2024 Volume 40 Issue 1 Pages 40-46
Objective: We aimed to clarify the effectiveness of preoperative vaginal preparation with povidone-iodine in preventing pelvic infection after total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH).
Methods: Our retrospective study included 365 patients who underwent TLH at our hospital between June 2017 and August 2021. The rate of postoperative pelvic infection was compared between 2 groups: patients who underwent preoperative vaginal preparation using povidone-iodine (n=314) or benzethonium chloride (n=51).
Results: Postoperative pelvic infection was observed in 3.0% of the study participants. Morbidity from pelvic infection was more severe in patients who underwent preoperative vaginal preparation with benzethonium chloride than in patients who underwent preparation with povidone-iodine (13.3% vs 1.8%). No significant differences were found in operative time, blood loss, or weight of the uterus between the two groups.
Conclusion: Preoperative vaginal preparation with povidone-iodine before TLH can be considered more effective than benzethonium chloride in reducing morbidity from pelvic infection after surgery.
