The virtues and pitfalls of minimally invasive surgery for gynecological malignancies: an update

[Feasibility and fiability of laparoscopic surgery in the uterine cancers in normal-weight patients]

OBJECTIVES

Evaluate the fiability and feasibility of laparoscopic surgery for the management of uterine cancers [endometrial cancer (EC) and early-stage cervical cancer (ESCC)] with patients who have a BMI ≤ 30 kg/m(2), within the setting of a gynaecological oncology department.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective, monocentric and descriptive study was carried out between January 2003 and May 2011 at the Institute Claudius-Regaud, a centre for cancer diagnosis, treatment and research. A policy promoting laparoscopy as a first choice treatment has been established at the institute since 2003.

RESULTS

Two hundred and three patients were included. Eighty-five patients were early-stage cervical cancer patients and 118 patients were endometrial cancer patients. The study shows a high fiability rate for laparoscopy in non-obese patients, with a 98.8% rate for EC patients and a 98.8% rate for ESCC patients. The feasibility rates were 80.1% and 96.6%, respectively. The incidence of laparoconversion was reported at 1.2% and 3.1% for ESCC and EC patients, respectively, while the incidence of peroperative complications was 5.9% and 7.4%. The incidence of postoperative complications rank ≥ 3 according to "Memorial secondary events grading system" was 3 (3.5%) for CCUP and 3 (2.5%) for CE.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The results of this study show high fiability and feasibility levels for the laparoscopic treatment of uterine cancers in non-obese patients. There is no need to implement the more expensive robotic-assisted surgery in this group of patients. Mastering advanced laparoscopic surgery remains a mainstay in gynaecologic oncology.

Laparoscopic Pelvic Surgery for Endometrial Cancer

Introduction: The traditional approach for the treatment of endometrial cancer by laparotomy is increasingly being replaced by laparoscopic surgery. The advantages of laparoscopy have been well-documented. Laparoscopy avoids the morbidity of a laparotomy, overcomes the limitations of vaginal hysterectomy, provides adequate pathological information for an accurate surgical staging and expedites the postoperative recovery of patients. This paper reports the outcome of a series of 50 consecutive cases of laparoscopic hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy for endometrial cancers that were performed by the author. The objective is to review the perioperative, postoperative experience and survival outcomes of patients with endometrial cancer managed by laparoscopic surgery performed by a single surgeon. Materials and Methods: The records of 50 consecutive patients with endometrial cancers from October 1995 to October 2007 treated by laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy and laparoscopic hysterectomy (total and assisted) were retrospectively reviewed. Data on patients’ attributes, endometrial cancers, surgical procedures, surgical complications and morbidity, perioperative experience, length of hospital stays and clinical outcome were analysed. Results: Laparoscopic surgery was successful in all 50 patients and is clearly an option for the treatment of early endometrial cancer. Conclusion: Careful patient selection and surgical competency are instrumental in ensuring successful treatment. Key words: Endometrial cancer, Hysterectomy, Lymphadenectomy, Laparoscopic surgery, Uterine cancer

Laparoscopic surgery in gynaecological oncology

AIMS

The use of laparoscopic staging and/or surgery in the field of gynaecological oncology was pioneered in the late 1980s and the first reports were published in the early 1990s. The issue has been initially most controversial, and is still debated, with some justification considering the possible adverse consequences of surgical mismanagement of gynaecologic malignancy.

METHODS

The current literature has been reviewed and updated, concentrating on long-term, and/or comparative studies. Large observational studies have also been included. Recent papers concerning new developments have been selected.

FINDINGS

A number of papers have confirmed the absence of significant adverse effects on survival after laparoscopic diagnosis or surgery in gynaecological cancers. New developments cover virtually all the basic techniques in cancer surgery, including major exenterative surgery. The use of extraperitoneal technique for aortic dissections is emerging as a new tool. New indications, such as radical vaginal trachelectomy, radical parametrectomy, pelvic sentinel node identification, interval debulking surgery of adnexal malignancies, or the use of pretherapeutic surgical staging of uterine cancers, have been developed in direct relation with the use of laparoscopic techniques.

CONCLUSIONS

Current available data and worldwide interest clearly demonstrate that laparoscopic techniques must now be part of the armamentarium of the gynaecologic oncologist. Postoperative morbidity and recurrence risk do not seem to be affected. Cost-efficiency of laparoscopic procedures is based on the reduction of hospital stay and recovery time, although operating room time is increased in some procedures. Combined training in gynaecologic oncology and in laparoscopic and/or vaginal surgery is more than ever mandatory to avoid the risk of inadequate staging or management of pelvic malignancies.

The utility of hand-assisted laparoscopy in ovarian cancer

INTRODUCTION

The traditional approach to patients with ovarian cancer is cytoreductive surgery and surgical staging through a vertical midline laparotomy. While laparoscopy has become an integral part of gynecologic surgery, debulking procedures have not been feasible to date with standard minimally invasive techniques.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Twenty-five patients with ovarian carcinoma underwent surgical staging and cytoreduction using hand-assisted laparoscopy. We review the surgical technique and clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients were managed during this study time frame with hand-assisted laparoscopy. Six patients had apparent advanced stage ovarian cancer at the time of referral, and 17 patients had apparent early-stage ovarian cancer. Of the 19 patients with presumed early-stage disease, 5 patients were upstaged based on retroperitoneal lymph node involvement, 3 with disease to other pelvic structures, and 2 patients had microscopic disease in the omentum. Twenty-two patients had their surgeries completed via hand-assisted laparoscopy, and three cases required conversion to laparotomy for completion of debulking surgery. Complication rates were low with three complications requiring reoperation or hospitalization. The mean hospital stay was 1.8 days for the 22 patients who had a successful hand-assisted laparoscopic evaluation. Operating times were variable and ranged from 81 to 365 min.

CONCLUSION

Hand-assisted laparoscopy may be employed in the initial management of early and advanced stage ovarian carcinoma. This approach allows for thorough evaluation of peritoneal and retroperitoneal structures and surgical cytoreduction while retaining the advantages of minimally invasive surgery.

Do the pelvic lymph nodes predict the parametrial status in cervical cancer stages IB-IIA?

The aim of this study was to determine whether the pelvic lymph nodes would predict the parametrial status in patients with cervical cancer stages IB1-IIA submitted to radical surgery and pelvic lymphadenectomy. To this end, we evaluated the relationship between positive and negative pelvic lymph nodes and their parametria. Our final purpose was to use this information to recommend the tailoring of the parametrial resection according to the status of pelvic lymph nodes to decrease the morbidity related with radical paratrectomy. From January 1996 to December 2001, 107 consecutive patients with cervical cancer stages IB1 and IIA were primarily treated by radical hysterectomy type III with systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy in a prospective study. Parametria were studied in two sections: the first included the tissue adjacent to the cervix, and the second the distal 2/3. Lymph nodes were routinary processed. Twenty-two patients (20.6%) had positive pelvic nodes and 16 patients (14.9%) had parametrial involvement, mostly by direct extension. Eight patients with positive pelvic nodes (36.4%) had parametrial involvement, whereas among 85 patients with negative pelvic nodes only eight patients (9.4%) had parametrial involvement (P < 0.001), most in internal parametria (62.5%). The sensitivity of pelvic lymph nodes for parametrial involvement was 50% and the positive predictive value was 36.4%, whereas the specificity was 84.6%; and the negative predictive value 90.6%. In the group of negative pelvic lymph nodes, only two patients (2.3%) had parametrial involvement beyond internal parametria. The univariated and multivariated analysis of prognostic factors was always significant but without a significant independent factor for positive parametria. Pelvic lymph nodes appear as good predictors of parametrial status, especially in node-negative patients, and could be used to decrease the paratrectomy in radical surgery.

Laparoscopic surgery for gynaecological oncology

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The use of laparoscopic staging and/or surgery in the field of gynaecological oncology was pioneered in the early 1990s. The issue has been very controversial from the beginning, with some justification in view of the possible consequences of faulty cancer surgery. After more than 10 years, long-term follow-up and comparative studies, both of which are required in clinical oncological research, are now available.

RECENT FINDINGS

A number of papers have confirmed the absence of significant adverse effects on survival after laparoscopic diagnosis or surgery in gynaecological cancers. New developments cover virtually all the basic techniques in cancer surgery, excluding major exenterative surgery. The use of an extraperitoneal technique for aortic dissections is emerging. New indications, such as radical vaginal trachelectomy, pelvic sentinel node identification, interval debulking surgery of adnexal malignancies, or the liberal use of surgical staging of uterine cancers, have been developed as a direct result of the availability of laparoscopic techniques.

SUMMARY

Continuing worldwide interest clearly demonstrates that laparoscopic techniques are now part of the armamentarium of the gynaecological oncologist. Postoperative morbidity and recurrence risk do not seem to be affected. Cost-efficiency of laparoscopic procedures is based on the reduction of hospital stay. Combined training in gynaecological oncology and in laparoscopic surgery is, more than ever, mandatory as a means of avoiding the risk of inadequate staging or the mismanagement of pelvic malignancies. The diversity of techniques, including laparotomy, laparoscopy, and vaginal surgery, allows the individualization of surgical approaches, whereby tumour size and local or general conditions can be taken into account.

Laparoscopic lymph node dissection using ultrasonically activated shears: comparison with electrosurgery

PURPOSE

To assess and compare perioperative parameters in two groups of patients treated by different laparoscopic techniques of lymph node dissection (LND) for gynecologic cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between April 1996 and March 2001, 59 consecutive women with microinvasive cervical cancer (N = 5) or clinical stage I endometrial cancer (N = 54) underwent laparoscopic LND during a primary staging procedure using an electrosurgery (ELC) or ultrasonic (US) operative technique. The two groups were compared for perioperative outcomes. Differences between the two groups were determined by the Wilcoxon's rank-sum test.

RESULTS

Laparoscopic LND and other staging procedures were completed successfully in 58 women (98.3%). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups with regard to perioperative outcomes (operation time, time for LND, blood loss, hospital stay, complications), but there was a significant difference (P = 0.0008) in the number of lymph nodes harvested: a mean of 13.7 in the ELC group and 17.5 in the US group. The pathologists found that the reading of histology slides was easier after US dissections because of the greater depth of thermal injury in the lymphatic tissue in ELC group.

CONCLUSION

The US operative technique ensures efficient coagulation, cutting, dissection, and grasping for laparoscopic LND in patients with cervical and endometrial cancer.

Laparoscopic management of adnexal masses the opportunities and the risks

Suspected ovarian neoplasm is a common clinical problem affecting women of all ages. Although the majority of adnexal masses are benign, the primary goal of diagnostic evaluation is the exclusion of malignancy. It has been estimated that approximately 5-10% of women in the United States will undergo a surgical procedure for a suspected ovarian neoplasm during their lifetime. Despite the magnitude of the problem, there is still considerable disagreement regarding the optimal surgical management of these lesions. Traditional management has relied on laparotomy to avoid undertreatment of a potentially malignant process. Advances in detection, diagnosis, and minimally invasive surgical techniques make it necessary now to review this practice in an effort to avoid unnecessary morbidity among patients. Here, we review the literature on the laparosopic approach to the treatment of the adnexal mass without sacrificing the principles of oncologic surgery. We highlight potentials of minimally invasive surgery and address the risks associated with the laparoscopic approach.

Medical mistakes: a workshop on personal perspectives

Shortly before his death in 1995, Kenneth B. Schwartz, a cancer patient at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), founded the Kenneth B. Schwartz Center at MGH. The Schwartz Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing compassionate health care delivery, which provides hope to the patient, support to caregivers, and sustenance to the healing process. The center sponsors the Schwartz Center Rounds, a monthly multidisciplinary forum where caregivers reflect on important psychosocial issues faced by patients, their families, and their caregivers, and gain insight and support from fellow staff members. Medical errors are difficult to discuss. Significant medical errors occur in approximately 3% of hospitalizations. Two-thirds are preventable. Despite an entrenched belief that doctors should be infallible, errors are inevitable. Dr. Wendy Levinson of the University of Chicago facilitated a discussion of the impact medical errors have on staff. Staff broke into small groups to share their personal experience and then discussed common themes: the sense of shame and guilt, the punitive culture, guidelines for disclosure to patients and colleagues, and changes in medical practice that can prevent future mistakes. Auditing and improving systems has led to considerable improvements in the field of aviation safety. However, in medicine people are more important than the process. While we should never cease to aim for the very best in delivered care, we must acknowledge how prone we all are to mistakes and that we can learn from and prevent errors. Openly sharing experiences in a confidential setting, such as the Schwartz Rounds, helps defuse feelings of guilt and challenges the culture of shame and isolation that often surrounds medical errors. The Oncologist 2001;6:92-99