Laparoscopically Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy:
Analysis of 35 Consecutive Cases

F. Suat DEDE, Berna DİLBAZ, Müberra KOÇAK, Hülya DEDE, Serdar DİLBAZ, Ali HABERAL

Ankara-TURKEY

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate indications, effectiveness and safety of laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy for benign adnexal or uterine pathologies.

STUDY DESIGN: We reviewed the records of 35 consecutive women who underwent laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy for benign reasons between January 2002 and December 2004. All the patients were not suitable candidates for abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy either because of concomitant adnexal masses or lack of uterine prolapse. The exclusion criteria included prolapse, uterine or adnexal neoplasm, pelvic inflammation, vaginal stenosis and any pathology with a uterine size of more than 14 weeks.

RESULTS: Indications for laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy were leiomyoma uteri (45.7%), intractable uterine bleeding (17.1%), myoma uteri with adnexal masses (14.3%), postmenopausal (8.6%) or bilateral (8.6%) adnexal masses and tamoxifen related endometrial pathology (5.7%). Mean operating time was 149.31 minutes (range 90-210) and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 2.4 days (range 2-10). Only one bladder laceration occurred during the operations which required conversion to laparotomy (2.8%).

CONCLUSION: Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy was found as a feasible and safe approach in the surgical management of a selected group of patients with benign pathologies.

(Gynecol Obstet Reprod Med 2006; 12:000-000)

Key Words: Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy, Safety, Uterine and adnexal pathology