title: Gasless laparoscopic hysterectomy: a comparative study with total abdominal hysterectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the short-term results of gasless laparoscopic hysterectomy (GLH) compared to total abdominal hysterectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comparative study of GLH using an abdominal wall-lifting device (n = 31) and total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) (n = 31) was carried out between July 1999 and July 2001.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One patient (3.2%) in the GLH group required conversion to TAH. The operative time was 168 +/- 38 min and 112 +/- 29 min (P < 0.001) for the GLH and TAH groups, respectively. Gasless laparoscopic hysterectomy cases had a shorter hospital stay and convalescent period (2.6 +/- 0.9 days vs 5.0 +/- 1.3 days, P < 0.001 and 8.0 +/- 3.0 days vs 15.8 +/- 2.4 days, P < 0.001, respectively). Postoperative meperidine use and estimated blood loss were lower for GLH (P < 0.001). Complications were comparable in the two groups. Hospital charges were 8.5% higher for GLH (P = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gasless laparoscopic hysterectomy may be an alternative technique for hysterectomy which provides laparoscopic benefit with minimal increase in hospital charges.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkla, Thailand. thatern@ratree.psu.ac.th
authors.forename: Hatern
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tintara
authors.forename: Thanapan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Choobun
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geater
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D005260:Female; D017722:Hospital Charges; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D007902:Length of Stay; D008614:Meperidine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D013785:Thailand
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D008614:Meperidine