Objective: To investigate the feasibility of unilateral or bilateral nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy and evaluate the recovery of bladder and bowel function postoperatively.
Methods: From August 2008 to October 2009, sixty-one patients with cervical cancer stage Ib1 to IIa underwent radical hysterectomy (33 cases) and nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (28 cases). Unilateral nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy was performed in 10 patients, and bilateral nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (BNS) was performed in 18 patients. The data of operation time, blood loss, postoperative hospital stay days, residual urine volume, and postoperative complications were collected. The postoperative recovery of bladder and bowel function was evaluated.
Results: There were no significant differences between nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (NSRH) and radical hysterectomy (RH) groups in operation time [NSRH: (224.5 ± 40.0) min, RH: (176.4 ± 30.0 min)], blood loss [NSRH: (464.3 ± 144.0) ml, RH: (374.2 ± 138.7) ml], postoperative hospital stay days [NSRH: (8.4 ± 2.0) d, RH: (9.2 ± 1.8) d, and residual urine volume [NSRH: (64.8 ± 16.9) ml, RH: (70.6 ± 16.0) ml]. There were also no significant differences between UNSRH and BNSRH groups in operation time [UNSRH: (208.5 ± 28.5) min, BNSRH: (233.3 ± 43.1) min], blood loss [UNSRH: (440.0 ± 104.9) ml, BNSRH: (477.8 ± 162.90) ml], postoperative hospital stay days [UNSRH: 9.1 ± 1.8) d, BNSRH: (8.7 ± 2.1 d], and the residual urine volume [UNSRH: (68.3 ± 12.5) ml, BNSRH: (62.8 ± 20.0) ml]. There was a significant difference in the time of the Foley catheter removal between NSRH [(12.4 ± 5.2) d] and RH [(22.4 ± 9.7) d] groups. There was a significant difference in the time of the Foley catheter removal between UNSRH [(18.2 ± 3.6) d] and BNSRH [(9.1 ± 2.0) d] groups. During the postoperative 3 weeks follow-up, the patients in the NSRH group had a higher rate of satisfaction at urination and defecation (100%, 75%) than the RH group (54.5%, 24.2%).
Conclusion: UNSRH and BNSRH are safe and feasible techniques for early stage cervical cancer, and may significantly improve the recovery of bladder and rectal function.