Laparoscopic-Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy: A Case Control Comparative Study with Abdominal Hysterectomy

A case control study of the operative time, blood loss, time for return to work, pain levels, and medications was conducted comparing laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomies (LAVH) with total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH). The average operating time for LAVH was 151 minutes whereas for TAH it was 99 minutes (P<.01). The average length of stay for the LAVH was 2.5 days and for the abdominal hysterectomy it was 3.5 days (P<.01). During hospitalization the LAVH group required an average of 180 mg of meperidine while the TAH group required 414 mg of meperidine (P<.01). Patients undergoing LAVH reported activity levels of 9.2 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being unlimited activity, by day 14. Abdominal hysterectomy patients' activity was reported as only 6.4 on the same scale (P<.005). The LAVH group, although requiring more operating time, made a more rapid recovery, and less pain medication, and required shorter hospitalization than the TAH group.