2020 Volume 19 – Issue 2

To ART or not to ART. The COVID-19 dilemma!

Loutradis Dimitris

 
The invisible threat of COVID-19 has suddenly and dramatically changed medical practice in all areas, including assisted reproduction. Reproductive medicine societies recommend suspending new infertility treatment cycles during this period. Couples who had already started their efforts found themselves at an impasse. They had invested time and money in their treatment and were full of hope. However, now they are disappointed and worry about the impact of this forced – and indefinite – delay in the chances to conceive. But, when can they resume their efforts and who can guarantee their success? Doctors who are questioned are in a difficult position and need to balance the patient’s needs with tight recommendations.

Revealing the enigma of coagulation in endometriosis: the risk of thrombosis and the role of antithrombotic treatment

Theoni Kanellopoulou

 

 

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of women of reproductive age that is defined by the presence of ectopic endometrium. The pathophysiology of the disease is poorly understood, however platelet activation play a crucial role in initiation of inflammation and fibrinogenesis, which in term further activate the coagulation cascade. The relationship between inflammation and coagulation motivated researchers to study whether patients are in a hypercoagulable state and if endometriosis represent an independent risk factor for venous thromboembolism or cardiovascular risk. This review article focuses on the role of coagulation, the risk of thrombosis and a possible beneficial effect of antithrombotic-treatment.

The use of Bovine Pericardium Graft (BPG) in Anterior Colporrhaphy; a review of the literature and a retrospective study

O. Tsonis, Z. Barmpalia, F. Gkrozou, M. Paschopoulos, O. Papanikolaou

 

 

Introduction: Bovine Pericardium Graft (BPG) is a non-synthetic mesh, used in cases of anterior vaginal prolapse reconstructive operation in Urogynecology. Little is known about the efficacy of this mesh and more empirical studies need to clarify its potential benefits as well as, mesh-associated complications of this type. The role of the mesh, though needs, further assessment.

Poland syndrome: Chest wall and breast repair

Charilaos Ioannidis

 

 

Introduction: Poland syndrome is a rare congenital disorder. Its main characteristics are deficiency of the sternocostal portion of the pectoralis major muscle and symbrachydactyly. However, it encompasses a wide spectrum of other chest, breast and upper extremity anomalies. Patients and Methods: The author’s personal experience with a small series of patients with Poland syndrome is retrospectively reviewed.

Massive secondary postpartum hemorrhage caused by pseudoaneurysm of uterine artery, treated with uterine artery embolization – An uncommon case report

Ioannis Kokolakis, Fanis Makrigiannakis, Afroditi Ziogou, Antonios Makrigiannakis

 

 

Introduction: Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm is an uncommon cause of secondary postpartum hemorrhage that can be fatal. Material & Methods: We present a case of a 42-year-old woman who developed massive secondary postpartum hemorrhage 17 days after c-section and was diagnosed to have pseudoaneurysm from the left uterine artery on computed tomography scan. After blood transfusion she got hemodynamically stable and selective transcatheter arterial embolization was performed.

Dandy-Walker Malformation: Prenatal sonographic diagnosis

Konstantinos Zacharis, Stavros Kravvaritis, Anastasia Papakonstantinou, Theodoros Charitos, Eleni Chrysafopoulou, Anastasia Fouka

 

 
The Dandy-Walker malformation is a rare congenital intracranial malformation that comprises of complete or partial agenesis of the cerebellar vermis, cystic dilatation of the 4th ventricle and an enlarged posterior fossa. Here we report a case of Dandy-Walker malformation detected incidentally during a routine fetal sonographic examination at 18 weeks of gestation. The couple decided termination of pregnancy, after adequate genetic counseling. Detailed postmortem examination revealed correlation between prenatal sonographic imaging and histopathological findings. This case report indicates the fact that fetal magnetic resonance imaging may not be necessary in diagnosis, especially when pregnancy termination is preferred.

Fetal Ultrasonography: Is artificial intelligence the way forward?

Alexandros Psarris, Michael Syndos, George Daskalakis, Dimitrios Loutradis

 

 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ability of a machine (a computer for instance) to think like a human.  More specifically, the use of complex algorithms enables computers to reason, solve problems and make decisions. The core aspects of AI are machine learning, natural language processing, convolutional neural networks and computer vision. Utilizing AI technologies in medicine to assist physicians with diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas is very promising.