ABDOMINAL HYSTERECTOMY SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS A PRIMARY METHOD FOR UTERINE REMOVAL - A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED STUDY OF 100 PATIENTS REFERRED TO HYSTERECTOMY

Objective. The present study is a prospective randomized comparison of laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LH) with total abdomi nal hysterectomy (TAH). Methods. 100 patients referred for uterine rem oval were included in the study, 46 undergoing LH and 54 TAH, at two t eaching hospitals in Norway. Results. In the LH group, the duration of surgery was longer while duration of hospitalization and time from op eration to return to normal activity were shorter as compared to the T AH group. Postoperative pain, assessed by the need for analgesics, was less in the LH group. All these differences were statistically signif icant. There were two ureteral lesions in the LH group, and one center withdrew early from the study for this reason. Conclusions. In expert hands, LH as a primary method for uterine removal is superior to TAH.