Bipolar laparoscopic needles for myoma coagulation.

Abstract

STUDY OBJECTIVES:

To describe the effectiveness in the clinical use of a new bipolar needle for performing laparoscopic coagulation of symptomatic uterine myomas, and to compare it with the neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser.

DESIGN:

Observational, comparative.

SETTING:

Voluntary community hospital.

PATIENTS:

Three hundred women, 150 in the Nd:YAG laser group and 150 in the bipolar needle group, who had symptomatic myomas no larger than 10 cm, responded to pretreatment with depot leuprolide, and were no longer interested in childbearing.

INTERVENTIONS:

Myomas were pierced repeatedly with the bipolar needle to produce numerous cores of coagulation. An average of 30 to 50 passes were made.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

Myoma size and location were assessed by endovaginal ultrasound before preoperative treatment with depot leuprolide. The coagulating effect of the bipolar needle devascularized the myomas, and the resulting shrinkage was comparable with that produced by the Nd:YAG laser. Complications were infrequent, with no evidence of myoma regrowth 6 months after the procedure.

CONCLUSION:

The bipolar needle was as effective as the Nd:YAG laser in coagulating symptomatic subserosal and intramural uterine myomas and achieving reduction in size of 50% to 70%, with no regrowth.

• Authors: H A Goldfarb
• Journal: The Journal of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc) Vol. 2 Issue 2 Pg. 175-9 (Feb 1995) ISSN: 1074-3804 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9050553 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Aluminum Silicates
• Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
• Delayed-Action Preparations
• Neodymium
• Yttrium
• Leuprolide

Topics

• Aluminum Silicates
• Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Delayed-Action Preparations
• Electrocoagulation (adverse effects, instrumentation, methods)
• Endometrium (surgery)
• Equipment Design
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Laparoscopes
• Laparoscopy (adverse effects, methods)
• Laser Coagulation
• Leiomyoma (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, pathology, surgery)
• Leiomyosarcoma (surgery)
• Leuprolide (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Needles
• Neodymium
• Preoperative Care
• Ultrasonography
• Uterine Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, pathology, surgery)
• Yttrium