Urological complications of Okabayashi's operation for cervical cancer

It has been suggested that the Okabayashi technique for radical hysterectomy in cervical cancer results in fewer urological complications as compared with the Wertheim-Meigs technique. Of 479 women with cervical cancer operated on consecutively during the period 1963 to 1978 by the Okabayashi operation, 52 (10.8 per cent) had urological complications (17 bladder and ureter injuries, 35 fistulae and strictures). Thirty-five elective urological operations were required (Table IV). Operative mortality related to urological complications was 1/479. Compared with an earlier series of 397 women operated on in our department, mainly by the Wertheim-Meigs operation, the Okabayashi operation did not result in significantly fewer urological complications. However, because of technical advantages and possible better radicality the Okabayashi operation for cervical cancer is still preferred.