Objective : To check the effectiveness of tourniquet in the prevention of haemorrhage during myomectomies at the University Hospital of Brazzaville. Patients and methods: Analytical cross-sectional study, conducted at the University Hospital of Brazzaville from June 1, 2014 to June 30, 2016. Recruitment was performed by randomly matching each case of myomectomy performed using a tourniquet with two cases of myomectomy without tourniquet (50 cases vs 100 witnesses). We used as a tourniquet, the surgical glove knotted and tightened sufficiently at the level of the isthmus of the uterus to temporarily occlude the uterine arteries to ensure haemostasis lasting no more than one hour. Results: The mean age of the patients was similar in both groups (36, 1 ± 2.2 years vs 36.2 ± 1.9 years, P > 0.05). Menorrhagia was the most common indication of myomectomy in both groups (76% vs . 78% P > 0.05). The mean haemoglobin level of the patients before the myomectomies was 9.03 ± 1.10 g/dl vs 9, 75 ± 1.29 g/dl; P > 0.05. Intraoperative uterine features were similar in size (18 weeks gestation , 14 - 24) and number of myomas (5 vs 4, P > 0.05) in both groups. Polymyomectomy was more common in both groups (76% vs 73%, P > 0.05). Blood loss was reduced in the tourniquet group (90.5 ± 4.6 ml vs 200.4 ± 5.6 ml; P < 0.05), as well as the use of blood transfusion (8% vs 50%, P < 0.05). Use of the number of sutures was reduced in the group with tourniquet (3 ± 0.2 vs 6 ± 0.2 P < 0.05). The duration of the procedure was shorter in the group with tourniquet (51.5 ± 4 min vs 83 ± 7 min, P < 0.05). Postoperative mean haemoglobin of patients was no different between the two groups (9.4 ± 0.7 g/dl vs 9.2 ± 0.5, P > 0.05). The overall cost of management was reduced in the group with tourniquet (190 , 680 ± 1450 F CFA vs 256 , 800 ± 2350 FCFA; P < 0.05). Conclusion: The use of tourniquet during myomectomies significantly reduces blood loss and the use of blood transfusion. We also obtain the notorious reduction in the use of sutures, the duration of interventions, and the overall cost of care. Thus, we encourage the systematic use of tourniquet during myomectomies by laparotomy.
The myomectomy has the particularity of being a haemorrhagic surgical procedure likely to be life-threatening [
In our developing world context, myomectomy remains a risky surgery regarding the problems associated with the shortage of blood products and the reluctance of certain patients to blood transfusion [
Also, this study aims to verify the effectiveness of tourniquet in the prevention of haemorrhage during myomectomies at the University Hospital of Brazzaville.
It was a cross-sectional analytical study, conducted at the University Hospital of Brazzaville from June 1, 2014 to June 31, 2016.
Included were all patients operated for myomectomy at the University Hospital of Brazzaville, randomly matching each case of myomectomy performed using a tourniquet with two cases of myomectomy without tourniquet. On this basis, we counted 50 myomectomies with tourniquet, constituting the first group (study population or case) and 100 myomectomies without tourniquet, constituting the second group (control population).
Patients operated on by myoma outside the University Hospital and secondarily admitted, or cases of localization of myoma exclusively sub serous were not considered.
Operators were obstetrician gynaecologists trained in the practice of myomectomy.
Myomectomies in both groups were systematically performed after transverse cutaneous approach, by anterior incision, followed by enucleation with scissors or digitalis. Hysterography was then performed in two planes using the resorbable wire.
As a tourniquet, we used the surgical glove knotted and tightened sufficiently at the level of the isthmus of the uterus (
We analysed for each patient the variables:
- Preoperative: age in years, indication for surgery, haemoglobin in grams per decilitre;
- Inoperative: the type of anaesthesia, the size of the uterus, the number of myomas, the estimated blood loss in millilitre, the number of threads, the duration of intervention in minutes, the transfusion;
- Postoperative: the operative follow-up, the haemoglobin level in grams per decilitre, the hospital stays;
- In relation to the overall cost of care considering drugs, consumables, blood transfusion, and hospitalization costs.
The data collected was analysed using epi data 3.1 software. We performed Chi-2 independence tests to assess the statistical difference between two qualitative variables. The adjusted Chi-2 test was applied when the expected value in the contingency table was less than 5%. The observed difference between two quantitative variables was verified by applying the t-Student test. The test was significant for a probability less than 0.05.
Both groups of patients had identical characteristics with respect to age, preoperative haemoglobin level, and operative indication (
Intraoperative parameters have been reported in
On the other hand, a significant difference was observed in terms of the amount of intraoperative perfusion, blood loss, and use of consumables (sutures and number of compresses).
We recorded more cases of complicated operative follow-up in the group of myomectomies who did not use tourniquet, as shown in
The haemoglobin level was similar postoperatively, as well as the duration of hospitalization in both groups. The cost of management was significantly reduced in the myomectomy group with tourniquet.
Our study focused on the use of tourniquet, a haemostatic preventive measure for which few publications are devoted to it in Africa [
| Tourniquet | Without Tourniquet | P | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age years (Mean-Std) Extremes in years Haemoglobin in g/dl (Mean-Std) Extremes Indications of surgery (%) Menorrhagia Masse Infertility | 36.1 ± 2.2 (26 - 41) 9.03 ± 1.10 (8.73 - 12.31) 38 (76) 8 (16) 4 (8) | 36.2 ± 1.9 (28 - 40) 975 ± 1.29 (8.88 - 11.98) 72 (72) 16 (16) 12 (12) | 0.12 0.40 0.41 |
Std: Standard deviation, n: effective, g: gram, dl: decilitre.
| Tourniquet | Without Tourniquet | P | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type anaesthesia n (’%) General Loco-regional Perfusion per operatories Mean-Standard deviation Extremes Surgical procedure practiced n (’%) Single myomectomy polymyomectomy Blood loss Mean-Standard deviation extremes Blood transfusion n (’%) Number of sutures Mean-Standard deviation extremes Box of compresses Mean-Standard deviation Duration of the intervention Mean-Standard deviation extremes | 16 (32) 34 (68) 1250 ± 94.5 750 - 2000 12 (24) 38 (76) 90.5 ± 4.6 75 - 150 4 (8) 3 ± 0.2 (2 - 5) 2 (1 - 3) 51.5 ± 4 min (40 - 90) | 30 (30) 70 (70) 2400.5 ± 97.6 2000 - 3000 27 (27) 73 (73) 200.4 ± 5.6 185 - 350 50 (50) 6 ± 0.2 (5 - 8) 4 (3 - 6) 83 ± 7 min (45 - 120) | 0.10 0.000 0.13 0.001 0.002 0.001 0.05 0.04 |
| Tourniquet | Without Tourniquet | P | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operative suites simple complicated* Haemoglobin in g/dl (Mean-Std) extremes Duration of hospitalisation Mean Standard Deviation extremes Cost of care Mean-Standard deviation extremes | 50 (100) 0 9.4 ± 0.7 (8.01 - 10.21) 4.5 ± 0.6 days (3 - 5) 190,680 ± 1450 151,000 - 200,000 | 92 (92) 8 (8) 9.2 ± 0.5 (7.13 - 10.37) 5 ± 0.8 days (3 - 6) 256,800 ± 2350 181,000 - 286,000 | 0.25 1.02 1.49 0.04 |
*Fever: 6 cases; Urinary infection: 2 cases.
We used the surgical glove as a means of tourniquet. This choice was deliberate, related to the cost, accessibility of this device in our environment. Other teams use the Folley probe [
The use of the tourniquet during myomectomies has made it possible to control haemostasis; significantly reducing the number of sutures and compresses. In addition, this also allowed us to significantly reduce blood loss that did not exceed a Mean of 100 ml; unlike Pither in Libreville, Gabon [
Notwithstanding the context of polymyomectomies performed in both groups, blood transfusion was significantly reduced in the tourniquet group. Ikechebelu [
Like Flether [
The use of tourniquet during myomectomies significantly reduces blood loss, and therefore the use of blood transfusion. We also obtain the notorious reduction in the use of sutures, the duration of interventions, and the overall cost of care. Therefore, we encourage the systematic use of tourniquet during myomectomies by laparotomy.
No conflict of interest, regarding this article, is to be feared from us.
Itoua, C., Eouani, E.M.L., Okoko Ambeto, F.S., Potokoué Mpia, N.S.B., Koko, P.S., Atipo-Tsiba Galiba, F.O. and Iloki, L.H. (2018) Contribution of the Tourniquet in the Prevention of Haemorrhages during Myomectomies at the University Hospital of Brazzaville. Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 8, 701-706. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojog.2018.88074