Comparison of robotic and laparoscopic myomectomy

Objective

To compare surgical outcomes of patients with symptomatic leiomyomas after robot-assisted (“robotic”) or laparoscopic myomectomy.

Study Design

Retrospective chart review of 81 patients undergoing robotic (n = 40) or laparoscopic (n = 41) myomectomy. Data included fibroid characteristics (number, weight, location, and pathologic findings), operating time, blood loss, complications, and postoperative hospitalization length.

Results

Patients undergoing laparoscopy had a significantly larger mean uterine size, larger mean size of the largest fibroid, and greater number of fibroids. When adjusted for uterine size and fibroid size and number, no significant differences were noted between robotic vs laparoscopic groups for mean operating time (141 vs 166 minutes), mean blood loss (100 vs 250 mL), intraoperative or postoperative complications (2% vs 20% and 11% vs 17%, respectively), hospital stay more than 2 days (12% vs 23%), readmissions, or symptom resolution.

Conclusion

Short-term surgical outcomes were similar after robotic and laparoscopic myomectomy; long-term outcomes were not assessed.

Key words: laparoscopy, myomectomy, robot-assisted surgery