title: Minimally invasive vaginal hysterectomy using bipolar vessel sealing: preliminary experience with 500 cases.
abstract: The objective of our study was to evaluate surgical outcome of minimally invasive vaginal hysterectomy (MIVH), using the bipolar vessel sealing system (BVSS; BiClamp®). The design was a retrospective analysis (Canadian Task-force Classification II-3). The setting was a secondary care hospital. Records of patients who underwent vaginal hysterectomy for benign indications in our centre between November 2005 and March 2011 were reviewed. The demographic patients' data, indications for surgery, patient history with regard to previous surgery, duration of surgery, blood loss (postoperative hemoglobin drop '∆Hb'), perioperative complications, and length of inpatient stay were collected from the medical records. The intervention was vaginal hysterectomy using BVSS (BiClamp®). Results showed that the mean duration of surgery was 48.9 ± 15.3 min (95% CI, 49.2-52.5). The mean duration of hospital stay was 3.2 ± 1.2 days (95% CI, 2.8-3.2). The mean ∆Hb was 1.4 ± 1.8 g/dl. Overall, conversion to laparotomy was required in three cases (0.6%). Only one haemoperitoneum occurred (0.2%) and this is the only case who required blood transfusion. The main indication for VH was uterine prolapse in 52.0% (n = 260) of cases; uterine fibroids in 37.4% (n = 187); adenomyosis uteri in 4.2% (n = 21); cervical dysplasia in 22 patients (4.4%) and in 2% (n = 10) of patients, endometrial hyperplasia and other pathologies were the indications for VH. It was concluded that electrosurgical bipolar vessel sealing by (BiClamp®) can provide a safe and feasible alternative to sutures in vaginal hysterectomy, resulting in reduced operative time and blood loss, with acceptable surgical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, New Civil Hospital of Sassuolo, Italy. g.ghirardini@ospedalesassuolo.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ghirardini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bartolamasi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malmusi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dalla Vecchia
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Algeri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zanni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Renzi
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cavicchioni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Braconi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pazzoni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alboni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control; D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007045:Hysterectomy, Vaginal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies