Reducing costs of laparoscopic hysterectomy

Study Objective. To establish the role of laparoscopic hysterectomy using reuseable surgical equipment. Design. Prospective, observational study (Canadian Task Force classification 11-2). Setting. Tertiary major teaching hospital. Patients. Fifty consecutive women carefully selected for laparoscopic hysterectomy. interventions. The ultrasonically activated (harmonic) scalpel was used for coagulative cutting of pedicles and ligaments attached to the uterus and adnexa, backed by bipolar diathermy No nonabsorbable material uas left in the pelvis at the conclusion of the procedures. Measurements and Main Results. Patient characteristics, uterine weight, histology, operating time, recovery, analgesic requirements, and hospital stay were recorded. Complications were noted and critically assessed for con structive quality assurance appraisal. Outcomes were satisfactory according to both patients and gynecologists. Conclusion. This pilot study suggests that the method is an efficacious, cost-effective, and well-controlled technique of laparoscopic hysterectomy.