[Complete hysterectomy for benign pathology and laparoscopy: respective indications of laparoscopic preparation and...

According to whether uterine artery treatment takes place vaginally or laparoscopically, laparoscopy for hysterectomy can be considered according to two modalities: laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH). The indications for laparoscopy are defined by the limits and/or contraindications of the vaginal route. LAVH is indicated in the following situations: pelvic pain syndrome where diagnosis and treatment can be made at the same time as hysterectomy; minimal endometriosis; past surgical history favouring adhesions formation; necessity to perform an oophorectomy; existence of an ovarian pathology. The elective indications for TLH are the severe pelvic adhesions, deep endometriosis and especially a limited vaginal accessibility associating with a narrow vagina and a fixed or non prolapsed uterus. Laparoscopy thus allows to reduce the number of laparotomies. When on overage three quarters of the hysterectomies (excluding cases of uterogenital prolapse) were up till now performed abdominally, laparoscopy could reduce this rate to approximately 10%.