Peritoneal closure at vaginal hysterectomy: a reassessment.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical outcome of patients who underwent vaginal hysterectomy with or without peritoneal closure.

METHODS

This study was a randomized trial. Using computer-generated numbers, all patients undergoing vaginal hysterectomy without oophorectomy were randomized to either no peritoneal closure (n = 57) or routine peritoneal closure (n = 49). Patients were followed-up for a minimum of 1 year for development of complications and postoperative dyspareunia. At 4-6 postoperative weeks, the distance between the ovaries and the vaginal cuff was measured by ultrasound.

RESULTS

Postoperative complications were similar in both groups. The incidence of deep-thrust dyspareunia at 6 and 12 months was also similar. No statistical differences between the two groups were noted in the ovary to vaginal cuff distances either overall or when patients with dyspareunia were considered separately.

CONCLUSION

The data in this study do not support the use of reperitonealization on a routine basis. However, because of a lack of statistical power, larger studies will be required to confirm this theory.