Vaginal vault dehiscence after robotic hysterectomy for gynecologic cancers: search for risk factors and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Vaginal vault dehiscence following robotic-assisted hysterectomy for gynecologic cancer may be attributed to surgical techniques and postoperative therapeutic interventions. We searched for risk factors in patients with gynecologic cancers and complemented this with a literature review. METHODS: Evaluation of prospectively gathered information on all consecutive robotic surgeries for gynecologic cancers was performed in a tertiary academic cancer center between December 2007 and March 2012. The literature was reviewed for articles relevant to "gynecologic oncology" and "robotics" with "vaginal cuff dehiscence" in the English and French languages. Respective authors were contacted to complete relevant information. RESULTS: Seven dehiscences were identified of 441 cases with established gynecologic cancers. The closures in these 7 were performed using interrupted 1-Vicryl (Ethicon Inc) (3/167; 1.8%), combination of interrupted 1-Vicryl and 1-Biosyn (Covidien Inc) (3/156, 1.9%), and V-Loc (Covidien Inc) (1/118, 0.8%) sutures. Associated risk factors included adjuvant chemotherapy and/or brachytherapy, early resumption of sexual activity, and low body mass index (mean, 23 ± 3.23 kg/m²). Dehiscences occurred regardless of suturing by staff or trainees. Review of operative videos did not reveal a detectable etiologic factor, such as excessive cautery damage to the vaginal cuff or shallow tissue sutured. All 7 colporrhexis repairs were performed through a vaginal approach without the need of laparoscopy or laparotomy. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative chemotherapy, brachytherapy, and early resumption of sexual activities are risk factors for vaginal vault dehiscence. Surgical technique, particularly the use of delayed absorbable sutures, deserves further evaluation.

Outcome and quality of life in a prospective cohort of the first 100 robotic surgeries for endometrial cancer, with focus on elderly patients.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of surgical outcomes, including quality of life, in patients with endometrial cancer in the early phase of implementation of a robotic surgery program, comparing elderly with younger patients. METHODS: Prospective evaluation of perioperative data and a postoperative quality-of-life survey of the first 100 robotic surgeries for endometrial cancer performed in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at a tertiary cancer center. Women were divided in 2 groups based on age, allowing comparison of outcomes between the elderly (≥70 years) and younger groups (<70 years). RESULTS: Of the first 100 patients, 41 were elderly (mean age, 78 years). The elderly group had significantly higher number of comorbidities and more advanced disease when compared with the younger women. Despite this, elderly women had similar mean operative times (252 vs 243 minutes), mean console times (171 vs 175 minutes), and mean blood loss (83 vs 81 mL) as compared with the younger group. Conversion rate to minilaparotomy was 6%, all of which were performed at the end of surgery for the removal of enlarged uteri that could not be delivered vaginally. The overall perioperative complication rates were not statistically different between the age groups. Median hospital stay tended to be longer for the elderly women (2 vs 1 day) but was not statistically significant. The postoperative quality-of-life assessment revealed that patients young and old alike were highly satisfied with the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Prospective evaluation indicates that even in the early phases of implementation of a robotic surgical program for endometrial cancer, the procedure seems safe and confers an excellent quality of life for elderly patients.

Robotic radical hysterectomy: comparison of outcomes and cost.

Operative and peri-operative outcomes, complications, and cost for radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer with negative sentinel nodes have been compared for robotics and laparotomy. Forty patients underwent radical hysterectomy with/out bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, for early-stage cervical cancer. All cases were performed by one of two surgeons, at a single institution (16 robotic, 24 laparotomy). The data for the robotic group were collected prospectively and compared with data for a historic cohort who underwent laparotomy. The data included demographics and peri-operative variables including operative time, estimated blood loss, lymph node count, hospital stay, and complications. Additionally, real direct hospital cost was compared for both modalities. Patients undergoing robotic radical hysterectomy experienced longer operative time than the laparotomy cohort (351 min vs. 283 min P = 0.0001). Estimated blood loss was significantly lower for the robotic cohort than for the laparotomy cohort (106 ml vs. 546 ml P < 0.0001). The minor complication rate was lower in the robotic cohort than for laparotomy (19% vs. 63% P = 0.003). Average hospital stay for the robotic patients was significantly shorter than for those undergoing laparotomy (1.9 days versus 7.2 days, P < 0.0001). Lymph node retrieval did not differ between the two groups (robotic 15 nodes, laparotomy 13 nodes). The total average peri-operative costs for radical hysterectomy with lymphadenectomy completed via laparotomy was CAN $11,764 ± 6,790, and for robotic assistance 8,183 ± 1,089 (P = 0.002). When amortization of the robot was included, there remained a trend in favor of the robotic approach, but it did not reach statistical significance. Whereas robotics takes longer to perform than traditional laparotomy, it provides the patient with a shorter hospital stay, less need for pain medications, and reduced peri-operative morbidity. In addition real average hospital costs tend to be lower.

Technical modifications in the robotic-assisted surgical approach for gynaecologic operations.

To investigate the development of new technical approaches for improving the implementation of robotics in gynaecologic surgery, we conducted a prospective evaluation of five technical modifications developed during the implementation of a robotics program that included 171 robotic endometrial staging procedures from December 2007 until May 2010. Modification of the use of a Hohl uterine manipulator by applying only the intravaginal component minimizes the theoretical risk of spillage of endometrial cancer cells, without losing the capability of delineating the vaginal fornices. Entry to the peritoneal cavity under visual control using a left upper quadrant approach and a 5-mm endoscope through a 5-mm Endopath(®) trocar is quick and decreases the risk of bowel or vessel injury. Use of 12-mm Endopath(®) trocars with blunt tips without closure of the fascia was not associated with post-operative hernias. Positioning the Da Vinci(®) Surgical System at a 30° angle at the side of the patient allows easy access to the vagina for removal of large surgical specimens and does not interfere with proper movements of the robotic arms. Use of a tissue specimen bag introduced via the vagina at completion of surgery allows removal of large uteri vaginally to avoid (mini-)laparotomy and its morbidities. Finally, suturing of the vault using interrupted delayed absorbable monofilament sutures was not associated with vaginal cuff dehiscence. Early evaluation of evolving minor technical and surgical approaches was associated with low morbidity, and appears to benefit patients undergoing robotic surgery for gynaecologic cancers.