Comparison of re-operation rates and complication rates after total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) and laparoscopy-assisted supracervical hysterectomy (LASH)

Operative complications of open and minimally invasive adnexal surgery compared with cases with hysterectomy: A narrative review

The decision to add hysterectomy to planned adnexectomy is often nuanced and likely increases the complexity of the planned procedure; however, these risks are not well characterized in practice. We conducted a comprehensive search in the PubMed database for English-language articles from 1997 to 2022, identifying studies reporting complication rates for open and minimally invasive surgery (MIS) hysterectomy and adnexal surgeries. We calculated medians and first and third quartiles for each complication and used a Mann-Whitney U test to calculate differences between complications for minimally invasive hysterectomy and adnexal case data. We identified 135 appropriate studies for inclusion. There were higher prevalences of blood loss requiring transfusion (1.70% versus 0.13%, P = 0.01) and urinary tract injury (0.80% versus 0.20%, P = 0.001) in MIS hysterectomy cases compared with MIS adnexal surgery, respectively. MIS hysterectomy cases were similar to MIS adnexal surgery cases in the risk of surgical site infection (1.20% versus 1.49%, P = 0.74), bowel injury (0.50% versus 0.35%, P = 0.45), vascular injury (0.20% versus 0.9%, P = 0.82), and conversion to laparotomy (1.95% versus 3.84%, P = 0.49). There were not enough data on open adnexal surgery complications to make a meaningful comparison between complications of open hysterectomy and adnexal-only cases. Patients should be counseled that the addition of hysterectomy to planned MIS adnexal surgery likely increases the risk of blood loss requiring transfusion and urinary tract injury. The increased comorbidity associated with adding hysterectomy to planned open adnexal removal is less clear.

Outcomes of Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: A Single-Surgeon Experience at a Tertiary Care Hospital in North India

Introduction Total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) has emerged as a preferred surgical approach for managing various benign and premalignant gynecological conditions. It offers significant advantages over traditional hysterectomy techniques, including reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and lower complication rates. However, its adoption varies across healthcare settings, with challenges such as a steep learning curve and technical difficulties in certain patient populations. This study presents a single surgeon's experience with TLH in a tertiary care center in North India, focusing on perioperative outcomes, complications, and surgical efficiency. Methods This retrospective observational study analyzed 150 patients who underwent TLH between January 2022 and December 2024. Data were collected from hospital records, including demographic details, surgical indications, intraoperative findings, perioperative outcomes, and complications. The surgical technique involved a standardized laparoscopic approach, with energy sources like LigaSure™ (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) and harmonic probes. Statistical analysis included descriptive measures, with continuous variables presented as means and categorical variables as frequencies. Results The mean age of the patients was 50.04 ± 7.42 years, with a mean BMI of 27.77 ± 7.05. The most common indications for TLH were adenomyosis in 39 (26%), leiomyoma in 31 (20.67%), and combined leiomyoma with adenomyosis in 31 (20.67%). The mean operative time was 39 minutes, and the mean blood loss was 25 mL. Perioperative complications were minimal, with only one (0.67%) case each of ureteric stricture, bowel injury, bladder injury, and conversion to laparotomy. ICU admission was required in two (1.33%) cases, while postoperative urinary tract infections occurred in two (1.33%). The mean hospital stay was 2.09 days, and six (4%) patients required readmission. Conclusion This study highlights the safety, efficiency, and favorable perioperative outcomes of TLH in a tertiary care setting. The low complication rates, short hospital stays, and minimal blood loss reinforce TLH as a viable alternative to conventional hysterectomy methods. While the study benefits from a large sample size and single-surgeon consistency, its retrospective design and single-center scope are limitations. Future multi-center studies with long-term follow-up are recommended to validate these findings and explore the role of robotic-assisted hysterectomy in improving surgical outcomes.

Outcomes of Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: A Single-Surgeon Experience of Initial 50 Cases

Introduction

In this study, we reported a single surgeon experience of total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) in terms of intraoperative and early postoperative outcomes and complications. In addition, we compared our results with published literature for a reevaluation of complications and outcomes.

Material and methods

This present prospective study was conducted on 50 patients who underwent TLH due to benign causes. Patients diagnosed with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), uterine fibroids, and post-menopausal bleeding (PMB) were included in this analysis. Patients were discharged after 24 hours of surgery if there were considered fit for discharge. The patients' age, co-morbidities, size of the uterus, additional procedure along with TLH, and postoperative complications were collected and analyzed. The follow-up period was three months, done on the tenth day after surgery, the thirtieth day, and then at three months.

Results

The mean age of our patients was 46.42±5.01 years. The major indication of hysterectomy was fibroids diagnosed in 27 (54.0%) patients and AUB in 18 (36.0%) patients. Out of 50, 10 (20.0%) patients had a previous cesarean section, and 4 (8.0%) had a bilateral tubal ligation (BTL). Mean surgery duration was 124.26±44.74 minutes. Mean hospital stay was 2.18±0.39 days. Total complications occurred in five (10.0%) patients, ureteric injury in one (2.0%) patient, port-site infections in 2 (4.0%), and vault infections in 2 (4.0%) patients.

Conclusion

TLH is a safe procedure and can be performed with minimal complications in patients with benign uterine etiology.

Incidence of unexpected uterine malignancies after electromechanical power morcellation: a retrospective multicenter analysis in Germany

PURPOSE

During the last decade, electromechanical power morcellation (EMM) was more frequently used but it may be associated with the dissemination of occult malignancies. The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency of unexpected uterine malignancies after EMM.

METHODS

This retrospective study consisted of patients who were treated at three departments of Gynecology in Germany from 2008 to 2017. We identified women who underwent an operation with the use of EMM. Clinical records, risk factors, and the outcomes of the patients were reviewed.

RESULTS

We performed an analysis of 1683 patients who had undergone laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LASH), total hysterectomy, or myomectomy (LM) (48.6%, 8.4%, and 43.0%, respectively). Unexpected malignancies were detected in 4 of 1683 patients (0.24%). In all cases, the malignancy proved to be a sarcoma and was detected after LASH. All patients with occult sarcomas were older than 45 years and the most common (75%) risk factor was the appearance of a solitary tumor. The patients underwent secondary laparotomy for complete oncological staging, and no histological dissemination of the sarcoma was registered. Two patients had a recurrence. At the final follow-up investigation all four patients were in good general health.

CONCLUSION

Occult malignancies are liable to spread after EMM, although the overall risk of being diagnosed with an occult malignancy and the risk of dissemination appear to be low. Once the preoperative diagnostic investigation has yielded no suspicious findings, laparoscopic morcellation may be considered a safe method, especially LM in patients of reproductive age.

Laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy compared with second-generation endometrial ablation for heavy menstrual bleeding: the HEALTH RCT

BACKGROUND

Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is a common problem that affects many British women. When initial medical treatment is unsuccessful, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends surgical options such as endometrial ablation (EA) or hysterectomy. Although clinically and economically more effective than EA, total hysterectomy necessitates a longer hospital stay and is associated with slower recovery and a higher risk of complications. Improvements in endoscopic equipment and training have made laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LASH) accessible to most gynaecologists. This operation could preserve the advantages of total hysterectomy and reduce the risk of complications.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of LASH with second-generation EA in women with HMB.

DESIGN

A parallel-group, multicentre, randomised controlled trial. Allocation was by remote web-based randomisation (1 : 1 ratio). Surgeons and participants were not blinded to the allocated procedure.

SETTING

Thirty-one UK secondary and tertiary hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS

Women aged < 50 years with HMB. Exclusion criteria included plans to conceive; endometrial atypia; abnormal cytology; uterine cavity size > 11 cm; any fibroids > 3 cm; contraindications to laparoscopic surgery; previous EA; and inability to give informed consent or complete trial paperwork.

INTERVENTIONS

LASH compared with second-generation EA.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Co-primary clinical outcome measures were (1) patient satisfaction and (2) Menorrhagia Multi-Attribute Quality-of-Life Scale (MMAS) score at 15 months post randomisation. The primary economic outcome was incremental cost (NHS perspective) per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained.

RESULTS

A total of 330 participants were randomised to each group (total n = 660). Women randomised to LASH were more likely to be satisfied with their treatment than those randomised to EA (97.1% vs. 87.1%) [adjusted difference in proportions 0.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.05 to 0.15; adjusted odds ratio (OR) from ordinal logistic regression (OLR) 2.53, 95% CI 1.83 to 3.48; p < 0.001]. Women randomised to LASH were also more likely to have the best possible MMAS score of 100 (68.7% vs. 54.5%) (adjusted difference in proportions 0.13, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.23; adjusted OR from OLR 1.87, 95% CI 1.31 to 2.67; p = 0.001). Serious adverse event rates were low and similar in both groups (4.5% vs. 3.6%). There was a significant difference in adjusted mean costs between LASH (£2886) and EA (£1282) at 15 months, but no significant difference in QALYs. Based on an extrapolation of expected differences in cost and QALYs out to 10 years, LASH cost an additional £1362 for an average QALY gain of 0.11, equating to an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of £12,314 per QALY. Probabilities of cost-effectiveness were 53%, 71% and 80% at cost-effectiveness thresholds of £13,000, £20,000 and £30,000 per QALY gained, respectively.

LIMITATIONS

Follow-up data beyond 15 months post randomisation are not available to inform cost-effectiveness.

CONCLUSION

LASH is superior to EA in terms of clinical effectiveness. EA is less costly in the short term, but expected higher retreatment rates mean that LASH could be considered cost-effective by 10 years post procedure.

FUTURE WORK

Retreatment rates, satisfaction and quality-of-life scores at 10-year follow-up will help to inform long-term cost-effectiveness.

TRIAI REGISTRATION

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN49013893.

FUNDING

This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 23, No. 53. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Impact of different intraoperative CO2 pressure levels (8 and 15 mmHg) during laparoscopic hysterectomy performed due to benign uterine pathologies on postoperative pain and arterial pCO2 : a prospective randomised controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effects of two different intraoperative CO₂ pressures (8 and 15 mmHg) during laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign uterine pathologies in terms of postoperative abdominal and shoulder pain, laparoscopy-mediated vegetative alterations, pain medication requirement, arterial CO₂ pressure (pCO₂ ), surgical parameters, and safety.

DESIGN

Prospective randomised controlled study.

SETTING

German university hospital.

POPULATION

Female patients undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign uterine pathologies.

METHODS

Patients were randomised to a standard pressure (SP; 15 mmHg, control) or low-pressure (LP; 8 mmHg, experimental) group.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary outcomes were postoperative abdominal and shoulder pain intensities, measured via numeric rating scale (NRS) and vegetative parameters (fatigue, nausea, vomiting, bloating) at 3, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were pain medication requirement (mg) and arterial pCO₂ (mmHg). Surgical parameters and intra- and postoperative complications were also recorded.

RESULTS

In total, 178 patients were included. Patients in the LP group (n = 91) showed significantly lower postoperative abdominal and shoulder pain scores, fewer vegetative alterations, lower pain medication requirements, a shorter postoperative hospitalization, and lower intra- and postoperative arterial pCO₂ values compared with the SP group (n = 87; P ≤ 0.01). No differences in intra- and postoperative complications were observed between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Low-pressure laparoscopy seems to be an effective and safe technique for the reduction of postoperative pain and laparoscopy-induced metabolic and vegetative alterations following laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign indications.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Low-pressure laparoscopy seems to be an effective and safe technique for reduction of pain following laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy and Laparoscopic Total Hysterectomy in Patients with Very Large Uteri: a Retrospective Single-Center Experience at a Major University Hospital

Objective The main objectives of our study were to demonstrate that laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH) or total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) can be performed safely even in patients with a uterine weight ≥ 500 g, to analyze the rate of conversions to laparotomy due to uterine size and to estimate the incidence and type of intraoperative and long-term postoperative complications. Study Design Retrospective open, single-center, comparative interventional study of LSH and TLH. Results The present study comprised a total of 138 patients that underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy with a uterine weight ≥ 500 g; 109 patients (79.0 %) underwent LSH and 29 patients (21.0 %) underwent TLH. Median uterine weight across the entire cohort was 602 g, with the largest uterus weighing 1860 g. A total of 24 cases (17.4 %) among the 138 hysterectomies were converted to a laparotomy due to lack of adequate intraabdominal space and size of the uterus. Mean uterine weight of the patients in the LSH group that underwent conversion was 883 g (SD 380 g, n = 13) and 757 g (SD 371 g, n = 11) in the TLH group. The rate of conversion to laparotomy due to the uterine weight was significantly lower in the LSH group (11.9 %) compared to the TLH group (37.9 %) (p = 0.002). Intraoperative complications requiring laparotomy for other reasons but uterine size occurred in 6 patients of the study cohort (6/138; 4.3 %). Long-term postoperative complications occurred in 2 patients (2/138, 1.4 %), both patients from LSH group had to be re-operated on due to adhesions. Conclusions Our study adds further insight in the limited data set of laparoscopic hysterectomy for increased uterine weight and shows that LSH and TLH are safe and feasible even in patients with very large uteri (≥ 500 g).

The conservative and interventional treatment of fibroids

BACKGROUND

Fibroids are the most common benign tumors in women. One-third of all women of reproductive age undergo treatment for symptomatic fibroids. In recent years, the spectrum of available treatments has been widened by the introduction of new drugs and interventional procedures.

METHODS

Selective literature review on the treatment of uterine fibroids, including consideration of several Cochrane Reviews.

RESULTS

Fibroids can be treated with drugs, interventional procedures (uterine artery embolization [UAE] and focused ultrasound treatment [FUS]), and surgery. The evidence regarding the various available treatments is mixed. All methods improve symptoms, but only a few comparative studies have been performed. A meta-analysis revealed that recovery within 15 days is more common after laparoscopic enucleation than after open surgery (odds ratio [OR], 3.2). A minimally invasive hysterectomy, or one performed by the vaginal route, is associated with a shorter hospital stay and a more rapid recovery than open transabdominal hysterectomy. UAE is an alternative to hysterectomy for selected patients. The re-intervention rates after fibroid enucleation, hysterectomy, and UAE are 8.9-9%, 1.8-10.7%, and 7-34.6%, respectively. The main drugs used to treat fibroids are gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs and selective progesterone receptor modulators.

CONCLUSION

Multiple treatment options are available and enable individualized therapy for symptomatic fibroids. The most important considerations in the choice of treatment are the question of family planning and, in some cases, the technical limitations of the treatments themselves.

Cervical Detachment Using Monopolar SupraLoop™ Electrode versus Monopolar Needle in Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy (LSH): An Interventional, Comparative Cohort Study

Objective: Currently available monopolar loop electrodes are difficult to handle in laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH) and are entirely disposable devices, generating additional operating costs. The aim of this interventional study was the comparison of the efficiency and safety of cervical detachment with a newly developed monopolar loop electrode (SupraLoop™) with a conventional method of cervical detachment in LSH. Material and Methods: Our study sample included 1598 patients; 1070 patients that underwent LSH with cervical detachment using the monopolar SupraLoop™ (study group) and 528 patients that underwent LSH with cervical detachment using the monopolar needle (control group). We also assessed cervical detachment time and total device application and cutting time in a subgroup of 49 patients (23 patients from the study group and 26 patients from the control group). Results: Total operation time for LSH was significantly shorter among SupraLoop™ patients (93 ± 41 minutes) when compared to patients in whom cervical detachment was performed with the needle (105 ± 44 minutes) (p < 0.001). Cervical detachment time and total device application including cutting time was significantly shorter for the SupraLoop™ group (SupraLoop vs. needle; 0.12 ± 0.21 min vs. 5.1 ± 4.4 min [p < 0.001]; 2.3 ± 1.8 min vs. 5.4 ± 2.4 min [p < 0.001]). There were no major or minor complications directly related to the use of the SupraLoop™ device, whereas two intraoperative complications were directly related to the application of the monopolar needle. Conclusion: The newly developed monopolar loop electrode (SupraLoop™) is both an effective and safe instrument for cervical detachment in laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy, and performed better than the needle, offering a significantly shorter operating time and less complications for the hysterectomy compared to the conventional method.

Laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH) versus total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH): an implementation study in 1,952 patients with an analysis of risk factors for conversion to laparotomy and complications, and of procedure-specific re-operations

PURPOSE

To compare laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH) with total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) with regard to relevant surgical parameters and risk factors of conversion to laparotomy and complications.

METHODS

This prospective, open, single-center, interventional study included women with benign gynecologic disease who underwent standardized LSH or TLH. The techniques were compared for conversion rate and mean operating time, hemoglobin drop, hospital stay, and complication rates using descriptive statistics and standard non-parametric statistical tests. Risk factors of conversion and complications were identified by logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

During January 2003 to December 2010, 1,952 women [mean age (SD): 47.5 (7.2) years] underwent LSH [1,658 (84.9%)] or TLH [294 (15.1%)], mostly (>70%) for uterine fibroids. Significant differences in surgical parameters were observed for conversion rate (LSH/TLH: 2.6/6.5%), mean operating time [87 (34)/103 (36) min], hemoglobin drop [1.3 (0.8)/1.6 (1.0) g/dL], and hospital stay [4.3 (1.5)/4.9 (2.8) days]. Overall intraoperative (0.2/0.7%) and long-term (>6 weeks) post-operative (0.8/1.7%) complication rates did not differ significantly, but the short-term LSH complication rate was significantly lower (0.6 vs. 4.8%). Spotting (LSH, 0.2%) and vaginal cuff dehiscence (TLH, 0.7%) were long-term method-specific complications. Logistic regression showed that uterine weight and extensive adhesiolysis were significant factors for conversion while previous surgery, age, and BMI were not. Major risk factors of short-term complications were age, procedure (LSH/TLH), and extensive adhesions.

CONCLUSIONS

Both procedures proved effective and were well tolerated. LSH performed better than TLH regarding most outcome measures. LSH is associated with very low rates of re-operation and spotting.