The comparison of postoperative pain: total laparoscopic hysterectomy versus vaginal hysterectomy.

Choi, Kong Ju; Kim, Hong Bae; Park, Sung Ho

doi:2012.55.6.384

Obstet Gynecol Sci > Volume 55(6); 2012 > Article

Original Article

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2012;55(6):384-391.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5468/KJOG.2012.55.6.384 Published online June 16, 2012.

The comparison of postoperative pain: total laparoscopic hysterectomy versus vaginal hysterectomy.

Kong Ju Choi, Hong Bae Kim, Sung Ho Park

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. vth2000@naver.com

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate postoperative pain of total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) compared with vaginal hysterectomy (VH). METHODS: From June 2010 to August 2010, 122 patients were enrolled, of whom 56 underwent TLH and 66 underwent VH for benign diseases at Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital. Postoperative pain degree was compared in non-randomized, prospective method and preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative characteristics were considered. Postoperative pain was measured using the visual analog scale (VAS) score at 1-hour, 1-day, 3-day postoperative periods and the additional consumption of analgesic units (vials and tablets) required by patients for pain relief at all hospital stay. RESULTS: For the first 3 postoperative days, the median total consumption of analgesics was considerably lower in the TLH group than in the VH group (pethidine, P<0.05; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug [Ketorolac Tromethamine], P<0.05). The VAS score also was higher for the VH group than in the TLH group (VAS 1-hour, P<0.05; VAS 1-day, P<0.05; VAS 3-day, P<0.05). No significant difference was found between groups in respect to preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative characteristics except operation time, prior intra-abdominal surgery and pelvic adhesion. CONCLUSION: In this study, since TLH is a less painful procedure in comparison to VH, TLH may be a good alternative to VH for the benign gynecologic diseases with expert surgeons.

Key Words: Postoperative pain, Total laparoscopic hysterectomy, Vaginal hysterectomy