Current controversies regarding power morcellation and future directions

Modern surgery tends to the improvement of minimally invasive strategies. Laparoscopy, rooted in practices for years, supplanted laparotomy in many directions. Regarding the extraction of large uterus, morcellation is currently the only way to externalize surgical specimens (myomas, uterine), without increasing the skin opening while allowing to reduce postoperative complications compared to laparotorny. However, in 2014, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discourages the use of uterine morcellation because of oncological risk. This recommendation has been challenged by a part of the profession. Our review has sought to identify the evidence for and against the use of morcellation. We also tried to quantify surgical risk and the current means of prevention. The incidence of uterine sarcomas is still poorly identified and preoperative diagnostic facilities remain inadequate. The small number of retrospective studies currently available could not enable any recommendation. The evaluation of morcellation devices and the improvement of preoperative diagnosis modalities (imaging, preoperative biopsy) are to continue to minimize the oncological risk. (C) 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.