Abstract

The objective of this chapter is to evaluate the magnitude of the problems of adhesions in Gynecology, complications, cost for the health care, and methods to prevent adhesion formation. It contains a review of relevant literature on intra-abdominal adhesion, adhesion-reducing substances, and their related cost. Adhesions can cause infertility, abdominal pain, or bowel obstruction. The impact of adhesions to the health-care system is huge. The total cost of adhesion-related problems in the United States is more than dollar 1 billion dollars annually. Modification in surgical technique, such as the use of laparoscopy, can minimize adhesion formation. Another approach is by using adhesion-reducing substances. Many substances and materials have been used to decrease the adhesion formation; however, there remains no unequivocally effective adhesion-reducing substance. Also, its use is costly. To our knowledge, no study has been published to date that addresses the use of adhesion-reducing substances as relates to the risk of bowel obstruction or long-term costs to the health-care system.

Abstract

The objective of this Chapter was to investigate the feasibility and outcome of gasless laparoscopy under regional anesthesia. A prospective evaluation of Lift-(gasless) laparoscopic procedures under regional anesthesia (Canadian Task Force classification II-1) was done at three endoscopic gynecology centers (franchise system of EndGyn(r)). Sixty-three patients with gynecological diseases comprised the cohort. All patients underwent Lift-laparoscopic surgery under regional anesthesia: 10 patients for diagnostic purposes, 17 for surgery of ovarian tumors, 14 to remove fibroids, and 22 for hysterectomies. All patients were operated without conversion to general anesthesia and without perioperative or anesthesiologic complications. Lift-laparoscopy under regional anesthesia can be recommended to all patients who desire laparoscopic intervention without general anesthesia. For elderly patients, those with cardiopulmonary risks, during pregnancy, or with contraindications for general anesthesia, Lift-laparoscopy under regional anesthesia should be the procedure of choice.

Abstract

Management of the tubal factor could have the most difficult and debatable role in infertility management. The methods used ranged from gaseous insufflation, hydrotubation, laparotomy, and traditional microsurgery to the more recent tactile or hysteroscopic catheterization, and laparoscopic surgery. Results of the in-vitro-fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were compared to the surgical procedures' results and the debate continues: shall we proceed directly to assisted reproductive techniques or should surgery be tried first in tubal obstructions?