Laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy versus vaginal hysterectomy for benign uterine diseases: a prospective, randomized, multicenter, double-blind trial (LAVA)

To compare the impact of peritoneal closure on postoperative pain after vaginal (VH) and laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH).

A prospective, randomized, double-blind study was designed to investigate as primary outcome the postoperative pain after VH and LAVH with and without peritoneal closure. The postoperative pain was measured using visual analogue scale (VAS).

The patients were recruited between August, 2007 and July, 2014. A total of 192 patients with benign uterine diseases were eligible for analysis and were divided in four groups: LAVH and VH with and without peritoneal closure (PC), respectively. The patients’ characteristics including parity, BMI, previous abdominal operations, and uterus weight were well balanced between the groups. The patients who received LAVH were significantly younger (p = 0.0443). LAVH was associated with increased postoperative pain and reduced patients’ mobility in the first 72 and 24 h, respectively, after surgery. The use of analgesics remained similar in all four groups. The operating time was significantly shorter after VH (VH + PC 59 ± 17; VH − PC 56 ± 19) than after LAVH (LAVH + PC 106 ± 29 min; LAVH − PC 99 ± 30) (p < 0.0001). The PC did not affect the patients’ outcome. The blood loss, the hemoglobin drop, the hospital stay, and the rate of intra- and postoperative complications rate were similar in all four groups. No conversation to laparotomy occurred in whole study population.

VH is associated with shorter operating time and reduced postoperative pain compared to LAVH.