Ligia Balulescu

Dr. Ligia Balulescu

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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Journal Article
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ADAlexandru Dabîca
Alexandru Dabîca
OBOana Balint
Oana Balint
FOFlavius Olaru
Flavius Olaru
CSCristina Secosan
Cristina Secosan
LBLigia Balulescu
Ligia Balulescu
LPLaurenţiu Cornel Pirtea
Laurenţiu Cornel Pirtea
Background: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a public health problem that influences millions of women around the globe, and it has a significant impact on the quality of life. From the FDA statement regarding the complications of using mesh implants in POP surgery to studies that have shown the benefits and side effects, we conducted a systematic review investigating the complications associated with surgical mesh implantation for POP repair. Methods: Relevant studies were identified through a comprehensive search of scientific databases. Studies evaluating the use of mesh in POP surgery and reporting on associated complications were included. Results: Among 2816 studies, 28 studies met the research criteria, with a total number of 8958 patients, revealing that in laparoscopic mesh surgery, the rate of mesh exposure was lower compared to vaginal mesh surgery, among other complications. Conclusions: Laparoscopic mesh surgery is superior as a long-term approach for POP repair compared to vaginal mesh surgery, offering lower complication rates and potentially better anatomical success. However, vaginal mesh surgery remains a valuable option for patients who are unsuitable for laparoscopy due to specific factors. Future research should explore alternative techniques, like pectopexy with or without mesh, to further improve surgical outcomes and patient experience.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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LBLigia Balulescu
Ligia Balulescu
SBSimona Brasoveanu
Simona Brasoveanu
MPMarilena Pirtea
Marilena Pirtea
DGDorin Grigoras
Dorin Grigoras
Cristina Anamaria SecosanCristina Anamaria Secosan
Cristina Anamaria Secosan
LPLaurenţiu Cornel Pirtea
Laurenţiu Cornel Pirtea
Study objective: The objective of this systematic review is to investigate the impact of laparoscopic myomectomy techniques on pregnancy outcomes, with a specific focus on the correlation between the type of suture used during the procedure and the incidence of uterine rupture. Additionally, the study aims to examine how the localization and size of myomas, key factors in laparoscopic myomectomy, may influence fertility outcomes. Data Sources: extensive searches were conducted using MDPI, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases from 2008 to November 2023. Methods of Study Selection: The study involved women of reproductive age diagnosed with fibroids who underwent surgical removal of fibroids using either laparotomy or laparoscopy. The evaluation of pregnancy outcomes focused on indicators such as live birth rates, miscarriage rates, stillbirth rates, premature delivery rates, and cases of uterine rupture. Quality assessment was systematically performed by employing the National Institutes of Health Study Quality Assessment Tools, with the subsequent formulation of clinical recommendations that were meticulously graded in accordance with the robustness of the underlying evidence. Results: The pregnancy outcomes post-myoma treatment, as reflected in one of the presented tables, show a promising number of pregnancies and live births, but also indicate the potential risks of miscarriages and preterm births. The diversity in outcomes observed among various studies underscores the imperative for tailored patient care, as well as the necessity for additional research aimed at optimizing fertility and pregnancy outcomes following myoma treatment. Conclusion: This study offers insights into the criteria for patient selection and intraoperative methodologies specifically related to laparoscopic myomectomy. To enhance our understanding of the associations between fibroid characteristics (location, size) and reproductive outcomes, additional research is warranted, particularly through well-designed clinical trials.

23 September 2023 in Life
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Journal Article
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SBSimona Brasoveanu
Simona Brasoveanu
RIRazvan Ilina
Razvan Ilina
LBLigia Balulescu
Ligia Balulescu
MPMarilena Pirtea
Marilena Pirtea
Cristina Anamaria SecosanCristina Anamaria Secosan
Cristina Anamaria Secosan
Laurentiu PirteaLaurentiu Pirtea
Laurentiu Pirtea
Objectives: To compare the follow-up results of a sacrospinous ligament fixation (SSLF) technique for laparoscopic bilateral fixation of the vagina to the iliopectineal ligament via a PVDF-mesh (laparoscopic pectopexy technique, LP) in terms of cure rate and postoperative complications rate. Material and methods: This prospective study included 160 patients diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse stage II–IV according to the POP-Q system. Eighty-two patients (51.25%) underwent vaginal sacrospinous ligament fixation and seventy-eight patients (48.75%) underwent the laparoscopic pectopexy procedure. Results: The cure rate was high in both groups, 95.12% of the patients (78 out of 82) in the SSLF group and 93.59% of the patients (73 out of 78) in the LP group were cured post surgery, leading to an overall cure rate of 151 out of 160 patients. Pelvic pain was present in 5.00% of all patients, but was notably more frequent in the SSLF group (7, 8.54%) than in the LP group (1, 1.28%). Dyspareunia occurred in 4.37% of all patients, slightly more frequently in the SSLF group (6, 7.32%) than the LP group (1, 1.28%), but without significant difference. Conclusions: The laparoscopic pectopexy procedure has comparably positive follow-up results with the conventional sacrospinous ligament fixation procedure. Both SSLF and LP are effective in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse, with favorable anatomical and subjective results, a high cure rate and low rates of serious postoperative complications.

10 November 2023 in Medicina
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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LBLigia Balulescu
Ligia Balulescu
SBSimona Brasoveanu
Simona Brasoveanu
MPMarilena Pirtea
Marilena Pirtea
OBOana Balint
Oana Balint
AIAurora Ilian
Aurora Ilian
LPLaurenţiu Cornel Pirtea
Laurenţiu Cornel Pirtea
Background and Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of using a peri-cervical tourniquet in reducing blood loss during a laparoscopic myomectomy. Materials and Methods: This prospective study evaluated the impact of performing a concomitant tourniquet placement during a laparoscopic myomectomy (LM). A total of 60 patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups: 30 patients who underwent an LM with a tourniquet placement (the TLM group) and 30 patients who benefited from a standard LM (the SLM group). This study’s main objective was to evaluate the impact of tourniquet use on perioperative blood loss, which is quantified as the difference in the pre- and postoperative hemoglobin levels (Delta Hb) and the postoperative blood transfusion rate. Results: The mean Delta Hb was statistically lower in the TLM group compared to the SLM group: 1.38 g/dL vs. 2.41 g/dL (p < 0.001). The rate of postoperative iron perfusion in the TLM group was significantly lower compared to the SLM group (4 vs. 13 patients; p = 0.02). All four patients that required a blood transfusion were from the SLM group. On average, the peri-cervical tourniquet fastening time was 10.62 min (between 7 and 15 min), with no significant impact on the overall operative time: 98.50 min for the TLM group compared to 94.66 min for the SLM group. Conclusions: Fastening a tourniquet during a laparoscopic myomectomy is a valuable technique to effectively control intraoperative bleeding and enhance surgical outcomes.

21 February 2025 in Diagnostics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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MPMarilena Pirtea
Marilena Pirtea
LBLigia Balulescu
Ligia Balulescu
LPLaurenţiu Cornel Pirtea
Laurenţiu Cornel Pirtea
SBSimona Brasoveanu
Simona Brasoveanu
Cristina Anamaria SecosanCristina Anamaria Secosan
Cristina Anamaria Secosan
DNDan Navolan
Dan Navolan
Objectives: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common condition affecting women, often requiring surgical intervention. Laparoscopic pectopexy has gained popularity, but there is ongoing debate about the efficacy and safety of mesh versus thread as fixation materials. This study aims to compare the outcomes of these two techniques, focusing on cure, recurrence and postoperative complication rates. Methods: A prospective analysis was conducted on patients undergoing laparoscopic pectopexy for POP. This prospective study included 78 patients diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse stage II–IV according to the POP-Q system. Thirty-six (46.15%) underwent laparoscopic pectopexy with mesh and forty-two patients (53.84%) underwent the laparoscopic pectopexy procedure with thread. Data on cure rates, recurrence, mild asymptomatic cystocele and chronic pain were analyzed. Statistical significance was assessed using chi-squared and Fisher’s exact tests. Results: The cure rate was high in both group: 94.4% in the Mesh group and 100% in the thread group. Recurrence of vaginal apex prolapse occurred in 5.56% of the Mesh group, while no recurrence was observed in the thread group. Chronic pain was reported in 11.11% of the Mesh group but was absent in the thread group (p < 0.05). The overall rate for cystocele across all participants was 44.87% (40.48% of patients in the thread group experienced mild asymptomatic cystocele, compared to 50% in the Mesh group). No intraoperative complications were reported in either group. Conclusions: Thread-based laparoscopic pectopexy demonstrates equivalent or superior outcomes compared to mesh, with a high cure rate, no recurrence rate and no chronic pain. These findings support the use of thread as a safer alternative, aligning with FDA guidelines on mesh usage.

26 December 2023 in Journal of Personalized Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SBSimona Brasoveanu
Simona Brasoveanu
RIRazvan Ilina
Razvan Ilina
LBLigia Balulescu
Ligia Balulescu
MPMarilena Pirtea
Marilena Pirtea
Cristina Anamaria SecosanCristina Anamaria Secosan
Cristina Anamaria Secosan
LPLaurenţiu Cornel Pirtea
Laurenţiu Cornel Pirtea
Objective: This study aims to provide an in-depth analysis of patient preferences and clinical outcomes associated with two surgical techniques for treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI): the transobturator suburethral sling (TOT) procedure and the pubourethral ligament plication (PUL) procedure. We evaluated the rates of postoperative complications, the duration of each procedure, hemoglobin loss, and days of hospitalization. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 80 patients who underwent surgery for SUI: 40 patients for the TOT procedure and 40 patients for the PUL procedure. Clinical data on patient characteristics, treatment efficacy, and post-surgical outcomes were analyzed to assess patient preferences and real-world clinical effectiveness. Results: Regarding patient preferences, those who underwent TOT surgery were more likely to be older, had a higher average number of pregnancies, and were more often postmenopausal, in contrast to those who underwent PUL surgery (p < 0.001 for each comparison). TOT patients had a hospital stay on average of 1.02 days, while PUL patients benefited from ambulatory stays only. In addition, the TOT group had a significantly longer average operating time (16.80 min) compared to the PUL group (9.90 min, p < 0.001). The study revealed notable outcomes in both groups, with high cure rates for both TOT (N1 = 33, 82.5%) and PUL (N2 = 28, 70%) procedures. Specifically, 76.25% of the patients (61 out of 80) were cured after the procedures. Chronic pelvic pain was present in 3.75% of all patients and was notably only observed in the TOT group, with 3 (7.5%) cases being noted. Similarly, vaginal erosion was experienced by 5% of all patients, with 10% of patients in the TOT group and none in the PUL group being affected. Dyspareunia occurred in 2.5% of all patients, with there being two (5%) cases in the TOT group and none in the PUL group. Conclusions: This study highlights that while the PUL procedure achieves cure rates comparable to TOT, it offers a less invasive option with shorter operating times and no hospitalization required. These findings suggest that PUL could be a viable alternative for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) treatment, especially in contexts where avoiding mesh use is preferred. This adds significant value to patient-centered care in SUI management, offering tailored treatment options based on patient characteristics, preferences, and risk profiles.