Table 5 Summary of published studies assessing minilaparotomy approach for total hysterectomy.

Study period

1996–1997

1995–2001

1998–2002

1997–2003

2002–2005

2005

2004–2006

Study design

Retrospective

Prospective

Prospective non-randomized

Retrospective

Retrospective

Prospective randomized multicenter trial

Retrospective

Comparison groups

L, V, LAVH

L

L

-

-

L, LAVH

L, LH

N

Minilaparotomy/Total

26/250

118/148

100/200

67

150

41/82

81/165

Mean age

(years)

54

(28–84)

47

(38–75)

31.9

(32–50)

39.2

(26–52.4)

45

(45.3–47.7)

48(41–61)

50

(90–40)

Body mass Index

(kg/m2)

???

25

(18–45)

???

23.6

(20.2–26.9)

24

(23.4–24.5)

???

25.05

(44.4–16.4)

Minilap. size

(cm)

5–6

6–10

<6

4–9

<6

5–9

<6

Self-retaning retractor

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Only bening conditions

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

TAH +/- BSO

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No*

Yes

Yes

Mean operative time (min)

84

(45–125)

50

(34–88)

41

(30–90)

84.9

(53.1–116.7)

70

(63.1–70.7)

58

(45–75)

73.4

(67.8–78.9)

Mean day of discharge

3.4

(2–8)^†

3

(2–5)

4.3

(3–8)

3.11

(2.3–3.8)

2.5

(2.4–2.6)

3

(1–5)^†

3.8

(3.6–4.1)^†

Mean uterus weight

(gr)

123

(19–275)

285

(148–482)^†

???

???

131.9

(113.9–149.8)

345

(180–600)^†

251.8^‡

(1204–5.27)^†

Postoperative bleeding

(gr/dl)

173

(75–500)^≈

< 1.5

240^≈

???

???

1.4

(0.2–2.1)

2.1

(5–0.1)