Laparoscopic-assisted myomectomy with uterine artery occlusion at a freestanding ambulatory surgery center: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Non-hysteroscopic myomectomy is infrequently performed in a freestanding ambulatory setting, in part due to risks of intraoperative hemorrhage. There are also concerns about increased surgical risks for morbidly obese patients in this setting. The purpose of this study is to report the surgical outcomes of a series of laparoscopic-assisted myomectomy (LAM) cases at a freestanding ambulatory surgery center (ASC), including a comparative analysis of outcomes in morbidly obese patients (BMI > 40 kg/m2). METHODS: A retrospective comparative analysis was performed of 969 women, age 18 years or older, non-pregnant, who underwent LAM by one of two high volume, laparoscopic gynecologic surgical specialists at a freestanding ambulatory surgery center serving the Washington, DC area, between October 2013 and February 2019. Reversible occlusion was performed laparoscopically by placing a latex-based rubber catheter as a tourniquet around the isthmus of the uterus, causing a temporary occlusion of the bilateral uterine arteries. Permanent occlusion was performed laparoscopically via retroperitoneal dissection and uterine artery ligation at the origin of the anterior branch of the internal iliac artery. Minilaparotomy was performed for specimen removal in all cases. No power morcellation was used. Postoperative complications were graded using the Clavien-Dindo Classification system. Outcomes were compared across BMI categories using Pearson Chi-Square. RESULTS: Average myoma weight and size were 422.7 g and 8.3 cm, respectively. Average estimated blood loss (EBL) was 192.1 mL; intraoperative and grade 3 postoperative complication rates were 1.4% and 1.6%, respectively. While EBL was significantly higher in obese and morbidly obese patients, this difference was not clinically meaningful, with no significant difference in blood transfusion rates. There were no statistically significant intraoperative or postoperative complication rates across BMI categories. There was a low rate of hospital transfers (0.7%) for all patients. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic-assisted myomectomy can be performed safely in a freestanding ambulatory surgery setting, including morbidly obese patients. This is especially important in the age of COVID-19, as elective surgeries have been postponed due to the 2020 pandemic, which may lead to a dramatic and permanent shift of outpatient surgery from the hospital to the ASC setting.

A Retrospective Review of Vaginal Cuff Dehiscence: Comparing Absorbable and Nonabsorbable Sutures.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the rate of spontaneous and complete vaginal cuff dehiscence (VCD) using absorbable versus nonabsorbable sutures for vaginal cuff closure. DESIGN: Retrospective comparative cohort design. SETTING: Freestanding ambulatory surgery center in suburban Maryland. PATIENTS: Women age >18 years old who underwent hysterectomy for benign conditions between October 2013 and April 2018. INTERVENTION: Laparoscopic retroperitoneal hysterectomy was performed by 2 gynecologic surgical specialists. Transvaginal cuff closure was performed using either absorbable Vicryl (polyglactin 910) sutures (n = 881) or nonabsorbable Ethibond (polyester) sutures (n = 574). The nonabsorbable sutures were surgically removed after 90 days. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in age, race, weight, body mass index, parity, uterine weight, or number of comorbidities were noted between the nonabsorbable and absorbable suture groups. Spontaneous vaginal cuff dehiscence (VCD) occurred in 3 patients (0.52%) in the nonabsorbable group and in 12 patients (1.4%) in the absorbable group (p = .183). Eleven of the 12 cases of VCD in the absorbable group were precipitated by intercourse and occurred within 90 days of surgery. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that use of a nonabsorbable suture may be an effective approach to prevent spontaneous VCD, but the benefits should be weighed against the inherent risk associated with a second procedure to remove sutures.

Laparoscopic-Assisted Myomectomy with Bilateral Uterine Artery Occlusion/Ligation.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Conventional laparoscopic myomectomy (CLM) and robotic-assisted myomectomy (RAM) are limited in the number and size of myomas that can be removed, whereas abdominal myomectomy (AM) is associated with increased complications and morbidity. Here we evaluated the surgical outcomes of these myomectomy techniques compared with those of laparoscopic-assisted myomectomy (LAM), a hybrid approach that combines laparoscopy and minilaparotomy with bilateral uterine artery occlusion or ligation to control blood loss. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review (Canadian Task Force classification II-1). SETTING: Suburban community hospital. PATIENTS: Women age ≥18 years with nonmalignant indications. INTERVENTION: A total of 1313 consecutive CLMs, RAMs, AMs, and LAMs performed between January 2011 and December 2013. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Our review included 163 CLMs (12%), 156 RAMs (12%), 686 AMs (52%), and 308 LAMs (23%). Although the average number, size, and total weight of leiomyomas removed were comparable in the LAM and AM groups (9.1, 8.13 cm, and 391 g, respectively, vs 9.0, 7.5 cm, and 424 g; p < .0001), the number and weight of myomas were significantly greater in those 2 groups compared with the CLM and RAM groups (2.9 and 217 g, respectively, and 2.9 and 269 g; p < .0001). The intraoperative complication rate was highest in the RAM group, and the postoperative complication rate was highest in the AM group, both of which were approximately 3 times greater than the rates in the LAM group. There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative complication rates between the CLM and LAM groups. CONCLUSION: LAM with uterine artery occlusion/ligation is a viable approach for removing large tumor loads while minimizing blood loss and precluding the need for power morcellation.