title: Laparoscopic myomectomy in peri- and post-menopausal women is safe, efficacious and associated with long-term patient satisfaction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Women in the peri- and post-menopause may ask for uterus-preserving therapy options when presenting with benign uterine disorders such as symptomatic fibroids. Laparoscopic myomectomy (LM) for patients in the peri- and post-menopause as a surgical alternative to hysterectomy is widely considered to be non-standard treatment. The aim of this study was to analyze safety and outcome of LM beyond the reproductive period.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the surgical outcome and patient satisfaction for a total of 451 patients: 85 peri- or post-menopausal women as group A and, for reference, 366 premenopausal women in group B, who received LM from 1998 to 2008 in our department. We analyzed data from our medical records and applied a patient questionnaire in September 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average number of fibroids removed and size of the leading fibroid were similar in both groups. Time of surgery was different in group A, at 102.8 min, compared to group B, 128.6 min (p<0.01). Rates of intra- (2.21% overall) and post-operative complications (6.22% overall) were comparable for both groups. Post-surgical hospitalization was shorter in group B (4.4 days) compared to group A (5.0 days) (p<0.01). Evaluation of the questionnaire showed high satisfaction with the results of LM in both subgroups with a significantly lower number of relapses in group A (3.5%) compared to group B (11.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic myomectomy as a surgical treatment option in the peri- and post-menopause was characterized by a low rate of complications and relapses as well as a high degree of patient satisfaction in our analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Jena University Hospital, Bachstrasse 18, 07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Marc P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Radosa
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Winzer
authors.forename: Anke R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mothes
authors.forename: Oumar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Camara
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Diebolder
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weisheit
authors.forename: Ingo B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Runnebaum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009215:Myometrium / Q000601:surgery; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D047648:Perimenopause; D017698:Postmenopause; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*