Symptomatic myoma treated with laparoscopic uterine vessel occlusion and subsequent immediate myomectomy: which is the optimal surgical approach?

ObjectiveTo determine the optimal surgical approach when patients are treated with laparoscopic uterine vessel occlusion (LUVO) combined with myomectomy in the management of women with symptomatic uterine fibroids.DesignAn observational study.SettingMedical centers.Patient(s)One hundred thirty-one patients with symptomatic myomas underwent LUVO plus laparoscopic myomectomy (LM; LUVO+LM) (n = 49) or LUVO plus ultra-mini laparotomy UMLT-M (LUVO+UMLT-M) (n = 82).Intervention(s)Myomectomy through laparoscopy or UMLT access.Main Outcome Measure(s)The outcome was measured by comparing surgical techniques, and 3-year follow-up, including symptom control and reintervention (hysterectomy or myomectomy), in both groups.Result(s)General characteristics of the patients were similar in both groups, except the number of myomas. Surgical techniques seemed to be easier in the LUVO+UMLT-M group than in LUVO+LM group, because of less operation time (56.1 ± 16.9 minutes vs. 73.4 ± 26.9 minutes; P=.009) and a higher success rate (100% vs. 91.8%; P=.018). There were no differences in the 3-year follow-up of the therapeutic outcomes of the LUVO+UMLT-M and LUVO+LM groups, with low reintervention rates (1.2% vs. 0) and good symptom control rates in both groups.Conclusion(s)The LUVO+LM, either through laparoscopy or UMLT, was acceptable in the management of symptomatic uterine fibroids. However, the LUVO+UMLT-M technique might be more feasible, as it required less operative time and had a higher success rate.