Background: Operative gynecologic laparoscopy (OGL) had remained in latency in Nigeria ostensibly because of widespread lack of equipment and skilled personnel. Following the tertiary health care intervention program of the Nigerian government, video-assisted laparoscopy equipment became available in the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Nigeria, in 2010. Methods: OGL was commenced in OAUTHC, Ile-Ife in 2011, and prospective data began to be collected using a specifically designed instrument. An analysis of the data collected over the 12-month period from November, 2011 to October, 2012 was performed. Results: There were 51 OGLs, making up 23.7% of the 215 gynecologic surgeries over the study period. The patients' ages ranged from 20 to 50 years (mean age=32.6±6.0 years). Ten (19.6%) of the OGLs were emergencies, whereas 41 (80.4%) were elective. Twenty-eight patients (54.9%) had tubal surgery for tubal-factor infertility, whereas 6 (11.8%) had endometriosis surgery. There were 6 salpingectomies for ectopic pregnancy (11.8%), including 1 heterotopic pregnancy. Two total laparoscopic hysterectomies (3.9%) and 2 ovarian cystectomies were also performed. The duration of surgery ranged from 33 minutes to 185 minutes (mean time=79.8±42.9 minutes). Various improvisations and local adaptations were necessary in the course of 14 procedures (27.5%). There were 5 conversions to laparotomy (9.8%), all following emergency laparoscopy. The duration of hospital stay postoperatively ranged from 4 hours to 5 days (median time=6 hours). There was no postoperative morbidity or mortality. Conclusions: With basic equipment and indigenous skilled personnel, routine OGL is possible even in resource-constrained settings such as Nigeria. Health care providers, therefore, need to consider and endorse this possibility for every patient requiring gynecologic surgery. (J GYNECOL SURG 29:186)
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