LAPAROSCOPIC REMOVAL OF GONADS IN WOMEN WITH ABNORMAL KARYOTYPES

The objective of this study was to evaluate if laparoscopy can be an a cceptable alternative to laparotomy for gonadectomy in women with gona dal dysgenesis (46,XY karyotype or 45,X karyotype with evidence of hyp erandrogenism). We retrospectively analyzed five cases of gonadal dysg enesis that were managed by laparoscopic gonadectomy, All five patient s underwent laparoscopic gonadectomy performed at a day surgery unit o f a university medical center without any complications and were disch arged the same day. The average operative time was 72 minutes (range, 35-95), the average blood loss was 20 mL, and the average cost was $4, 380. We conclude that laparoscopic gonadectomy is a safe, effective an d economical procedure to perform on patients with Y chromosomes or ev idence of abnormal gonads. Laparoscopy should be accepted as the treat ment of choice in these patients by physicians experienced in pelvisco pic surgery.