Surgical Management After Hysteroscopic Sterilization: Minimally Invasive Approach Incorporating Intraoperative Fluoroscopy for Symptomatic Patients with >2 Essure® Devices.

OBJECTIVE

To describe a non-hysterectomy surgical technique for symptomatic patients with >2 Essure® (Bayer Healthcare, Whippany, New Jersey) devices.

DESIGN

Patients (n=4) presented with sharp pelvic pain, irregular vaginal bleeding, dyspareunia, weight gain, hair loss, fatigue, and/or diffuse skin rash, all of which were absent before undergoing hysteroscopic sterilization (HS). Hysterosalpingogram obtained before surgical excision of contraceptive tubal implants confirmed more than two Essure® devices in all patients. Except for HS-associated complaints, all patients were in otherwise good general health and none had any history of prior pelvic pathology. Hysteroscopy was followed by 5mm triple-port laparoscopic cornual dissection, modified partial bilateral salpingectomy, and foreign body removal under fluoroscopy and/or radiographic guidance.

RESULTS

In this group, mean±SD patient age was 41±8yrs and interval between HS and device removal was 6.4±2.7yrs. At the conclusion of each case (mean±SD operative time=179±11min), imaging studies were reviewed by an attending radiologist and verified no retained metal in the abdomen. Conversion to laparotomy, hysterectomy, or blood transfusion was unnecessary for any patients, and all were discharged home within three hours. Their postoperative course continues to be satisfactory.

CONCLUSION

Patients with more than two Essure® devices comprise an unusual group with a complex pelvic foreign body presentation. This is the first report on surgical management for such patients, underscoring the importance of localizing these contraceptive devices with careful imaging before, during, and after surgery. Moreover, hysterectomy is not absolutely mandatory in this setting and intraoperative fluoroscopy/radiography can facilitate complete, safe removal of all implants on an out-patient basis. Creation of ICD-10 modifiers for various post-HS complaints would allow for improved surveillance of the Essure® phenomenon.