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Is laparoscopically assisted radical vaginal hysterectomy for cervical carcinoma safe? A case control study with follow up
Author(s) -
Morgan DJ,
Hunter DC,
McCracken G,
McClelland HR,
Price JH,
Dobbs SP
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2007.01291.x
Subject(s) - medicine , perioperative , cervical cancer , surgery , radical hysterectomy , retrospective cohort study , body mass index , laparotomy , blood loss , laparoscopy , hysterectomy , population , cancer , environmental health
Objective To compare a new surgical approach, laparoscopically assisted radical vaginal hysterectomy (LARVH) with open radical hysterectomy in women with cervical cancer. Can selected women benefit from the minimally invasive approach without compromising safety (recurrence rate) and morbidity (complications)? Design Retrospective case control study. Setting A tertiary referral unit for gynaecological malignancies. Population Thirty women undergoing LARVH were included and compared with 30 women undergoing open radical surgery. The control group was matched for age, body mass index and disease stage. Methods Retrospective collection of data from patient files and follow up. Main outcome measures Recurrence rate, complication rate, hospital stay, nodal counts, blood loss, operating time. Results Recurrence rates were equal (6.7%). There was one death, in the LARVH group. Follow up was mean 31 months in the LARVH group and 30.9 months in the open group. Blood loss as measured by mean drop in haemoglobin was greater in the open group (2.03 versus 3.01 g/dl, P = 0.02). Transfusions were given in 40% of women in the open group and 16.7% in the LARVH group. Hospital stay was significantly less in the LARVH group (5.9 versus 7.8 nights, P = 0.003). Mean operating time was longer in the LARVH group (131 versus 187 minutes P = 0.0001). Mean nodal counts did not differ significantly (17.4 in open vs 14.8 in LARVH, P > 0.05). There were seven perioperative complications in the open group and four in the LARVH group. There have been two recurrences in each group (6.67%) at mean follow up of 31 (LARVH) and 30.9 (open) months. Conclusions The first 30 LARVH procedures performed in this unit are comparable in terms of safety (recurrence rate and complication rate) and economic factors (shorter hospital stay mitigating longer operating time). Further development of this technique is warranted.