Preoperative relugolix combination therapy in laparoscopic myomectomy: a case series evaluating impact on surgical planes and operative outcomes.
Vandermolen. Brooke B; Reindorf. Maxine M; McMurray. Rebecca R; Aref-Adib. Mehrnoosh M; Odejinmi. Funlayo F
Key Findings
- Pre‑operative Relugolix‑CT reduced intra‑operative blood loss compared with no pretreatment.
- Operative time and length of hospital stay were similar between groups.
- Fibroid pseudocapsules showed no distortion or fibrosis after Relugolix‑CT, allowing complete removal.
- No complications were reported in either group.
Practical Outcomes
- For women with uterine fibroids planning laparoscopic removal, a few months of Relugolix‑CT may make the surgery cleaner and reduce bleeding, but it doesn’t speed up the operation or shorten recovery. This finding is specific to fibroid surgery and isn’t broadly applicable to general health‑optimization or longevity protocols.
Summary
A small case series looked at women who took a drug combo (relugolix, estradiol, norethisterone) before having fibroid surgery. The pre‑treated group lost less blood and the surgeons reported cleaner tissue planes, but surgery time and hospital stay were about the same as those who didn’t take the drugs.
Abstract
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor antagonists in combination therapy offer a promising advancement in the medical management of uterine fibroids. While effective for symptom control, limited data exist on their impact on surgical outcomes, particularly during laparoscopic myomectomy. This case series describes the surgical findings in three patients who received preoperative Relugolix combination therapy (Relugolix-CT: relugolix-estradiol-norethisterone acetate) compared to no pretreatment. We conducted a retrospective review of 24 patients who underwent laparoscopic myomectomy over a 6-month period. Three patients received a preoperative course of Relugolix-CT for 3, 6, and 9 months, respectively, while 21 patients underwent surgery without pretreatment. Blood loss was lower in the Relugolix-CT group (216.6 mL ± 189.7) vs. the no-pretreatment group (354.8 mL ± 131.9. Operating time was similar (148.3 vs. 148.1 min), as was duration of inpatient stay (1.3 vs. 2.0 days). No complications occurred in either group. Notably, in all cases with Relugolix-CT pretreatment, no distortion or fibrosis of the fibroid pseudocapsule was noted, allowing for complete resection of the fibroids. This case series suggests that preoperative Relugolix-CT does not adversely affect surgical planes or operative outcomes. Although preliminary, these findings suggest benefits for surgical optimisation and support further investigation in larger, controlled studies.
Study Information
pubmed
2025
2025-11-04T00:00:00.000Z
10.1007/s00404-025-08174-5
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