Comparison of robot-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy and traditional laparoscopic myomectomy

The benefit of robot-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy (RALM) over traditional laparoscopic myomectomy (TLM) remains undetermined. The aim of this study was to reveal any potential advantage of RALM over TLM.

Between June 2010 and October 2011, all women presenting with symptomatic uterine myomas were enrolled in this study. Perioperative variables were compared between these two groups. The patients recruited in this study were allocated into the two groups based on their financial considerations.

A total of 42 patients received RALM (n = 20) or TLM (n = 22) for symptomatic uterine myomas. The operation time was longer in the RALM group; but the total abdominal drainage amount on postoperative day 1 was significantly less in the RALM group than the TLM group. Multivariate analysis revealed that the RALM procedure (coefficient = 79.1, P < 0.001), number of myomas (coefficient = 15.4, P = 0.002), and the presence of a cervical myoma (coefficient = 54.9, P = 0.01) were independent factors affecting operation time; the maximum myoma diameter was the only factor affecting blood loss (coefficient = 113.4, P = 0.003). However, the RALM procedure was the only factor affecting the amount of abdominal drainage on postoperative day 1 (coefficient = -86.3, P = 0.006).

Although RALM is a longer operation than TLM, it might result in less postoperative abdominal drainage than TLM and help alleviate short-term morbidity.