ABSTRACT
Objective@#To determine the feasibility and safety of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) in hysterectomy and sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping for endometrial cancer by comparing its SLN detection rate and perioperative outcomes with those of laparoscopic staging. @*Methods@#In this multicenter prospective cohort study, 68 patients with early endometrial cancer between 2020 and 2021 in 2 tertiary referral centers in China were grouped to vNOTES (n=33) or laparoscopy (n=35). All the patients underwent hysterectomy with SLN mapping. @*Results@#The total successful SLN detection was 97.0% in the vNOTES group and 91.4% in the laparoscopy group (p=0.32), whereas the bilateral success rates were 81.8% and 80.0%, respectively (p=0.84). There was no difference in SLN detection observed between the 2 groups regarding the side-specific mapping efficacy quotient (89.4% vs 85.7%; p=0.05). The number of harvested SLNs, the location of SLNs, operative time, estimated blood loss, intraoperative and postoperative complications and hospital cost in the 2 groups were similar (p>0.05), but there were differences in the 2 groups; the one was postoperative exhaust time that was 18 vs. 21 hours (p=0.01), the other was median postoperative hospital stay which was 4 vs. 5 days (p=0.05). @*Conclusion@#This study suggests that lymph node mapping can be completed through the vNOTES procedure. It can ensure effective surgical staging and show the advantages of a fast recovery and good cosmetic effect.