Gynecological laparoscopic surgeries: A 4‑year audit at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Background: In addition to a shorter hospital stay and better cosmetic results, laparoscopic surgery also offers patients fewer postoperative complications compared to conventional open gynecological surgeries. With expertise and better facilities, it has come to stay as an alternative surgical approach to gynecological diagnosis and treatment.Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the indications, intraoperative findings, and types of laparoscopic surgeries performed at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin.Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study of 150 patients who underwent laparoscopic procedures between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2015, at the Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART) unit of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Ilorin, Nigeria.Results: Within the period of our review, there were 1,256 gynecological operations and 150 laparoscopies, thus giving a period prevalence of 11.2%. The patients were aged 20–59 years with a mean age of 32.1 ± 3.9 years. Of the 150 laparoscopies, 30 (20%) had diagnostic laparoscopies while 120 (80%) had therapeutic laparoscopies. Of the 30 patients who had diagnostic laparoscopies, 5 (16.7%) presented with primary infertility and 12 (40%) with secondary infertility. The commonest indication for therapeutic laparoscopy was clomiphene‑resistant polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and was found in 81 (67.5%). One (0.7%) was converted to open surgery due to technical difficulties. There was a case of iatrogenic sigmoid colon injury and no mortality recorded.Conclusion: Laparoscopic surgery offers patients a novel choice of intervention that affords establishing definitive diagnosis, shorter hospital stay, better cosmetics, and reduced morbidities/mortalities compared to open gynecological surgeries.Key words: Gynecological; Ilorin; laparoscopy; Nigeria