Oxytocin infusion in laparoscopic myomectomy may decrease operative blood loss.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the influence of oxytocin on operative blood loss during laparoscopic myomectomy (LM).

DESIGN

Prospective clinical study (Canadian Task Force classification I).

SETTING

Tertiary care university hospital.

PATIENTS

Sixty women scheduled for myomectomy because of symptomatic uterine myomas.

INTERVENTION

Two ampules of oxytocin (10 u/mL/amp) were added to 1000 mL of saline solution running at the rate of 40 mU/min during the course of LM.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Blood loss and blood transfusion rate were significantly greater in the group without oxytocin infusion (group B) than in the group with oxytocin infusion (group A), with 445.0 +/- 268.6 mL (95% CI 344.7-545.3) versus 269.5 +/- 225.8 mL (95% CI 185.2-353.8)/(p <.05), and 36.7% versus 6.7% (p <.05), respectively. There was no significant difference in average age, body weight, or numbers of vaginal delivery and cesarean sections between the 2 groups. There was no significant difference in mean total myoma weight, main myoma size, postoperative stay, and complications between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSION

Oxytocin infusion combined with skillful surgical techniques may decrease operative blood loss and blood transfusion during LM.