Research and Innovation

Ask your doctor about scarless surgery

Our team has authored the first Canadian publication on vNOTES (vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery): it's a novel, scar-free form of surgery which can be used to remove a uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and treat prolapse, while minimizing pain and downtime.

Our Commitment

Our team of five sub-specialized gynecologic surgeons are committed to providing not only the highest standards of care for every patient, but also to leading growth and innovation in obstetrics and gynecology. Our active research unit is involved in clinical trials, surgical innovation, and quality improvement projects.

Research Coordinator

Cassandra Della Rocca, BSc

Our team is fortunate to work with a passionate, motivated, and bright research coordinator – Cassandra Della Rocca oversees all aspects of our team's research projects, which includes connecting with patients, working with the hospital ethics and institutional review board, registering trials online, submitting manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals, and applying for research grants and bursaries.

Cassandra holds a Bachelor of Science in Anatomy and Cell Biology form McGill University and has a background in Reproductive Biology research at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC)

Active projects

Eliminating Narcotics from Outpatient Gynecologic Surgery:
The eNARCOS trial
➥ There is a growing opioid crisis in North America - can we make surgery safer for patients and the community by eliminating narcotics from gynecologic day-surgery?
➥ Status: Actively Recruiting
➥ Clinical trial protocol: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04837014

Evaluating Tibolone as Add-Back in Patients with Endo and Fibroids:
The eTAPE trial
➥ Some women require medication (like Lupron) to treat endometriosis or fibroids, which can temporarily cause symptoms of menopause. Can Tibolone, a unique menopausal hormone therapy medication, help patients manage these side effects?
➥ Status: Approval pending
➥ Clinical trial protocol: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05568940

Medical Management of Ovarian Endometriomas:
A systematic review and meta-analysis
➥ Endometriomas (also known as chocolate cysts) grow and shrink in response to hormones. What medications are effective (and how effective are they) at shrinking these ovarian cysts?
➥ Status: Data extraction
➥ Prospero Protocol: CRD 42022363319, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk

Evaluating Conservative Options for Managing Placenta Accreta Spectrum Safely
The eCOMPASS Study
➥ Abnormally invasive placentation is rare, but on the rise with increasing rates of Cesarean Section. What are uterus-sparing (i.e. non-hysterectomy) options for managing this serious condition?
➥ Status: Data extraction
➥ Prospero Protocol: CRD 42022359283, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk

Our recent publications

Surgical steps to resection of invasive bladder endometriosis

Nguyen DB, Arendas K, Jago CA, Warren J, Singh SS. Stepwise approach to the laparoscopic excision of bladder endometriosis. Fertility and Sterility. 2022 Jan 1;117(1):225-7.

2022

Browse through some of our publications:

Zakhari A, Delpero E, McKeown S, Tomlinson G, Bougie O, Murji A. Endometriosis recurrence following post-operative hormonal suppression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod Update. 2021 Jan 4;27(1):96-107. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmaa033. PMID: 33020832; PMCID: PMC7781224.

Zakhari A, Edwards D, Ryu M, Matelski JJ, Bougie O, Murji A. Dienogest and the Risk of Endometriosis Recurrence Following Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2020 Nov-Dec;27(7):1503-1510. doi: 10.1016/j.jmig.2020.05.007. Epub 2020 May 16. PMID: 32428571.

Po L, Thomas J, Mills K, Zakhari A, Tulandi T, Shuman M, Page A. Guideline No. 414: Management of Pregnancy of Unknown Location and Tubal and Nontubal Ectopic Pregnancies. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2021 May;43(5):614-630.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jogc.2021.01.002. Epub 2021 Jan 13. PMID: 33453378.

Chen I, Veth VB, Choudhry AJ, Murji A, Zakhari A, Black AY, Agarpao C, Maas JW. Pre- and postsurgical medical therapy for endometriosis surgery. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Nov 18;11(11):CD003678. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003678.pub3. PMID: 33206374; PMCID: PMC8127059.

Zakhari A, Sanders AP, Solnik MJ. Tranexamic acid in gynecologic surgery. Curr Med Res Opin. 2020 Mar;36(3):513-520. doi: 10.1080/03007995.2019.1708533. Epub 2020 Jan 6. PMID: 31865770.

Skolnik E, Miazga E, Zakhari A, Cai E, Ziegler C, Murji A. Beyond the Pfannenstiel: Minimally invasive Laparotomy Incisions for Maximum Exposure. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2021 Mar;43(3):368. doi: 10.1016/j.jogc.2020.10.013. Epub 2020 Nov 13. PMID: 33197623.

Zakhari A, Sanders AP, Murji A. Uterine artery occlusion at myomectomy. Fertil Steril. 2019 May;111(5):1030-1031. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.01.019. Epub 2019 Mar 11. PMID: 30871760.

Zakhari A, Paek W, Chan W, Edwards D, Matelski J, Solnik MJ, Murji A. Retrograde Bladder Filling after Laparoscopic Gynecologic Surgery: A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2021 May;28(5):1006-1012.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jmig.2020.09.019. Epub 2020 Oct 3. PMID: 33017685.

Zakhari A, Mabrouk M, Raimondo D, Mastronardi M, Seracchioli R, Mattei B, Papillon-Smith J, Solnik MJ, Murji A, Lemos N. Keep Your Landmarks Close and the Hypogastric Nerve Closer: An Approach to Nerve-sparing Endometriosis Surgery. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2020 May-Jun;27(4):813-814.

Nguyen DB, Gilbert S, Arendas K, Jago CA, Singh SS. Laparoscopic excision of pericardial and diaphragmatic endometriosis. Fertil Steril. 2021 Mar;115(3):807-808. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2020.09.152.

Nguyen DB, Arendas K, Jago CA, Warren J, Singh SS. Stepwise approach to the laparoscopic excision of bladder endometriosis. Fertil Steril. 2022 Jan;117(1):225-227. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.08.039. Epub 2021 Oct 16. PMID: 34663509.

Jago CA, Nguyen DB, Flaxman TE, Singh SS. Bowel surgery for endometriosis: A practical look at short- and long-term complications. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2021 Mar;71:144-160.

Nguyen DB, Pare-Miron V, Czuzoj-Shulman N, Abenhaim HA. Effect of Hospital Choice on the Risk of Caesarean Delivery. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2019 Sep;41(9):1302-1310. doi: 10.1016/j.jogc.2018.11.013.

HOME PAGE