Study objective: In order to reduce the risk of vaginal recurrence, we have chosen total laparoscopic modified radical hysterectomy instead of extrafascial hysterectomy in the treatment of endometrial cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the safety of this method.
Design: Retrospective study of gynecological patients.
Setting: Yokohama City University Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan.
Patients: Forty-nine patients who underwent total laparoscopic modified radical hysterectomy for the treatment of endometrial cancer at our hospital between December 2011 and September 2015.
Interventions: Total laparoscopic modified radical hysterectomy + bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (n = 20), total laparoscopic modified radical hysterectomy + bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy + pelvic lymphadenectomy (n = 18), or total laparoscopic modified radical hysterectomy + bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy + pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy (n = 11).
Measurements and main results: The surgical outcomes were analyzed and compared to previous reports. The median operative time was 204 minutes (range, 99-504 minutes) and the median intraoperative blood loss was 150 mL (range, 0-680 mL). No patients needed a blood transfusion, conversion to laparotomy, or reoperation. Intra- and postoperative complications were observed in three patients and nine patients, respectively. The amount of blood loss and the incidence of complications in our study were almost identical to previous reports of laparoscopic hysterectomy. The operative time in our study was equivalent to previous reports of total laparoscopic modified radical hysterectomy.
Conclusion: Total laparoscopic modified radical hysterectomy is safe and feasible for the treatment of early stage endometrial cancer. This procedure can be an alternative to total laparoscopic hysterectomy, especially when the uterus must be removed completely.
Keywords: endometrial cancer; extrafascial hysterectomy; surgical complications; total laparoscopic modified radical hysterectomy.