Results:
A total of 620 LSC were performed in our department in the study period and 512 women were enrolled in the study and randomized. The McGill pain questionnaire was completed by 274 women and these were included in this early postoperative analysis. Vaginal pack was inserted in 132 (48%) women (Figure 1). There were no differences regarding the concomitant surgery on the uterus - 92 women had vaginal vault prolapse, 138 women underwent a concomitant supracervical hysterectomy and the uterus was preserved in 44 women (Table 1). Similarly, the groups did not differ in basic preoperative characteristics (age, BMI, smoking), nor surgical characteristics including duration of the surgery, estimated blood loss, Redon drainage insertion and perioperative complications (Table 1). There were 6 bladder perforations, three in each group and one intraperitoneal hematoma requiring drainage on postoperative day 2 in the packing group. No adverse events associated with vaginal packing were noted.
Low values of postoperative pain were observed in all scores of McGill Pain questionnaire including VAS. No difference in postoperative pain was detected between the groups as demonstrated in Table 2. Similarly, patient satisfaction with the surgery on day one before pack extraction or overall satisfaction on day 4 did not differ (Table 3).
The mean haemoglobin levels on day 4 were comparable (12.7±1.2 vs. 12.8±1.2 g/dl, p=.516). Significant bacteriuria incidence (≥105 colony-forming units (CFU) per mL of urine) did not differ between the groups (17 (12.9%) vs 18 (12.7%), p = .319). In the majority of cases, it was asymptomatic. These were not nosocomial infections as the pathogens included common urinary pathogens such as Escherichia coli (45.7%), Enterococcus faecalis. (31.4%).