Safe Laparoscopic Removal of a 3200 Gram Fibroid Uterus

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hysterectomy using minimally invasive techniques yields fewer complications, less blood loss, and quicker recovery time compared with traditional abdominal hysterectomy. Despite these advantages, >65% of all hysterectomies in the United States are still performed using traditional laparotomy, and many clinicians still exclude patients with a history of prior abdominal surgery, significant obesity, or a large fibroid uterus from these procedures. Among physicians skilled in minimally invasive surgery, the prior largest uteri removed included a 2421g uterus removed vaginally, and a 2418g uterus removed via hand-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy. METHODS: We performed a laparoscopic-assisted hysterectomy on a significantly obese 50-year-old woman with a 3200g uterus. The patient required a 2-day hospital stay and recovered unremarkably. The patient was able to return to work within one week and quickly returned to activities of daily life. CONCLUSION: In the hands of experienced minimally invasive surgeons, laparotomy can be avoided in almost all instances of hysterectomy for benign disease.