Laparoscopic-assisted myomectomy

Abstract

Benign diseases of the uterus are encountered commonly in gynecologic practice and account for a large proportion of laparotomies and hysterectomies. Most of these procedures can be performed laparoscopically, with substantial advantages, for example: results equivalent to laparotomy, and moreover, shorter hospitalization, decreased pain, faster recovery and financial savings. This chapter describes laparoscopic-assisted myomectomy (LAM). Nezhat et al. [1] developed LAM and reported on it in 1994. It has been advocated as a technique that retains the benefits of a laparoscopic procedure without the raised concerns of a complete laparoscopic myomectomy, namely, technically demanding procedure, prolonged anesthesia time, increased blood loss, possibly a higher risk of postoperative adhesion formation, and unprotected intracorporeal morcellation [2].