1ST EXPERIENCES FROM LAPAROSCOPICALLY ASSISTED HYSTERECTOMY IN FINLAND IN 1992

The first laparoscopic hysterectomy in Finland was performed in Septem ber 1992. We report the experiences of the first eleven patients opera ted in the Turku and Helsinki University Central Hospitals in 1992. Th e hospital stay (mean 2.6 days) and the sick leave (mean 2 weeks) were markedly shorter than those of conventional open surgery for uterine removal but the operation time was longer (mean 3.4 hours). One patien t needed postoperative blood transfusion due to hemorrhage and one nee ded secondary surgical intervention due to bladder perforation unrespo nsive to conservative treatment. We look forward to more extensive use of this new technic as a competitive alternative to simple hysterecto my.