Comparison of two procedures for laparovaginal hysterectomy: a randomized trial

To compare peroperative parameters of two variants of a laparovaginal hysterectomy in surgical management of gynecological conditions.

A prospective randomized study of 70 laparovaginal hysterectomies performed by the same two surgeons for disease of female pelvic organs. The following criteria were studied: indication for surgery, previous surgery, duration of the procedure, recovery, hospital stay, blood loss, tissue damage markers, hysterectomy proportions and complication incidence. Statistical analysis was performed using the non-parametric chi(2)-test and non-parametric Fischer's exact probability test when appropriate, with a level of significance P=0.05.

Totals of 38 (54.3%) laparoscopy-assisted vaginal and 31 (45.7%) vaginally assisted laparoscopic hysterectomies were performed for fibroma as the main indication. Conversion to laparotomy was applied in only one patient. The VALH group (P=0.01) showed both fewer procedures and shorter hospital stay with insignificant blood loss.

The two variants of a laparovaginal hysterectomy appear to be safe and appropriate, effective procedures for women with gynecological conditions. Furthermore, vaginally assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy has been shown to be superior to laparoscopy-assisted vaginal hysterectomy in terms of shorter operating time and greater palliative effect upon the complex of uterosacral ligaments. Laparoscopic surgery can alter the relationship between vaginal and abdominal hysterectomy.