Abstract
BACKGROUND: The most common complications of myomectomy are intraoperative hemorrhage and postoperative adhesion. The key point to overcome this problem is to improve suture quality. However, to date, there is still no consensus on the optimal method of uterine repair. In this study, we explored the effectiveness and feasibility of single-site laparoscopic parallel mattress sutures to reduce intraoperative bleeding and postoperative adhesion. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed, according to the STROBE guidelines, on 124 patients with intramural fibroids admitted between May 2020 and April 2021. The cases were divided into two groups based on the description of the uterine incision suture in the surgical records, including 68 cases in the parallel mattress suture (PMS) group and 56 cases in the simple continuous suture (SCS) group. Operation-related indicators, bleeding indicators, surgical complications, scar reduction index 1 month after surgery, and the incidence of chronic pelvic pain 6 months after the surgery were observed. Independent sample t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests were performed for the measurement data, and Pearson Chi-square tests were performed for count data. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the baseline characteristics between the two groups. All operations were performed under transumbilical single-site laparoscopy without conversion. Compared to the SCS group, the PMS group had earlier postoperative anal exhaust (14.3 ± 6.7 h vs. 19.2 ± 9.6 h, P = 0.002), fewer postoperative hemoglobin drops (7.6 ± 3.7 g/L vs. 11.6 ± 4.3 g/L, P = 0.000), smaller uterine scars (3.7 ± 1.9 cm vs. 5.2 ± 1.8 cm, P = 0.000), and a larger uterine scar reduction index (50.2% vs. 31.0%, P = 0.000) one month after surgery and less chronic pelvic pain 6 months after surgery (2.9% vs. 12.5%, P = 0.016). No difference was found in auxiliary trocar usage, transfusion rate, operation time, hospital stay, or perioperative complications between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Seromuscular parallel mattress sutures during myomectomy can prevent pinhole errhysis of the uterine incision, achieve complete serosal and aesthetic incisions, and reduce postoperative chronic pelvic pain. It is effective and feasible to complete a parallel mattress suture during myomectomy via single-site laparoscopy. Further prospective studies are required to determine its efficacy as well as pregnancy outcomes.