A comparison of laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy and total abdominal hysterectomy outcomes.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To compare operative and postoperative results of laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH) and total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH).

DESIGN

Cohort retrospective analysis of consecutive patients (Canadian Task Force classification II-3).

SETTING

Department of gynecology at a metropolitan medical center.

PATIENTS

Two hundred-twenty women who underwent LSH with or without bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO). Two hundred-twenty women who underwent TAH with or without BSO. Both groups had similar surgical indications and final pathology.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Women who underwent LSH had a shorter operating time than those in the TAH group (47.7 +/- 14.6 min vs 74.9 +/- 25.6 min). Hospital stay was significantly shorter in the LSH group, and those patients returned to work sooner. The operative complication rate was higher in the TAH group (2.7% vs 0.9%). Postoperative complication rate for the TAH group was higher than the LSH group (25% vs zero).

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy is a safe and effective surgical treatment for patients in need of a hysterectomy with or without BSO. The procedure can be performed in an outpatient setting. Patients experience a much quicker recovery than those who undergo TAH, and the complication rate is significantly lower.