Reducing patient's perception of postoperative vaginal bleeding after laparoscopic hysterectomy via independent closure of the vaginal cuff angles (RCT).

STUDY

OBJECTIVE

Determine if independently suturing the vaginal cuff angles in addition to running barbed suture has an effect on patients' perception of postoperative bleeding after laparoscopic hysterectomy.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

University-based medical center.

PATIENTS: Females ages 18-60 undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy.

INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to either cuff closure via single layer of barbed suture (control) vs adding figure-of-eight stitches at each angle (intervention). A survey was given between 10 and 25 days after surgery inquiring about bleeding and dyspareunia. A second survey was given between postoperative days 90-114. Chart review was performed to record emergency room visits, complications, infections, and reoperations during the first 90 postoperative days.

RESULTS

n = 117 patients were analyzed. 62 (control) and 55 (intervention). Groups were similar in terms of age (42.92 v 44.29p =.35), BMI (33.79 v 34.06p =.85), diabetes (5.26 % (3/55) v 15.09 % (8/53) p =.08) p =.97). Bleeding was decreased in intervention arm (24.19 % (15/62) v 9.09 % (5/55) p =.03). Median (IQR) pelvic pain score was similar (2.0 (0-5.0) v 2.0 (0-4.0) p =.26). Median total operative time (IQR) (129 min (102, 166) v 139 min (120, 163) p =.39) and median EBL (IQR) (50 mL (30-75) vs 50 mL (20-75) p =.43) were similar. Cuff closure in seconds (IQR) was higher in intervention group (373 sec (323, 518) v 571 sec (520, 715) p <.01). 8/60 control patients visited the ED (13.33 %) v 7/54 (12.96 %) p =.95. Readmissions (1.67 % (1/60) v 1.85 % (1/55) p = 1), re-operations (0 % (0/60) v 1.85 % (1/55) p =.47) and postoperative infections (5.0 % (3/60) v 1.85 % (1/54) p =.62) were similar. Secondary survey showed no significant difference in bleeding (15.38 % (4/26) v 4.35 % (1/23) p =.35) and SF-36 results were similar.

CONCLUSION

Independently suturing the vaginal cuff angles reduces patients' perception of vaginal bleeding in the early postoperative period. Incidence of complications, reoperations, and long-term quality of life are similar.