Hemostatic Techniques for Myomectomy: An Evidence-Based Approach

Uterine leiomyomas are the most common benign gynecologic tumor. They are also a significant cause of morbidity, necessitating treatments ranging from hormonal suppression to surgical intervention. Myomectomy, the removal of these highly vascular tumors, offers significant quality of life and fertility-sparing benefit for patients affected by uterine leiomyomas but with a risk of substantial intraoperative blood loss. This risk of hemorrhage leads not only an increased transfusion rate but also he need for hysterectomy and other potential operative complications. Numerous medical and surgical techniques have been developed to minimize potentially significant blood loss during abdominal, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted myomectomies. Combined with judicious preoperative assessment, these techniques substantially enhance patient safety during a myomectomy and outcomes during recovery. (C) 2016 AAGL. All rights reserved.