Oxytocin infusion in laparoscopic myomectomy may decrease operative blood loss

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of oxytocin on operative blood loss during laparoscopic myomectomy (LM). DESIGN: Prospective clinical study (Canadian Task Force classification 1). SETTING: Tertiary care university hospital. PATIENTS: Sixty women scheduled for myomectomy because of symptomatic uterine myomas. INTERVENTION: Two ampules of oxytocin (10 u/mL/amp) were added to 1000 mL of saline solution running at the rate of 40 mU/mm during the course of LM. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Blood loss and blood transfusion rate were significantly greater in the group without oxytocin infusion (group 13) than in the group with oxytocin infusion (group A), with 445.0 +/- 268.6 mL (95% CI 344.7-545.3) versus 269.5 +/- 225.8 mL (95% Cl 185.2-353.8)/(p <.05), and 36.7% versus 6.7% (p <.05), respectively. There was no significant difference in average age, body weight, or numbers of vaginal delivery and cesarean sections between the 2 groups. There was no significant difference in mean total myoma weight, main myoma size, postoperative stay, and complications between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Oxytocin infusion combined with skillful surgical techniques may decrease operative blood loss and blood transfusion during LM. (c) 2007 AAGL. All rights reserved.