Laparoscopic vs vaginal hysterectomy for benign pathology

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to compare length of stay, blood loss, operative time, and pain of laparoscopic and vaginal hysterectomy. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective, randomized, controlled comparison between vaginal (VH) and laparoscopic (LH) hysterectomy among 60 consecutive patients with a uterine volume of 300 mL or less and without uterine prolapse. Patients were followed up for 12 months. RESULTS: The groups were significantly different for mean operative time (VH: 81 +/- 30 minutes; LH: 99 +/- 25 minutes; P = .033) and blood loss (LH: 83 +/- 57 mL; VH: 178 +/- 149 mL; P = .004). Bilateral adnexectomy was performed when preoperatively planned in 73% of cases of the vaginal arm, whereas it was always performed in the laparoscopic arm (P = .045). Postoperative pain on day 0 and the number of days of analgesic request were higher in the vaginal group (P = .023 and P = .017, respectively). LH was associated with a reduced hospital stay (LH: 2.7 +/- 0.5 days; VH: 3.2 +/- 0.6 days; P < .001). There were no differences between the groups at the follow-up. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic hysterectomy results in a shorter hospital stay, less blood loss, and less postoperative pain compared with vaginal hysterectomy.