Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40269766›Full record

ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2025

Transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery for tubal ectopic pregnancy(vNOTESTEP): a protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Xinyu Xiao, Tianjiao Liu, Xin Li, Li He, Yonghong Lin, Dan Feng

Abstract readClinical Trial Protocol
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Xinyu Xiao *Department of Gynecology of Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. 1617, Riyue Avenue, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610091, People's Republic of China.
Tianjiao Liu *Department of Gynecology of Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. 1617, Riyue Avenue, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610091, People's Republic of China.
Xin Li *Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Li HeDepartment of Gynecology of Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. 1617, Riyue Avenue, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610091, People's Republic of China. helisichuan@163.com.
Yonghong LinDepartment of Gynecology of Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. 1617, Riyue Avenue, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610091, People's Republic of China. linyhcd2011@163.com.
Dan FengDepartment of Gynecology of Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. 1617, Riyue Avenue, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610091, People's Republic of China. fengdan11071@163.com.

Funding

Chengdu Municipal Medical Research Project in 2023 2023352Fifth Round of Chengdu Municipal Science and Technology Research Program 2021-YF05-00627-SNJapan China Sasakawa Medical Fellowship Program 4408Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory Foundation TFJC2023010001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTubal ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening condition in early pregnancy. Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery is increasingly used for the treatment of this disease. Retrospective studies suggest that Transvaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (vNOTES) offers lower perioperative complications, faster recovery, and better cosmetic outcomes compared to other approaches. However, the lack of comprehensive perioperative and long-term postoperative data limits its widespread adoption in gynecology.

methodsThe vNOTESTEP study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) enrolling 72 patients requiring laparoendoscopic surgery for tubal ectopic pregnancy. After obtaining informed consent, preoperative assessments will be conducted. Following randomization, salpingectomy will be performed using either vNOTES or TU-LESS approach. The postoperative assessment and a structured 5-year follow-up, including eight visits, will be conducted. Baseline sociodemographic and clinical data will be collected from the Hospital Information System and patient interviews. Outcomes will be assessed perioperatively and postoperatively at designated time points (1st, 2nd, and 3rd postoperative day; 1st, 3rd, and 6th month; 1st-5th year). Key long-term outcomes include sexual function, pregnancy, vaginal delivery, and incisional hernia. DISCUSSION: This RCT aims to provide robust clinical evidence on the perioperative and long-term outcomes of vNOTES versus TU-LESS for tubal ectopic pregnancy, focusing on key reproductive and surgical outcomes. The study seeks to refine patient selection criteria and contribute to guideline development for gynecologic vNOTES. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2400082909 (registered on April 10th, 2024).

Indexed as

LaparoscopyNatural Orifice Endoscopic SurgeryPregnancy, TubalSalpingectomyAdultFemaleHumansPregnancyRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeVaginaChildbirthFemale sexual function indexLong-term postoperative outcomesMinimally invasive surgeryNatural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgerySurgical complications

Identifiers

PMID40269766
PMCPMC12020209

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.