title: Mini laparotomy versus conventional laparotomy for abdominal hysterectomy: a comparative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Less traumatizing measures for hysterectomies are searched for to improve the recovery from surgery.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Comparison of minilaparotomy abdominal hysterectomy with conventional abdominal hysterectomy in respect to per-operative and post-operative outcome and complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a medical college hospital patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy were enrolled. It was a concomitant comparative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We are presenting our comparative data of 100 cases of minilaparotomy abdominal hysterectomy (group I, incision =< 6 cm) performed over last 4 years from January 1998 to December 2002 and comparing the outcome with 99 cases of abdominal hysterectomy (group II, incision > 6 cm) done by traditional method over the same duration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chi-square and Fischer test with significance of p value being taken at 0.05 were used for categorical data, while student's t test was used for continuous data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age and parity of patients were similar in the two groups. Incision was transverse in 100% cases in-group I and 22.2% cases in-group II. Estimated blood loss was significantly higher (354 ml) in group II in contrast to group I (240 ml). Blood transfusion was also required more commonly (22.2%) in-group II than in-group I (9%). Mean operative time was significantly more in-group II (90 minutes) than in group I (41 minutes). Mean hospital stay, day of mobility, starting oral diet and days of injectable analgesics required were higher in group II than in group I. Major complications were rare in both the groups, but minor complications were significantly higher in group II (40.4%) than in group I (26%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minilaparotomy abdominal hysterectomy appears to be an attractive alternative to traditional abdominal hysterectomy with fewer complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Maulana Azad Medical College Associated Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi - 110 002, India. jbsharma@eth.net
authors.forename: Jai Bhagwan
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wadhwa
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.forename: Raksha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arora
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000379:methods*; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D011183:Postoperative Complications