Comparative study of laparoscopic oophorectomy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine the differences between laparoscopic oophorectomies and oophorectomies performed by laparotomy with respect to total hospital cost, length of hospital stay, and operative time.

DESIGN

A prospective analysis of all women who underwent one of these procedures from January 1, 1992, to December 31, 1992.

SETTING

A university-affiliated hospital.

PATIENTS

Fifty-seven women requiring surgery for the management of pelvic pain, adnexal masses, or endometriosis.

INTERVENTIONS

Twenty-six women underwent laparoscopic surgery and 31 had laparotomy.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The results for laparoscopy and laparotomy, respectively, were as follows: mean hospital cost $6139 versus $7053 (p = 0.02); hospital stay 1.07 versus 3.87 days (p = 0. 00); and mean operative time 175.23 versus 136.94 minutes (p = 0. 003). No woman had a serious complication, and none in the laparoscopy group required a laparotomy.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic oophorectomy is a safe, highly successful, and cost-effective procedure, although it is associated with a longer operative time than laparotomy.