Purpose: To determine whether a correlation exists between size, location, type of myomas and perioperative outcomes.
Methods: This is a observational study in women undergone to laparoscopic myomectomy (LM) because of single symptomatic myoma >4 cm in diameter. We collected data about general features, surgical outcomes, intraoperative/postoperative complications and time to return to normal activity.
Results: A total of 444 patients (mean age 36.7 ± 6.4 years) resulted eligible for the study. Myomas sized between 8 and 12 cm were linked to an increased amount of blood loss (significantly higher in intramural than subserosal myoma). The removal of intramural myomas >8 cm and the subserosal ones >12 cm required a significant longer surgical time. Patients returned 17.9 ± 9.5 days after surgery to their personal activities. Six cases (1.35 %) required conversion to laparotomy, and only in two cases blood transfusion was necessary.
Conclusion: Myomas size and type represent the best predictors of surgical difficulties and possible intrapostoperative complications. Intramural myomas >8 cm and subserosal ones >12 cm should be considered as a challenging procedure. LM remains the gold standard approach because of very low perioperative complication rate and faster return to normal activity.