ABSTRACT
AIM: This study aimed to compare the laparoscopic-enclosed electromechanical morcellation (LEM) with vaginal-enclosed scalpel morcellation (VSM) in laparoscopic myomectomy procedures. METHODS: One hundred eighteen patients who underwent laparoscopic myomectomy were enrolled the prospective randomized interventional clinical study in tertiary university hospital. After myomectomy, tissue removal was accomplished via either LEM using the in-glove morcellation technique or VSM. RESULTS: The median tissue removal time was longer in the LEM group (25 min [range: 14-55]) than the VSM group (20 min [range: 6-38] [p = 0.001]). Rescue analgesia requirement was significantly higher in the LEM group than the VSM group (mean rank: 56.92 vs. 40.92 doses, respectively; p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between preoperative and postoperative third month total scores of female sexual function index (FSFI) and subdomains in the LEM group. Conversely, all subdomains and total scores of FSFI (26.5 [16.7-34.8] vs. 22.7 [15.2-28.7]) except pain significantly worsened 3 months after operation in the VSM group. CONCLUSIONS: LEM was associated with a longer tissue removal time and increased postoperative analgesic requirement. On the other hand, VSM was associated with worsened postoperative sexual function from baseline.
