Study objective: To estimate the feasibility and safety of vaginal birth after laparoscopic myomectomy (LM).
Design: Prospective clinical study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).
Setting: University hospital.
Patients: The study was performed on 1334 patients who underwent LM at our hospital from January 2000 through December 2005.
Interventions: Laparoscopic myomectomy.
Measurements and main results: The potential of a safe vaginal birth after LM was discussed with all 1334 patients before and after their LM. A strict protocol for a vaginal birth after LM was prepared using the criteria for a vaginal birth after cesarean section (CS). Of the 221 women who became pregnant after LM by December 2006, 111 were scheduled to deliver at our hospital. The findings at LM in these patients were as follows: mean diameter of the largest myoma (mean +/- SD, 95% CI), 66.1 +/- 18.8 (62.6-69.6) mm; and mean number of enucleated myomas, 3.5 +/- 3.6 (2.8-4.2). The endometrium was opened in 13 patients. Of the 111 patients, 82 patients opted for a vaginal delivery and 29 patients requested a CS. Of the 82 patients, 8 underwent an elective CS because of complications of pregnancy. Vaginal delivery was completed in 59 (79.7%) of the remaining 74 patients. The 15 patients who failed vaginal delivery underwent a CS: eleven because of failure to progress in labor or absence of spontaneous labor by 42 weeks of gestation; and 4 because of a nonreassuring fetal status during labor. No significant differences in delivery outcomes existed between the successful and failed group. None of the patients had a uterine rupture.
Conclusion: Uterine rupture during pregnancy after LM is rare, and vaginal birth after LM appears to be safe in selected patients who meet our criteria.