You will be provided with the titles and abstracts of a collection of medical RCT reports studying a clinical question -- for instance, the efficacy of an intervention on some medical outcome. Please write a few sentences synthesizing the findings of these reports, which could serve as a conclusion section for a systematic review article. Your response should not include any other text. The RCT reports are below.



Title 1:
Hysterectomy compared with endometrial ablation for dysfunctional uterine bleeding: a randomized controlled trial.
Abstract 1:
To compare the effectiveness of hysterectomy and endometrial ablation in women with dysfunctional uterine bleeding.
                The Surgical Treatments Outcomes Project for Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding was a multicenter, randomized controlled trial. Eligible women were premenopausal with dysfunctional uterine bleeding and aged 18 years or older. Primary outcomes were problems that led the woman to seek care solved, bleeding, pain, and fatigue at 12 months. Additional outcomes included quality of life, adverse events, reoperation, and others at 24 months and up to 5 years.
                We randomly assigned 237 women between January 1998 and June 2001. Follow-up ended in June 2003. We completed 24 months of follow-up on 114 of 123 women assigned to endometrial ablation and 111 of 114 assigned to hysterectomy. Approximately 85% of women were aged younger than 45 years; 76.4% classified themselves as white, 18.6% as African American, less than 1% as Asian, 4.6% as American Indian, and 8.4% as Hispanic (classification within more than one category possible). Both endometrial ablation and hysterectomy were effective at 24 months in solving the problem that led women to seek care (84.9% compared with 94.4%), and in relieving bleeding, pain, fatigue, and other symptoms, although hysterectomy was more effective for bleeding. By 48 months, 32 of the 110 women initially receiving endometrial ablation required reoperation. Adverse events were more frequent with hysterectomy.
                Both endometrial ablation and hysterectomy are effective treatments in women with dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Hysterectomy (as the index surgery) was associated with more adverse events and a substantial number of patients receiving endometrial ablation had reoperation.
                ClinicalTrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00114088
                I.


Title 2:
Medical Research Council randomised trial of endometrial resection versus hysterectomy in management of menorrhagia.
Abstract 2:
The most frequent indication for hysterectomy is menorrhagia, even though the uterus is normal in a large number of patients. Transcervical resection of the endometrium (TCRE) is a less drastic alternative, but success rates have varied and menorrhagia can recur. We have tested the hypothesis that the difference in the proportion of women dissatisfied and requiring further surgery within 3 years of TCRE or hysterectomy would be no more than 15%.
                202 women with symptomatic menorrhagia were recruited to a multicentre, randomised, controlled trial to compare the two interventions. TCRE and hysterectomy were randomly assigned in a ratio of two to one. The primary endpoints were women's satisfaction and need for further surgery. The patients' psychological and social states were monitored before surgery, then annually with a questionnaire. Analysis was by intention to treat.
                Data were available for 172 women (56 hysterectomy, 116 TCRE); 26 withdrew before surgery and four were lost to follow-up. Satisfaction scores were higher for hysterectomy than for TCRE throughout follow-up (median 2 years), but the differences were not significant (at 3 years 27 [96%] of 28 in hysterectomy group vs 46 [85%] of 54 in TCRE group were satisfied; p = 0.16). 25 (22%) women in the TCRE group and five (9%) in the hysterectomy group required further surgery (relative risk 0.46 [95% CI 0.2-1.1], p = 0.053). TCRE had the benefits of shorter operating time, fewer complications, and faster rates of recovery.
                TCRE is an acceptable alternative to hysterectomy in the treatment of menorrhagia for many women with no other serious disorders.


Title 3:
Randomised controlled trial comparing endometrial resection with abdominal hysterectomy for the surgical treatment of menorrhagia.
Abstract 3:
To evaluate the effectiveness of endometrial resection as a surgical treatment for menorrhagia.
                Randomised controlled trial.
                Gynaecology department at a teaching hospital.
                Two hundred women needing surgical treatment for menorrhagia between January 1990 and May 1991. After withdrawal of four women 97 underwent hysterectomy and 99 underwent endometrial resection.
                Patient satisfaction 4 months after surgery; post-operative complications; length of hospital stay; duration of time before return to work, normal daily activities and sexual intercourse; change in premenstrual symptoms.
                The difference in patient satisfaction between endometrial resection (84 out of 99) and abdominal hysterectomy (89 out of 95) just reached statistical significance in favour of abdominal hysterectomy at 4 months after surgery (difference = 9%, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.1%-17.5%). Post-operative morbidity, length of hospital stay and time taken to return to work, normal daily activities and sexual intercourse were significantly less in the endometrial resection group. However, the premenstrual symptoms of dysmenorrhoea, bloating and breast tenderness were less frequent after hysterectomy.
                In the short term, endometrial resection was almost as satisfactory as abdominal hysterectomy for the surgical treatment of menorrhagia, and was associated with less morbidity. However, even at 4 months after surgery, there was a failure rate of at least 10% in those in whom endometrial resection appeared complete. Longer term comparative studies are necessary before the widespread introduction of endometrial resection as an alternative to abdominal hysterectomy for the surgical treatment of menorrhagia.


Title 4:
Endometrial resection versus vaginal hysterectomy for menorrhagia: long-term clinical and quality-of-life outcomes.
Abstract 4:
Our purpose was to compare patients' satisfaction with the effect of treatment, health-related quality of life, psychologic status, and sexual functioning 2 years after endometrial resection or vaginal hysterectomy for menorrhagia.
                Menorrhagic women < or = 50 years old with a mobile uterus smaller than a 12-week pregnancy were enrolled in a randomized trial to compare endometrial resection and vaginal hysterectomy. Two years after surgery the women were requested to rate the degree of satisfaction with the effect of the operation and to complete the Short Form 36 general health survey questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the revised Sabbatsberg Sexual Rating Scale.
                Forty-one subjects underwent endometrial resection and 44 underwent vaginal hysterectomy without major complications. Of the 77 women attending the 2-year follow-up visit, 33 of 38 (86.8%) in the endometrial resection arm were very satisfied or satisfied with the treatment compared with 37 of 39 (94.8%) of those in the hysterectomy arm. According to the Short Form 36 questionnaire, social functioning and vitality scores were significantly better in the hysterectomy group than in the resection group. Significantly lower Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale anxiety scores were observed in the former than in the latter subjects. The Sabbatsberg Sexual Rating Scale scores were similar in the two groups.
                In patients requiring surgical treatment for menorrhagia vaginal hysterectomy appeared slightly more satisfying and offered a better health-related quality of life than did endometrial resection at 2-year follow-up. Hysterectomy did not adversely affect psychologic status and sexual functioning.


Title 5:
Randomised trial of hysterectomy, endometrial laser ablation, and transcervical endometrial resection for dysfunctional uterine bleeding.
Abstract 5:
To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of endometrial laser ablation and transcervical resection of the endometrium compared with hysterectomy in the surgical treatment of women with dysfunctional uterine bleeding.
                Prospective randomised controlled trial.
                Gynaecology department of a large teaching hospital.
                204 women who would otherwise have been undergoing hysterectomy for menorrhagia were recruited between August 1990 and March 1992 and randomly allocated to hysterectomy (n = 99) or conservative (hysteroscopic) surgery (transcervical resection (n = 52) and laser ablation (n = 53)).
                Operative complications, postoperative recovery, relief of menstrual and other symptoms, patient satisfaction with treatment after six and 12 months.
                Women treated by hysteroscopic surgery had less early morbidity and a significantly shorter recovery period than those treated by hysterectomy (median time to full recovery 2-4 weeks v 2-3 months, P < 0.001). Twelve months later 17 women in the hysteroscopy group had had a hysterectomy, 11 for continuing symptoms; 11 women had had a repeat hysteroscopic procedure; 45 were amenorrhoeic or had only a brown discharge; and 35 had light periods. Dysmenorrhoea and premenstrual symptoms improved in most women in both groups. After 12 months 89% (79/89) in the hysterectomy group and 78% (75/96) in the hysteroscopy group were very satisfied with the effect of surgery (P < 0.05); 95% (85/89) and 90% (86/96) thought that there had been an acceptable improvement in symptoms, and 72% (64/89) and 71% (68/96) would recommend the same operation to others.
                Hysteroscopic endometrial ablation was superior to hysterectomy in terms of operative complications and postoperative recovery. Satisfaction after hysterectomy was significantly higher, but between 70% and 90% of the women were satisfied with the outcome of hysteroscopic surgery. Hysteroscopic surgery can be recommended as an alternative to hysterectomy for dysfunctional uterine bleeding.


Title 6:
A randomised trial comparing endometrial resection and abdominal hysterectomy for the treatment of menorrhagia.
Abstract 6:
To determine the advantages and disadvantages of endometrial resection and abdominal hysterectomy for the surgical treatment of women with menorrhagia.
                Randomised study of two treatment groups with a minimum follow up of nine months.
                Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading.
                51 of 78 menorrhagic women without pelvic pathology who were on the waiting list for abdominal hysterectomy.
                Endometrial resection or abdominal hysterectomy (according to randomisation). Endometrial resections were performed by an experienced hysteroscopic surgeon; hysterectomies were performed by two other gynaecological surgeons.
                Length of operating time, hospitalisation, recovery; cost of surgery; short term results of endometrial resection.
                Operating time was shorter for endometrial resection (median 30 (range 20-47) minutes) than for hysterectomy (50 (39-74) minutes). The hospital stay for endometrial resection (median 1 (range 1-3) days) was less than for hysterectomy (7 (5-12) days). Recovery after endometrial resection (median 16 (range 5-62) days) was shorter than after hysterectomy (58 (11-125) days). The cost was 407 pounds for endometrial resection and 1270 pounds for abdominal hysterectomy. Four women (16%) who did not have an acceptable improvement in symptoms after endometrial resection had repeat resections. No woman has required hysterectomy during a mean follow up of one year.
                For women with menorrhagia who have no pelvic pathology endometrial resection is a useful alternative to abdominal hysterectomy, with many short term benefits. Larger numbers and a longer follow up are needed to estimate the incidence of complications and the long term efficacy of endometrial resection.


Title 7:
Hysteroscopic endometrial resection versus laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy for menorrhagia: a prospective randomized trial.
Abstract 7:
This study was undertaken to compare the relative efficacy and safety of hysteroscopic endometrial resection and laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy in the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding.
                One hundred eighty-one patients affected by menometrorrhagia and unresponsive to medical treatment agreed to be randomized to either laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy or hysteroscopic endometrial ablation. They were monitored for 2 years to evaluate perioperative and postoperative outcomes, resolution of symptoms, and patient satisfaction.
                Duration of hospitalization, period of convalescence, perioperative complications, and resumption of normal activity were similar between the two groups. Operative time was significantly shorter in the hysteroscopic group, but patient satisfaction was significantly higher in the laparoscopic group.
                For the treatment of menorrhagia, hysterectomy has the distinct advantage of being curative but the disadvantage of being more invasive than the hysteroscopic approach. However, laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy preserves the curative effect of hysterectomy without its increased surgical invasiveness, as suggested by the current study.
Endometrial resection and ablation offers an alternative to hysterectomy as a surgical treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding. Both procedures are effective and satisfaction rates are high. Although hysterectomy is associated with a longer operating time, a longer recovery period and higher rates of post-operative complications, it offers permanent relief from heavy menstrual bleeding. The initial cost of endometrial destruction is significantly lower than hysterectomy but, since re-treatment is often necessary, the cost difference narrows over time.