Background: Uterine leiomyoma is remarkably common, however only a
subset of women have their fibroids clinically detected, symptomatic,
or warrant surgical treatment. Its removal is commonly associated with
complications. To prevent or control the occurrence of this
complication requires the understanding of the factors associated with
the complications. Objective: To evaluate the sociodemographic,
clinical characteristics, management outcome and its determinants in
southwestern Nigeria. Methods: Study was carried out at two large
tertiary hospitals in the south west region of Nigeria. Retrospective
review of case records of all surgically managed cases of uterine
leiomyoma over a period of 25 years. One hundred and fifty nine women
with uterine leiomyoma seen and managed surgically in South-Western
Nigeria were the participants. \ Results: The common presenting
complaints were menstrual irregularities (47.7%), abdominal swelling
(39.1%) and infertility (31.9%). The average uterine size at
presentation was 15±9.7 weeks. The majority (79.9%) of the women
presented with multiple leiomyomata. The commonest anatomical position
of the nodules were multiple positions and intramural in 707(60.9%) and
172(14.8%) respectively. Myomectomy was performed in 54.7% of cases.
Postoperative complications occurred in 20.9 % of cases with
postoperative pyrexia (13.5%), blood loss warranting transfusion
(12.8%) and postoperative anaemia (10.4%) been the most common
complications. Conclusion: Uterine fibroid is common in our environment
and its removal is commonly associated with post-operative pyrexia,
blood loss, and anaemia and wound infection. Midline incision, closure
of rectus sheet with chromic catgut and myomectomy were associated with
postoperative complications in this review
