Objective The purpose of this study was to compare surgical outcomes and patients` satisfaction between single-port access laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (SPA-LAVH) and conventional three-port access LAVH (TPA-LAVH) group. Methods A pr...
Objective The purpose of this study was to compare surgical outcomes and patients` satisfaction between single-port access laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (SPA-LAVH) and conventional three-port access LAVH (TPA-LAVH) group. Methods A prospective analysis was performed in patients who underwent laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy at a Wonkwang University Hospital between April 2010 and May 2011, a total of 138 women were enrolled in this study. One of these procedures was chosen by patient and was performed with their consent. Sixty-fi ve women underwent SPA-LAVH using transumbilical SILS port access (SPA-LAVH group), and 73 women underwent conventional three-port LAVH (TPA-LAVH group). Results There were no statistical differences between groups in the patients` demographic characteristics, mean operating time (93.4±20.2 minutes vs. 95.1±28.7 minutes, P=0.696), postoperative changes in hemoglobin concentration (1.91±0.68 vs. 1.85±0.87 g/dL, P=0.667), weight of the resected uterus (261.7±205.3 g vs. 311.8±268.3 g, P=0.225), hospital stay (5.9±0.9 day vs. 6.4±1.6 day, P=0.063), the rate of using an additional trocar (1.5% vs. 0%, P=0.471), the rate of conversion to laparotomy (0% vs. 4.1%, P=0.098) and postoperative pain scores (visual analogue scale) for 48 hours. However, patients` satisfaction after 6 weeks later was signifi cantly greater in SPA-LAVH group than in conventional group, as evidenced by higher rate of fairly satisfactory (52.3% vs. 34.2%, P=0.032) and very satisfactory (33.8% vs. 17.8%, P=0.031). Conclusion SPA-LAVH using transumbilical SILS port access is comparable with TPA-LAVH in women undergoing LAVH. However, SPA-LAVH is better than TPA-LAVH in terms of satisfaction of patient.