Transumbilical extraction of 151–300-g myomas without morcellator versus conventional laparoscopic myomectomy with power morcellator

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the surgical outcomes, particularly the specimen retrieval time, between two methods of laparoscopic myomectomy: transumbilical retrieval of the myoma without a morcellator and conventional retrieval of the myoma using a power morcellator via the left lower quadrant. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Public hospital. PATIENTS: Seventy-four women undergoing laparoscopic myomectomy. INTERVENTIONS: Laparoscopic myomectomy followed by myoma retrieval via transumbilical extraction or electric motorized morcellator extraction. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Seventy-four patients undergoing laparoscopic myomectomy followed by myoma retrieval via transumbilical extraction or electric motorized morcellator extraction were studied. Significant differences were observed in the average weight of the retrieved myomas between the transumbilical and morcellator groups (141.0 vs. 262.8 g, respectively; p < 0.001). Therefore, we chose 27 patients whose total specimen weight was 151–300 g; 13 patients were in the transumbilical extraction group and 14 were in the electric motorized morcellator group. No significant differences were observed in patient characteristics between the two groups. The operative time, blood loss volume, and myoma retrieval time were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic myomectomy with transumbilical extraction for myoma retrieval is a feasible method for specimens weighing up to 300 g.