We have developed a new surgical procedure for uterine prolapse of round ligament suspension to the psoas minor tendon by the use of a laparoscope. Here, we describe the new technique and report the outcome of surgery in three cases.　　Operative procedure: The fundus of the uterus is lifted back up to its natural position by fixing the round ligament of the uterus to the psoas minor tendon after incising the peritoneum covering psoas. It is important to use the tendon as a stronger reattachment site in addition to the psoas major muscle. The round ligament is tacked to the tendon by a 2-0 nonabsorbable suture on bilateral sides. The second suture may be added if the uterus is not appropriately lifted up by the first suture. The retroperioneum is closed by a continuous 3-0 absorbable suture after fixation.　　Cases: Two patients with severe uterine prolapse and one patient with a mild condition went through the operation safely and have experienced no recurrence for 10 to 24 months. One severely ill patient complained about post -operative right inguinal pain early and another with the severe condition complained that something felt wrong with the right thigh.　　We propose the operation of laparoscopic round ligament psoas minor tendon-hitching as a safe and effective surgical treatment for uterine prolapse.

　　We report a case of subcutaneous port-site hematoma developed on day 6 after laparoscopic left-sided salpingooophorectomy. To start the procedure, three ports were placed in the umbilicus and in each lower quadrant using bladeless trocars. No bleeding was observed at the trocar sites after insertion or withdrawal. The patient was discharged on postoperative day (POD) 3, but returned to the emergency outpatient department with acute left lower abdominal pain on POD 6. Dynamic CT revealed a port-site hematoma with active bleeding from a subcutaneous artery. Hemostasis was achieved easily by opening the trocar wound. Dynamic CT was useful to locate the bleeding vessel and enabled use of a minimally invasive procedure to control bleeding.

　　This retrospective study was carried out to clarify the preventive effect of neutral positioning of both arms on upper extremity neuropathy after gynecological laparoscopic surgery compared with right arm abduction positioning. In 93 cases of right arm abduction positioning >90°, with the left arm tucked in at the side, postoperative right hand numbness occurred in 6 cases (6.5%). In these 6 cases, symptoms disappeared in 4 cases after postoperative day (POD) 1, in 1 case after POD 21, and in the remaining case after POD 41. In 81 cases where both arms were in the neutral position tucked in at the sides with shoulder braces applied, upper extremity numbness was not experienced in any cases; however, shoulder pain developed in 4 cases (4.9%) and was thought to be related to using the shoulder braces. The pain disappeared in 2 cases after POD 1, in 1 case after POD 2, and in the remaining case after POD 3. In right arm abduction positioning without the use of shoulder braces, shoulder pain was not experienced in any cases. Neutral positioning of both arms in gynecological laparoscopic surgical patients was effective for the prevention of upper extremity neuropathy, but measures to alleviate the onset of shoulder pain after change in positioning need to be addressed in the future.

  Twin pregnancy is increasing as infertility treatment is widely given nowadays using assisted reproductive technologies. Twin pregnancy is a risk factor for some complicated pregnancies and it may also cause a hard labor. Although cesarean delivery is frequently indicated in many hospitals in Japan for twin pregnancy in view of the risk of vaginal delivery of the second baby, we have tried vaginal delivery of twin pregnancy in a certain situation. We studied the methods of twin delivery, its outcomes and the early neonatal condition.
  We found 251 twin deliveries (4.6%) in a total of 5,464 deliveries after 22 weeks of pregnancy from January 2005 to December 2009 in the delivery record. Forty-six percent of women pregnant with twins delivered their babies after 33-36 weeks of pregnancy and 41% after 37 weeks of pregnancy. Sixty-five percent delivered by Cesarean section, 33% by vaginal delivery, and 2% vaginally for the first baby and by Cesarean section for the second baby. Fifty percent of the Cesarean deliveries were performed as patients so desired. Ninety women pregnant with twins chose vaginal delivery in which 92% (64/69) of vertex/vertex presentation and 86% (18/21) of vertex/ breech presentation succeeded in vaginal delivery. Neonatal outcome was assessed in 90 vaginally deliveried babies by use of the Apgar scoring system. One-minute Apgar scores of 0-3 (severe asphyxia) were given to 4.5% (8/180) of babies and scores of 4-6 (moderate asphyxia) to 3.3% (6/180) of babies. The incidence meant that a mother had 8.9% and 6.7% of high risk of severe and moderate asphyxia of her babies. But severe asphyxia decreased to 1.7% (3/180), moderate asphyxia to 1.1% (2/180) of babies on the assessment of 5-minute Apgar scores that reflected long-term neonatal outcome. Eleven cases were second babies of all 14 cases of asphyxia on the assessment of 1-minute Apgar scores. In the vaginal delivery group, 5 cases of umbilical cord prolapsed and 3 cases of placental abruption occurred in second babies. In conclusion, twin delivery should be attempted at the birth center where neonatologists and anesthesiologists are available 24 hours as extra-emergency Cesarean delivery can be performed because of the high incidence of emergency Cesarean delivery of second baby (5.6%) and asphyxia of neonates delivered vaginally.

  A 41-year-old woman, gravid 3, para 3, was admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Tsuchiura Kyodo General Hospital, complaining of a tender, gradually enlarging mass in the right inguinal region during menses. Examination found the mass was about 2 cm in diameter, which protruded slightly (on lying position?). During menstrual periods, the mass enlarged and the pain intensified, but between menses, the mass decreased in size and the pain subsided. The case was diagnosed as inguinal endometriosis and then a preoperative GnRH analog therapy was given for six weeks to make a good operative local condition. Surgery was performed under general anesthesia and a mass about 4.0×3.0 cm in diameter near inguinal ligament was removed. The cut surface revealed small hemorrhagic areas or spaces. Microscopic examination of the dissected mass confirmed the diagnosis of inguinal endometriosis. It was found that the patient had a moderate inguinal swelling on the first visit to the hospital as an outpatient 7 days after operation, but the swelling disappeared shortly afterword. She has been receiving a post-operative GnRH analog therapy for 3 months to maintain a good local condition. The authors concluded thatthe appearance of a lump in the inguinal region and objective changes of the lesion in relation to the menstrual cycle should be considered as the symptoms of endometriosis.

  We report a case of new-onset depressive disorder in a patient with a history of rectal endometriosis treated with GnRH analog and no previous psychiatric history. This medical history allowed us to suspect the possibility of a link between GnRH analog and depression. It also highlighted the need to screen patients treated with GnRH analog for depression.
  The patient was 41-year-old woman who had been diagnosed with rectal endometriosis. She was referred to the Gynecology Department of Tsuchiura Kyodo General Hospital. The subjective symptoms included cyclic abdominal pains and rectal bleedings. The patient had undergone total abdominal hysterectomy and left salpingo-oophorectomy for endometriosis two years before. She was started by her first gynecologist on GnRH agonist (nafarelin acetate) and the symptoms disappeared soon. But several weeks after the initiation of the GnRH agonist treatment, she began to feel depressed and hopeless. She visited a psychiatric hospital and diagnosed as having depression. She was given anti-depressive drugs and inpatient treatment at the psychiatric hospital. Her clinical course was reviewed by her second gynecologist, and she was suspected to have developed depressive disorder by GnRH analog treatment. She stopped taking GnRH analog medication and started progestin (Dinagest) therapy. She became soon free of depressive disorder and then anti-depressive drugs with rectal endometriosis well controlled. This case also suggested Dinagest is a recommended drug for rectal endometriosis.

　　We report a case of vaginal cuff dehiscence after total laparoscopic hysterectomy that was successfully managed by a newly developed vaginal double-layer circular incision-closure method through a transvaginal approach. The nulligravid postmenopausal patient with cervical cancer received a diagnosis of vaginal evisceration on postoperative day 24. The eviscerated small intestine was pushed back after vaginal douching with normal saline before the procedure. The vaginal mucosa was incised circularly in two layers at the levels of 10 mm and 15 mm from the vaginal stump, and the edges apposed with double-layer closures. She was discharged on postoperative day 3 and followed up for 5 years, with no recurrence of cancer or vaginal dehiscence. This operative method is especially useful for a nulligravida with a small vagina.

We report a case of ureteral endometriosis thought to have developed following relapse of pelvic peritoneal endometriosis after laparoscopic surgery. The patient was a woman in her late 40s who had undergone laparoscopic right adnexectomy for an endometrial cyst 5 years earlier. Electrocoagulation was performed for residual endometriosis of adherent cyst wall on the right sacrouterine ligament. The normal left ovary was preserved and she received no postoperative hormonal therapy. She developed right back pain during menstruation 5 years after the surgery. Pyeloureterography revealed stenosis of the ureter to the right of the uterus. Urinary cytology revealed endometrial cells with no atypia. Conservative management was opted for because malignant transformation of endometriosis was considered unlikely and she was expected to reach menopause within a few years. She is now doing well 24 months after initiation of progestin treatment with placement of a ureteral stent. Postoperative hormonal therapy is recommended for patients who are considered to have possible lesions of residual endometriosis and for whom ovarian function is preserved.