Laparoscopic surgery for benign ovarian tumours is associated with less pain, shorter hospital stay, and fewer adverse events than with laparotomy

Medeiros LRF, Rosa DD, Bozzetti MC, Fachel JMG, Furness S, Garry R, Rosa MINES, Stein AT

Published Online:

November 10, 2010

Laparoscopy is a modern surgical technique in which operations are performed through small incisions (usually 2 to 3 cm long) using a laparoscope. This is a telescopic rod lens system that is usually connected to a video camera. In the 12 controlled studies identified, laparoscopic surgery was associated with reduced risk of any adverse events from surgery, less pain, and fewer days in the hospital when compared to laparotomy, the traditional surgical technique.There was no difference between the procedures with regard to outcomes of fever, postoperative infections, and tumour recurrence.

Abstract (click to read)

Background:

Over the last 10 years laparoscopy and minilaparotomy have become increasingly common approaches for the surgical removal of benign ovarian tumours. However, in the event that a tumour is found to be malignant, laparotomy is the appropriate procedure. Careful preoperative assessment including transvaginal ultrasound with morphological scoring, colour doppler assessment of vascular quality, and serum cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) level is desirable.

Objectives:

To determine the benefits, harms, and cost of laparoscopy or minilaparotomy compared with laparotomy in women with benign ovarian tumours.

Search strategy:

We searched electronic databases, trial registers, and reference lists of published trial reports. Reference lists from trials and review articles were searched.

Selection criteria:

All randomised controlled trials comparing either laparoscopy or minilaparotomy with laparotomy for benign ovarian tumours.

Data collection and analysis:

Eight review authors independently assessed the eligibility and quality of each study and extracted the data.

Main results:

The results of nine randomised controlled trials (N = 482 women) showed that laparoscopic surgery was associated with fewer adverse events of surgery (surgical injury or postoperative complications including fever or infection) (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.2 to 0.5), less postoperative pain (VAS score WMD -2.4, 95% CI -2.7 to -2.0), greater likelihood of being pain free after two days (OR 7.42, 95% CI 4.86 to 11.33), and fewer days in hospital (WMD -2.88, 95% CI -3.1 to -2.7) than with laparotomy.

In one study that reported costs, laparoscopy was associated with a significant reduction in costs compared to laparotomy (WMD - USD 1045, 95% CI -1348 to -742) in 1993. Very high levels of heterogeneity made it inappropriate to pool data on duration of surgery.

Three RCTs compared laparoscopy versus minilaparotomy and found that laparoscopy was associated with reduced odds of any adverse event (surgical injury or postoperative complications) (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0 to 0.8) and lower VAS scores for pain (WMD -1.0, 95% CI -1.6 to -0.45). Duration of hospital stay ranged between 1 and 2.2 days, with substantial heterogeneity.

Authors' conclusions:

In women undergoing surgery for benign ovarian tumours, laparoscopy was associated with a reduction in fever, urinary tract infection, postoperative complications, postoperative pain, number of days in hospital, and total cost. These findings should be interpreted with caution since only a small number of studies were identified. These included a total of only 769 women and not all of the important outcomes were reported in each study.

This record should be cited as:

Medeiros LRF, Rosa DD, Bozzetti MC, Fachel JMG, Furness S, Garry R, Rosa MINES, Stein AT. Laparoscopy versus laparotomy for benign ovarian tumour. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD004751. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004751.pub3

Assessed as up to date:

November 10, 2007

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Primary Review Group:

Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group

Health topics:

Gynaecology > Surgery

Cochrane Summaries^beta

Independent high-quality evidence for health care decision making

Laparoscopic surgery for benign ovarian tumours is associated with less pain, shorter hospital stay, and fewer adverse events than with laparotomy

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