Surgical parameters affecting procedure duration of hysteroscopic fibroid resection: results of a retrospective longitudinal study

Purpose

To identify and analyze the main surgical parameters affecting the operative time of hysteroscopic fibroid resection.

Methods

This retrospective observational study included 65 cases of outpatient hysteroscopic fibroid resection performed between March 2021 and May 2023 in outpatient office setting. Patients aged 18–50 with various indications such as infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, or abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) were included. The operative time, fibroid size, FIGO classification, and fibroid localization were recorded and analyzed using ANOVA, Chi-square test, and linear regression models.

Results

The average operative duration for all surgeries was 557.41 (± 449.52) s. A significant correlation between fibroid size and operative time was found in FIGO 0 (p = 0.0003) and FIGO 1 (p < 0.0001) subgroups, with weaker correlation in FIGO II (p = 0.039). FIGO I surgeries took significantly longer than FIGO 0 (p = 0.044), and fundal fibroids were associated with longer operative times compared to posterior fibroids (p = 0.0329).

Conclusion

The size and FIGO classification of fibroids significantly influence operative time during hysteroscopic resection. Smaller and more accessible fibroids (FIGO 0 and 1) are resected faster than those embedded deeper in the uterine wall (FIGO 2). Detailed preoperative evaluation of fibroid characteristics can better predict operative time, aiding in patient preparation and optimized analgesia and perioperative planning as well as optimizing the use of operating theater. Further studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to validate these findings and explore additional influencing factors.