Parasitic myomas after laparoscopic surgery: an emerging complication in the use of morcellator? Description of four cases

Abstract

Objective: To report the development of parasitic myomas after the use of a morcellator.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Tertiary care referral center for the treatment of benign gynecologic pathologies.

Patient(s): Women undergoing surgery for uterine fibroids.

Intervention(s): Chart review.

Main outcome measure(s): Presence of parasitic leiomyomas.

Result(s): We identified four cases of parasitic myomas over the 3-year study period. Two out of the four were symptomatic. The prevalence of this complication, considering all women with whom the electric morcellator was used (n = 423) was 0.9% (95% CI, 0.3-2.2%). Considering exclusively the women who underwent myomectomy (n = 321), it was 1.2% (95% CI, 0.4-2.9%).

Conclusion(s): Laparoscopic myomectomy with the use of a morcellator is associated with an increased risk of developing of parasitic myomas. A thorough inspection and washing of the abdominopelvic cavity at the end of the surgery should be performed to prevent this rare complication.