COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF LAPAROSCOPIC OOPHORECTOMY

Study Objective. To determine the differences between laparoscopic oop horectomies and oophorectomies performed by laparotomy with respect to total hospital cost, length of hospital stay, and operative time. Des ign. A prospective analysis of all women who underwent one of these pr ocedures from January 1, 1992, to December 31, 1992. Setting. A univer sity-affiliate 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 laparos copy 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 775.23 versus 736.94 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.