Complication Differences Across Elective, Minimally Invasive, Outpatient Hysterectomy and Myomectomy

Kaitlyn E O'Connor1, James L Whiteside2, Dmitry Tumin3

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, ECU Health, Greenville, NC.

Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada : JOGC = Journal D'Obstetrique Et Gynecologie Du Canada : JOGC
|March 28, 2025
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Minimally invasive myomectomy shows lower complication rates, readmissions, and reoperations compared to hysterectomy for outpatient uterine fibroid treatment. This finding favors myomectomy for elective outpatient cases.

Area of Science:

  • Gynecology
  • Surgical Outcomes
  • Urogynecology

Background:

  • Uterine fibroids are a common gynecological condition often treated with hysterectomy or myomectomy.
  • Minimally invasive surgical techniques are increasingly utilized for these procedures in the outpatient setting.
  • Assessing short-term complication rates is crucial for guiding surgical management decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare 30-day complication rates between minimally invasive myomectomy and minimally invasive hysterectomy.
  • To evaluate differences in hospital readmissions and reoperations for these two procedures.
  • To determine the optimal surgical approach for elective outpatient management of uterine fibroids.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study utilizing the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2016-2021).
  • Inclusion of patients aged 18-50 undergoing elective outpatient minimally invasive hysterectomy or myomectomy for uterine fibroids.
  • Propensity-matched analysis comparing outcomes between the two surgical groups.

Main Results:

  • A total of 31,203 patients were analyzed, with 14% undergoing myomectomy.
  • In a matched analysis of 3,413 pairs, myomectomy was associated with significantly lower odds of 30-day postoperative complications (OR 0.73).
  • Myomectomy also demonstrated lower odds of hospital readmission (OR 0.39) and reoperation (OR 0.33) within 30 days.

Conclusions:

  • Minimally invasive myomectomy is associated with superior short-term outcomes compared to hysterectomy in elective outpatient settings for leiomyomas.
  • The findings suggest that myomectomy may be a preferred surgical option for managing uterine fibroids when fertility preservation or uterine conservation is desired.
  • This study highlights the safety and efficacy of minimally invasive myomectomy in the outpatient setting, supporting its broader adoption.