Total laparoscopic hysterectomy: a new option for removal of the large myomatous uterus

This is the first report of a series of women who underwent total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) to remove a large myomatous uterus weighing more than 390 g. The case history notes of 21 women undergoing TLH in both the private and public sectors of Flinders Endogynaecology were studied. The mean uterine weight was 534.7 g (390-1022 g). The mean operating time was 155.0 +/- 56.1 minutes and mean blood loss was 297.6 ml, (50-1000 mL). The mean hospital stay was 3.2 +/- 1.0 days. The two complications were a post-operative deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and an estimated blood loss of 1000 ml, in separate cases. Total laparoscopic hysterectomy is a low morbidity procedure offering a new option for the removal of the large myomatous uterus and avoidance of abdominal hysterectomy.