Tissue Trauma in Abdominal and Laparoscopic-Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy

Study Objective

To compare the degree of tissue damage between abdominal and laparoscopic-assisted hysterectomy.

Design

Prospective, randomized, controlled study (Canadian Task Force classification I).

Setting

University hospital.

Patients

Forty-six women.

Intervention

Laparoscopic-assisted and abdominal hysterectomy.

Measurements and Main Results

The degree of tissue injury caused by surgical trauma was assessed by measuring plasma levels of creatine phosphokinase (CPK), C-reactive protein (CRP), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and CA 125 in patients undergoing laparoscopic-assisted (n = 23) and abdominal hysterectomy (n = 23). Plasma levels of CPK-MB isoenzyme were measured in order to exclude the possibility of myocardial injury. Blood samples were taken preoperatively, and on the first and second postoperative days. There was no difference in demographic characteristics between the groups. One patient in the laparotomy group and two patients in the laparoscopy group were excluded from analysis due to bladder injury, postoperative thrombophlebitis, and conversion to laparotomy because of severe adhesions. The mean operation time was longer (105.5 ± 23.1 minutes vs 77.3 ± 18.7 minutes, p <.001), but the duration of hospital stay was shorter (2.7 ± 0.8 days vs 4.3 ± 1.4 days, p <.001) and analgesic requirement was lower in the laparoscopy group compared with the abdominal group. We observed significant postoperative increases in CRP and CPK in both groups on postoperative days 1 and 2, whereas the increase in LDH was significant only in the laparotomy group on postoperative day 2. There were no significant changes in CPK-MB and CA 125. Moreover, mean plasma levels of CRP and CPK were significantly higher in the laparotomy group on postoperative days 1 and 2 than in the laparoscopy group (p <.05).

Conclusion

Surgery is a significant cause of tissue injury that can be assessed by specific enzymes and proteins. We suggest that laparoscopic surgery causes less tissue damage as assessed by lower postoperative CRP and CPK values, and that less tissue trauma related with laparoscopic surgery may account for early mobilization and reduced analgesic requirement in these patients.