Gasless laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy during pregnancy: Comparison with laparotomy

OBJECTIVE: The efficacy and safety of gasless laparoscopic ovarian cystecto my during pregnancy were compared with those of conventional laparotomy. STUDY DESIGN: Subjects for the 2 study groups were selected from consecutiv e patients who satisfied all entrance criteria. Seventeen women who underwe nt gasless laparoscopic cystectomy were compared with 18 women who underwen t cystectomy by laparotomy. The intraoperative and postoperative courses, p regnancy outcomes, and complications were compared. RESULTS: The patients' ages, body mass indexes, mean cyst diameters, fetal gestational ages, and types of cysts did not differ significantly between t he two groups. Blood loss, analgesic use, and need for tocolytic agents wer e significantly less in the laparoscopy group than in the laparotomy group. No abortions or preterm deliveries occurred in the laparoscopy group, wher eas 1 abortion was recorded in the laparotomy group. CONCLUSION: Gasless laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy offers significant adva ntages with respect to laparotomy for the pregnant patient.