Impact of Obesity on Vaginal Myomectomy Outcomes in the Management of Uterine Leiomyomas.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of obesity on vaginal myomectomy (VM) results.

METHODS

Patients who underwent VM for uterine leiomyomas were enrolled in the study. Demographic characteristics of patients, leiomyoma-related properties, and operative and postoperative parameters were retrieved from medical records. The study population was divided into two groups according to the body mass index (BMI): patients with a BMI of <30 kg/m2 and patients with a BMI of ≥30 kg/m2. The two groups were compared in terms of preoperative patient characteristics, operative parameters, and postoperative outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 156 patients matched the study inclusion criteria, with 108 patients having a BMI of <30 kg/m2 and 48 patients having a BMI of ≥30 kg/m2. The mean BMI was 23.9 kg/m2 for group 1 and 34.5 kg/m2 for group 2 (p = 0.001). The mean operation time was 65.2 min in patients with a BMI of <30 kg/m2 and 79.9 min in patients with a BMI of ≥30 kg/m2, and operation time was significantly shorter in favor of patients with a BMI of <30 kg/m2 (p = 0.001). In addition, the mean hospitalization time was 24.0 h for group 1 and 36.0 h for group 2, and statistical analysis revealed that hospitalization time was significantly longer in patients with a BMI of ≥30 kg/m2 (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The present study showed that VM is a reliable and efficacious surgical technique in the management of uterine leiomyomas. However, our findings revealed for the first time that obesity resulted in significantly longer operation time and significantly longer hospitalization time in patients who underwent VM.