Objectives: Our aim was to evaluate a new electrosurgical
instrument (Lap Loop device) that amputates the uterine
corpus from the cervix during a laparoscopic supracervical
hysterectomy (LSH) and to compare the time
required for cervical amputation with traditional methods.
Methods: This comparative trial was conducted at the
University of Louisville and Norton Healthcare Hospitals,
Louisville, KY. The patients comprised 29 women scheduled
for hysterectomy for benign conditions. All patients
underwent laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy. The
Lap Loop device was used in 17 patients to section the
cervix. Conventional methods with either laparoscopic
monopolar scissors or Harmonic scalpel were used in 12
patients.
Results: In the control group, the mean cervical cutting
time with laparoscopic scissors or Harmonic scalpel was
14.4 minutes. The mean time for the application of the
loop electrode and cutting time was 6.6 minutes and was
significantly shorter than the cutting time of conventional
methods. Two minor complications (7.4% of cases) and
one relatively major complication (3.7%), an incisional
hernia, occurred in the study patients. None of the complications
were related to the new device.
Conclusion: An electrosurgical loop decreased the time
required for resection of the uterine cervix during LSH for
benign uterine conditions. This device facilitates and increases
the safety of this procedure.
Key Words: Laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy,
Lap Loop, Electrosurgical transection.
