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Aim To compare the safety protocols and operative outcomes of women undergoing laparoscopic‐assisted myomectomy (LAM) by the same surgeons at a freestanding ambulatory surgery center (ASC) versus a hospital outpatient setting. Methods Retrospective chart review of all women ≥18 years old with symptomatic leiomyoma, who underwent LAM with uterine artery occlusion or ligation for blood loss control, at a freestanding ASC between 2013 and 2017, and an outpatient hospital setting between 2011 and 2013, both serving the metropolitan Washington, DC area. The procedures were performed by two minimally invasive gynecologic surgical specialists from a single practice. The safety protocols of each setting were reviewed to identify similarities and differences. Results A total of 816 LAM cases were analyzed (ASC = 588, hospital = 228). The rate of complications was comparable across settings, as was the average myoma weight (ASC = 396.2 g; hospital = 461.5 g; P = 0.064). Operative time was significantly shorter at the ASC: 68 min (95% CI 66–70) versus 80 min at hospital (95% CI 76–84), P

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.

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.Retrospective chart review (Canadian Task Force classification II-1).Suburban community hospital.Women age ≥18 years with nonmalignant indications.A total of 1313 consecutive CLMs, RAMs, AMs, and LAMs performed between January 2011 and December 2013.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.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.

BackgroundWith surgical care contributing to the rising healthcare costs around the globe, quantifying the value of surgical modalities is critical to pushing healthcare systems in the direction of greater sustainability. The purpose of this study was to assess and compare the value of minimally invasive hysterectomy approaches, as defined by operative outcomes and patient satisfaction relative to direct hospital costs.MethodsSequential mixed methods; retrospective chart review of all women (N = 2689) ≥ 18 years old who underwent hysterectomy for benign conditions from 2011 through 2013 at a suburban hospital in Maryland, USA; a mail survey of the same population was administered in June to October 2015. Procedures included laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH), robotically assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy (RALH), total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH), laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH), total vaginal hysterectomy (TVH), and laparoscopic retroperitoneal hysterectomy (LRH), a procedure that incorporates retroperitoneal dissection and ligation of the uterine arteries at their vascular origin. We estimated the value of each procedure by dividing quality over direct hospital costs, where quality was quantified by creating a summary composite score of the average operating time, estimated blood loss, complication and conversion rates, and patient satisfaction.ResultsThe majority of LRH and RALH procedures were performed by high-volume surgeons, while the majority of LSH and TVH procedures were performed by low-volume surgeons. RALH had the highest postoperative complication rate (11.4%;p p p p p ConclusionLRH, TVH, and LAVH yielded the highest value scores; LSH, TLH, and RALH yielded the lowest. Healthcare costs continue to escalate, in large part due to innovations in medical technology. For healthcare stakeholders seeking to control costs without sacrificing quality, it is critical to operationalize the value of varying surgical techniques, including measures of surgeon experience, operative outcomes, costs, and patient satisfaction.

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.

AIM By evaluating operative outcomes relative to cost, we compared the value of minimally invasive hysterectomy approaches, including a technique discussed less often in the literature, laparoscopic retroperitoneal hysterectomy (LRH), which incorporates retroperitoneal dissection and ligation of the uterine arteries at their vascular origin. METHODS Retrospective chart review of all women (N = 2689) aged greater than or equal to 18 years who underwent hysterectomy for benign conditions from 2011 to 2013 at a high-volume hospital in Maryland, USA. Procedures included: laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy, robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy (RALH), total laparoscopic hysterectomy, laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy, total vaginal hysterectomy (TVH), and LRH. RESULTS Total vaginal hysterectomy had the highest intraoperative complication rate (9.6%; P

INTRODUCTION:Myomectomy is a uterine-sparing treatment in women with symptomatic leiomyoma. We explored the decision-making process and overall postoperative satisfaction in patients who chose to undergo myomectomy.METHODS:Sequential mixed method design: retrospective chart review (n=1,380) of patie

Background and Objective: Compare operative outcomes of laparoscopic hysterectomy in an outpatient hospital setting versus freestanding ambulatory surgery center. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of two groups in an outpatient hospital surgery department and freestanding ambulatory surgical center, both serving the Washington, DC area. Women, 18 years or older, who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign conditions in an outpatient hospital setting between 2011 and 2014 (n = 821), and at an ambulatory surgery center between 2013 and 2017 (n = 1210). Laparoscopic hysterectomy with retroperitoneal dissection and early ligation of the uterine arteries at the origin, performed by gynecologic surgical specialists from a single practice. Patient characteristics, medical history, uterine weight, pathology, operating times, estimated blood loss, and complications were analyzed. Results: The mean uterine size between settings was not significantly different (Ambulatory Surgery Center, 349.4 g; Hospital, 329.7 g). The largest uteri removed at the surgery center was 3500 g; at the hospital it was 2489 g. The surgery center had a shorter average operating time than the hospital (53.7 and 61.3 minutes, respectively; P < .001). Intraoperative and postoperative complication rates were not significantly different between settings (2.7% and 3.7%, surgery center; 2.1% and 4.8%, hospital). There were two hospital transfers from the surgery center: 1 for blood transfusion, and 1 for low oxygen saturation. Same-day discharge occurred in 99.8% of surgery center patients versus 88% hospital patients. Conclusions: Laparoscopic hysterectomy can be performed safely and effectively by skilled surgeons at a freestanding ambulatory surgery center, even in complex cases with large uteri.

INTRODUCTION:Laparoscopic Retroperitoneal Hysterectomy (LRH) is a minimally invasive hysterectomy approach incorporating retroperitoneal dissection to ligate the uterine arteries at the origin, lateralization of ureters, vaginal specimen extraction and transvaginal cuff closure. Our study evaluates