Vasopressin use in myomectomy a community hospital experience

ABSTRACT

Perivascular vasopressin as a haemostatic agent in myomectomy has recently been shown to be very useful in reducing the amount of bleeding during operation. The published data have, however, come from work done in university or large hospital settings. The aim of this case series was to establish that vasopressin can be used effectively in a small community hospital setting, to reduce the need for blood transfusion, especially in the small countries of the Caribbean where blood banking is not often available. Twenty-two patients were evaluated in this case series. Vasopressin 1 unit/ml solution was injected into the broad ligament posteriorly, inferior to the insertion of the ovarian ligament and anteriorly, inferior to the insertion of the round ligament. The drug was also injected along the line of of the incision in the myometrium. Of the twenty-two patients evaluated three were excluded, two because of degenerating fibroids while the other had adenomyosis. None of the nineteen patients required transfusion. The average blood loss was 240 ml; three patients had losses greater than 500 ml. Intraoperative changes in vital signs in these patients were minimal and no patient required reoperation because of post-operative haemorrhage. As has been reported previously, vasopressin can be used effectively as a haemostatic agent in myomectomy. The reduction in the need for blood transfusion in this community hospital setting is a major clinical advantage (AU)