Perioperative complications in conventional and microsurgical abdominal myomectomy

It has become evident that laparoscopic myomectomy is limited by size, number and location of fibroids. Myomectomy performed by laparotomy can be technically challenging and the surgical benefits have to be weighed against associated risks and impairing fertile potential, especially in multiple and large fibroids that may be positioned close to the cavity. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of microsurgical myomectomy technique on perioperative morbidity in premenopausal women.

This retrospective study included 228 patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids and/or infertility undergoing myomectomy by laparotomy. As much as 156 patients were treated by standardized microsurgical technique and 72 patients by conventional myomectomy. The following data were recorded and analysed: postoperative haemoglobin, haemoglobin decrease, rate of blood transfusion, and number, size and location of myomas.

In 228 patients, seven complications occurred (abdominal wall haematoma, bowel and colon injury, transient ileus). The transfusion rate was 1.3%. Microsurgical technique was associated with a smaller haemoglobin decrease compared to conventional myomectomy (1.77 vs. 2.38 g/dl; P = 0.007). Microsurgical technique correlated inversely with haemoglobin decrease (P < 0.001). Haemoglobin decrease correlated positively with myoma number (P < 0.001), size of myoma (P < 0.001) and the opening of the cavum uteri (P = 0.014).

In this large series of abdominal myomectomies, procedure-related morbidity, mainly perioperative blood loss, was amongst the lowest reported when microsurgical techniques were used. In patients with multiple, large or deep intramural fibroids who desire future pregnancies, the use of microsurgical techniques may decrease intraoperative blood loss and perioperative morbidity.