Technique for Tissue Containment and Extraction in the Complex Minimally Invasive Myomectomy Setting

To achieve tissue containment and extraction for numerous and large myomas in the complex minimally invasive difficult myomectomy setting via a surgical tutorial including technical pointers and suggestions DESIGN: A step-by-step explanation of the .surgery using video (instructive video) (Canadian Task Force classification III). Institutional review board approval was not required for this study.

George Washington University Hospital, Washington, DC.

Multiple patients with a high number or large size of leiomyomata.

Four reproducible techniques that enable the minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon to perform complex tissue containment and extraction: MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: One of the main challenges encountered with minimally invasive myomectomy procedures includes myoma containment and extraction. Given the potential risks for leiomyomatosis and the spread of leiomyosarcoma, the Food and Drug Administration banned electromechanical morcellation device usage [1]. After implementation of the ban and fueled by the increasing size and number of myomas removed through minimally invasive techniques, tissue containment and extraction are becoming increasingly challenging. This shift is partly reflected by the number of complications attributable to surgeon experience [2,3]. With the increase in the number of myomas removed during a minimally invasive myomectomy, the risk of myoma retention in the abdominal cavity is amplified. Also, the increase in the myoma size removed through minimally invasive surgery renders tissue extraction through contained, extracorporeal, manual morcellation more challenging [2-5]. Inefficiencies in tissue containment and extraction could potentially be hazardous to the patient's safety and detrimental to the operating room efficiency, and the AAGL Practice Report on tissue extraction emphasizes that the use of specimen retrieval pouches should be investigated further [2-6]. Patients underwent uncomplicated complex minimally invasive myomectomy.

Mastering these reproducible techniques maximizes patient safety and operating room efficiency during minimally invasive myomectomy procedures.