Total laparoscopic hysterectomy: technique and complications of 830 cases.

OBJECTIVE: This study analyses the technique and complications from total laparoscopic hysterectomy. METHODS: Retrospective chart abstraction was performed on 830 consecutive patients operated on between 1996 and 2006. Demographic and surgical data were analyzed by ANOVA, chi-square, and Spearman and Pearson correlation techniques were used with significance set at P<0.05. RESULTS: Of 830 consecutive patients, 5 (0.6%) were converted to laparotomy. Patients had a mean age of 50 (+/-11) years, a mean of 1.3 (+/-1.3) pregnancies, and a mean BMI of 27.6 (+/-6.8) kg/m(2). The mean surgical duration was 132 (+/-55) minutes, with mean blood loss of 130 (+/-189) mL and average hospital stay of 1.4 (+/-0.9) days. Duration of surgery, blood loss, and hospital stay all decreased with the surgeon's increasing experience. Reoperative complications occurred in 38 patients (4.7%). Urologic injuries were observed in 23 patients (2.6%), with 9 (1.1%) requiring reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: This technique for TLH offers the benefits of minimally invasive surgery for patients needing hysterectomy, even those without vaginal capacity and uterine prolapse.

Total laparoscopic hysterectomy versus total abdominal hysterectomy: cohort review of patients with uterine neoplasia.

OBJECTIVE: Retrospective analysis of surgico-pathologic data comparing total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) with total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) patients with uterine neoplasia. METHODS: We conducted a chart abstraction of all patients undergoing hysterectomy for uterine neoplasia from September 1996 to November 2004. Patients were assigned to undergo the abdominal or laparoscopic approach based on established clinical safety criteria. RESULTS: The study included 105 patients, 29 with TAH and 76 with TLH. TAH patients were older (68 vs. 61, P=0.021); however, both groups had similar body mass indexes (31) and parities (1.6). Controlling for age, surgical duration was similar (152 minutes). Average blood loss was higher for TAH, (504 vs. 138 mL, P<0.001). Hospital stays were significantly longer for patients with TAH than for those with TLH (5.4 vs. 1.8 days, P<0.0001). Uterine weight was greater (197 vs. 135 g, P=0.008) and myometrial invasion deeper in the TAH group (48% outer half vs. 17%, P=0.001). More patients had Stage II or higher disease in the TAH group (35% vs. 17%, P=0.038). More TAH patients needed node dissection (79% vs. 28%, P<.001). Node yields from dissections of 23 TAH cases and 21 laparoscopic cases were similar (17 nodes). Total and reoperative complications from TAH versus TLH were not statistically different in our small sample (14.3 vs. 5.2% total, NS; 10.3 vs. 2.6% reoperative). One conversion was necessary from laparoscopy to laparotomy for unsuspected bulky metastatic disease. CONCLUSION: Based on clinical selection criteria, TLH performed for endometrial pathology has few complications and is well tolerated by select patients. The advantages are less blood loss and a shorter length of hospital stay for qualified patients.

Total laparoscopic hysterectomy for oncological indications with outcomes stratified by age.

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesize that there is no difference in surgical outcomes of patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) for various oncological indications when stratified by age categories. METHODS: Data were analyzed by ANOVA and chi-square test with significance of P < 0.05, stratified by age (young: <50 years, middle: 50-64, senior age 65+). RESULTS: There were 208 patients, age 26-86 years: 85 young, 82 middle, and 41 senior women. Preoperative diagnoses included 13 cases of cervical dysplasia, 10 cervical or upper vaginal carcinoma, 60 endometrial neoplasias, 22 prophylaxes of familial ovarian carcinoma, 95 with complex pelvic mass, and 8 with early ovarian carcinoma. Mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.2 kg/m(2) for all groups. Parity increased with age (1.0, 1.3, and 2.0; P = 0.001). Surgical duration was longer for young than middle or senior (168, 147, and 140 min, P = 0.0095). All groups had a similar mean blood loss (133 cc, ns) and similar mean length of hospital stay (1.8 days, ns). Overall complication rate was 7.7% with no variance by age: one seroma, one hematoma, one diverticulitis, one incisional hernia, one vaginal nonhealing, one adhesive bowel obstruction, and five urologic complications (two bladder, three ureteral; four treated with catheter or stent, one reimplant. Reoperation was required in 2.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Null hypothesis accepted: TLH appears feasible and safe for oncological practice indications throughout the life span. This pilot data can facilitate guidelines for a randomized controlled trial of TLH with TAH and laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH).

Selective incorporation of total laparoscopic hysterectomy for adnexal pathology and body mass index.

OBJECTIVES: We studied patients undergoing adnexectomy with total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) for ovarian pathology, over a 6-year period. METHODS: Chart abstraction, analyzed by ANOVA, Fisher's Exact Test with significance at P < 0.05, stratifying by body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2): ideal < 25; overweight 25-29.9; obese 30+). RESULTS: Of 354 patients undergoing TLH, 90 cases had adnexal pathology: 69 complex masses, 16 BRCA1/2 mutations, 5 unstaged ovarian carcinomas; 48 having ideal BMI, 26 overweight, and 16 obese. Mean age (51 years) and parity (1.2 children) were similar between BMI groups. Thirty-four percent were nulliparous. All 90 underwent TLH, adnexectomy, washings; with 14 appendectomies, 5 lymphadenectomies, 3 node samplings, 6 omentectomies, 8 ureterolyses, and 1 Burch. Mean surgery duration (156 min), blood loss (152cc), and hospital stay (1.9 days) were similar across BMI groups. Mean nodal yield from each lymphadenectomy was 14, and 2.6 from sampling. Mean size of pelvic masses was 8 cm (range 3-19 cm). There were seven cases of ovarian carcinoma: 2 Stage IA, 1 IB, 2 IC, 1 IIC, 1 IIIB; 1 recurrent breast cancer, 16 adenofibromas, 15 endometriomas, 10 dermoids, and 41 serous/mucinous cystadenomas. Mean complication rate was 6.6% (ns): 1 seroma, 1 hematoma, 1 obstructive adhesions, and 3 urological injuries. All urological injuries were within the first third of patients. CONCLUSIONS: TLH appears feasible for women with adnexal pathology regardless of BMI, in an oncological practice. This pilot data can facilitate guidelines for a randomized controlled trial of TLH with TAH and LAVH, and help surgeons avoid our early complications.

Total laparoscopic hysterectomy: body mass index and outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective review of patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy examines whether differences in outcomes exist on the basis of body mass index (BMI). METHODS: All cases of total laparoscopic hysterectomy performed from September 1996 to July 2002 for benign diagnoses, and microinvasive cervical, early endometrial, and occult ovarian carcinoma were reviewed. There were 330 patients analyzed by BMI category (range, 18.5-54.1): ideal (n = 150) less than 24.9 kg/m(2), overweight (n = 95) 25 to 29.9 kg/m(2), and obese (n = 78) 30 kg/m(2) or more. Seven patients were converted to laparotomy (four ideal BMI, two overweight, one obese) leaving 323 (98%) for analysis. Mean age (50 years), height (65 in.), and parity (1.2) were similar, with 39% nulligravidas in each group. RESULTS: Mean operating time (156 minutes), blood loss (160 mL), and length of hospital stay (1.9 days) did not vary by BMI group. Total complication rates (8.9%), and major (5.5%) and minor (3.4%) complication rates were similar in each BMI group. Urologic injury was observed in 3.1%, with two-thirds occurring in the first one-third of the patient series. CONCLUSION: Total laparoscopic hysterectomy is feasible and safe, resulting in short hospital stay, minimal blood loss, and minimal operating time for patients in all BMI groups. The laparoscopic approach may extend the benefits of minimally invasive hysterectomy to the very obese, for whom abdominal surgery poses serious risk.