Pilot study assessing robotic laparoscopic hysterectomy and patient outcomes.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To examine the operative variables and complications associated with robotic-assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy.

DESIGN

Canadian Task Force classification II-1.

SETTING

Gynecology service affiliated with a major cancer center in Southern California.

PATIENTS

Twenty women with a benign gynecologic condition.

INTERVENTION

Robotic-assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patient status was evaluated in terms of operative morbidity, length of surgery, anesthesia time, estimated blood loss, and hospital stay.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Mean operative time was 3.2 hours, and anesthesia time was 4 hours. Mean estimated blood loss was 81 mL, and patient postoperative hospital stay was 2 days. The complication rate in this study was low. The surgical procedure was converted to a laparotomy and abdominal hysterectomy in two patients because of poor visualization during robotic-assisted surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

While the number of patients and nonrandomized nature of this single-institution experience are insufficient to draw any definitive conclusions regarding potential treatment efficacy, the patient postoperative stay and low complication rates suggest that this procedure is feasible and promising. Additional study comparing the efficacy and cost of robotic laparoscopic hysterectomy with standard laparoscopic hysterectomy with a larger patient population is warranted.