Hysterectomy via keyhole surgery is best: Study

MELBOURNE - A new study by Aussie scientists has shown that women who go for a hysterectomy or removal of ovaries via keyhole surgery are half as likely to suffer complications than those that opt for open abdominal surgery.

The results of the new study hopes to provide women with a quicker and less traumatic recovery from uterine cancer treatment.

Brisbane gynaecological oncologist Professor Andreas Obermair, who chaired the study at the Queensland Centre for Gynaecological Cancer, said patients undergoing a hysterectomy via the keyhole surgical approach generally left the hospital within one to two days.

“This gives them a recovery rate of two to three weeks and a 50 per cent reduction in post-operative complication rates,” News.com.au quoted Obermair as saying.

“When considering that patients will spend five to seven days in hospital with a recovery time of four to six weeks for open abdominal surgery, more women will now undergo keyhole surgery in the treatment of uterine cancer,” Obermair added.

The trial assessed 759 patients who were enrolled through 20 gynaecological cancer centres worldwide.

Another discovery from the trial was that patients undergoing keyhole surgery also benefited from a greater quality of life up to six months following their surgery in terms of physical, functional and overall wellbeing.

Obermair said the study confirmed long-held medical suspicions that keyhole surgery delivered far superior results to patients than open abdominal surgery.

The results were published in Lancet Oncology. (ANI)