Purpose: to evaluate the results of the first 104 hysteroscopic polypectomies in a teaching hospital. Methods: a retrospective descriptive study was designed. Medical records of the first 136 operative hysteroscopies - 104 of which polypectomies - were reviewed. Patient characteristics such as age, parity, period of reproductive function and symptoms; number and size of polyps and results concerning complications and symptom relief were evaluated. Results: the average age of patients was 52.7 years. Three quarters of them were multiparous. Fifty-seven percent of the patients were menopaused. About half of the patients had symptoms related to polyps. Abnormal bleeding was the most frequent symptom (47.1%). In 16.3% of the patients more than 1 polyp were detected and 84% of the polyps were larger than 1 cm. The only immediate complication was a uterine perforation. Late complications were rare and mild. The follow-up period was 9 months on average. In 82% of teh patients the symptoms were controlled. Hysterectomy was necessary in 8.2% of the patients, all of them with other uterine diseases such as leiomyomas, adenomyosis and atypical endometrial hyperplasia in one patient). Conclusion: hysteroscopic polypectomy is a simple, safe and effective method for the treatment of endometrial polyps. Selection of patients must be rigorous to avoid further operative procedures.
Endometrial polyp; Hysteroscopy; Abnormal uterine bleeding; Hysterectomy
