LAPAROSCOPICALLY ASSISTED VAGINAL HYSTERECTOMY - SINGLE-SURGEON TECHNIQUE WITH MINIMAL ASSISTANCE

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively evaluate parameters of surgical outcome of a novel technique of laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy p erformed by a single surgeon with minimal surgical help from an inexpe rienced assistant. STUDY DESIGN: Four women who had indications for hy sterectomy but relative contraindications to the strictly vaginal appr oach were consecutively entered into the study. The hysterectomy was a ccomplished with the Endo GIA 30, O'Connor-O'Sullivan self-retaining v aginal retractor, the ligature vaginal hysterectomy technique and one surgical assistant. RESULTS: The average operative time was 133 minute s (range, 105-167). Blood loss averaged 288 mL (range, 150-350). The a verage length of hospitalization was 62 hours (range, 36-72). The aver age time of convalescence was two weeks (range, one to three). CONCLUS ION: Preliminary results from a series of four patients suggest that t his procedure may be a viable and safe alternative for the single surg eon.