Objective: The two main objectives were to investigate and compare the following: (1) the development of chronic postoperative pain after robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy and abdominal hysterectomy and (2) potential risk factors for developing chronic postoperative pain after hysterectomy. Design: Questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. Materials and Method: Patients having abdominal or robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy procedures performed at Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark, in the period from January 2010 to December 2012. The Danish Gynecologic Cancer Database was used to identify and collect clinical data from women who had undergone total hysterectomy for endometrial cancer. Questionnaires were mailed to the included women with a response time of 5 weeks. Results: A total of 228 women received the questionnaire, and 177 (77.6%) responded. No significant difference was found in the prevalence of chronic postoperative pain between abdominal and robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy, with an occurrence of 16.9% and 11.9%, respectively. Preoperative pelvic pain (p<0.05) and acute postoperative pain intensity (p<0.05) were significant predictors for development of chronic postoperative pain. Lower blood loss (p<0.01) and acute postoperative pain intensity (p<0.01) were observed in robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy, and operation time (p<0.01) was longer compared with abdominal hysterectomy. Conclusion: The type of operation does not influence the number of patients developing chronic postoperative pain after hysterectomy. Preoperative pelvic pain and high intensity acute postoperative pain were associated with increased risk of developing chronic postoperative pain. Robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy has a longer operation time, but reduced blood loss and acute postoperative pain compared with abdominal hysterectomy. (J GYNECOL SURG 31:198)
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