Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical hysterectomy: comparison with total laparoscopic hysterectomy and abdominal radical hysterectomy; one surgeon's experience at the Norwegian Radium Hospital.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the 3 years follow-up results regarding the recurrence pattern of robot-assisted laparoscopic radical hysterectomies and pelvic lymphadenectomies in the early stage cervical carcinoma patients and compare the results with both total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy and abdominal radical hysterectomy groups.
METHODS: A total of 68 patients underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy for early stage cervical carcinoma management. All cases (35 robot-assisted, 7 cases laparoscopy and 26 with laparotomy) were operated by the same surgeon at the Norwegian Radium Hospital. All cases were retrospectively reviewed to compare demographics, peri-operative variables such as mean operative time, estimated blood loss, lymph node counts, complications and follow-up results.
RESULTS: The mean operating times (skin-to-skin) for patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (RALRH), total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (TLRH) or abdominal radical hysterectomy (ARH) were 263±70, 364±57 and 163±26 min respectively. Patients receiving laparotomy had shortest operative time, followed by those undergoing RALRH and then laparoscopy (p<0.0001 for both). Estimated blood loss was significantly reduced in robot-assisted surgeries compared to surgeries involving laparoscopy and laparotomy (82±74 ml vs. 164±131 ml (p<0.0001) and 595±284 ml (p=0.023), respectively). The mean follow-up times were 36±14.4, 56.4±14 and 70±21 months in patients who underwent RALRH, TLRH and ARH respectively. Until now there have been 5 recurrences and one cervical cancer related death in the robot-assisted group and no recurrences in both the laparoscopy and the laparotomy group. One patient died due to primary lung cancer in the laparoscopic group and other patient died due to primary pancreatic cancer in the laparotomy group.
CONCLUSIONS: Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection is feasible and more precise because the instruments provide better flexibility and 3-D vision. We must proceed cautiously, however, if a new treatment modality appears to present an increased recurrence rate. Therefore, patients submitted to robot-assisted laparoscopic radical hysterectomy should be followed carefully and RALRH would be encouraged as protocol setting until the long-term oncological outcome data are available.