Laparoscopic oophorectomy

Oophorectomies were performed on 312 women as part of an operative laparoscopic procedure over an eight-year period. The average age of the women was 40.4 +/- 0.6 (SEM) years; 36.5% had previously undergone a hysterectomy. The median operating time was 120 minutes. The length of hospitalization was less than 24 hours in 77.6% of women, between 24 and 48 hours in 15.1% and over 48 hours in 7.4%. Intraoperative and/or postoperative complications occurred in 12 women (3.8%). Estimated blood loss greater than 300 mL occurred in two women. The most frequent diagnoses were endometriosis/endometrioma, functional cysts and normal ovarian tissue (usually from ovaries enmeshed in adhesions); two ovaries demonstrated borderline malignant potential. Laparoscopic oophorectomy is acceptable under appropriate conditions. Further studies are necessary to provide criteria for accurate differentiation of benign from malignant ovarian enlargement.