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Complications of Hysteroscopic Surgery: Predicting Patients at Risk

From the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, the Division of Reproductive Medicine, and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Epidemiology Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

Address reprint requests to: Anthony M. Propst, MD Brigham and Women’s Hospital Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 75 Francis Street Boston, MA 02115 E-mail: ampropst{at}bics.bwh.harvard.edu

Objective: To determine the frequency of operative complications and whether they can be predicted by specific patient characteristics or type of hysteroscopic procedure.

Methods: We collected demographic and medical history information on 925 women who had hysteroscopies from 1995 through 1996. We compared differences in rates of operative complications of specific hysteroscopic procedures. Operative complications were defined as uterine perforation, excessive glycine absorption (1 L or more), hyponatremia, hemorrhage (500 mL or more), bowel or bladder injury, inability to dilate the cervix, and procedure-related hospital admissions.

Results: Operative complications occurred in 25 (2.7%) of 925 hysteroscopies. Excessive fluid absorption was the most frequent complication. Hysteroscopic myomectomy and resection of uterine septum were associated with greater odds of complications (odds ratio [OR] 7.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.3, 16.6 and OR 4.0, 95% CI 0.9, 19.6, respectively). Hysteroscopic polypectomy and endometrial ablation were associated with lower odds of complications (OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.0, 0.7 and OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.1, 3.3, respectively). Hysteroscopies done by reproductive endocrinologists and preoperative GnRH agonist therapy were associated with 4–7 times higher odds for operative complications.

Conclusion: Complications during hysteroscopic surgery are rare. Among hysteroscopic procedures, myomectomies and resections of uterine septa have significantly higher rates of complications, especially excessive fluid absorption. Meticulous fluid management might limit the number of serious complications of these higher-risk procedures.

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