Radical vaginal trachelectomy combined with laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy

ABSTRACT

To describe the procedure of radical vaginal trachelectomy combined with laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy, its safety, and side effects for treatment of early stage cervical cancer in patients who met the procedure's criteria. This study was conducted on 10 patients with early stage cervical cancer at Charite Campus Benjamin Franklin-Germany between February 2011 and February 2012. A total of 10 patients were studied according to the protocol, all of them underwent radical vaginal trachelectomy combined with laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy for early stage cervical cancer and where seeking parenthood and followed up for its safety, and side effects. Radical vaginal trachelectomy combined with laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy was an easy procedure with minimal blood loss; the average operating time was about 181 minutes, 80% of cases were squamous cell carcinoma, diagnosed by cone biopsy, while 20% were adenocarcinoma diagnosed by punch biopsy. Two cases were complicated by postoperative pelvic abscess and urinary tract infection and were managed accordingly. Radical vaginal trachelectomy combined with laparoscopic lymphadenectomy was a safe procedure with minimal side effects for preserving fertility in patients with early stage cervical cancer provided it was performed by experienced surgeons.