Patients' satisfaction with laparoscopic myomectomy.
BACKGROUND
Laparoscopic myomectomy offers a uterus-conserving alternative to hysterectomy for patients suffering from symptomatic myomas. The following study aimed to examine clinically relevant aspects of perceived satisfaction following laparoscopic myomectomy.


METHODS
191 women completed a 17-item questionnaire on retrospective satisfaction with their choice for the operation and with the surgical outcome (e.g., "all myomas were removed", "termination of discomfort"). A comparison was performed using questionnaire data, patients' demographical data and surgical records (e.g., duration of surgery).


RESULTS
Women who trusted in their decision for the surgical procedure revealed better surgical outcome and greater satisfaction with the treatment process than those who were insecure with their choice. Age did not influence the patients' perceived satisfaction. In anticipation of the surgical outcome, patients placed stronger emphasis on tissue preservation than on their wish for a child or on the termination of discomfort.


CONCLUSIONS
The high overall level of satisfaction and positive outcome in various age groups contradicts current recommendations against laparoscopic myomectomy for women over 40 years of age.
Berger
U
U
Institute for Medical Psychology, Clinic of the Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany. uwe.berger@uni-jena.de
Altgassen
C
C
Kuss
S
S
Schneider
A
A
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D009214:Myoma / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*