Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy Compared to Total Hysterectomy

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare peri-operative results of laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH) with those of laparoscopic total hysterectomy (TLH). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Department of Gynecology at a teaching hospital. A group of 157 patients who underwent TLH was compared with a group of 157 patients who underwent LSH with or without bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO). Both groups had similar baseline characteristics and comparable surgical indications. RESULTS: We reviewed our 7-year experience with laparoscopic hysterectomies performed at our department between October 2000 and November 2007. The similarities between patient characteristics were tested by using Wilcoxon Rank Sum Statistics. Patient and surgery characteristics as well as surgery outcomes were analyzed with descriptive statistics showing medians and 95% CIs. Women who underwent LSH had a shorter operation time compared with women in the TLH group (100 min vs. 110 min). Major complication rates were higher in the TLH group than in the LSH group (4.5% vs. 1.3%). Minor complication rates were 13.3% in the TLH group compared with 13.4% in the LSH group. CONCLUSIONS: Our data and experience provide specific information about the perioperative performance of LSH compared with TLH. In our experience, LSH proved to be a valid alternative to TLH in the absence of specific indications for TLH. Adequate counseling concerning the risk of cyclical bleeding and reoperation is mandatory.