John Baranowski, Contributing Editor

Medical science’s broad knowledge of endometriosis notwithstanding, “many questions remain unanswered” about the management of a condition that is often refractory to established therapies, observed Sawsan As-Sanie, MD, MPH, at the 2018 Pelvic Anatomy and Gynecologic Surgery Symposium meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. As-Sanie is Associate Professor and Director, Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Fellowship, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. How, then, should clinicians approach the challenge of caring for women with this enigmatic disease in the larger context of chronic pelvic pain, in which, as Dr. As-Sanie said, “one size never fits all”?

Complex correlation between endometriosis and CPP

Despite high prevalence and negative impact on the health and quality of life of women who suffer from endometriosis, Dr. As-Sanie emphasized, it remains unclear why only some women with endometriosis develop chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and why there is little, if any, correlation between disease severity and the intensity of pain.

The clinical approach to endometriosis and CPP can be frustrating for several reasons: there is minimal relationship between extent or location of disease with pain symptoms; there is no consistent relationship among inflammatory markers, nerve-fiber density, and pain symptoms; and pain can recur after medical and surgical therapy—often without evidence of recurrent endometriosis. Furthermore, the differential diagnosis of CPP is broad, and also includes adenomyosis, adhesions, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine fibroids, pelvic congestion, ovarian remnant, and residual ovarian syndrome. Chronic overlapping pain conditions are prevalent, too, including interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and vulvodynia, to name a few.¹

_

CPP is not just a pain disorder

Dr. As-Sanie said that understanding of CPP must extend to include fatigue, memory difficulties, poor sleep, and heightened sensitivity to multiple sensory stimuli (e.g., sound and light).² So what, she asked, do we know about endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, and the brain? We know that CPP, with and without endometriosis, is associated with increased pain sensitivity and altered central nervous system structure and function.^3-5 Central amplification of pain can lead to chronic pain independent of nociceptive signals, including multifocal, widespread pain; higher lifetime history of pain throughout the body; and pain triggered or exacerbated by stressors. And CPP brings with it other, potentially debilitating problems, including elevated distress, decreased activity, isolation, poor sleep, and maladaptive illness behaviors.

Finding, then addressing, the culprit

Identifying the underlying cause(s) of CPP in the individual woman should guide clinical care. This includes the decision to proceed with, or avoid, surgery. Remember: Patients with centralized pain respond differently to therapy; surgery is less likely to help relieve the pain.

Dr. As-Sanie offered several fundamental guidelines for managing CPP:

• Treat early, to prevent transition from acute to chronic pain; treatment delay increases connectivity between pain regulatory regions.
• Hysterectomy is not definitive therapy for all women with endometriosis or CPP.⁶
• Take a multisystem approach, comprising medical, behavioral, and interventional strategies.
• If an organ- or disease-based diagnostic and treatment approach does not work, reconsider the diagnosis; re-evaluate comorbid psychosocial variables; and consider treating centralized pain.
• Choice of treatment should include consideration of cost and adverse-effect profile.
• If one modality is ineffective, try another.

Continue to: What are the levels of evidence for centralized pain treatment?

Available pharmacotherapeutic agents have modest benefit, possibly because the population of pain patients is heterogeneous, with various underlying mechanisms of pain. And, Dr. As-Sanie pointed out, clinical tools do not currently exist to pre-emptively select the right medicine for individual patients.

Evidence is strong, Dr. As-Sanie noted, for dual reuptake-inhibitor antidepressants, such as tricyclic compounds (amitriptyline, cyclobenzaprine) and serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and for anticonvulsants with analgesic properties (pregabalin, gabapentin). Evidence is “modest,” Dr. As-Sanie said, for tramadol, gamma hydroxybutyrate, and low-dose naltrexone, and “weak” for cannabinoids, human growth hormone, 5-hydroxytryptamine, tropisetron, and S-adenosyl-L-methionine. There is no evidence for using opioids, corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, benzodiazepine and non–benzodiazepine hypnotics, or guaifenesin.⁷

When surgery or pharmacotherapy alone fail to yield the necessary outcome, consider adjunctive nonpharmacotherapy.⁸ For example, there is strong evidence for patient education, aerobic exercise, and cognitive behavior therapy; modest evidence for acupressure, acupuncture, strength training, hypnotherapy, biofeedback, trigger-point injection, and neuromodulation; but only weak evidence for chiropractic, manual and massage therapy, electrotherapy, and ultrasound. ⁷

_

With CPP, “one size never fits all”

Dr. As-Sanie concluded with a reminder that CPP can be the product of any of a range of underlying contributory causes. Pathology might stand foremost as you search for the source of pain and an effective treatment, but keep in mind that genetics, environment, co-existing pain conditions, the patient’s ability to cope, and her resilience and social support might play a role.

Medical science’s broad knowledge of endometriosis notwithstanding, “many questions remain unanswered” about the management of a condition that is often refractory to established therapies, observed Sawsan As-Sanie, MD, MPH, at the 2018 Pelvic Anatomy and Gynecologic Surgery Symposium meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. As-Sanie is Associate Professor and Director, Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Fellowship, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. How, then, should clinicians approach the challenge of caring for women with this enigmatic disease in the larger context of chronic pelvic pain, in which, as Dr. As-Sanie said, “one size never fits all”?

Complex correlation between endometriosis and CPP

Despite high prevalence and negative impact on the health and quality of life of women who suffer from endometriosis, Dr. As-Sanie emphasized, it remains unclear why only some women with endometriosis develop chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and why there is little, if any, correlation between disease severity and the intensity of pain.

The clinical approach to endometriosis and CPP can be frustrating for several reasons: there is minimal relationship between extent or location of disease with pain symptoms; there is no consistent relationship among inflammatory markers, nerve-fiber density, and pain symptoms; and pain can recur after medical and surgical therapy—often without evidence of recurrent endometriosis. Furthermore, the differential diagnosis of CPP is broad, and also includes adenomyosis, adhesions, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine fibroids, pelvic congestion, ovarian remnant, and residual ovarian syndrome. Chronic overlapping pain conditions are prevalent, too, including interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and vulvodynia, to name a few.¹

_

CPP is not just a pain disorder

Dr. As-Sanie said that understanding of CPP must extend to include fatigue, memory difficulties, poor sleep, and heightened sensitivity to multiple sensory stimuli (e.g., sound and light).² So what, she asked, do we know about endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, and the brain? We know that CPP, with and without endometriosis, is associated with increased pain sensitivity and altered central nervous system structure and function.^3-5 Central amplification of pain can lead to chronic pain independent of nociceptive signals, including multifocal, widespread pain; higher lifetime history of pain throughout the body; and pain triggered or exacerbated by stressors. And CPP brings with it other, potentially debilitating problems, including elevated distress, decreased activity, isolation, poor sleep, and maladaptive illness behaviors.

Finding, then addressing, the culprit

Identifying the underlying cause(s) of CPP in the individual woman should guide clinical care. This includes the decision to proceed with, or avoid, surgery. Remember: Patients with centralized pain respond differently to therapy; surgery is less likely to help relieve the pain.

Dr. As-Sanie offered several fundamental guidelines for managing CPP:

• Treat early, to prevent transition from acute to chronic pain; treatment delay increases connectivity between pain regulatory regions.
• Hysterectomy is not definitive therapy for all women with endometriosis or CPP.⁶
• Take a multisystem approach, comprising medical, behavioral, and interventional strategies.
• If an organ- or disease-based diagnostic and treatment approach does not work, reconsider the diagnosis; re-evaluate comorbid psychosocial variables; and consider treating centralized pain.
• Choice of treatment should include consideration of cost and adverse-effect profile.
• If one modality is ineffective, try another.

Continue to: What are the levels of evidence for centralized pain treatment?

Available pharmacotherapeutic agents have modest benefit, possibly because the population of pain patients is heterogeneous, with various underlying mechanisms of pain. And, Dr. As-Sanie pointed out, clinical tools do not currently exist to pre-emptively select the right medicine for individual patients.

Evidence is strong, Dr. As-Sanie noted, for dual reuptake-inhibitor antidepressants, such as tricyclic compounds (amitriptyline, cyclobenzaprine) and serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and for anticonvulsants with analgesic properties (pregabalin, gabapentin). Evidence is “modest,” Dr. As-Sanie said, for tramadol, gamma hydroxybutyrate, and low-dose naltrexone, and “weak” for cannabinoids, human growth hormone, 5-hydroxytryptamine, tropisetron, and S-adenosyl-L-methionine. There is no evidence for using opioids, corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, benzodiazepine and non–benzodiazepine hypnotics, or guaifenesin.⁷

When surgery or pharmacotherapy alone fail to yield the necessary outcome, consider adjunctive nonpharmacotherapy.⁸ For example, there is strong evidence for patient education, aerobic exercise, and cognitive behavior therapy; modest evidence for acupressure, acupuncture, strength training, hypnotherapy, biofeedback, trigger-point injection, and neuromodulation; but only weak evidence for chiropractic, manual and massage therapy, electrotherapy, and ultrasound. ⁷

_

With CPP, “one size never fits all”

Dr. As-Sanie concluded with a reminder that CPP can be the product of any of a range of underlying contributory causes. Pathology might stand foremost as you search for the source of pain and an effective treatment, but keep in mind that genetics, environment, co-existing pain conditions, the patient’s ability to cope, and her resilience and social support might play a role.

Medical science’s broad knowledge of endometriosis notwithstanding, “many questions remain unanswered” about the management of a condition that is often refractory to established therapies, observed Sawsan As-Sanie, MD, MPH, at the 2018 Pelvic Anatomy and Gynecologic Surgery Symposium meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. As-Sanie is Associate Professor and Director, Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Fellowship, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. How, then, should clinicians approach the challenge of caring for women with this enigmatic disease in the larger context of chronic pelvic pain, in which, as Dr. As-Sanie said, “one size never fits all”?

Complex correlation between endometriosis and CPP

Despite high prevalence and negative impact on the health and quality of life of women who suffer from endometriosis, Dr. As-Sanie emphasized, it remains unclear why only some women with endometriosis develop chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and why there is little, if any, correlation between disease severity and the intensity of pain.

The clinical approach to endometriosis and CPP can be frustrating for several reasons: there is minimal relationship between extent or location of disease with pain symptoms; there is no consistent relationship among inflammatory markers, nerve-fiber density, and pain symptoms; and pain can recur after medical and surgical therapy—often without evidence of recurrent endometriosis. Furthermore, the differential diagnosis of CPP is broad, and also includes adenomyosis, adhesions, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine fibroids, pelvic congestion, ovarian remnant, and residual ovarian syndrome. Chronic overlapping pain conditions are prevalent, too, including interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and vulvodynia, to name a few.¹

_

CPP is not just a pain disorder

Dr. As-Sanie said that understanding of CPP must extend to include fatigue, memory difficulties, poor sleep, and heightened sensitivity to multiple sensory stimuli (e.g., sound and light).² So what, she asked, do we know about endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, and the brain? We know that CPP, with and without endometriosis, is associated with increased pain sensitivity and altered central nervous system structure and function.^3-5 Central amplification of pain can lead to chronic pain independent of nociceptive signals, including multifocal, widespread pain; higher lifetime history of pain throughout the body; and pain triggered or exacerbated by stressors. And CPP brings with it other, potentially debilitating problems, including elevated distress, decreased activity, isolation, poor sleep, and maladaptive illness behaviors.

Finding, then addressing, the culprit

Identifying the underlying cause(s) of CPP in the individual woman should guide clinical care. This includes the decision to proceed with, or avoid, surgery. Remember: Patients with centralized pain respond differently to therapy; surgery is less likely to help relieve the pain.

Dr. As-Sanie offered several fundamental guidelines for managing CPP:

• Treat early, to prevent transition from acute to chronic pain; treatment delay increases connectivity between pain regulatory regions.
• Hysterectomy is not definitive therapy for all women with endometriosis or CPP.⁶
• Take a multisystem approach, comprising medical, behavioral, and interventional strategies.
• If an organ- or disease-based diagnostic and treatment approach does not work, reconsider the diagnosis; re-evaluate comorbid psychosocial variables; and consider treating centralized pain.
• Choice of treatment should include consideration of cost and adverse-effect profile.
• If one modality is ineffective, try another.

Continue to: What are the levels of evidence for centralized pain treatment?

Available pharmacotherapeutic agents have modest benefit, possibly because the population of pain patients is heterogeneous, with various underlying mechanisms of pain. And, Dr. As-Sanie pointed out, clinical tools do not currently exist to pre-emptively select the right medicine for individual patients.

Evidence is strong, Dr. As-Sanie noted, for dual reuptake-inhibitor antidepressants, such as tricyclic compounds (amitriptyline, cyclobenzaprine) and serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and for anticonvulsants with analgesic properties (pregabalin, gabapentin). Evidence is “modest,” Dr. As-Sanie said, for tramadol, gamma hydroxybutyrate, and low-dose naltrexone, and “weak” for cannabinoids, human growth hormone, 5-hydroxytryptamine, tropisetron, and S-adenosyl-L-methionine. There is no evidence for using opioids, corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, benzodiazepine and non–benzodiazepine hypnotics, or guaifenesin.⁷

When surgery or pharmacotherapy alone fail to yield the necessary outcome, consider adjunctive nonpharmacotherapy.⁸ For example, there is strong evidence for patient education, aerobic exercise, and cognitive behavior therapy; modest evidence for acupressure, acupuncture, strength training, hypnotherapy, biofeedback, trigger-point injection, and neuromodulation; but only weak evidence for chiropractic, manual and massage therapy, electrotherapy, and ultrasound. ⁷

_

With CPP, “one size never fits all”

Dr. As-Sanie concluded with a reminder that CPP can be the product of any of a range of underlying contributory causes. Pathology might stand foremost as you search for the source of pain and an effective treatment, but keep in mind that genetics, environment, co-existing pain conditions, the patient’s ability to cope, and her resilience and social support might play a role.

At the 2018 Pelvic Anatomy and Gynecologic Surgery Symposium meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, Tommaso Falcone, MD, Chief of Staff, Chief Academic Officer, and Medical Director at Cleveland Clinic London, England, addressed the status of tissue morcellation in hysterectomy and myomectomy after several years’ controversy—noting that the specialty’s professional societies all support use of the technique, with precautions and in selected patients.

Morcellation history

Should electromechanical (‘power’) morcellation of tissue be a tool for performing minimally invasive hysterectomy and myomectomy? If so, what are the risks and benefits of using this tool, first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1995?

The matter came under intense scrutiny and debate in 2014 as concerns rose about the potential of power morcellation to disseminate intraperitoneal malignancy in women with occult cancer (an estimated 1 in 370 women who undergo power morcellation during a minimally invasive hysterectomy have uterine cancer¹). Early that year, the FDA moved to strongly discourage use of power morcellators for removing uterine fibroids.²

The aftermath, however, was that there were problems with the FDA’s [2014] statement, Dr. Falcone pointed out. In a study by Siedhoff and colleagues of a hypothetical cohort of 100,000 women with fibroids, for example, an abdominal approach resulted in more hysterectomy-related deaths and surgery-related complications than did a laparoscopic procedure with morcellation.³

Balancing risks and benefits of MIS

After continuing study of the risks presented by morcellation, the question today is: How do we balance preventing dissemination of cancer against diminishing the significant benefits of minimally invasive surgery, as surgical technique has been modified to avoid morcellation—including, Dr. Falcone said, by increased use of mini lap (i.e., extending the laparoscopy incision) tissue extraction, decreased use of supracervical hysterectomy, and a move to open approaches.

In fact, Dr. Falcone noted, power morcellation is banned in many institutions, having been replaced by scalpel, extraperitoneal, or in-bag morcellation. Last year, after further analysis, the FDA reiterated its recommendation against use of power morcellators to remove fibroids in most women.⁴
 

Continue to: Morcellation decisions

Dr. Falcone pointed out that, at the Cleveland Clinic, morcellation is not performed in postmenopausal women, and for several other contraindications, including a history of >2 years of tamoxifen therapy; history of pelvic radiation; history of childhood retinoblastoma; personal history of hereditary leiomyomatosis or renal cell carcinoma; and the presence of a cancer-positive tissue specimen. Morcellation is not performed unless endometrial adenocarcinoma has been ruled out. The decision-making process when electing to use tissue extraction includes whether to use contained or noncontained morcellation; whether to favor knife excision over power morcellation; and, when using a mini lap approach, whether to proceed via the umbilicus or suprapubically.

Complications of morcellation include direct injury by the morcellator; dissemination, as noted, of tissue; ‘upstaging’ of uterine sarcoma, with a worsening prognosis; seeding of parasitic fibroids; and reoperation with laparotomy and extensive multi-organ resection to clear disease (3 patients in a published report).⁵

An important advancement in the use of morcellation in minimally invasive hysterectomy or myomectomy has been the development of contained systems for morcellating—generally a plastic specimen bag, sometimes pulled through the port and insufflated. Dr. Falcone’s presentation included video presentations of this important, and still evolving, technology. Whether these contained systems improve survival, and whether using them in a vaginal approach makes any difference, remain uncertain, however. Furthermore, some spillage from bags is inevitable—although how much spillage is clinically significant is open to question.

Takeaways

Dr. Falcone concluded with key points to guide the surgeon’s decision on whether to proceed with morcellation:

• There are no comparative data on which technique [of tissue removal] is best.
• Tissue spill will occur in uncontained morcellation—this is intrinsic to the device.
• Even with the current generation of tissue bags, leakage is common and puncture is possible.

If you choose to continue to use power morcellation, your decision is supported by the fact that all the professional societies still support it, Dr. Falcone noted. Furthermore, he pointed out that it is important to look to the standard of care in your community regarding risks and benefits before proceeding.

Last, the advantages and risks of morcellation in hysterectomy and myomectomy should be part of an in-depth discussion between patient and surgeon prior to the procedure. And you must, Dr. Falcone emphasized, obtain specific informed consent.

At the 2018 Pelvic Anatomy and Gynecologic Surgery Symposium meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, Tommaso Falcone, MD, Chief of Staff, Chief Academic Officer, and Medical Director at Cleveland Clinic London, England, addressed the status of tissue morcellation in hysterectomy and myomectomy after several years’ controversy—noting that the specialty’s professional societies all support use of the technique, with precautions and in selected patients.

Morcellation history

Should electromechanical (‘power’) morcellation of tissue be a tool for performing minimally invasive hysterectomy and myomectomy? If so, what are the risks and benefits of using this tool, first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1995?

The matter came under intense scrutiny and debate in 2014 as concerns rose about the potential of power morcellation to disseminate intraperitoneal malignancy in women with occult cancer (an estimated 1 in 370 women who undergo power morcellation during a minimally invasive hysterectomy have uterine cancer¹). Early that year, the FDA moved to strongly discourage use of power morcellators for removing uterine fibroids.²

The aftermath, however, was that there were problems with the FDA’s [2014] statement, Dr. Falcone pointed out. In a study by Siedhoff and colleagues of a hypothetical cohort of 100,000 women with fibroids, for example, an abdominal approach resulted in more hysterectomy-related deaths and surgery-related complications than did a laparoscopic procedure with morcellation.³

Balancing risks and benefits of MIS

After continuing study of the risks presented by morcellation, the question today is: How do we balance preventing dissemination of cancer against diminishing the significant benefits of minimally invasive surgery, as surgical technique has been modified to avoid morcellation—including, Dr. Falcone said, by increased use of mini lap (i.e., extending the laparoscopy incision) tissue extraction, decreased use of supracervical hysterectomy, and a move to open approaches.

In fact, Dr. Falcone noted, power morcellation is banned in many institutions, having been replaced by scalpel, extraperitoneal, or in-bag morcellation. Last year, after further analysis, the FDA reiterated its recommendation against use of power morcellators to remove fibroids in most women.⁴
 

Continue to: Morcellation decisions

Dr. Falcone pointed out that, at the Cleveland Clinic, morcellation is not performed in postmenopausal women, and for several other contraindications, including a history of >2 years of tamoxifen therapy; history of pelvic radiation; history of childhood retinoblastoma; personal history of hereditary leiomyomatosis or renal cell carcinoma; and the presence of a cancer-positive tissue specimen. Morcellation is not performed unless endometrial adenocarcinoma has been ruled out. The decision-making process when electing to use tissue extraction includes whether to use contained or noncontained morcellation; whether to favor knife excision over power morcellation; and, when using a mini lap approach, whether to proceed via the umbilicus or suprapubically.

Complications of morcellation include direct injury by the morcellator; dissemination, as noted, of tissue; ‘upstaging’ of uterine sarcoma, with a worsening prognosis; seeding of parasitic fibroids; and reoperation with laparotomy and extensive multi-organ resection to clear disease (3 patients in a published report).⁵

An important advancement in the use of morcellation in minimally invasive hysterectomy or myomectomy has been the development of contained systems for morcellating—generally a plastic specimen bag, sometimes pulled through the port and insufflated. Dr. Falcone’s presentation included video presentations of this important, and still evolving, technology. Whether these contained systems improve survival, and whether using them in a vaginal approach makes any difference, remain uncertain, however. Furthermore, some spillage from bags is inevitable—although how much spillage is clinically significant is open to question.

Takeaways

Dr. Falcone concluded with key points to guide the surgeon’s decision on whether to proceed with morcellation:

• There are no comparative data on which technique [of tissue removal] is best.
• Tissue spill will occur in uncontained morcellation—this is intrinsic to the device.
• Even with the current generation of tissue bags, leakage is common and puncture is possible.

If you choose to continue to use power morcellation, your decision is supported by the fact that all the professional societies still support it, Dr. Falcone noted. Furthermore, he pointed out that it is important to look to the standard of care in your community regarding risks and benefits before proceeding.

Last, the advantages and risks of morcellation in hysterectomy and myomectomy should be part of an in-depth discussion between patient and surgeon prior to the procedure. And you must, Dr. Falcone emphasized, obtain specific informed consent.

At the 2018 Pelvic Anatomy and Gynecologic Surgery Symposium meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, Tommaso Falcone, MD, Chief of Staff, Chief Academic Officer, and Medical Director at Cleveland Clinic London, England, addressed the status of tissue morcellation in hysterectomy and myomectomy after several years’ controversy—noting that the specialty’s professional societies all support use of the technique, with precautions and in selected patients.

Morcellation history

Should electromechanical (‘power’) morcellation of tissue be a tool for performing minimally invasive hysterectomy and myomectomy? If so, what are the risks and benefits of using this tool, first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1995?

The matter came under intense scrutiny and debate in 2014 as concerns rose about the potential of power morcellation to disseminate intraperitoneal malignancy in women with occult cancer (an estimated 1 in 370 women who undergo power morcellation during a minimally invasive hysterectomy have uterine cancer¹). Early that year, the FDA moved to strongly discourage use of power morcellators for removing uterine fibroids.²

The aftermath, however, was that there were problems with the FDA’s [2014] statement, Dr. Falcone pointed out. In a study by Siedhoff and colleagues of a hypothetical cohort of 100,000 women with fibroids, for example, an abdominal approach resulted in more hysterectomy-related deaths and surgery-related complications than did a laparoscopic procedure with morcellation.³

Balancing risks and benefits of MIS

After continuing study of the risks presented by morcellation, the question today is: How do we balance preventing dissemination of cancer against diminishing the significant benefits of minimally invasive surgery, as surgical technique has been modified to avoid morcellation—including, Dr. Falcone said, by increased use of mini lap (i.e., extending the laparoscopy incision) tissue extraction, decreased use of supracervical hysterectomy, and a move to open approaches.

In fact, Dr. Falcone noted, power morcellation is banned in many institutions, having been replaced by scalpel, extraperitoneal, or in-bag morcellation. Last year, after further analysis, the FDA reiterated its recommendation against use of power morcellators to remove fibroids in most women.⁴
 

Continue to: Morcellation decisions

Dr. Falcone pointed out that, at the Cleveland Clinic, morcellation is not performed in postmenopausal women, and for several other contraindications, including a history of >2 years of tamoxifen therapy; history of pelvic radiation; history of childhood retinoblastoma; personal history of hereditary leiomyomatosis or renal cell carcinoma; and the presence of a cancer-positive tissue specimen. Morcellation is not performed unless endometrial adenocarcinoma has been ruled out. The decision-making process when electing to use tissue extraction includes whether to use contained or noncontained morcellation; whether to favor knife excision over power morcellation; and, when using a mini lap approach, whether to proceed via the umbilicus or suprapubically.

Complications of morcellation include direct injury by the morcellator; dissemination, as noted, of tissue; ‘upstaging’ of uterine sarcoma, with a worsening prognosis; seeding of parasitic fibroids; and reoperation with laparotomy and extensive multi-organ resection to clear disease (3 patients in a published report).⁵

An important advancement in the use of morcellation in minimally invasive hysterectomy or myomectomy has been the development of contained systems for morcellating—generally a plastic specimen bag, sometimes pulled through the port and insufflated. Dr. Falcone’s presentation included video presentations of this important, and still evolving, technology. Whether these contained systems improve survival, and whether using them in a vaginal approach makes any difference, remain uncertain, however. Furthermore, some spillage from bags is inevitable—although how much spillage is clinically significant is open to question.

Takeaways

Dr. Falcone concluded with key points to guide the surgeon’s decision on whether to proceed with morcellation:

• There are no comparative data on which technique [of tissue removal] is best.
• Tissue spill will occur in uncontained morcellation—this is intrinsic to the device.
• Even with the current generation of tissue bags, leakage is common and puncture is possible.

If you choose to continue to use power morcellation, your decision is supported by the fact that all the professional societies still support it, Dr. Falcone noted. Furthermore, he pointed out that it is important to look to the standard of care in your community regarding risks and benefits before proceeding.

Last, the advantages and risks of morcellation in hysterectomy and myomectomy should be part of an in-depth discussion between patient and surgeon prior to the procedure. And you must, Dr. Falcone emphasized, obtain specific informed consent.