Minimally invasive hysterectomy for benign indications

Abstract

After Cesarean section, hysterectomy is one of the most common surgeries performed on women throughout the world utilized for the definitive management of common gynecologic conditions. Minimally invasive surgical techniques offer many advantages for the patient including decreased scarring, better cosmesis, decreased pain, short hospital stay, and a faster return to normal activities overall decreasing the morbidity of this surgery on our patients. The original minimally invasive hysterectomy was vaginal hysterectomy. With the advent of laparoscopic surgical techniques and increasing technology minimally invasive hysterectomy methods have evolved over time, in order to try to increase the candidacy for minimally invasive hysterectomy methods and avoid laparotomy. This paper will review minimally invasive surgical methods of hysterectomy including the currently available tools and techniques. Advantages and disadvantages of each approach will be discussed. Guidelines for the evaluation of patients and criterion that should be utilized in choosing the appropriate surgical approach for each patient will also be outlined.