title: The Intra Uterine Morcellator: a new hysteroscopic operating technique to remove intrauterine polyps and myomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A new hysteroscopic operating technique was compared retrospectively with conventional resectoscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective comparison (Canadian Task Force Classification II-2).
  
  
  METHODS
  Gynecology department of a university-affiliated teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five women, 27 with endometrial polyps and 28 with submucous myomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were treated with a prototype of the Intra Uterine Morcellator (IUM). This cutting device, 35 cm in length, was inserted into a straight working channel of a 90-mm hysteroscope.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The major advantages were ease of removal of tissue fragments through the instrument and the use of saline solution instead of electrolyte-free solutions used in monopolar high-frequency resectoscopy. The mean operating time was 8.7 minutes (95% CI: 7.3-10.1) for the removal of endometrial polyps compared with 30.9 minutes (CI: 27.0-34.8) for resectoscopy, and 16.4 minutes (CI: 12.6-20.2) for submucous myomas compared with 42.2 minutes (CI: 39.7-44.7) for resectoscopy. All procedures were uneventful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This new technique is faster, and it appears to be easier to perform. Therefore, it can be expected to result in fewer fluid-related complications and to lead to a shorter learning curve when compared with conventional resectoscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Spaarne Hospital, Haarlem, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Mark Hans
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Emanuel
authors.forename: Kees
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wamsteker
mesh_terms: D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020702:Hysteroscopes; D015907:Hysteroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000601:surgery*; D011127:Polyps / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013523:Surgical Equipment; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013997:Time Factors; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride