Systematic Review of Minimally Invasive Surgical Interventions for Gynaecological Conditions in Nigerian Tertiary Hospitals

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for gynaecological conditions including fibroids, ectopic pregnancy, and ovarian cysts offers documented advantages over open surgery yet remains underutilised in Nigerian tertiary institutions due to training gaps and equipment limitations. This systematic review synthesizes published evidence on minimally invasive surgical interventions for gynaecological conditions in Nigerian tertiary hospitals from 2018 to 2023. A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, African Journals Online (AJOL), and Google Scholar was conducted using predefined search terms. Studies were screened by two independent reviewers against PICOS criteria, with data extraction and quality assessment performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Fourteen studies met inclusion criteria, comprising 1,120 patients across six geopolitical zones. Laparoscopic myomectomy, laparoscopic salpingectomy, and diagnostic laparoscopy were the most reported procedures. Complication rates were consistently lower in MIS groups compared to open surgery controls. Operative time for MIS was longer but hospital stay significantly shorter. Barriers to MIS adoption identified across studies included equipment scarcity, training deficits, and anaesthetic limitations. Heterogeneity in reporting standards was the primary limitation. The study recommends a national MIS scale-up initiative, standardization of reporting frameworks, and postgraduate training partnerships with international institutions to strengthen minimally invasive gynaecological surgery capacity across Nigerian geopolitical zones. Keywords: minimally invasive surgery, laparoscopy, gynaecological surgery, Nigeria, systematic review