Outpatient Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: Evaluation of Pain

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the differences in patient pain postoperatively, comparing 2 types of outpatient hysterectomy procedures. METHODS: This is a nonblind, nonrandomized, prospective study of surgeries performed at 1 ambulatory surgery center by 1 surgeon over 14 months. Patient pain was assessed using a visual analog scale before and after laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy and total laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients were followed through a 2-week postoperative period. RESULTS: Nineteen laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomies and 17 total laparoscopic hysterectomies were performed. The 2 groups were similar in age, BMI, uterine weight, and surgical time. Comparing the 2 groups, there were no statistically significant differences in pain throughout any time points of the study. CONCLUSION: There were no statistically significant differences in pain during the postoperative period between the 2 groups. Outpatient hysterectomy is a safe procedure that may improve patient satisfaction surgically and financially, and either approach is well tolerated by patients.