RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The development of new diagnostic and surgical methods has brought a differentiated approach to the surgery of endometrial cancer. The aim of this study was to verify the peri- and postoperative differences between laparoscopic and open procedures. METHODS: In the period from January 1995 to August 2001 a total of 86 patients were treated for endometrial cancer stage 1. Of these, 28 patients were treated by laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO), while 58 patients were treated by total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) and BSO. The two patient groups were comparable in all aspects. RESULTS: The average hospital stay in the LAVH group was 2.7 days compared to 5.4 days for the TAH group. There were fewer complications in the LAVH group (7%) compared to the laparotomy group (14%). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy seems to be acceptable in the treatment of stage 1 endometrial carcinoma.