A systematic nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy technique in invasive cervical cancer for preserving postsurgical bladder function

Patterns and predictors of site-specific recurrence in cervical cancer after radical hysterectomy

AIM

This study examines patterns and predictors of site-specific recurrence to explore the causes of local recurrence of cervical cancer.

METHODS

Radical hysterectomy was performed in 121 patients (stage IB-IIB). Nerve-sparing was performed whenever possible. The first recurrence in local, regional, and distant areas was examined. We investigated the possibility of nerve involvement in local recurrence, focusing on paravaginal tissues containing the pelvic plexus. We provide Supporting Information on local recurrence in the paravaginal area.

RESULTS

Local recurrence was an independent event from regional or distant recurrence. Local recurrence was seen only in high-risk patients, while regional and distant recurrences were not or less related to the risk category. The independent risk factors by logistic regression for local, regional, and distant recurrence were parametrial invasion, vaginal invasion, and lymph node metastasis, respectively. Local recurrence showed a comparable or more significant negative impact on survival than distant recurrence. Among seven patients with local recurrences, five had a recurrence in the paravagina. The rate of paravaginal recurrence was one in 76 early-stage and four in 45 locally advanced diseases. Four sites of paravaginal recurrence occurred on the nerve-sparing side and two on the non-nerve-sparing side. Supporting Information demonstrated histological evidence of perineural spread into the pelvic plexus and perineural invasion of the primary tumor.

CONCLUSIONS

A high percentage of local recurrences are in paravaginal tissue containing the pelvic plexus. The causal association of nerve-sparing surgery and perineural invasion with local recurrence needs to be investigated in large prospective studies.

Postsurgical urodynamic study of total laparoscopic nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy for uterine cervical cancer

AIM

To evaluate the impact on urodynamic results between the laparoscopic nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (LRH) following a step-by-step procedure and abdominal nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (ARH) for patients with uterine cervical cancer.

METHODS

This retrospective study enrolled 76 patients with cervical cancer: 35 in the LRH group and 41 in the ARH group. We analyzed their postoperative bladder function in a urodynamics study and examined the volume of resected pelvic nerves contained in parametrial sections using S-100 antibody staining.

RESULTS

Estimated blood loss and hospital stay after operation for the LRH group were significantly better than those in the ARH group (p < 0.0001). As well, the number of harvested lymph nodes was significantly higher in the LRH group (p = 0.044). There was no difference in perioperative complications between the two groups in this study. The 5-year disease-free survival rates and overall survival rates were 91.2% and 94.0% in the LRH group and 87.8% and 95.1% in the ARH group, both respectively. Although the median residual urine volume were no statistical differences between the LRH group and the ARH group, the recovery of postoperative bladder function (uroflowmetry) in the LRH group rapidly reached presurgery levels at 1 month, and the LRH group had a smaller number of s-100 antibody stained nerves contained the parametrial sections.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated that LRH following a step-by-step procedure could achieve a higher level of prevention of damage to the bladder branch of the pelvic splanchnic nerve plexus and thus restore bladder function more rapidly.

Effectiveness and Long-term Outcomes of Nerve-Sparing Radical Hysterectomy for Cervical Cancer

BACKGROUND

Radical hysterectomy (RH) is a type of radical surgery for cervical cancer. Urinary dysfunction due to RH worsens postoperative quality of life of patients with cervical cancer. Nerve-sparing RH (NSRH) technique has been used as an effective means to conserve urinary function. However, few reports have examine long-term outcomes after NSRH. This study describes the details and long-term outcomes of our nerve-sparing technique.

METHODS

Sixty-one patients underwent radical hysterectomy in a 5-year period during which nerve-sparing technique was introduced; of these, 31 patients underwent NSRH and 30 underwent conventional RH. We retrospectively examined their medical records and compared postoperative urinary function and treatment outcomes between these two groups.

RESULTS

The median time required for urinary residual volume to fall to ≤50 mL after removal of the urinary catheter was 6 days (range, 2-20 days) in the NSRH group and 13.5 days (range, 3-46 days) in the RH group. The results were significantly better in the NSRH group (p < 0.05). The mean follow-up period was 2456.3 days (range, 48-4,213 days). Analysis of curability revealed no significant difference between the two groups in local recurrence or long-term survival rates. The 5-year survival rate was 0.861 in the NSRH group and 0.782 in the RH group; the 10-year survival rate was 0.861 in the NSRH group and 0.679 in the RH group.

CONCLUSIONS

NSRH significantly improved postoperative urinary function without worsening local recurrence rates or long-term outcomes.

Visualizing the autonomic and somatic innervation of the female pelvis with 3D MR neurography: a feasibility study

BACKGROUND

Treatment of female pelvic malignancies often causes pelvic nerve damage. Magnetic resonance (MR) neurography mapping the female pelvic innervation could aid in treatment planning.

PURPOSE

To depict female autonomic and somatic pelvic innervation using a modified 3D NerveVIEW sequence.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Prospective study in 20 female volunteers (n = 6 normal, n = 14 cervical pathology) who underwent a modified 3D short TI inversion recovery (STIR) turbo spin-echo (TSE) scan with a motion-sensitive driven equilibrium (MSDE) preparation radiofrequency pulse and flow compensation. Modifications included offset independent trapezoid (OIT) pulses for inversion and MSDE refocusing. Maximum intensity projections (MIP) were evaluated by two observers (Observer 1, Observer 2); image quality was scored as 2 = high, 1 = medium, or 0 = low with the sciatic nerve serving as a reference. Conspicuity of autonomic superior (SHP) and bilateral inferior hypogastric plexuses (IHP), hypogastric nerves, and somatic pelvic nerves (sciatic, pudendal) was scored as 2 = well-defined, 1 = poorly defined, or 0 = not seen, and inter-observer agreement was determined.

RESULTS

Images were of medium to high quality according to both observers agreeing in 15/20 (75%) of individuals. SHP and bilateral hypogastric nerves were seen in 30/60 (50%) of cases by both observers. Bilateral IHP was seen in 85% (34/40) by Observer 1 and in 75% (30/40) by Observer 2. Sciatic nerves were well identified in all cases, while pudendal nerves were seen bilaterally by Observer 1 in 65% (26/40) and by Observer 2 in 72.5% (29/40). Agreement between observers for scoring nerve conspicuity was in the range of 60%-100%.

CONCLUSION

Modified 3D NerveVIEW renders high-quality images of the female autonomic and pudendal nerves.

Oncological Outcomes After Okabayashi-Kobayashi Radical Hysterectomy for Early and Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer

Importance

The role of surgery in early-stage cervical cancer has been established, but it is controversial in locally advanced cervical cancer.

Objective

To determine whether a radical hysterectomy method with extended removal of paracervical tissue for locally advanced cervical cancer is associated with satisfactory oncological outcomes.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective cohort study was conducted from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2011, and participants were patients with cervical cancer at a single tertiary center in Northern Japan. The median follow-up period was 106 months, and none of the patients were lost to follow-up at less than 60 months. Data analyses were performed from July 1, 2017, to December 31, 2018.

Exposures

Patients underwent radical hysterectomy using the Okabayashi-Kobayashi method. Bilateral nerve preservation was used for stage IB1/IB2 disease and unilateral nerve preservation for stage IIA/IIB if disease extension outside the uterine cervix was 1-sided. Chemotherapy was used as the choice of adjuvant treatment for patients with an intermediate or high risk of recurrence, while some patients chose or were assigned to radiotherapy.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Primary outcomes were the 5-year local control rate and 5-year overall survival rate along with risk factor analysis.

Results

Of 121 consecutive patients, 76 (62.8%) had early-stage cervical cancer in 2008 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stages IB1 and IIA1 and 45 (37.2%) had locally advanced cervical cancer in stages IB2, IIA2, and IIB. The median (range) age was 42 (26-68) years. Adjuvant radiotherapy was used in 2 patients (3%) with early-stage cervical cancer and 3 (7%) of those with locally advanced cervical cancer. The 5-year local control rates for early-stage cervical cancer and locally advanced cervical cancer were 99% and 87%, respectively. The 5-year overall survival rates for early-stage cervical cancer and locally advanced cervical cancer were 95% and 82%, respectively. Cox regression analysis showed that lymph node metastasis and histology of adeno(squamous)carcinoma were independent risk factors for the overall survival of patients with cervical cancer treated with radical hysterectomy.

Conclusions and Relevance

The nerve-sparing Okabayashi-Kobayashi radical hysterectomy for locally advanced cervical cancer may provide survival not inferior to radical hysterectomy or radiotherapy in published literature. The applicability of radical hysterectomy with adjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer needs to be validated by prospective comparative trials.

Nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy in the precision surgery for cervical cancer

Precision cancer surgery is a system that integrates the accurate evaluation of tumor extension and aggressiveness, precise surgical maneuvers, prognosis evaluation, and prevention of the deterioration of quality of life (QoL). In this regard, nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy has a pivotal role in the personalized treatment of cervical cancer. Various types of radical hysterectomy can be combined with the nerve-sparing procedure. The extent of parametrium and vagina/paracolpium excision and the nerve-sparing procedure are tailored to the tumor status. Advanced magnetic resonance imaging technology will improve the assessment of the local tumor extension. Validated risk factors for perineural invasion might guide selecting treatment for cervical cancer. Type IV Kobayashi (modified Okabayashi) radical hysterectomy combined with the systematic nerve-sparing procedure aims to both maximize the therapeutic effect and minimize the QoL impairment. Regarding the technical aspect, the preservation of vesical nerve fibers is essential. Selective transection of uterine nerve fibers conserves the vesical nerve fibers as an essential piece of the pelvic nervous system comprising the hypogastric nerve, pelvic splanchnic nerves, and inferior hypogastric plexus. This method is anatomically and surgically valid for adequate removal of the parametrial and vagina/paracolpium tissues while preserving the total pelvic nervous system. Local recurrence after nerve-sparing surgery might occur due to perineural invasion or inadequate separation of pelvic nerves cutting through the wrong tissue plane between the pelvic nerves and parametrium/paracolpium. Postoperative management for long-term maintenance of bladder function is as critical as preserving the pelvic nerves.

Efficacy of nerve‑sparing radical hysterectomy vs. conventional radical hysterectomy in early‑stage cervical cancer: A systematic review and meta‑analysis

The aim of the present study was to compare the oncological outcome of nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (NSRH) and conventional radical hysterectomy (CRH) for early-stage cervical cancer using a meta-analysis. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted, including 4 randomized controlled trials (RCT), 8 case-control and 11 comparative cohort studies comparing the morbidity, pelvic dysfunctions and oncological outcome between the two surgical methods. A total of 23 studies were included in this meta-analysis. The studies reported data of patients affected by cervical cancer; were written in English; included ≥20 patients; and reported data of patients with a comparison of clinical outcomes between NSRH and CRH. Data were extracted and risk of bias was assessed by four independent reviewers. A total of 1,796 patients were included: 884 patients (49.2%) undergoing NSRH and 912 (50.8%) undergoing CRH. The meta-analyses were conducted using Review Manager version 5.3 software, which is designed for conducting Cochrane reviews. As regards perioperative parameters, NSRH was found to be associated with a lower intraoperative blood loss and a shorter length of hospital stay in comparison with CRH. Patients undergoing NSRH experienced lower incidence of urinary, colorectal and sexual dysfunction compared with patients undergoing CRH. However, the resected parametrial width was favorable in patients with CRH, suggesting that NSRH was inferior to CRH in terms of radicality. The 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates were similar between the two groups. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the collected data to date demonstrated that the nerve-sparing approach guarantees minimized surgical-related pelvic dysfunction, with similar oncological outcomes as CRH. However, further RCTs should be conducted to confirm the superiority and safety of NSRH.

Urodynamic outcomes after pelvic nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy with or without neoadjuvant chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE: Our purposes of this study were to characterize a group of bulky cervical cancer patients who underwent a nerve sparing radical hysterectomy (NSRH) with or without neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), to compare surgical outcomes and the preservation of bladder function, and to compare prognoses.

RESULTS: Fifty-three patients had NSRH without NAC (Group A), and 33 patients had NSRH after NAC (Group B). With regard to prognostic factors, there was only a significant difference between both groups with regard to lymph node metastasis (15% vs 42%, P = 0.01). Moreover, bladder function in Group B patients improved to the same extent as the preoperative rate three months postoperatively. These data were similar to the results in Group A. With regard to overall survival, the 5-year survival rate was 98.1% (95% confidence interval (CI) 87.8–99.7) in Group A and 86.7% (95% CI 71.7–96.7) in Group B (P > 0.1).

METHODS: We retrospectively identified 86 patients with cervical cancer who underwent NSRH at Osaka Medical College from May 2009 to November 2016. NAC was performed via balloon occluded arterial infusion. We extracted data on the patient's stage of progress, tumor volume, histological subtype, bleeding volume, urodynamic study results, and postoperative complications. The data were divided into two groups - those patients who received NAC and those who did not - and then compared.

CONCLUSIONS: According to our analysis, NSRH surgery after NAC via balloon occluded arterial infusion brings beneficial results to patients with bulky IB2 to IIB cervical cancers.

Factors predicting parametrial invasion in patients with early-stage cervical carcinomas

We aimed to identify factors predicting parametrial invasion in early-stage cervical cancer patients undergoing radical hysterectomy. We recruited women with invasive cervical cancer who underwent radical hysterectomy at a single medical institute from 2000–2011. The clinical and pathological characteristics and outcomes were retrospectively recorded, and the risk factors for parametrial invasion were analyzed. We enrolled 339 patients, including 7 with stage IA1 carcinomas, 10 with stage IA2, 266 with stage IB1, 39 with stage IB2, 14 with stage IIA1, and 3 with stage IIA2. The majority (237/339, 69.9%) had squamous cell carcinoma, while 32 (12.4%) had parametrial invasion. The 16 patients with stage IB1 tumors and parametrial invasion were older (55.9±9.5vs. 49.0±9.9 years, p = 0.005, Mann-Whitney U test), and had deeper cervical stromal invasion (9.59±4.87 vs. 7.47±5.48 mm, p = 0.048, Mann-Whitney U test), larger tumor size (2.32±1.15 vs. 1.74±1.14cm, p = 0.043, Mann-Whitney U test), higher incidences of lymphovascular space invasion (87.5% vs. 28.8%, p<0.001, chi-square test), and greater lymph node metastasis (68.8% vs. 10.8%, p<0.001, chi-square test) than the 260 patients without parametrial invasion. Among the patients with stage IB1 tumor size >2 cm,10% had parametrial invasion and 24.2% had lymph node metastasis compared with only 4% and 9.4% of stage IB1 patients with a tumor size <2 cm, respectively. Only one (0.9%) of the 109 patients aged less than 50 years had parametrial invasion compared with 6 (9.7%) of the 62 patients aged over 50 years. Patients with stage IA2 and IB1 tumors <2 cm may not need radical hysterectomy owing to the low incidence of parametrial invasion.

Vaginal drug delivery for the localised treatment of cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is usually treated by surgery, with the more advanced cancers requiring adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The location of the cervix makes it easily accessible through the vagina for the localised delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs. Localised delivery has the advantage of direct delivery to the site of action resulting in a lower dose having to be required and a reduction in systemic side effects. This approach would be advantageous for fertility sparing surgery, whereby localised delivery could be used to reduce tumour size allowing for a much smaller tumour to be removed, reducing the risk of preterm birth. Furthermore, localised delivery could be used after surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence, which is significantly higher in fertility sparing surgery compared to standard surgery. In this paper, we discuss the number of vaginal dosage forms that have investigated for this purpose, including tablets, rings, bioadhesive and cervical caps. APIs under investigation have ranged from well-established chemotherapeutic drugs to more experimental compounds.

The 3D reconstructions of female pelvic autonomic nerves and their related organs based on MRI: a first step towards neuronavigation during nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy

OBJECTIVES

To present in vivo female pelvic autonomous innervation and the relationship between nerves and their related organs by three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

METHODS

Thirty patients with cervical cancer who underwent pelvic MRI and agreed to undergo additional magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) sequences were enrolled in the present study. MRI images from the same patient were acquired using T2-weighted fat saturation (T2W FS) and 3D-STIR-SPACE sequences. Detailed two-dimensional (2D) segmentation and 3D reconstruction of pelvic autonomic nerves (PAN) were performed on the basis of the images of the two sequences using 3D reconstruction software. The 2D segmentation and 3D reconstruction of pelvic organs were based on T2W FS images. The consistency of the 3D models of pelvic autonomous innervation constructed from the two sequences were analysed and compared, the pelvic autonomous innervation was presented, and the relationship between nerves and their related organs was characterised.

RESULTS

The 3D reconstructions of PAN were successfully obtained from 3D-STIR-SPACE and T2W FS sequences in 30 patients and showed high correspondence. T2W FS images also enabled 3D reconstructions of pelvic organs to visualise the 3D distribution of PAN and the positional relationships between nerves and their related organs.

CONCLUSION

The pelvic autonomic nerves and their related organs can be reconstructed on the basis of MRI to present personalised 3D anatomical information and offer individualised guidance during nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (NSRH).

KEY POINTS

• Nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy is a developing trend in cervical cancer surgery • MRI allows reconstructions of pelvic autonomic nerves and their related organs • The 3D reconstructions provide detailed 3D anatomical information on nerves.

[Nerve sparing techniques in deep endometriosis surgery to prevent urinary or digestive functional disorders: Techniques and results: CNGOF-HAS Endometriosis Guidelines]

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the feasibility and functional urinary and digestive results of nerve sparing techniques in endometriosis surgery.

METHODS

A research on the medline/pubmed database using specific keywords (nerve sparing, endometriosis, pelvic nerves) identified 7 publications among about 50 whose purpose was to describe the feasibility, the techniques and the functional results of nerve preservation in this indication. Among them there are: 2 uncontrolled retrospective studies, 3 prospective non-randomized studies, a meta-analysis and a review of the literature.

RESULTS

Nerve preservation requires a perfect knowledge of the anatomy of the pelvic autonomic system. The laparoscopic approach is preferred by the different authors due to its anatomical advantage. The feasibility of this technique seems to be demonstrated despite certain limitations in the different studies and depending of the retroperitoneal extension of the lesions. When feasible, it is likely to significantly improve postoperative urinary function (urinary retention) compared to a conventional technique. It is observed no difference regarding digestive function.

CONCLUSIONS

Nerve sparing in this indication is a technique the feasibility of which has been demonstrated and is subject to the topography and extent of the disease. In the absence of invasion or entrapment of pelvic autonomic nerves by endometriosis, this technique improves postoperative voiding function (NP3). During pelvic surgery for endometriosis, it is recommended to identify and preserve autonomic pelvic nerves whenever possible (GradeC).

Current concepts and practical techniques of nerve-sparing laparoscopic radical hysterectomy

Laparoscopic radical hysterectomy has been widely performed for patients with early-stage cervical cancer. The operative techniques for nerve-sparing to avoid bladder dysfunction have been established during the past three decades in abdominal radical hysterectomy, but how these techniques can be applied to laparoscopic surgery has not been fully discussed. Prolonged operation time or decreased radicality due to less accessibility via a limited number of trocars may be a disadvantage of the laparoscopic approach, but the magnified visual field in laparoscopy may enable fine manipulation, especially for preserving autonomic nerve tracts. The present review article introduces the practical techniques for sparing bladder branches of pelvic nerves in laparoscopic radical hysterectomy based on understanding of the pelvic anatomy, clearly focusing on the differences from the techniques in abdominal hysterectomy.

Nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy versus conventional radical hysterectomy in early-stage cervical cancer. A systematic review and meta-analysis of survival and quality of life

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Survival after radical hysterectomy (RH) for early-stage cervical cancer is good. Hence quality of life (QOL) after treatment is an important issue. Nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (NSRH) improves QOL by selectively sparing innervation of bladder, bowel and vagina, reducing therapy-induced morbidity. However, the oncological outcome and the functional outcome after NSRH are subjects of debate. We aim to present the best possible evidence available regarding both QOL and survival after NSRH in early-stage cervical cancer.

METHODS

Systematic review and meta-analysis on studies comparing NSRH and RH.

RESULTS

Forty-one studies were included, and 27 were used for the meta-analysis. There was no difference in 2-, 3- and 5-year overall survival: the risk ratios (RRs) were respectively 1.02 (95% CI 0.99-1.05, n=879), 1.01 (95% CI 0.95-1.08, n=1324) and 1.03 (95% CI 0.99-1.08, n=638). No difference was found in 2-, 3- and 5-year disease-free survival: RR 1.01 (95% CI 0.95-1.05, n=1175), 0.99 (95% CI 0.94-1.03, n=1130) and 1.00 (95% CI 0.95-1.06, n=933) respectively. Post-operative time to micturition was significantly shorter in the NSRH group: standardized mean difference (SMD) -0.84 (CI 95% -1.07 to -0.60).

CONCLUSIONS

NSRH can be considered safe and effective for early-stage cervical cancer since short- and long-term survival do not differ from those of conventional RH, while bladder function after NSRH is significantly less impaired.

Laparoscopic Nerve-Sparing Radical Hysterectomy for Cervical Carcinoma: Emphasis on Nerve Content in Removed Cardinal Ligaments

Objective

To evaluate the histopathology of autonomic nerve removal within the cardinal ligaments (CLs), patients’ postoperative urinary function, and the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (LNSRH) for treatment of early-stage cervical cancer.

Methods

Perioperative and postoperative parameters were compared between patients with biopsy-proven, early-stage cervical carcinoma treated with LNSRH (n = 64) versus those treated with laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (LRH, n = 42) in a retrospective study. Nerves within CLs were identified by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Rates of the following complications were compared: bladder function, sexual dysfunction, and defecation problems.

Results

Duration of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, duration of hospitalization, and morbidity did not differ significantly between the LNSRH and LRH groups. Patients who underwent LNSRH had a significantly earlier return of bladder and bowel functions, with an average time to achieve residual urine of 50 mL or less of 10.22 days and a mean first defecation time of 3.58 days. Nerves were observed mainly in the CLs of the LRH group. Disease-free survival rate did not differ between the LNSRH (90.6%) and LRH (88.1%) groups (P = 0.643).

Conclusions

The LNSRH is a safe, feasible, and easy procedure for trained laparoscopic surgeons. Patients who underwent LNSRH had a more satisfactory quality of life than patients who underwent LRH.

[Lower urinary tract dysfunction following nerve sparing radical hysterectomy: A systematic review]

INTRODUCTION

Radical hysterectomy represents the cornerstone in the management of localized cervical cancer. Despite its oncologic efficacy, radical hysterectomy is associated with a significant amount of complications and a negative impact on quality of life. Surgical technique seems to influence the functional outcomes.

AIM OF THE STUDY

A systematic review to provide an update on the lower urinary tract dysfunction following nerve sparing radical hysterectomy.

METHODS

An initial search was carried out to identify articles for further review, using Cochrane reviews and PubMed and Embase databases. The search terms used were: "nerve sparing" and "cervical cancer" or "radical hysterectomy". The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses process for reporting included and excluded studies was followed, with the recommended flowchart showing the numbers of papers identified and included or excluded at each stage.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine clinical studies were included. The absence of a standardized surgical technique for nerve sparing radical hysterectomy and the poor methodological quality of the studies assessing lower urinary tract dysfunction after such intervention limited clear conclusions. However, all studies reported lower incidence of urinary tract dysfunction, urodynamic abnormalities and clean intermittent catheterization following nerve sparing radical hysterectomy compared to conventional technique.

CONCLUSION

Nerve sparing radical hysterectomy is associated with reduced lower urinary tract dysfunction. A standardization of the surgical technique for nerve sparing radical hysterectomy, tailored to each individual is necessary to allow its wide spread diffusion.

Effect of laparoscopic nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy on bladder function, intestinal function recovery and quality of sexual life in patients with cervical carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To investigate bladder and intestinal function recovery and quality of sexual life after laparoscopic nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (LNRH) for treatment of early invasive cervical carcinoma.

METHODS

Subjects included patients who underwent radical hysterectomy by laparotomy who were randomly assigned to 2 groups: 30 patients who underwent LNRH and 35 classical laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (LRH). We assessed the patients general clinical information, surgical characteristics, pathological findings, and adjuvant therapies. A urodynamic study was used to assess bladder function. Intestinal function recovery and quality of sexual life were evaluated by questionnaire.

RESULTS

No significant differences were found in age, surgery characteristics, pathological findings, adjuvant therapies, and main adverse effects between the 2 groups. The mean duration of the postoperative catheterization (DPC) in group LNRH was shorter than that in group LRH (P < 0.001). The maximum flow rate, maximum cystometric capacity , maximum detrusor pressure and urinary complications in group LNRH were better than those in group LRH. The quality of sexual life evaluated according to the female sexual function index (FSFI) was better in group LNRH than in those who underwent LRH. The intestinal function of patients in group LNRH also recovered better compared with patients in group LRH.

Minimally Invasive Surgical Management of Early-Stage Cervical Cancer: An Analysis of the Risk Factors of Surgical Complications and of Oncologic Outcomes

Objectives

The objective of this study was to evaluate the morbidity and the oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic radical hysterectomy in treating early-stage cervical cancer.

Methods

We included all patients with early-stage cervical cancer (IA, IB1, IIA1, and IIB), as assessed by the Federation International of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging criteria, undergoing laparoscopic radical hysterectomy from January 1999 to December 2013 in our center. Morbidity was classified according to the Clavien and Dindo classification.

Results

A total of 170 patients were included in which 7 patients were in stage IA2, 150 in IB1, 2 in IIA, and 7 in IIB. The mean operation time was 256 minutes (67–495 minutes). Fourteen severe perioperative complications (8.2%) occurred, in which 5 patients (2.9%) required conversion to an open procedure: 3 bowel injuries, 3 hemorrhages, 2 ureteral injuries, 3 bladder injuries, 2 severe adhesions, and 1 intolerance to the Trendelenburg position. Fourteen patients (8.2%) presented with 1 severe postoperative complication (grade III or more). Two factors appeared as independent risk factors for perioperative and/or postoperative complications: the tumor size (odds ratio, 1.128; 95% confidence interval, 1.054–1.207) and operative time (odds ratio, 1.0116; 95% confidence interval, 1.003–1.020). In a median follow-up of 47.7 months, the 5-year overall survival was 94.1% (range, 88.1%–97.3%), and the 5-year disease-free survival was 88.8% (range, 81.0%–92.6%).

Conclusions

The laparoscopic approach was favorable for both perioperative and postoperative morbidity. With the advantage of minimal invasiveness, laparoscopic treatment by experienced surgeons is an alternative for early-stage cervical cancer with correct long-term survival outcomes. Mini-invasive surgery could be the standard in early-stage cervical cancer.

A Modified Nerve-Sparing Panhysterectomy for Benign Uterine Diseases: Techniques and Evaluation of Postoperative Pelvic Dysfunctions

OBJECTIVE

To describe a modified nerve-sparing panhysterectomy and to investigate the feasibility and impact of this nerve-sparing technique in improving postoperative pelvic visceral dysfunctions of benign uterine disease patients.

METHODS

From January 2008 to January 2010, a total of 300 patients diagnosed with benign uterine diseases at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University were enrolled. Of those, 150 randomly selected patients underwent modified panhysterectomy (research group), while the other 150 patients underwent conventional panhysterectomy (control group). The surgery-related parameters, including operation time, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay, postoperative indwelling catheter time, and first voiding and defecation time were compared between the two groups. The extent of nerve damage in both groups was examined using the nerve-specific marker S-100 via immunohistochemistry. Besides, postoperative assessments of bladder and bowel functions were conducted within 1 year after the operation.

RESULTS

The surgery-related parameters in the two groups showed no significant difference (p > 0.05). Immunohistochemistry results showed significantly reduced damage of the nerves in the research group. We also found a better bladder and bowel function in the research group (p < 0.05) and in younger patients (p < 0.05) compared with that in the control group. Recovery trends of the bladder and bowel function were found in both groups (χ(2) = 7.512, p = 0.006 in the research group; χ(2) = 7.299, p = 0.007 in the control group).

CONCLUSION

Modified panhysterectomy for benign uterine diseases seems feasible and safe, with the main advantage of improving postoperative urocystic and rectal dysfunctions through the preservation of the pelvic autonomic nerves.

Oncological outcomes of nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to review the oncologic outcomes of nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (NSRH) in cervical cancer and to compare them with those of standard conventional radical hysterectomy (CRH).

METHODS

A search of the MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases for studies published to March 3, 2014 was performed using the search term "nerve sparing or radical hysterectomy and cervical cancer." The main outcome measure was the recurrence rate after NSRH. The hazard ratio for recurrence was used to compare NSRH and CRH.

RESULTS

A total of 21 studies reported data on oncologic outcomes of NSRH. The recurrence rate after NSRH was reported to be 0 to 19.6 %. Of the 21 studies, 10 comparing outcomes between NSRH and CRH were assessed for their eligibility to be included in a meta-analysis. However, the scarcity and heterogeneity of effect estimates in these comparison trials precluded performance of a meta-analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed that the evidence addressing the oncologic safety of NSRH over that of CRH in cervical cancer is neither adequate nor statistically relevant. A properly designed, prospective randomized noninferiority trial is needed to assess the oncologic outcomes of NSRH before this surgical approach is adopted as the standard of care for patients with tumors that have unfavorable prognostic features. Until then, NSRH should be considered primarily for patients with small tumors due to the very low risk of parametrial and lymph node involvement, with maximum benefit conferred to the patient from autonomic nerve preservation without any requirement for adjuvant treatment.

Lower urinary tract dysfunction after nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current role of nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (NSRH) in reducing the incidence of postoperative lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) and in improving quality of life.

METHODS

A detailed online search was performed using the following keywords: nerve sparing, radical hysterectomy, cervical cancer, and all these terms in combination with urinary dysfunction or bladder dysfunction in order to analyze the effect of NSRH on urinary functional outcomes. Articles retrieved were analyzed and assigned a level of evidence (LE) according to the criteria of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine in Oxford, UK.

RESULTS

Our review highlights the heterogeneity of conducting and reporting studies in the literature. Autonomic pelvic nerve injuries during the procedure are thought to be the major cause of LUTD. The amount of LUTD depends upon the extent and type of nerve injury. Anatomically based surgical techniques are developed to avoid nerve injury without compromising oncological control. All studies comparing NSRH to standard RH yielded promising results with respect to postoperative LUTD. A recent meta-analysis showed similar cancer control rates between the two techniques. However, controversies remain about the ideal surgical approach for nerve sparing and there is no consensus as to the level and landmarks of dissection to preserve the maximal amount of nerves without compromising oncological outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Available evidence suggests that NSRH is safe and associated with lower incidence of LUTD. However, there is no standardized technique for NSRH and controversies remain about its oncological safety. Long-term oncological data from multicenter surgical trials are needed as well as a universally accepted standard to report studies on NSRH.

Classical radical hysterectomy and nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy in the treatment of cervical cancer

Aim of the study

To compare Piver III radical hysterectomy (RH) with nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (NSRH) for cervical cancer patients in terms of postoperative physiology of pelvic autonomic nerves and perioperative complications.

Material and methods

Seventy-three consecutive patients with invasive cervical cancer underwent RH (53 cases) or NSRH (20 cases) from 2001 to 2012 at the Department of Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology of Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital – Research Institute in Łódź.

Results

Compared with patients treated with RH, patients who underwent NSRH presented no significant difference in terms of operative time (146 vs. 143 minutes, p > 0.05), blood loss and hospital stay (9.2 vs. 7.5 days, p > 0.05). A positive surgical margin was found in 6 cases of RH. No serious surgical complications were found in the NSRH group, while there were 4 cases in the RH group.

Conclusions

Nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy is safe and feasible surgical management for cervical cancer patients, which should improve the physiology of the pelvic autonomic nerve system postoperatively. The technique is relatively new and its oncologic efficiency has not been fully established yet, moreover it requires sophisticated anatomical knowledge and high operative skills.

Clinical efficacy and safety of nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Backgroud and Objective

Nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (NSRH) may be associated with lower postoperative morbidity than radical hysterectomy (RH). We aimed to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of abdominal or laparoscopic NSRH and RH for treating cervical cancer through systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were systematically searched for all relevant studies. Data were abstracted independently by two reviewers. A meta-analysis was performed to compare intra- and postoperative outcomes for the two techniques.

Results

A total of 17 clinical trials were identified. Meta-analysis showed that although operating time was significantly longer for abdominal or laparoscopic NSRH than for RH, NSRH based on laparotomy or laparoscopy proved more effective for postoperative recovery of bladder function. NSRH was also associated with lower bladder dysfunction morbidity and fewer postoperative complications. Two abdominal trials and one laparoscopic study further suggested that NSRH was associated with shorter time to recovery of anal/rectal function. In contrast, RH and NSRH based on laparotomy or laparoscopy were similar in terms of extent of resection, recurrence rate, survival rate, blood loss and frequency of intraoperative complications. The meta-analysis showed that abdominal NSRH was not significantly different from RH in length of hospital stay, while one trial suggested that length of hospital stay was shorter after laparoscopic NSRH than after the corresponding RH.

Conclusion

NSRH may be a reliable technique for treating early cervical cancer. Available evidence suggests that it is better than RH for postoperative recovery of pelvic organ function and postoperative morbidity, while the two techniques involve similar clinical safety and extent of resection. These results should be considered preliminary since they are based on a relatively small number of controlled trials, most of which were non-randomized. The findings should be verified in larger, well-designed studies.

To what extent should we perform parametrectomy in FIGO stage IB cervical cancer?

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate the histopathological basis of individually tailored less radical surgery concept in patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IB cervical cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was performed in the gynaecologic oncology department of Başkent School of Medicine Hospital, Ankara, Turkey between January 1(st) 2008 and January 1(st) 2009. Cardinal and uterosacral ligaments were serially sectioned in an alternative approach, and were examined by a senior gynaecologic pathologist. Clinical and pathological features and findings in sections of uterine ligaments were recorded. Study data were analysed using the SPSS 17.0 program.

RESULTS

Thirty-two out of 38 cases had squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (84.2 %), and six had non-squamous cell tumours (15.8%). Four cases had microscopic (10.5 %) and one case had macroscopic (2.6 %) tumour extension in cardinal ligaments. Mean tumour-free cardinal ligament length was 16.8±7.39 mm. Presence of tumour invasion in cardinal ligaments correlated significantly with pelvic lymph node metastasis (p=0.02). No isolated tumour deposits were found in any of the cases in serial sections of the cardinal or uterosacral ligaments.

CONCLUSION

This research was designed as a preliminary study. Future studies are needed to determine the optimal resection margins of the uterine ligaments in surgically treated stage IB cervical cancer. With continuing research and the development of newer surgical techniques, patients' quality of life will be optimised accordingly.

Benefit of robot-assisted laparoscopy in nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy: urinary morbidity in early cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the feasibility of nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy in early cervical cancer by robot-assisted laparoscopy and atonic bladder rate.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study with consecutive patients in three gynecological oncology departments. Patients with <2 cm cervical cancer had nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy by robot-assisted laparoscopy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. Two days after surgery, we systematically removed the Foley bladder catheter.

RESULTS

The median (range) age and body mass index of the 30 patients were 44 (33-68) years and 23.9 (17.7-39.4) kg/m(2), respectively. The median (range) tumor diameter at the time of surgery was 13 (4-38) mm. The median (range) operative time, blood loss, and number of pelvic lymph nodes (any common iliac lymph nodes) were 305 (180-405) min, 100 (30-1,500) ml, and 18 (7-28). The overall complication rate was 52.3 %, of which 6.7 % atonic bladder. Twenty-eight patients (93.3 %) were discharged 2 days after surgery with spontaneous voiding and no residual urine >100 ml.

CONCLUSIONS

Nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy by robot-assisted laparoscopy is feasible in early cervical cancer (<2 cm). A total of 93.3 % of the patients were discharged 2 days after surgery with spontaneous voiding. The next step would be a prospective study with objective urodynamic investigations.

Individualized radical hysterectomy procedure using intraoperative electrical stimulation for patients with cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE

In this study, by monitoring the varied distributions of nerve fascicles using intraoperative electrical stimulation (IES), we sought to establish an individualized operation based on the patient's unique nerve distribution pattern, and to determine whether this technique would result in a higher preservation rate.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Radical hysterectomy was performed from 2002 to 2010. Patients in group A are the 48 cases from 2002 to 2007 in which nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy using IES as our previous report was performed. Patients in group B are the 38 cases from 2008 to 2010 in which we used our new method, which was individualized to each patient. Urodynamic study (UDS) was used to confirm nerve preservation. Nerve preservation was defined as confirming distinct detrusor contraction during urinary voiding.

RESULTS

In group B, nerve preservation rate was higher than in group A (75% vs 9 0%, P = 0.067). We classified the case-by-case nerve anatomy as whether the nerve fascicle was mainly on the medial side or on the lateral side of the deep uterine vein. The lateral type anatomy was observed unilaterally in 6 cases and bilaterally in 1 case. In summary, the lateral type anatomy was observed in 8 (29%) of 28 sides. In the cases evaluated by UDS, the positive predictive value of IES was 95% in group A and 100% in group B.

CONCLUSIONS

Our method of IES showed a high positive predictive value of nerve preservation as confirmed by UDS. By delineating the nerve tract in detail using IES, it is possible to individualize the operation based on each patient's anatomy, with an improved nerve preservation rate.

A prospective study of nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy for uterine cervical carcinoma in Taiwan

OBJECTIVE

Surgical therapy for cervical carcinoma carries a significant risk of functional impairment to the bladder. This study evaluates the feasibility and complications of nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (NRH) in Taiwan.

METHODS

Between March 2010 and March 2011, consecutive patients diagnosed with early stage cervical cancer (FIGO stage Ia2 to Ib1) and tumor size < 3 cm were recruited prospectively to undergo NRH or conventional radical hysterectomy (RH). Patients with histories of urinary stress incontinence or bladder dysfunction disease were excluded. A modified Tokyo nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 30 patients were enrolled. Among these, 18 patients underwent NRH with successful bilaterally nerve-sparing procedures in 15 cases (83%), unilaterally nerve-sparing procedures in 2 cases (11%), and a failure in 1 case (6%). The indwelling catheter was removed on postoperative day 6. The mean±SD duration from operation to spontaneous voiding was 6.8 ± 1.5 days for women who underwent NRH; the corresponding duration for women who underwent RH or failed NRH was 20.6 ± 3 days. None of the patients who underwent NRH required intermittent catheterization. All 12 patients who underwent RH needed self-catheterization after discharge. There was a significant reduction in the incidence of postoperative self-catheterization (p<0.01) and bladder dysfunction (p<0.006). Average satisfaction score analyzed by the Likert-scale questionnaire was 4.5 for the NRH group and 1.9 for RH group (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

We concluded that the new technique of NRH can reduce postoperative bladder dysfunctions.

Vaginal-assisted laparoscopic radical hysterectomy: rationale, technique, results

The authors conclude that vaginal-assisted laparoscopic radical hysterectomy is an oncologic viable alternative to abdominal radical hysterectomy, laparoscopic-assisted radical vaginal hysterectomy, totally laparoscopic radical hysterectomy, and robotic radical hysterectomy.

Objective:

Total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (TLRH) makes it difficult to resect adequate vaginal cuff according to tumor size and to avoid tumor spread after opening the vagina. Laparoscopic-assisted radical vaginal hysterectomy (LARVH) is associated with higher risk for urologic complications.

Methods:

The vaginal-assisted laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (VALRH) technique comprises 3 steps: (1) comprehensive laparoscopic staging, (2) creation of a tumor-adapted vaginal cuff, and (3) laparoscopic transsection of parametria. We retrospectively analyzed data of 122 patients who underwent VALRH for early stage cervical cancer (n=110) or stage II endometrial cancer (n=12) between January 2007 and December 2009 at Charité University Berlin.

Results:

All patients underwent VALRH without conversion. Mean operating time was 300 minutes, and mean blood loss was 123cc. On average, 36 lymph nodes were harvested. Intra- and postoperative complication rates were 0% and 13.1%, respectively. Resection was in sound margins in all patients. After median follow-up of 19 months, disease-free survival and overall survival for all 110 cervical cancer patients was 94% and 98%, and for the subgroup of patients (n=90) with tumors ≤pT1b1 N0 V0 L0/1 R0, 97% and 98%, respectively.

Conclusion:

VALRH is a valid alternative to abdominal radical hysterectomy and LARVH in patients with early-stage cervical cancer and endometrial cancer stage II with minimal intraoperative complications and identical oncologic outcomes.

A comparison of the feasibility and safety of nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy with the conventional radical hysterectomy

BACKGROUND

Radical hysterectomy has been the treatment of choice for early-stage cervical cancer. Since its introduction in oncology, modifications to the original technique were made to enhance feasibility, improve cure rate, and decrease postoperative complications. Among these are the identification and preservation of pelvic autonomic nerves, known as the nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (RH). This retrospective study was conducted to compare the nerve-sparing with the conventional RH in terms of feasibility and safety, including bladder dysfunction and perioperative and postoperative complications and morbidities.

METHODS

Patients with biopsy-proven early-stage cervical carcinoma, cervical carcinoma with central tumor recurrence or persistence after primary radiotherapy, and endometrial carcinoma with cervical involvement treated with RH with or without nerve-sparing technique were included. The perioperative and postoperative complications and bladder function of these patients were analyzed.

RESULTS

Ninety-seven patients with early-stage cervical cancer and 24 patients with clinical stage II endometrial cancer underwent RH with or without nerve-sparing technique in a nonrandomized fashion. There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 procedures in terms of duration of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, duration of hospitalization, and morbidity. Patients who underwent the nerve-sparing approach had a statistically significant earlier return of bladder function, with a mean of 9.4 days for the cervical cancer cases (vs 21 days in the non-nerve-sparing group) and a mean of 8.5 days for the endometrial cancer cases (vs 22.6 days in the non-nerve-sparing group).

CONCLUSIONS

The technique of sparing the pelvic autonomic nerves during RH for early-stage cervical cancer and clinical stage II endometrial cancer is comparable to the conventional method in terms of perioperative complications and morbidity, but is more favorable in terms of return of bladder function.

Effect of nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy on bladder function recovery and quality of life in patients with cervical carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the bladder function recovery and quality of life (QOL) using nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (NSRH) in treating early invasive cervical carcinoma.

METHODS

Subjects included patients who underwent radical hysterectomy by laparotomy for early-stage cervical carcinoma. Thirty-one patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups: group A, 15 patients who underwent NSRH; and group B, 16 patients who underwent classical radical hysterectomy. We observed the patients' general clinical information, surgical characteristics, postoperative vital signs, pathological findings, adjuvant therapies, and adverse effects. A urodynamic study was used to assess the bladder function. The patients' QOL was evaluated by Functional Assessment of Cervical Cancer Therapy (FACT-Cx).

RESULTS

Twenty-nine patients completed the study. No significant differences were found in age, body mass index, surgery characteristics, pathological findings, adjuvant therapies, and main adverse effects between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). The postoperative time of bladder function recovery in group A was obviously earlier than that in group B (P < 0.05). The urodynamic study showed that the extent of bladder function recovery in group A was better than that in group B (P < 0.05). The QOL in group A evaluated 1 year after operation was improved compared with that in group B (P < 0.05). The QOL analysis showed that group A did much better than group B in social and family life, emotional well-being, working status, and the symptom correlated with the operation (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in basic bodily functions (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy is a safe and reliable technique for early invasive cervical carcinoma. The postoperative bladder function recovery and the patients' QOL were improved after NSRH compared with the control group. Therefore, NSRH could be an alternative management to modify the classical surgery for cervical carcinoma with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stages IB1 to IIA.

A simplified technique for nerve-sparing type III radical hysterectomy: by reorganizing their surgical sequence, surgeons could more easily identify key nerves

Nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy was developed in an attempt to minimize complications, including bladder, colorectal, and sexual dysfunction which are associated with disruption of the pelvic autonomic nerves during resection of the parametrium. In this article, the author proposes a simple, effective technique for identification and preservation of the pelvic nerves during type III radical hysterectomy. The essential technical considerations include the sequential approach to parametrial resection, starting from the posterior part, the direct visualization of the main nerve trunks at all sites during parametrial resection, and the avoidance of direct manipulation and unnecessary dissection of the nerves. Operative outcomes of 22 patients with cervical or uterine cancer who underwent type III radical hysterectomy from August 2008 to March 2010 were reviewed. Comparing with the earlier method performed at the author's institution, the present technique was associated with an increased proportion of patients who had a postvoid residual urine volume (PVR) under 50 mL at postoperative day 7 (55% vs 27%) and a shorter median duration before this PVR was reached (7 days vs 9 days). The systematic approach proposed in this article would make the nerve-sparing technique for radical hysterectomy more straightforward and applicable to various settings. A thorough understanding of anatomy and adequate surgical skills are always vital components of successful nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy.

The measurement of vesical detrusor electromyographic activity during nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the feasibility for confirming the preservation of the parasymphathetic nerve pathway innervating the bladder during nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (RH).

METHODS

A total of 20 patients underwent nerve-sparing RH. Intraoperative electrical stimulation (IES) were performed on the root of pelvic splanchnic nerve (PSN) trunk while recording the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the vesical detrusor. The average duration achieving residual urine ≤50 mL and urodynamic study (UDS) was observed.

RESULTS

Evoked potentials were recorded when stimulating, in 18 patients who were referred IES-positive. Its duration was 9.89 days. The UDS results indicated that all voided normally. The remaining 2 IES-negative cases with no evoked potentials had longer duration and the micturitions were performed using abdominal pressure.

CONCLUSION

During nerve-sparing RH, IES based on the measurement of EMG activity is a useful tool for confirmation of the preservation of parasymphathetic nerve pathway innervating the bladder and prediction of the postoperative bladder function.

Survival and prognosticators of node-positive cervical cancer patients treated with radical hysterectomy and systematic lymphadenectomy

OBJECTIVE

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is known to be the most important prognostic factor in cervical cancer. We analyzed the number of positive lymph nodes and other clinicopathological factors as prognostic factors for survival in node-positive patients with cervical cancer.

METHODS

Node-positive cervical cancer patients (n = 108) who underwent radical hysterectomy and systematic lymphadenectomy in Hokkaido University Hospital from 1982 to 2002 were enrolled. Clinicopathological data including age, stage, histologic subtype, and the number of LNM sites were collected. The main outcome was the overall survival (OS) rate for Stage Ib-IIb patients treated with surgery and postoperative radiotherapy.

RESULTS

The 5-year OS rate of patients with 1 positive node was 93.3%, that for 2 nodes was 77.3%, for 3 nodes it was 33.3%, and for 4 or more it was 13.8%. The OS rate of patients with 1 or 2 LNM sites was significantly better than that for patients with more than 2 LNM sites. The OS rate of patients with adenocarcinoma (Ad) (28.6%) was significantly lower than that for patients with other histologic subtypes (squamous cell carcinoma; 66.7%, adenosquamous carcinoma; 75.0%, p = 0.0003). Multivariate analysis revealed that >2 LNM sites and Ad were independent prognostic factors for survival. The 5-year OS rate of patients with 1 or 2 LNM sites was 86.8%, a more favorable prognosis than the OS rates in other reports.

CONCLUSION

More than two LNM sites and adenocarcinoma were independent prognostic factors for node-positive patients with cervical cancer.

Nerve Sparing in Radical Surgery for Early-Stage Cervical Cancer: Yes We Should!

Radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy is considered to be the cornerstone in the treatment of early-stage cervical cancer. Although survival in early-stage cervical cancer is up to 95%, long-term morbidity with regard to bladder, bowel, and sexual function is considerable. Damage to the pelvic autonomic nerves may be the cause of these long-term complications following radical hysterectomy. Some authors have presented surgical techniques to preserve the autonomic nerves (ie, the hypogastric nerves and the splanchnic nerves) without compromising radicality. Safety, efficacy, and the surgical techniques of nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy are presented, and data confirm that whenever the decision is made to perform a radical hysterectomy, nerve-sparing techniques should be considered.

Laparoscopic nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy with fascia space dissection technique for cervical cancer: description of technique and outcomes

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to describe our laparoscopic nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (LNSRH) technique and to assess the feasibility and safety of the procedure, as well as its impact on voiding function. We introduce a fascia space dissection technique in order to preserve the pelvic splanchnic nerve, the hypogastric nerve and the bladder branch of the inferior hypogastric plexus under magnification (×10.5) during laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (LRH) with pelvic lymphadenectomy.

METHODS

From October 2006 to November 2009, 163 consecutive patients with cervical cancer underwent laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (LRH) and pelvic lymphadenectomy, with 82 women undergoing LNSRH with fascia space dissection technique (LNSRH group) and 81 undergoing LRH (LRH group). Data from 163 patients were prospectively collected and compared. Post-operative assessment of bladder function included the following: the time to recover the ability to void spontaneously and to achieve a post-void residual urine (PVR) volume of less than 50 ml, with urination function graded.

RESULTS

The laparoscopic nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy procedure was completed successfully and was conducted safely in all of the patients. There were no conversions to open surgery in the two groups. The median operative duration in the LNSRH and the LRH groups were 163.52±34.47 min and 132.13±31.42 min, respectively. Blood loss was 142.12±62.38 ml and 187.69±68.63 ml, respectively. The time taken to obtain a post-void residual urine volume of less than 50 ml after removal of the urethral catheter was 7.42±2.35 d (5-18 d) in LNSRH group and was 16.75±7.73 d (5-35 d) in LRH group (P<0.05). The bladder void function recovery to Grades 0-I was 76 (92.7%) for the LNSRH group and 59 (72.8%) for the LRH group. A mean follow-up of 22.3 (5-42) months was adhered to, and no patient had a recurrence or metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

The technique described in this preliminary study appears to be safe, feasible, and easy in our population, with satisfactory recovery of voiding function.