Total laparoscopic hysterectomy - indications and complications of 158 patients

Introduction: Hysterectomy is one of the most common gynecological procedures. Development of modern laparoscopic techniques made it a crucial tool in contemporary gynecology both in diagnosis and treatment. Increasing experience and improved laparoscopic instruments enabled gynecologists to extend indications for laparoscopic procedures as well as the range of the operation itself. Aims: 1) to present data (particularly perioperative) of patients who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy 2) to analyze various information including: indication for the procedure, surgery duration, evaluation of different parameters like: volume of the excised uterus, postoperative HB and HCT drop, length of hospital stay as well as short- and long-term complications. Material and methods: The analysis included peri- and postoperative data of 158 patients who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy Indication for hysterectomy and duration of operation were analyzed. Uterine volume, postoperative HB and HCT drop, time of hospital stay and complications were evaluated. In the study a description of the metod of laparoscopic hysterectomy was presented. Results: Mean time of procedure was 68 min. (58-135min.). Basing on operational protocols, the time of operation was measured from the moment laparoscopy started until the patient was fully awake after anesthesia. No adjustments were made for longer anesthetic recovery period. Estimated blood loss was 166.6 ml. Mean HB drop was 1.29g/dl (0,1-3 g/dl). Mean volume of the excised uterus was 108.24 cm3 (25.27-440.86 cm3). In 44 patients (27.84%) bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. In 4 cases (2.53%) there was an indication for postoperative antibiotics. None of the patients required blood transfusion or conversion to open surgery or the need to re-operate. Mean hospital stay after the surgery was 2.9 days. Overall, only 2 patients suffered long-term complications (1.26%): three weeks after the surgery urethro-vaginal fistulas occurred due to thermal injury to the ureter That complication was noted during the first year of using this technique. Between 2008 and 2011 that type of adverse effect was not reported. Conclusions: The analysis included perioperative and postoperative data of 158 patients who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy Data suggest that patients benefit from this procedure which is safe, associated with short postoperative recovery time, minimal blood loss and low complication rate, as well as good plastic result. We recommend laparoscopic hysterectomy as an alternative to open hysterectomy in cases when it can be safely performed.