Telehealth Versus In-Office Follow-Up after Gynecological Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This meta-analysis aims to systematically review and synthesize the available evidence comparing telehealth and in-person follow-up after gynecological surgeries, focusing on clinical outcomes related to safety, patient satisfaction, and healthcare utilization.

A systematic search across PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases, covering publications from their inception up to October 2025. Studies were selected if they reported outcomes including patient satisfaction measured by the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ-18), incidence of urinary tract infection (UTI), unplanned healthcare visits, and hospitalizations. Seven randomized controlled trials were included, resulting in a total of 692 patients. Data were assessed using Cochrane's RoB 2 tool and GRADE, with random-effects models applied for statistical analyses.

The analysis revealed higher scores for telehealth in interpersonal manner (MD = 0.19) and time spent with providers (MD = 0.26), while other PSQ-18 domains showed no significant differences. Postoperative complications, including UTI unplanned visits, phone calls, hospitalizations, and emergency care access, were similar between telehealth and in-person follow-up. Sensitivity analysis and quality assessment (using RoB 2 and GRADE) indicated a critical risk of bias and low certainty of evidence.

Telehealth follow-up after gynecological surgery is as safe as in-person care, with similar complication rates and unplanned healthcare utilization. It also improves patient satisfaction, adherence, and cost efficiency, making it a viable, resource-effective alternative for postoperative care.