Objective: To provide representative data analyses of surgical morbidity and clinical-pathologic factors for Types 2 and 3 abdominal radical hysterectomies (ARH) with pelvic+/-aortic node dissection performed in a private practice with a fellowship-training program.
Methods: From 1997 to 2005, 329 cervical cancer patients underwent ARH with lymphadenectomy. Two hundred and one cases performed at our primary institution were analyzed for operative time, blood loss, intra-operative complications, surgical-pathologic data, recurrence of disease and adjuvant therapy.
Results: We evaluated 201 surgical patients who underwent Type 2 (n=45) or Type 3 (n=156) ARH with node dissection. The FIGO stages were: IB1=64%, IB2=6.5%, IA=28.4%, and IIA=1%. Aortic node dissection was performed in 64% of Type 3 cases and none of Type 2 cases. Pfannenstiel incision was used in 80% (Type 2) and 76% (Type 3) cases. A suprapubic catheter was placed in 9% of Type 2 and 81% of Type 3 cases. Median age and weight were 47+/-13 years and 149+/-35 lb. Positive nodes were identified in 12% of Type 3 and 2.2% of Type 2 cases. No positive aortic nodes were found. For Types 2 and 3 ARH, median operative time was 80+/-19 vs. 99+/-23 min (p<0.001) and blood loss was 250+/-134 vs. 300+/-234 ml (p<0.001). The transfusion rate was 3%. Intra-operative complications included: 3 ureteral injuries and 1 colotomy. Tumor histology was 60% squamous, 37% adenocarcinoma, 1% adenosquamous, and 2% others.
Conclusions: ARH with pelvic lymphadenectomy in modern practice is an efficient, safe procedure with low transfusion rate and shorter hospital stay than previously reported. Data will be useful as comparison when scrutinizing novel approaches to radical hysterectomy including robotic-assisted and laparoscopic techniques.