A COHORT STUDY COMPARING LAPAROSCOPIC-ASSISTED VAGINAL HYSTERECTOMY AND EXTRAFASCIAL HYSTERECTOMY

Study Objective. To compare extrafascial hysterectomy (TAH) and laparo scopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH). Design. Consecutive women scheduled for hysterectomy, who entered one group or the other based on personal preference. Setting. A university-affiliate women's hospit al. Patients. Thirty-seven women with benign gynecologic pathology. In terventions. Eighteen underwent TAH and 19 had LAVH. All were followed for 6 months postoperatively. Measurements and Main Results. The dura tion of LAVH was significantly longer than that of TAH; estimated bloo d loss was significantly higher for TAH; and the duration of use of na rcotic analgesics, length of hospital stay, and length of time to resu mption of routine working activity were significantly shorter after LA VH. No difference was found in the two groups with respect to Q-Tip te st preoperatively and 6 months after surgery. Conclusions. We believe LAVH is a valid and safe alternative to TAH in selected patients. The two procedures do not alter the mobility of the bladder neck on short- term follow-up. Additional prospective studies are necessary to confir m our data.