Total laparoscopic hysterectomy: body mass index and outcomes

This retrospective review of patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy examines whether differences in outcomes exist on the basis of body mass index (BMI).

All cases of total laparoscopic hysterectomy performed from September 1996 to July 2002 for benign diagnoses, and microinvasive cervical, early endometrial, and occult ovarian carcinoma were reviewed. There were 330 patients analyzed by BMI category (range, 18.5-54.1): ideal (n = 150) less than 24.9 kg/m(2), overweight (n = 95) 25 to 29.9 kg/m(2), and obese (n = 78) 30 kg/m(2) or more. Seven patients were converted to laparotomy (four ideal BMI, two overweight, one obese) leaving 323 (98%) for analysis. Mean age (50 years), height (65 in.), and parity (1.2) were similar, with 39% nulligravidas in each group.

Mean operating time (156 minutes), blood loss (160 mL), and length of hospital stay (1.9 days) did not vary by BMI group. Total complication rates (8.9%), and major (5.5%) and minor (3.4%) complication rates were similar in each BMI group. Urologic injury was observed in 3.1%, with two-thirds occurring in the first one-third of the patient series.

Total laparoscopic hysterectomy is feasible and safe, resulting in short hospital stay, minimal blood loss, and minimal operating time for patients in all BMI groups. The laparoscopic approach may extend the benefits of minimally invasive hysterectomy to the very obese, for whom abdominal surgery poses serious risk.