Laparoscopically-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH)--an alternative to abdominal hysterectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To study the outcomes of 42 consecutive patients who were scheduled for a laparoscopically-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) between I January 1994 to 31 December 1999.


METHODS
Retrospective study


RESULTS
Two patients required conversion to an abdominal hysterectomy. The range of uteri removed was from six to 16 weeks' size. Menorrhagia was the commonest presenting complaint and uterine fibroids was the commonest diagnosis. The mean duration of surgery (+/- SD) was 131.0 +/- 31.7 minutes. Mean blood loss (+/- SD) was estimated at 417 +/- 169 mls. Six percent of patients required a perioperative blood transfusion. Fifty-five percent of patients did not require any injectable analgesics and 45% were able to ambulate on the day of surgery. The mean duration of hospital stay (+/- SD) was 4.2 +/- 2.3 days;The commonest complication was post-operative fever.


CONCLUSIONS
LAVH patients have a quick postoperative recovery with less pain at the expense of a long duration of surgery. LAVH is a feasible option in a selected group of patients who would otherwise require an abdominal hysterectomy.
Devendra
K
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore. dharkan@singnet.com.sg
Tay
S K
SK
D000328:Adult; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007045:Hysterectomy, Vaginal / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000601:surgery; D007902:Length of Stay; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery