Comparison of robotic-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy outcomes with laparoscopic myomectomy

This study aimed at comparing short-term outcomes of patients who underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy and laparoscopic myomectomy. From January 2008 to August 2010, prospective data including 15 consecutive patients who underwent robotic-assisted myomectomy (RALM) with the da Vinci surgical system were recorded. These cases were compared with a retrospective cohort of 23 patients who underwent laparoscopic myomectomy (LM). Patient demographics, fibroid characteristics and peri-operative data (operative time, anesthesia time, set-up time, console time for robotic cohort, Estimated blood loss (EBL), length of hospital stay, conversion to laparotomy and operative complications were collected in both groups. Mean operative time for the robotic group was 138.73 +/- A 39.51 min compared with 140.57 +/- A 38.17 min for the laparoscopy group (p = 0.887). No significant differences were noted between RALM versus LM for hospital stay (1.67 +/- A 0.58 vs. 1.87 +/- A 0.67 days, p = 0.369) and EBL (101.33 +/- A 39.84 vs. 119.78 +/- A 43.70 ml, p = 0.549). The numbers, size and location of myomas removed for two groups were similar. None of the cases in both groups required conversion to laparotomy. There were no significant intra-operative and post-operative complications in either group. RALM appears to provide the same surgical outcomes when compared with traditional laparoscopic myomectomy.