Gynaecology Flashcards
In a patient asking for emergency contraception, but they have severe asthma i.e. taking 25mg OD sertraline, 200 micrograms salbutamol inhaler PRN, beclomethasone 400 micrograms BD and formoterol 12 micrograms BD. What medication do you NOT give?
Ulipristal acetate
What is the pearl index?
The Pearl Index is the most common technique used to describe the efficacy of a method of contraception. The Pearl Index describes the number of pregnancies that would be seen if one hundred women were to use the contraceptive method in question for one year. 0.2 = 2/1000/year.
What is the treatment for a vaginal vault prolapse?
The treatment for vaginal vault prolapse is sacrocolpoplexy. This procedure suspends the vaginal apex to the sacral promontory. This support is usually afforded by the uterosacral ligaments.???? But this apparently uses mesh, so most appropriate may be sacrospinous fixation.
What are the 3 main routes to gain access to the pelvic organs?
1) Abdominal route
2) Vaginal route
3) Laparoscopic surgery
Explain how and when a diagnostic hysteroscopy may be completed.
How: Diagnostic hysteroscopy is when the uterine cavity is inspected with a rigid or flexible hysteroscope passed through the cervical canal. The uterine cavity is distended using carbon dioxide or saline. Anaesthetic options? Nothing, cervical local anaesthetic block, general anaesthetic.
When: Used as an adjunct to endometrial biopsy or if menstrual problems don’t respond to medical tx.
What type of biopsy would we take when we want to examine the endometrium for carcinoma?
Pipelle biopsy
How is a hysteroscopic surgery completed?
An operating hysteroscope is used (small instruments are passed down a parallel channel). Usual procedures involve TransCervical Resection of Endometrium (TCRE) or TransCervical Resection of Fibroids (TCRF) - if the fibroid is intracavity. Also for the removal of intracavity fibroids. Also for resection of the uterine septum. Usually, cutting diathermy and glycine irrigation fluid is used.
What are the complications associated with hysteroscopic surgery?
- Uterine perforation + fluid overload - unusual in an experienced surgeon
- Usually minimal blood loss
- Sterility not ensured
How is diagnostic laparoscopy performed?
Peritoneal cavity is insufflated with CO2 after passing a small hollow Veress needle through the abdominal wall. Trocar inserted through umbilicus (less damage to organs and major blood vessels). Laparoscope passed down trocar which enables visualisation of the pelvis.
When may a diagnostic laparoscopy be performed?
Used to assess macroscopic pelvic disease in Mx of pelvic pain and dysmenorrhoea (endometriosis), infertility (lap+dye test to assess tubal integrity), suspected ectopic pregnancy and pelvic masses.
How is laparoscopic surgery performed?
Multiple instruments to grasp and cut tissues are inserted through separate ports in the abdominal wall.
What are the typical indications for laparoscopy?
Removal of adhesions, areas of endometriosis, removal of ectopic pregnancy.
What are some advantages of laparoscopic surgery?
Better visualisation of tissues, faster post-op recovery, less pain, less blood loss, lower risk of infection, less heat loss, reduced hospital stay.
What is the most common major gynaecological operation?
Hysterectomy
Why are the fallopian tubes (bilateral salpingectomy) often removed when a hysterectomy is performed?
To reduce the risk of ovarian cancer as ovarian cancer often originates from the fimbral end of the fallopian tube (spreads along the peritoneal surface) and there is no use in having fallopian tubes with no uterus.
Why are the ovaries removed in a hysterectomy (bilateral oophorectomy)?
Older women
Hx of cysts
Why is hysterectomy perfomed?
- Menstrual disorders
- Endometriosis
- Fibroids
- Chronic PID
- Prolapse
- Pelvic malignancy
- Typically last resort
What are the different types of hysterectomy?
1) Total abdominal hysterectomy
2) Subtotal hysterectomy
3) Vaginal hysterectomy
4) Laparoscopic hysterectomy (laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy, total laparoscopic hysterectomy)
5) Wertheim’s (radical) hysterectomy
What are the indications for Total Abdominal Hysterectomy?
Malignancy - ovarian or endometrial (in conjunction with laparotomy)
Very large or immobile uterus
When abdominal inspection is required
What are the indications for Subtotal hysterectomy?
When you don’t want to damage the ureters or bladder?
What is a disadvantage of the subtotal hysterectomy?
- Still worried about cervical cancer as cervix remains in the pt
- Contraindicated in patients with abnormal smear Hx
- May still have menstrual spotting after if small amounts of endometrium remain in the cervical canal
What are indications for vaginal hysterectomy?
Uterine prolapse. Moderate enlargement of uterus?.
What are the advantages of vaginal hysterectomy?
Lower morbidity, quicker recovery, lower risk infection, blood loss etc. Least invasive.
How might a subtotal hysterectomy be completed?
Performed laparoscopically and uterine body removed from the peritoneal cavity using a morcellator instrument.
Why must uterine morcellation be undertaken with care in pts >40 with abnormal bleeding?
Underlying unsuspected endometrial malignancy could be present and spread through morcellation. Should check pathology of the endometrium pre-operatively by performing a pipelle biopsy.
What is a Wertheim’s (radical) hysterectomy?
- Removal of parametrium
- Upper 3rd vagina
- Pelvic lymph nodes
- Usually for stage 1a(ii)-2a cervical carcinoma
- If completed vaginally is called ‘Schauta’s radical hysterectomy’
What are the immediate complications of hysterectomy?
Haemorrhage, bladder or ureteric injury
What are the post-operative complications of hysterectomy?
Venous thromboembolism (use prophylactic low molecular weight heparin)
Pain
Retention
Infection of urine, wounds, chest infection (use prophylactic/broad spec Abx)
Pelvic haematoma
What are the long-term complications of hysterectomy?
Prolapse
Genuine stress incontinence
Premature menopause
Pain
Psychosexual problems
How is evacuation of retained products of conception completed?
- Cervix is dilated
- Suction curette removes the retained non-viable fetus or placental tissue (surgical therapeutic abortion <12 weeks is similar)
What are the operations for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)?
1) Large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ)
2) Cone biopsy
What is LLETZ surgery?
Large Loop Excision of the Transformation Zone - cutting diathermy, under local anaesthetic is used to remove the transformation zone of the cervix where the cervical intraepithelial neoplasia is present.
Complications: Risk of subsequent preterm delivery is slightly increased
What is Cone biopsy surgery?
Removes the transformation zone of the cervix and most of the endocervix by making a circular cut with a scalpel or loop diathermy in the cervix. Used to stage early cervical carcinoma + is sufficient tx for stage 1a(i) disease. General or epidural/spinal anaesthetic is required.
Complications: Risk of subsequent preterm delivery is increased due to the increased cervical damage.
What are the main operations for fibroids?
Myomectomy - transcervical removal of fibroids or abdominal (laparoscopic or open)
Hysterectomy
Uterine artery embolisation
What are the risks of myomectomy?
Adhesion formation
Uterine rupture during labour
Perioperative haemorrhage
Spread of unsuspected leiomyosarcoma during laparoscopic morcellation
What are the risks of uterine artery embolisation?
Effect on fertility
Pregnancy complications
How is uterine artery embolisation carried out?
(For fibroids). With the patient under conscious sedation and local anaesthesia, a catheter is inserted into the femoral artery (bilateral catheters are sometimes used). Fluoroscopic guidance is used to manipulate the catheter into the uterine artery. Small embolisation particles/sclerosing agents are injected through the catheter into the arteries supplying the fibroids, with the aim of causing thrombosis and consequent fibroid infarction.
What are the complications associated with gynaecological surgery?
Short-term: Bleeding - haemorrhage, pain
Longer-term: Infection - sepsis, paralytic ileus, bowel obstruction, bowel perforation, urinary retention, VTE, PE
How can we reduce the risk of thromboembolism in and after gynaecological surgery?
Stop COCP 4 weeks prior to major surgery
If not stopped -> use low molecular weight heparin
Mobilise women early after surgery
Give thromboembolic disease stockings
Keep hydrated
Keep patient warm during surgery
How can we reduce the risk of infection in and after gynaecological surgery?
Prophylactic Abx
How would we go about a septic screen in a patient presenting with a fever of 38.5C one day after surgery?
Hx - find out about recent infection symptoms, consider anaesthetic/intubation etc
Exam - general - examine wound sites, respiratory
Ix: Obs, ABCDE, Swab everything, Septic 6, Broad spectrum Abx depending on local policy, Oxygen, Fluids, Urine output, Blood cultures, Lactate