OBJECTIVE: To report our successes and complications with a series of abdominal radical trachelectomies performed to preserve fertility in young women at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). METHODS: Institutional review board (IRB) permission was obtained for retrospective record review. Data were collected regarding patient age and parity, tumor stage and histology, surgical time and complications, post-operative complications, follow-up, and pregnancy. RESULTS: Ten patients underwent radical abdominal trachelectomy, 9 by the same surgeon (LD). Surgery was essentially identical to that of radical hysterectomy with the exception of re-anastomosis of the uterine fundus to the vagina and placement of cerclage. Pre-operative evaluation and post operative follow-up was for the most part identical for all patients. Two patients achieved pregnancy, with 1 twin delivery and 1 patient had 2 pregnancies. Two patients experienced cervical stenosis with regular menses and the same 2 patients passed their abdominal cerclage vaginally. To date there have been no cancer recurrences. Pap smear follow-up has been complicated by difficulty in reading smears from the lower uterine segment (LUS). CONCLUSION: Radical abdominal trachelectomy can be successfully performed by any gynecologic oncologist who is trained in radical pelvic surgery. Pre-operative counseling is crucial in obtaining informed consent. Patients must be aware of potential post-operative complications, including pre-term delivery. Cytology department needs to be aware of potential pitfalls in reading Pap smears from the LUS.
OBJECTIVE: To report our successes and complications with a series of abdominal radical trachelectomies performed to preserve fertility in young women at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). METHODS: Institutional review board (IRB) permission was obtained for retrospective record review. Data were collected regarding patient age and parity, tumor stage and histology, surgical time and complications, post-operative complications, follow-up, and pregnancy. RESULTS: Ten patients underwent radical abdominal trachelectomy, 9 by the same surgeon (LD). Surgery was essentially identical to that of radical hysterectomy with the exception of re-anastomosis of the uterine fundus to the vagina and placement of cerclage. Pre-operative evaluation and post operative follow-up was for the most part identical for all patients. Two patients achieved pregnancy, with 1 twin delivery and 1 patient had 2 pregnancies. Two patients experienced cervical stenosis with regular menses and the same 2 patients passed their abdominal cerclage vaginally. To date there have been no cancer recurrences. Pap smear follow-up has been complicated by difficulty in reading smears from the lower uterine segment (LUS). CONCLUSION: Radical abdominal trachelectomy can be successfully performed by any gynecologic oncologist who is trained in radical pelvic surgery. Pre-operative counseling is crucial in obtaining informed consent. Patients must be aware of potential post-operative complications, including pre-term delivery. Cytology department needs to be aware of potential pitfalls in reading Pap smears from the LUS.
Authors: Pedro F Escobar; Pedro T Ramirez; Rafael E Garcia Ocasio; Rene Pareja; Steve Zimberg; Michael Sprague; Michael Frumovitz Journal: Gynecol Oncol Date: 2016-08-17 Impact factor: 5.482