Total laparoscopic modified radical hysterectomy with lymphadenectomy for endometrial cancer compared with laparotomy

Aim This is the first report to determine the feasibility and safety of total laparoscopic modified radical hysterectomy (TLMRH) in the treatment of presumed stage I endometrial cancer. Methods This was a retrospective study of 132 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for early endometrial cancer. Thirty-nine patients underwent TLMRH and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO), and 93 had a total abdominal extrafascial hysterectomy and BSO. Lymphadenectomy was performed in 87 patients. The groups were compared for epidemiological and clinical characteristics, surgical outcomes, hospital stay, lymph nodes harvested, and intraoperative and postoperative complications. Results The patients in the TLMRH group had less blood loss (42.9 ± 76.3 vs 236.8 ± 186.6 mL, P < 0.0001), a similar number of lymph nodes removed (32.3 ± 13.1 vs 28.0 ± 11.9, P = 0.15), less need for analgesia and a shorter hospital stay (9.3 ± 2.5 vs 14.6 ± 12.6 days, P = 0.009) but longer operations (321.1 ± 65.9 vs 262.6 ± 75.0 min, P < 0.0001) than those treated by laparotomy. In our study, we had no conversions from laparoscopy to laparotomy. No major complications occurred in the TLMRH group. The patients who underwent TLMRH had less intense postoperative pain than patients treated by laparotomy. The median length of vaginal cuff removed was 12.0 ± 4.1 mm in the TLMRH group, and was 5.6 ± 6.6 mm in the laparotomy group (P < 0.0001). No patients demonstrated recurrence in either of the groups after a median follow-up of 48.5 months (range, 1–84). Conclusion TLMRH is a safe and reliable alternative to open surgery in the management of early endometrial carcinoma, with a significantly reduced hospital stay and complications.