MORBIDITY ASSOCIATED WITH ABDOMINAL MYOMECTOMY

Objective: To review the recent experience at Yale-New Haven Hospital with abdominal myomectomy and to assess morbidity associated with the procedure. Methods: The hospital records of 128 women who underwent ab dominal myomectomies during a 39-month period were reviewed retrospect ively. Particular attention was given to blood transfusion requirement and the febrile morbidity rate. Results: The average (+/- standard er ror of the mean) intraoperative estimated blood loss was 342 +/- 37 mL . Five cases (4%) had an estimated blood loss greater than 1000 mL. In traoperative or postoperative transfusion occurred in 26 cases (20%); 70% of the transfused patients received autologous blood only. The ope ration was converted intraoperatively to a hysterectomy in one case. T here were no other intraoperative complications. Febrile morbidity occ urred in 15 patients (12%). Three women (2%) experienced postoperative complications including paralytic ileus, wound infection, and deep ve nous thrombosis. Conclusion: Febrile morbidity and blood transfusions associated with abdominal myomectomy appear to occur at an acceptably low rate, especially when unnecessary blood transfusions are excluded. These findings should modify the way patients are counseled before ab dominal myomectomy.