title: Case-control study of laparoscopic versus abdominal myomectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare laparoscopic with abdominal approaches to myomectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Frequency matching was used to ensure similar fibroid weights among the laparoscopic and abdominal groups in this case-control study. The study group consisted of prospectively recruited patients undergoing laparoscopic (N = 5) or laparoscopically assisted (N = 20) myomectomy (lap). The control group represented both prospectively (N = 14) and retrospectively (N = 37) identified abdominal myomectomy patients (abd). Analysis of the variables was performed using a t-test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, chi-square test, or analysis of covariance at the 0.01 significance level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All results are reported after matching for fibroid weight, with the median (quartiles) aggregate weight measuring 151 g (31.0, 262.0) and 170.0 g (81.0, 285.0) for the lap and abd patients, respectively (P = 0.15). Median (quartiles) length of hospital stay (30.5 hours [25.0, 52.5] v 65.0 hours [45.0, 76.0]; P < 0.001) and duration of postoperative intravenous narcotic use (14.8 hours [3.0, 18.5] v 24.0 hours [18.0, 40.0]; P = 0.001) were significantly shorter for the lap patients. The laparoscopic cases required a longer median operative time (222.5 minutes [192.5, 270.0]) than the abdominal cases (180.0 minutes [160.0, 220.0]; P = 0.001). No difference was detected in estimated blood loss from surgery (P = 0.57).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A laparoscopic approach to myomectomy may be safely chosen for patients with fibroids and offers the benefits of less postoperative intravenous narcotic use, a shorter hospital stay, and no greater intraoperative blood loss than abdominal myomectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics and Minimally Invasive Surgery Center, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195, USA.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Falcone
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mascha
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lindsey
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stevens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007813:Laparotomy; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000601:surgery*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*