRT and treatment results. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in toxicity between the two groups. The most common acute grade 3/4 toxicity was neutropenia (13.3% in the study group and 21.6% in the control group). Grade 3/4 late toxicity was observed in 2 (6.6%) patients in the study group and 3 (8.1%) in the control group. There was no treatment-related deaths in either group. Six (20.0%) patients in the study group had treatment failure. In the control group, 6 (16.2%) patients experienced treatment failure. Progression-free and overall survival was 55.8+/-4.2 and 59.0+/-2.8 months, respectively, in the study group, and 69.7+/-4.3 and 71.6+/-3.6 months, respectively, in the control group. There were no differences in progression-free and overall survival between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that rofecoxib, at a dose of 25 mg twice daily, has acceptable acute toxicity as a radiosensitizer during CCRT. Although rofecoxib was not efficacious as a radiosensitizer in the present study, the benefit of rofecoxib as a radiosensitizer should be further evaluated in a prospective study.
Chemoradiotherapy ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Humans ; Lactones ; Medical Records ; Neutropenia ; Retrospective Studies ; Sulfones ; Treatment Failure ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of robotic single-port transumbilical total hysterectomy using a home-made surgical glove port system. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent robotic single-port transumbilical total hysterectomy between January 2010 and July 2010. All surgical procedures were performed through a single 3-4-cm umbilical incision, with a multi-channel system consisting of a wound retractor, a surgical glove, and two 10/12-mm and two 8 mm trocars. RESULTS: Seven patients were treated with robotic single-port transumbilical total hysterectomy. Procedures included total hysterectomy due to benign gynecological disease (n=5), extra-fascial hysterectomy due to carcinoma in situ of the cervix (n=1), and radical hysterectomy due to cervical cancer IB1 (n=1). The median total operative time was 109 minutes (range, 105 to 311 minutes), the median blood loss was 100 mL (range, 10 to 750 mL), and the median weight of the resected uteri was 200 g (range, 40 to 310 g). One benign case was converted to 3-port robotic surgery due to severe pelvic adhesions, and no post-operative complications occurred. CONCLUSION: Robotic single-port transumbilical total hysterectomy is technically feasible in selected patients with gynecological disease. Robotics may enhance surgical skills during single-port transumbilical hysterectomy, especially in patients with gynecologic cancers.
Carcinoma in Situ ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Gloves, Surgical ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Medical Records ; Operative Time ; Pilot Projects ; Retrospective Studies ; Robotics ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Uterus