Background: To evaluate the feasibility of ovarian drilling using minilaparoscopy under local anesthesia and to determine its efficacy in the surgical treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Methods: Prospective randomized study carried out in an out patient service on 62 women affected by PCOS divided into two groups: 32 patients (group A) underwent bilateral ovarian drilling by minilaparoscopy under local anesthesia and 30 patients (group B) underwent bilateral ovarian drilling by traditional laparoscopy under general anesthesia.
Results: Operation times were not different between the two groups. Discharge time was significantly lower in group A in comparison to group B. The rate of patients discharged after 2 hours was significantly higher in group A. The need for additional analgesia was lower in group A in comparison to group B. Serum LH, A and T levels were significantly reduced after surgery in both groups. Pregnancy rate after 1-year follow-up was higher, although not significantly in group A. Ovulation and abortion rates were not different between the two groups.
Conclusions: Ovarian drilling in minilaparoscopy under local anesthesia is a new option for gynecologists, allowing similar therapeutical results to those achieved by traditional laparoscopy, but with the benefits of a less invasive technique that can be carried out in an outpatient service without the need for general anesthesia.