Myomectomy after selective preoperative treatment with a gonadotropin releasing hormone analog

In 1988 and 1989, 67 women (mean age, 36.7 years) underwent myomectomy to remove uterine fibroids; selection of the procedure was based on the presence of symptoms and the patient's desire to avoid hysterectomy. For 8 weeks before myomectomy, 48 patients with a uterine size greater than or equal to 16 weeks' gestation received the gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analog leuprolide acetate, 0.5 mg self-administered daily by subcutaneous injection or 3.75 mg as the depot form every 28 days by intramuscular injection; the remaining 19 patients were used for a comparison. In the leuprolide-treated patients, the mean uterine size and mean number of fibroids removed per patient were significantly higher, and the mean postoperative hemoglobin concentration was significantly lower than in the non-leuprolide-treated group. The mean estimated blood loss and mean length of hospital stay were equivalent for the two groups. Eight patients (12%), all but one in the leuprolide-treated group, developed postoperative complications, primarily infections that were treated successfully with antibiotics; one patient, the only one undergoing a repeat myomectomy, experienced pelvic hematoma, infection and pelvic thrombophlebitis. There were no significant adverse reactions attributable to leuprolide administration.