title: Vaginal myomectomy is a safe and feasible procedure: a retrospective study of 46 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to establish the feasibility and safety of vaginal myomectomy via posterior colpotomy in a series of consecutive procedures performed by one surgeon.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective study in a tertiary care university hospital, involving 46 patients with symptomatic myomas and uteruses smaller than 16 gestational weeks and with no signs of pelvic disease. After a presurgical study, the patients underwent vaginal myomectomy. Characteristics of patients, position and size of myomas, operative data, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four women underwent vaginal myomectomy and conversion to laparotomy was required in two cases (4.3%). Two patients suffered from infertility and one of these achieved pregnancy after the procedure. The median size of myomas was 50 mm (range 16-81). In two cases a culdoscopy was performed with a flexible fiberoptic gastroscope to better evaluate size and localization of myomas. Thirty-two patients underwent vaginal myomectomy under general anesthesia and 12 under locoregional anesthesia. The median vaginal operating time was 70 min (range 30-120). The estimated hemoglobin loss was 0.70 g/dL (range 0.40-3.35 g/dL). No severe intraoperative complications occurred. The median duration of hospital stay was 1 day (range 1-6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vaginal myomectomy is a safe and feasible surgical procedure if performed by a well-trained, experienced surgeon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ospedale Civile, Asiago, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rolli
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Favilli
authors.forename: Marta Maddalena
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Acanfora
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scuderi
authors.forename: Gian Carlo
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Di Renzo
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gerli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020884:Colpotomy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D063186:Uterine Myomectomy / Q000379:methods*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D014621:Vagina / Q000601:surgery*