Laparoscopy versus laparotomy in the treatment of benign ovarian cyst

Objective: To compare laparoscopy with laparotomy in the treatment of benign ovarian cyst in women under 40 years of age. Design: Experimental. Place and duration of study: The study was conducted over a period of one and half year from June 2003 to Nov 2004 in Obstetrics & Gynaecology Department, Unit-III, Lady Willingdon Hospital, Lahore. Subjects & Methods: The sixty consecutive patients of benign ovarian cysts who required surgical treatment underwent either Laparoscopy(group I). or laparotomy (group II). The laparoscopic fenestration, aspiration and cystectomies were performed in group I (30 patients). However, ovarian cystectomies, salpingo-oophorectomy and oophorectomy were performed by laparotomy in group II (30 patients). Results: The comparison was done with respect to duration of surgery intra-operative blood loss, time of mobilization, duration of hospital stay and amount of analgesia used, time to return to normal activity. The amount of analgesics used, time of mobilization, duration of hosp ital stay and time to return to normal activity was less (P 0.05). Conclusion: With appropriate preoperative evaluation, laparoscopic surgery is safe and effective in treating benign ovarian cyst in women under 40 years of age where the risk of malignancy is low. It is associated with early mobilization, less use of analgesia, shorter hospital stay.