While medical authorities are looking at improving competence levels of surgeons performing laparoscopic “keyhole” surgery, new evidence has emerged to show some of the techniques themselves are a waste of time.
Researchers have focused on laparoscopic hysterectomy and discovered that it is much slower than the standard procedure which is performed vaginally.
A study team from the Royal Free Hospital in London looked into the cases of 75 women who underwent laparoscopic surgery against 23 who had a hysterectomy vaginally. They found that the traditional method was much faster, so negating one of the supposed benefits of keyhole surgery. They also found that recovery rates were similar in both groups, again a benefit usually associated with keyhole surgery.