Protocol for a prospective multisite cohort study investigating hysterectomy versus uterine preservation for pelvic organ prolapse surgery: the HUPPS study

IntroductionPelvic organ prolapse (POP) is the descent of pelvic organs into the vagina resulting in bulge symptoms and occurs in approximately 50% of women. Almost 20% of women will elect surgical correction of this condition by age 85. Removal of the uterus (hysterectomy) with concomitant vaginal vault suspension is a long-standing practice in POP surgery to address apical (uterine) prolapse. Yet, contemporary evidence on the merits of this approach relative to preservation of the uterus through suspension is needed to better inform surgical decision making by patients and their healthcare providers. The objective of this study is to evaluate POP-specific health outcomes and service utilisation of women electing uterine suspension compared with those electing hysterectomy and vaginal vault suspension for POP surgery up to 1-year postsurgery.Methods and analysisThis is a prospective cohort study planning to enrol 321 adult women with stage ≥2 POP from multiple sites in Alberta, Canada. Following standardised counselling from study surgeons, participants self-select either a hysterectomy based or uterine preservation surgical group. Data are being collected through participant questionnaires, medical records and administrative data linkage at four time points spanning from the presurgical consultation to 1-year postsurgery. The primary outcome is anatomic failure to correct POP, and secondary outcomes include changes in positioning of pelvic structures, retreatment, subjective report of bulge symptoms, pelvic floor distress and impact, sexual function and health service use. Data will be analysed using inverse probability weighting of propensity scores and generalised linear models.Ethics and disseminationThis study is approved by the Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board at the University of Calgary (REB19-2134). Results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications, presentations at national and international conferences, and educational handouts for patients.Trial registration numberNCT04890951.

Surgery for Uterine Preservation in Placenta Accreta Spectrum: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: Owing to high risks of maternal morbidity, surgical complications, and loss of fertility, including psychological trauma caused by cesarean hysterectomy, innovative approaches for uterine preservation have been investigated. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of a novel eight-step surgical protocol for uterine preservation in placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) overlying the previous cesarean scar.Methods: We retrospectively studied consecutive patients with PAS overlying the cesarean scar, who were treated between December 2015 and October 2019 using the protocol. The depth and extension of placental invasion and severity of pelvic adhesion were assessed intraoperatively. Information regarding the gestational week at surgery, surgery duration, estimated blood loss (EBL), bladder injury, and post-procedural recovery was retrieved from the hospital database. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze factors influencing surgical blood loss. EBL was compared between the perioperative aortic balloon and non-balloon groups in severe cases using t-tests.Results: Overall, 115 patients with PAS were included. The mean EBL and surgery duration were 1666.1±1379.0 mL and 2.2±0.8 h, respectively. The uterus was successfully preserved in all patients with one surgery. Incidences of placenta accreta, increta, and percreta were 40 (35.8%), 46 (40.0%), and 29 (25.2%) cases, respectively. Extensive placental invasion and cervical involvement were observed in 41.7% and 28.7% of patients, respectively. EBL was significantly correlated with the extent of placental invasion, cervical involvement, and pelvic adhesion. No difference was seen in EBL between the balloon and non-balloon groups among the 44 patients with severe PAS.Conclusion: The eight-step protocol is effective for uterine preservation in PAS overlying the cesarean scar. EBL is affected by the extent of placental invasion, cervical involvement, and severity of pelvic adhesion. Perioperative aortic balloon should be used conservatively.

Uterine Incision at the Fundus,Transitory Devascularisation, and Myometrial Resection for Uterine Preservation in Anterior Accretism: A Case Report

Placenta accreta spectrum is a serious obstetric condition related to abnormal adherence of placental tissue to the myometrium and high maternal and fetal morbidity. In order to achieve the best outcome, the management of this condition must be carried out by an experienced multidisciplinary team and the individual characteristics of the patient must be taken into consideration, such as comorbidities and desire for reproductive preservation. This case report presents the conservative surgical management of placenta accreta spectrum in a 23-year-old patient who underwent an elective caesarean section with uterine preservation because of anterior placenta increta. The authors performed a transverse uterine incision at the fundus with transitory uterine devascularisation of the lower uterine segment with partial myometrial removal. This technique was successful for controlling the haemorrhage and preserving the uterus, with no complications.

Maternal and fetal outcome in placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) associated with placenta previa: a retrospective analysis from a tertiary center

Accreta placenta spectrum is a complex obstetrical condition of abnormal placental invasion associated with severe maternal morbidity. This study aimed to analyze our therapeutic management and counseling of the cases with placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) associated with placenta previa. We performed a retrospective study of pregnant women with PAS associated with placenta previa at the Filantropia Clinical Hospital between January 2017–April 2021. In these cases, the earlier diagnosis was realized by an ultrasonographic scan and was confirmed by histopathological findings after the surgical treatment. The conservative management was obtained in one case at <37 weeks of gestation, and the maternal outcome was uterine preservation. Among the 12 patients, the mean age was 34±3.44 years. All women had risk factors for abnormally invasive placenta, such as placenta previa or previous cesarean delivery. Most women underwent planned cesarean delivery at the mean gestational age of 36.4±0.9 weeks. In our study, the uterus was preserved in only one case (8.33%), and hysterectomy with preservation of ovaries was performed in the rest of the cases. Mean maternal blood loss during surgery was 2175±1440 ml. Severe maternal outcomes were recorded only in one case (8.33%). We identified a low uterine preservation rate and a good perinatal outcome. Conservative management should be reserved for fertility desire and extensive disease due to surgical difficulty. Early identification of the risk factors and strategic management may improve maternal and fetal outcomes.

Oncologic outcomes of uterine preservation for pre-menopausal patients with stage II epithelial ovarian carcinoma

ObjectiveFertility-sparing surgery is rarely offered for patients with stage II epithelial ovarian carcinoma. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the overall survival of pre-menopausal patients with stage II epithelial ovarian carcinoma who did not undergo hysterectomy.MethodsThe National Cancer Database was accessed, and patients aged ≤40 years without a history of another tumor diagnosed between 2004 and 2015 with a pathological stage II epithelial ovarian carcinoma, who underwent lymphadenectomy and received multi-agent chemotherapy, were identified. Overall survival was compared with the log-rank test after generation of Kaplan–Meier curves. A Cox model was constructed to control for tumor histology.ResultsA total of 185 patients met the inclusion criteria. The rate of uterine preservation was 24.3% (45 patients). Patients who did not undergo hysterectomy were younger (median 32 vs 37 years, p<0.001) and less likely to have high-grade tumors compared with those who underwent hysterectomy. The two groups were comparable in terms of presence of co-morbidities and performance of adequate lymphadenectomy (p>0.05). Median follow-up of the present cohort was 62.3 months (95% CI 53.6 to 71.0) and a total of 22 deaths occurred. There was no difference in overall survival between patients who did and did not undergo hysterectomy (p=0.50; 5-year overall survival rates 87.5% and 91.4%, respectively). After controlling for tumor histology, grade and substage, omission of hysterectomy was not associated with worse survival (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.22 to 2.12).ConclusionsUterine preservation was not associated with worse survival in this cohort of pre-menopausal patients with stage II epithelial ovarian carcinoma.