Two-port access laparoscopic surgery in gynecologic oncology

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of 2-port access (TPA) laparoscopy in gynecologic oncology.

This was a retrospective review of 81 consecutive patients who underwent TPA laparoscopic surgery for various gynecologic cancers from March 2009 to September 2011. The TPA system consisted of a single multichannel port at the umbilicus and an ancillary 5-mm port in the suprapubic area.

The surgical procedures included comprehensive ovarian cancer staging (33 patients), radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection (19 patients), and endometrial cancer staging (29 patients). All surgical procedures were completed laparoscopically with no conversion to laparotomy. Two cases required 1 or 2 additional ports. The mean operating time, estimated blood loss, and number of lymph nodes were 253.8 minutes, 170.7 mL, and 34.9, respectively. Three patients (9.1%) with ovarian cancer and 4 patients (13.8%) with endometrial cancer were upstaged after surgery. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 6.6 days, and the mean postoperative pain scores (0-10 scale) were 3.4 at 6 hours, 3.0 at 24 hours, and 2.5 at 48 hours. Postoperative complications occurred at a low incidence (4.9%) and included one umbilical hernia, one vault dehiscence, and one lumbosacral nerve injury.

Two-port access laparoscopic surgery using a single multichannel port system is a feasible and safe procedure in selected patients with gynecologic cancers. Prospective randomized trials will permit the evaluation of the potential benefits of this minimally invasive surgical technique.