LAPAROSCOPIC TRACHELECTOMY FOR PERSISTENT PELVIC PAIN AND ENDOMETRIOSIS AFTER SUPRACERVICAL HYSTERECTOMY

Objectives: To discuss the safety of laparoscopic removal of the cervi cal stump after supracervical hysterectomy. Design: Retrospective revi ew of six cases. Setting: Center for Special Pelvic Surgery, a tertiar y referral center. Patient(s): Between August 1993 and December 1995, six patients underwent laparoscopic removal of the cervical stump. The ir mean age was 43.1 years (range 32 to 56 years). All women had pelvi c pain, and one had abnormal bleeding. Three patients had histories of severe endometriosis only, one had extensive endometriosis with adhes ions, one had severe adhesions and leiomyomas, and one had all three c onditions at hysterectomy. Intervention(s): Laparoscopic trachelectomy . Main Outcome Measure(s): Laparoscopic findings and intraoperative an d postoperative complications. Result(s): The mean blood loss was 100 mL (range 50 to 200 mL). There were no major intraoperative or postope rative complications. Conclusion(s): Cervical stump removal can be acc omplished laparoscopically by an experienced surgeon.