Complications of loop electrosurgical excision procedure for cervical neoplasia: a prospective study.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the complications following loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) for diagnosis and treatment of cervical neoplasia. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Descriptive cross sectional study in patients with abnormal cervical cytology who underwent LEEP at Chiang Mai University Hospital between November 2004 and July 2005 were prospectively evaluated for complications. RESULTS: During the study periods, 206 patients underwent cervical loop excision for a total of 226 procedures. The mean age of the patients was 41 years (range, 26-72 years). Sixty (29.1%) women were menopausal. The most common abnormal cervical cytology was HSIL (56.3%) followed by LSIL (12.1%). Twenty-five (11.1%) patients received re-excision for positive margin after the first procedure. Intraoperative hemorrhage occurred in 7.9% of the procedures. Early and late postoperative hemorrhage occurred in 0.4% and 2.6% of the procedures, respectively. Eight (3.5%) had postoperative infections and were cured with oral antibiotics. By logistic regression analysis, there was no significant correlation between age, menopausal status, HIV status, re-excision procedure, final histopathology, cone dimension and the complications of LEEP. CONCLUSION: Loop electrosurgical excision procedure is safe for evaluation and treatment of cervical neoplasia with an acceptable and manageable surgical morbidity.