Identifying the indications for laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy: a prospective, randomised comparison with abdominal hysterectomy in patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids.
BJOG 2000;
107:620-5. [PMID:
10826576 DOI:
10.1111/j.1471-0528.2000.tb13303.x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To compare laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) in patients with uterine fibroids.
DESIGN
A prospective randomised study.
SETTING
The San Paolo Hospital, Milan.
POPULATION
Sixty-two patients, who were not suitable for a vaginal hysterectomy, requiring treatment for uterine fibroids.
METHODS
Randomisation between LAVH and TAH. Comparison of outcomes on the whole series, patients with uteri < or = 500 g (Group 1) and patients with uteri > 500 g (Group 2).
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
To establish operating time, blood loss, complications, febrile morbidity, analgesics administration and hospital stay for both treatment approaches.
RESULTS
Median uterine weight was 400 g in both LAVH and TAH group. Median operating time was longer for LAVH (135 min compared with 120 min for TAH; P = 0.001), but patients undergoing LAVH had less analgesics administration (23% compared with 77%, P < 0.001) and a shorter median hospital stay (3.8 compared with 5.8 days; P < 0.001). LAVH, when compared with TAH in the two weight subgroups, required a significantly longer operating time only in Group 2, significantly reduced analgesics administration only in Group 1, and significantly reduced hospital stay in both groups. Conversions of LAVH to laparotomy were significantly more frequent in Group 2 (3/11) than in Group 1 (0/20) (P = 0.04).
CONCLUSIONS
Compared with TAH, LAVH has advantages in removing uteri weighing < or = 500 g, with comparable operating time, less post-operative pain and shorter recovery. Among uteri weighing > 500 g LAVH showed a shorter recovery, but longer operating time than TAH and a 27% rate of conversion to laparotomy.
Collapse