title: Comparison of cervical detachment using monopolar lap loop ligature and conventional methods in laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to evaluate a new electrosurgical instrument (Lap Loop device) that amputates the uterine corpus from the cervix during a laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH) and to compare the time required for cervical amputation with traditional methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  This comparative trial was conducted at the University of Louisville and Norton Healthcare Hospitals, Louisville, KY. The patients comprised 29 women scheduled for hysterectomy for benign conditions. All patients underwent laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy. The Lap Loop device was used in 17 patients to section the cervix. Conventional methods with either laparoscopic monopolar scissors or Harmonic scalpel were used in 12 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the control group, the mean cervical cutting time with laparoscopic scissors or Harmonic scalpel was 14.4 minutes. The mean time for the application of the loop electrode and cutting time was 6.6 minutes and was significantly shorter than the cutting time of conventional methods. Two minor complications (7.4% of cases) and one relatively major complication (3.7%), an incisional hernia, occurred in the study patients. None of the complications were related to the new device.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An electrosurgical loop decreased the time required for resection of the uterine cervix during LSH for benign uterine conditions. This device facilitates and increases the safety of this procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Women's Health, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA. paya@louisville.edu
authors.forename: Resad
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pasic
authors.forename: Allam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdelmonem
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Levine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000379:methods*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008026:Ligation / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors