title: Vaginal myomectomy using posterior colpotomy: feasibility in normal practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Myomectomy is classically performed via laparotomy. Endoscopic surgery is limited for some indications. Vaginal myomectomy is a surgical procedure that has recently been evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, reproducibility and complication rate of vaginal myomectomy via posterior colpotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was performed from November 1998 to February 2001 in three departments of gynaecology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-five patients were involved, 17 (37.8%) of whom underwent laparoscopy before vaginal myomectomy for evaluation or treatment of a second pelvic disorder. Myomectomy was performed vaginally in 40 (89%) of the 45 patients. Peroperative laparotomy was required in five patients (11%), either because vaginal myomectomy proved impossible (four cases) or because of rectal injury (one case). One patient needed supplementary laparotomy on day 8 for the treatment of a pelvic abscess.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Posterior vaginal myomectomy seems to be a feasible and reproducible surgical procedure. The success rate of vaginal myomectomy in this study was over 80%. Further randomised studies are needed to compare this procedure with laparotomy and laparoscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology B, La Conception Hospital, 147 Boulevard Baille, 13385 Marseille Cedex 05, France. aagostini@mail.ap-hm.fr
authors.forename: Aubert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agostini
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Deval
authors.forename: Anka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Birsan
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ronda
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bretelle
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Roger
authors.forename: Ludovic
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cravello
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Madelenat
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Blanc
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020884:Colpotomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009215:Myometrium / Q000601:surgery*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D014621:Vagina / Q000601:surgery*