Comparison of surgical treatment of ovarian teratoma by either laparoscopy or laparotomy

[Objective]To compare the effectiveness and safety of surgical treatment of ovarian teratoma by either laparoscopy or laparotomy. A total of 297 conservative cases of ovarian teratoma treated by either laparoscopy or laparotomy in our hospital from Jan. 1998 to Dec.2002 were reviewed retrospectively. The mean operating time of the laparoscopy group (82.9±23.7) min was slightly longer than that of the laparotomy group(67.3±18.3) min, (P0.01) and the operation time was positively related to size of tumors. Estimated blood loss of the laparoscopy group (38.4±25.1) mL was less than that of the laparotomy group(81.1±31.3) mL, (P 0.01). The laparoscopy group had lower postoperative temperature and quicker recovery of bowl movement. The mean days of hospitalization in the laparoscopy group (9.7±2.6) d were shorter than that in the laparotomy group (12.1±2.8) d, (P0.01); Medical costs in the laparoscopy group (6624.8±628.0, Yuan RMB) was higher than that in the laparotomy group(5453.8±953.0), (P0.01). Both postoperative complications and the recurrence rate of the teratoma were similar in the two groups. [Conclusions] Laparoscopic treatment of ovarian teratoma has similar effectiveness and safety to laparotomy and is of less trauma, less blood loss, shorter time of hospitalization and quicker recovery although with slight high medical costs.