title: [Hysteroscopic appearance of the endometrial cavity after endometrial ablation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the aspect of the uterine cavity after hysteroscopic endometrial ablation, to determine the prevalence of synechiae after the procedure, and to analyze the importance of hysteroscopy during the postoperative period.
  
  
  METHODS
  The results of the hysteroscopic exams of 153 patients who underwent outpatient hysteroscopy after endometrial ablation due to abnormal uterine bleeding of benign etiology during the period from January 2006 to July 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups: HIST≤60 (n=90) consisting of patients undergoing the exam 40-60 days after the ablation procedure, and the group HIST>60 (n=63) consisting of patients undergoing the exam between 61 days and 12 months after the procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the HIST≤60 group, 30% of the patients presented some degree of synechiae: synechiae grade I in 4.4% of patients, grade II in 6.7% , grade IIa in 4.4%, grade III in 7.8%, and grade IV in 2.2%. In the HIST>60 group, 53.9% of all cases had synechiae, 3.2% were grade I, 11.1% grade II, 7.9% grade IIa, 15.9% grade III, and 4.8% grade IV. Hematometra was detected in 2.2 % of all cases in group HIST≤60 and in 6.3% of all cases in group HIST>60.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The uterine cavity of the patients submitted to diagnostic hysteroscopy up to 60 days after endometrial ablation showed significantly fewer synechiae compared to the uterine cavity of patients who underwent the exam after 60 days. Long-term follow-up is necessary to fully evaluate the importance of outpatient hysteroscopy after endometrial ablation regarding menstrual patterns, risk of cancer and prevalence of treatment failure.
authors.affiliation: Curso de Pós-Graduação, Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual Francisco Morato de Oliveira, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Aline Rocha
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Guerin
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual Francisco Morato de Oliveira, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Reginaldo Guedes Coelho
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Setor de Endoscopia Ginecológica, Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual Francisco Morato de Oliveira, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Daniella de Batista
authors.initials: Dde B
authors.lastname: Depes
authors.affiliation: eção de Ginecologia, Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual Francisco Morato de Oliveira, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: João Alfredo
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055356:Endometrial Ablation Techniques; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006175:Gynatresia / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D015907:Hysteroscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000473:pathology