Robotic-assisted laparoscopic trachelectomy: a case series and review of surgical technique

We present a retrospective case series of patients who underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic trachelectomies from August 1, 2011 to August 30, 2012, with a description of the surgical technique for successful cervical removal. The patients, at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Urogynecology and Minimally Invasive Surgery at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, were identified using ICD-9 coding for robotic-assisted trachelectomy. Of the 180 patients who had robotic-assisted gynecologic surgery during the study period, eight underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic trachelectomy. The patients' average age was 40.4 years, average parity was 1.5, and mean body mass index was 28. The time interval from initial surgery of supracervical hysterectomy to robotic-assisted trachelectomy was 4 years. Pre-operative cervical cytology was negative in all patients. The average length of stay was one overnight admission. The primary indication for prior supracervical hysterectomy was dense pelvic adhesions, and the main indications for robotic-assisted trachelectomy were pelvic pain due to endometriosis and cyclic vaginal bleeding. Surgical outcomes included minimal blood loss (<50 ml) and mean operative time of 1.15 h (74.88 min), without any immediate intra-operative or post-operative complications reported. Histopathology reports on all cervical specimens were normal. Adnexectomy is the most common concomitant procedure performed with trachelectomy. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic trachelectomy is a viable option for patients requesting a minimally invasive approach to cervical stump removal.