Laparoscopic hysterectomy versus total abdominal hysterectomy: A comparative study

• Published in: European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology Vol. 126; no. 2; pp. 234 - 238
• Main Authors: Vaisbuch, Edi, Goldchmit, Chen, Ofer, Dganit, Agmon, Arnon, Hagay, Zion
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.06.2006; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Complications rate; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Hysterectomy - methods; Hysterectomy - statistics & numerical data; Intraoperative Complications; Israel - epidemiology; Laparoscopic hysterectomy; Laparoscopy - methods; Learning curve; Length of Stay; Medical Records; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Postoperative Complications; Retrospective Studies; Total abdominal hysterectomy; Treatment Outcome; Israel; Learning curve; Laparoscopic hysterectomy; Complications rate; Total abdominal hysterectomy; Gynecology; Curve; Laparoscopy; Hysterectomy; Obstetrics; Abdomen; Learning; Acquisition process; Treatment; Surgery; Complication; Endoscopy; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0301-2115; 1872-7654
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2005.10.009

The objective of this study was to compare the intraoperative and short-term postoperative complications of laparoscopic hysterectomy and total abdominal hysterectomy. Retrospective study of 167 women who had laparoscopic hysterectomy and 119 women who had total abdominal hysterectomy. For assessing the learning curve, the laparoscopic hysterectomies were further subdivided to the first 30 hysterectomies and the later hysterectomies. For data analysis Student's t-test, χ 2-test and Fisher's exact test were used. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups for age, body mass index, previous abdominal surgery, uterine weight, first postoperative day hemoglobin drop, blood transfusion and major or minor complications rate. Operation time was significantly longer for laparoscopic than abdominal hysterectomy (156 ± 40 and 91.2 ± 33 min, respectively; P < 0.001) but the length of hospital stay was significantly shorter (3.9 and 6.55 days, respectively; P < 0.001). The conversion rate of laparoscopic hysterectomy was 1.8% (three cases). Laparoscopic hysterectomy can be safely done even during the learning curve with a low and reasonable complication rate, and a shorter hospital stay but with longer operation time. As experience is gained the operation time, complication rate and hospital stay are decreased.