Transumbilical versus lateral transabdominal removal of benign adnexal masses in laparoscopic surgery-A randomized...

In laparoscopic adnexal surgery the conventional method of removing a mass from the abdominal cavity in Finland is through a 10-mm-wide lateral abdominal port. The larger the lateral trocar, the greater the risk of pain, complications and delayed recovery. Here, we assumed that adnexal mass removal through a 10-mm umbilical port together with 5-mm side trocars would decrease the postoperative need of analgesics when compared with removal through a 10-mm lateral abdominal port.

Women scheduled for laparoscopic surgery of a benign adnexal mass were invited to participate. The participants were randomized into two groups: removal via the transumbilical (TU) (n=21) or lateral transabdominal (TA) (n=21) route. General anesthesia and use of local anesthetics were standardized. The amount of postoperative opioid (oxycodone) and visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain were the primary outcome measures. Secondary outcome measures were nausea/vomiting (VAS evaluation), time to discharge, peri- and postoperative complications, surgeons' opinions of the alternative methods and patients' satisfaction, evaluated via a questionnaire sent six months postoperatively.

There were no significant differences in the use of opioids or median pain-VAS scores between the groups during the first 24h postoperatively. However, in the TU group the amount of women with very low pain-VAS scores (0-1) during the whole 12-h follow-up time was significantly greater than in the TA group (4 vs. 0 women p=0.04). The amounts of nausea and vomiting, and median times to discharge were similar in both groups. There were no major complications.

Both transumbilical and transabdominal routes of abdominal mass removal during laparoscopy were feasible and safe. However, the transumbilical route resulted in more women with very low pain-VAS scores.