Office Hysteroscopy: Treating Intrauterine Pathology and Avoiding the Operating Room

Area of Science:

• Gynecology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Diagnostic Procedures

Background:

• Office hysteroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure with limited long-term follow-up data.
• Evaluating the long-term outcomes of office hysteroscopy is crucial for understanding its effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the rate of additional procedures within 1 and 3 years post-office hysteroscopy.
• To assess the diagnostic adequacy of office hysteroscopy for full uterine cavity evaluation.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of office hysteroscopies performed between July 2015 and December 2021.
• Chart review for patient demographics, medical history, procedural data, pathology, and subsequent surgeries.

Main Results:

• Only 13% of patients required operating room (OR) intervention within 1 year, and 16% within 3 years.
• Successful removal of 82.7% of polyps and 90% of retained foreign bodies in-office.
• 93.4% of procedures provided adequate diagnostic evaluation of the uterine cavity.

Conclusions:

• Office hysteroscopy is an effective approach for diagnosis and treatment, helping patients avoid the OR.
• It facilitates excellent diagnostic procedures and management of common pathologies.
• It aids in planning procedures for complex cases, with most patients not requiring OR intervention within 3 years.