Misoprostol vs vasopressin as a single hemostatic agent in laparoscopic myomectomy: Comparable, or just better than nothing?

AIM: Laparoscopic myomectomy may be associated with considerable blood loss, especially in patients in whom no specific hemostatic measures are used. We conducted this retrospective comparative study to investigate whether misoprosol is an effective and safe alternative to vasopressin when used as single hemostatic agent in laparoscopic myomectomy.

METHODS

Two hundred cases undergoing laparoscopic myomectomy (-ies), were included. Of these, 50 pre-treated with vaginal misoprostol 400mcg 1 h before surgery (group 1), were compared with two historic consecutive groups: 100 patients treated with intraoperative intra-myometrial injection of dilute vasopressin (20 IU/100 mL normal saline) (group 2), and 50 treated without use of any hemostatic agent (group3).

RESULTS

Mean procedure length did not differ significantly between the three groups (127.9 vs 100.6 vs 130.8 min). Mean estimated blood loss (EBL) was 179.7 ± 200.0 mL in group 1, compared with 147.8 ± 171.8 mL in group 2 (P = 0.793) and 321.8 ± 246.0 mL in group 3, respectively (P < 0.001). EBL was lower in group 2 in most of the study's subgroups of patients stratified according to size and number of fibroids compared with group 1, with the exception of patients with ≥4 fibroids, and ≥7 cm in size. In these subgroups, misoprostol appeared more effective. Neither agent was associated with serious adverse events.

CONCLUSION

Vaginal misoprostol can be effective in reducing blood loss during laparoscopic myomectomy. Although rates of EBL are, in general, higher compared with those obtained with vasopressin, they are significantly reduced compared with those observed when no hemostatic agent is used. In extended procedures, vaginal misoprostol, due to its prolonged uterotonic action, may be associated with reduced blood loss compared with vasopressin.