Is Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Myomectomy More Efficacious Than Other Approaches?

Myomectomy is standard treatment for women with symptomatic uterine fibroids who want to avoid hysterectomy, thereby preserving fertility. In a review of data from 575 myomectomies performed from 1995 through 2009 at a single U.S. institution, researchers evaluated outcomes following surgeries that were robotic-assisted laparoscopic (16%; 2008–2009), standard laparoscopic (16%; 2003–2009), and open abdominal (68%; 1995–2009).

Myomas excised in the open-abdominal group were heaviest (median weight, 263 g), followed by those in the robotic-assisted group (223 g) and the laparoscopic group (97 g). Women in the open-abdominal group weighed more than did those in the other groups and lost more blood during their procedures. Median surgical time w…