title: Complications of loop electrosurgical excision procedure for cervical neoplasia: a prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the complications following loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) for diagnosis and treatment of cervical neoplasia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive cross sectional study in patients with abnormal cervical cytology who underwent LEEP at Chiang Mai University Hospital between November 2004 and July 2005 were prospectively evaluated for complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study periods, 206 patients underwent cervical loop excision for a total of 226 procedures. The mean age of the patients was 41 years (range, 26-72 years). Sixty (29.1%) women were menopausal. The most common abnormal cervical cytology was HSIL (56.3%) followed by LSIL (12.1%). Twenty-five (11.1%) patients received re-excision for positive margin after the first procedure. Intraoperative hemorrhage occurred in 7.9% of the procedures. Early and late postoperative hemorrhage occurred in 0.4% and 2.6% of the procedures, respectively. Eight (3.5%) had postoperative infections and were cured with oral antibiotics. By logistic regression analysis, there was no significant correlation between age, menopausal status, HIV status, re-excision procedure, final histopathology, cone dimension and the complications of LEEP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Loop electrosurgical excision procedure is safe for evaluation and treatment of cervical neoplasia with an acceptable and manageable surgical morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. kiet_ji@hotmail.com
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kietpeerakool
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Srisomboon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khobjai
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chandacham
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tucksinsook
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D018307:Neoplasms, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*