Puls L E, Henderson R C
Texas Technical University Health Sciences Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amarillo 79106, USA.
Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 1995 Apr;74(4):307-9. doi: 10.3109/00016349509024455.
Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomies have been done with increasing frequency in the United States. To date, minimal complications have been noted with this procedure. The authors review a series of 90 individuals and note a three percent small bowel obstruction rate. This complication is more common in this group of patients than in patients having a standard abdominal hysterectomy. Since this operation has been commonly performed, it is often possible to convert an abdominal hysterectomy to a vaginal approach, this increase in complications is exceedingly high. The authors recommend closure of lateral abdominal wall port sites under direct laparoscopic visualization to prevent this serious complication.
