Features of uterine fibroids treated by abdominal myomectomy at Nnewi, Nigeria.

Seventy-two women with symptomatic uterine fibroids were treated by abdominal myomectomy from January 1994 to December 1996. Important features were a mean age of 32.3 years (range 25-49 years) and parity of 0 to 6; 83% ( n = 60) were nulliparous and 68% ( n = 49) were unmarried. The average estimated blood loss was 480 ml with 1.6 g/dl mean haemoglobin drop and 15.3% required blood transfusion. Complications were mild and infrequent; 7% ( n = 5) had mild wound infection and 16.7% ( n 12) had a febrile complication. The average hospital stay was 8.1 days. There was no mortality. In this study, symptomatic uterine fibroids requiring abdominal myomectomy predominantly affected young women who were mainly unmarried and nulliparous. Although the the operation was safe and well tolerated, preoperative GnRH(a) is recommended to reduce fibroid size and need for blood transfusion.