title: Laparoscopic vs vaginal hysterectomy for benign pathology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to compare length of stay, blood loss, operative time, and pain of laparoscopic and vaginal hysterectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective, randomized, controlled comparison between vaginal (VH) and laparoscopic (LH) hysterectomy among 60 consecutive patients with a uterine volume of 300 mL or less and without uterine prolapse. Patients were followed up for 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The groups were significantly different for mean operative time (VH: 81 +/- 30 minutes; LH: 99 +/- 25 minutes; P = .033) and blood loss (LH: 83 +/- 57 mL; VH: 178 +/- 149 mL; P = .004). Bilateral adnexectomy was performed when preoperatively planned in 73% of cases of the vaginal arm, whereas it was always performed in the laparoscopic arm (P = .045). Postoperative pain on day 0 and the number of days of analgesic request were higher in the vaginal group (P = .023 and P = .017, respectively). LH was associated with a reduced hospital stay (LH: 2.7 +/- 0.5 days; VH: 3.2 +/- 0.6 days; P < .001).There were no differences between the groups at the follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic hysterectomy results in a shorter hospital stay, less blood loss, and less postoperative pain compared with vaginal hysterectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan School of Medicine, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Candiani
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Izzo
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bulfoni
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Riparini
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ronzoni
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marconi
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000379:methods*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D014621:Vagina