Uterine fibromas are the most common benign uterine tumors. Although the majority of leiomyomas remain asymptomatic, they can cause serious clinical problems, including abnormal uterine bleeding, pelvic pain, and infertility, which require effective gynecological intervention. Depending on the symptoms as well as patients' preferences, various treatment options are available, such as medical therapy, non-invasive procedures, and surgical methods. Regardless of the extent of the surgery, the preferred option is the laparoscopic approach. To reduce the risk of spreading occult malignancy and myometrial cells associated with fragmentation of the specimen before its removal from the peritoneal cavity, special systems for laparoscopic contained morcellation have been developed. The aim of this review is to present the state-of-the-art contained morcellation. Different types of available retrieval bags are demonstrated. The advantages and difficulties associated with contained morcellation are described. The impact of retrieval bag usage on the course of surgery, as well as the effects of the learning curve, are discussed. The role of contained morcellation in the overall strategy to optimize patient safety is highlighted.
Keywords: contained morcellation; laparoscopy; myoma; retrieval bag; tissue dissemination.