OBJECTIVETo assess the prognosis and reproductive outcomes of laparoscopic intracapsular myomectomy.

METHODSA total of 673 women received subserosal and intramural intracapsular laparoscopic myomectomy between March, 2007 and March, 2012, and their post-operative complications, the need for subsequent surgery, symptomatic relief and reproductive outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTSOf these patients, 42.4% had subserosal myomas and 57.6% had intramural myomas. The mean total operative time was 96∓41 min with a mean blood loss of 128∓46.2 ml, and 82.3% of the patients were discharged 48 h after the operation without early complications. A small fraction (2.3%) of the patients had a second laparoscopic myomectomy for recurrent fibroids. Of the fertility-demanding women who underwent myomectomy, 71% achieved pregnancy, 49.8% underwent caesarean section, 8% had operative vaginal deliveries, and 42.2% had spontaneous deliveries; uterine rupture occurred in none of the cases.

CONCLUSIONLaparoscopic intracapsular myomectomy, by preserving the fibroid pseudocapsule and myometrial integrity, has no early postoperative complications and ensures good fertility rates and reproductive outcomes.