Nd:YAG laser laparoscopic coagulation of symptomatic myomas

The Nd:YAG laser dispersion effect, 2-5 mm in diameter, is utilized in a new laparoscopic procedure to coagulate and reduce symptomatic serosal and intramural myomas of moderate size (less than or equal to 10 cm). Depot leuprolide pretreatment for 2-6 months resulted in 40-60% shrinkage. Seventy-five patients 35-50 years old with symptomatic myomas, pain and pressure then underwent Nd:YAG laser coagulation for thorough devascularization of uterine myomas. Postoperative transvaginal ultrasound one, three and six months later showed the myomas reduced an average of 50-70% beyond the effect attributable to leuprolide. In two groups of patients whose myomas measured 5-10 cm and 3-5 cm after leuprolide pretreatment, laser coagulation subsequently reduced the myomas an average of 50%. In patients with postleuprolide myomas of 2-3 cm, virtually no myomas were identified postoperatively. The patients were followed up to 14 months. This laparoscopic procedure can be used in patients approaching menopause who wish to avoid abdominal myomectomy or hysterectomy.