Fertility Sparing Treatment in Cervical Cancer: Abdominal Trachelectomy

Abstract In the last two decades great strides have been made to treat cancer while sparing fertility for young women. This is at least partly in response to changing demographics including delayed childbearing and fewer historically traditional couples. The trachelectomy has become emblematic in this endeavor. With comparable outcomes to hysterectomy and successful conceptions trachelectomy utilization has increased over time. It is now a standard of care for many situations. While there are several approaches, (vaginal, laparoscopic, robotic) the abdominal trachelectomy allows surgeons to overcome several limitations such as patient anatomy, surgical experience and resources (i.e. no robot) to provide women everywhere this revolutionary operation. We outline in this chapter surgical techniques, outcomes and other aspects of the abdominal trachelectomy.