Robotic versus abdominal hysterectomy; metabolic and inflammatory responses and subsequent recovery. A randomised controlled study

Abstract

Objectives: The aim was to study if robotic assisted total hysterectomy (RTLH) would induce less insulin resistance than abdominal hysterectomy (AH). In addition, inflammatory response and clinical recovery were compared. Methods: We conducted a randomised controlled study at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Örebro University Hospital; Sweden. Twenty women scheduled for a planned total hysterectomy with or without salpingo-oophorectomy, between October 2014 and May 2015, were randomly allocated to robotic assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy or abdominal hysterectomy. Insulin resistance after surgery was measured by the hyperinsulinemic normoglycemic clamp method. Inflammatory response was measured in blood samples and clinical recovery outcomes registered. Results: There were no differences in development of insulin resistance (mean ± SD) for robotic group (39±22%) vs abdominal group (40±19%; p=0.948). The robotic group had a significantly shorter hospital stay (median 1 vs. 2 days, p=0.005). Inflammatory reaction differed in form of significantly greater increase in serum interleukin 6 levels and white blood cell count, from preoperative value to postoperative peak value, in abdominal group compared with robotic group. Conclusion: Robotic assisted hysterectomy reduced inflammatory responses and recovery time but these changes were not accompanied by less insulin resistance. Disclosure of interest: None declared.