Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy: a Retrospective Analysis of 1000 Cases

OBJECTIVE Laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LASH) was analyzed with regard to surgical indications and outcomes. METHODS This is a retrospective analysis of the first 1,000 consecutive laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomies performed by one gynecologist from September 1, 2002 to April 30, 2006. The objective of the study was to find out to what extent the indication and the outcome of surgery changed with the increase in experience of the surgeon and whether a learning curve could be established based on the results. The demographic patient data, indication for surgery, patient history with regard to previous surgery, duration of surgery, intraoperative complications, uterus weight, and length of in-patient stay were collected from the medical records. RESULTS The main indication in 80.4% of cases was uterus myomatosis. The median duration of surgery was 70.9+/-26.3 minutes (95% CI, 69.2 to 72.5) with an average uterus weight of 212.5+/-177.0g (95% CI, 201 to 223.6). This was reduced from 85.4+/-25.9 minutes (95% CI, 78.5 to 92.3) in 2002 to 72.4+/-30.1 minutes (95% CI, 66.7 to 78.2) in 2006, in conjunction with an increase in average uterus weight from 192.3+/-145.4g (95% CI, 153.8 to 230.9) to 228.7+/-160.3g (95% CI, 198.1 to 259.3). Overall, one intraoperative lesion of the bladder (0.1%) occurred, and in 4 cases the surgeon had to convert to laparotomy instead, due to the size and immobility of the uterus. Sixty-eight patients had a uterus weight of more than 500 g. In 67% of the cases, surgery was performed on patients with at least one previous laparotomy, and 51.4% of the patients required further interventions. CONCLUSION An experienced surgeon can rapidly learn the technique of laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy and can safely perform it. In patients with symptomatic uterine myomatosis, previous laparotomy and/or with a uterine weight of more than 500g, laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy is a useful alternative to total hysterectomy. There are few complications if preservation of the cervix is not contraindicated.