Myomectomy is the surgical remedy of preference for women with symptomatic fibroids, who prefer or want uterine conservation. Myomectomy can be finished by using conventional laparotomy, by means of minilaparotomy, or by means of minimal access techniques, such as hysteroscopy and laparoscopy. Since the advent of minimal access surgery, there has been interest in the relative advantages and disadvantages of both surgical modalities.

To determine the benefits and harms of laparoscopic myomectomy compared with open myomectomy.

We used various search engines – PubMed, HighWire Press, Google, and Yahoo – to search for all trials and articles comparing myomectomy via laparotomy, minilaparotomy, or laparoscopically assisted minilaparotomy vs laparoscopy. We found several articles of which 10 were used in this review article based on the outcomes studied, date of publication (after 2005), methodology of study, level of evidence, and the journal in which they were published. The results of these trials were then compared.

Laparoscopic myomectomy is a process associated with less subjectively reported postoperative pain, lower postoperative fever, and shorter hospital stay as opposed to all kinds of open myomectomy. No data suggested a difference in recurrence risk between laparoscopic and open myomectomy. Even more studies are needed to determine fertility outcomes, rates of uterine rupture, occurrence of thromboembolism, and need for repeat myomectomy and hysterectomy at a later stage.

Bansal B. Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques vs Open Myomectomy for Treatment of Uterine Fibroids. World J Lap Surg 2016;9(3):126-129.