Safety and caregiver satisfaction associated with laparoscopic hysterectomy among young patients with intellectual disability

Abstract

© 2015 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Objective: To evaluate the safety of laparoscopic hysterectomy for young patients with intellectual disability and the postoperative satisfaction levels of their caregivers. Methods: A retrospective analysiswas conductedofall patients with intellectual disability who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy at a center in Thailand between January 5, 2004, and August 31, 2010. Information was retrieved about preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative characteristics. Caregiver satisfaction levels were assessed 3 months after surgery using a Likert-type scale. Results: The mean age of the 74 included patients was 14.9 ± 4.2 years. The cause of intellectual disability was unknown for 30 patients (41%); 22 (30%) had Down syndrome. Total laparoscopic hysterectomy was performed among 66 (89%) patients. No major operative complications were noted. Overall, 72 (97%) caregivers were extremely satisfied with the surgical outcome; the remaining 2 (3%) reported being very satisfied. Conclusion: Laparoscopic hysterectomy was safe and had good outcomes among patients with intellectual disability. This procedure might be a feasible option to induce therapeutic amenorrhea among young patients with intellectual disability, especially in countries with limited resources.