Video Endoscopic Inguinal Lymphadenectomy via 3-Incision Lateral Approach for Vulvar Cancers: Our Preliminary Outcome of 37 Cases

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to build a video endoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy (VEIL) via the 3-incision superolateral inguinal approach and explore the feasibility and significance of this method for vulvar cancer. METHODSThirty-seven patients with vulvar cancer who underwent VEIL via the 3-incision superolateral inguinal approach were enrolled and followed up. The number of excised lymph nodes, intraoperative complications, inguinal wound healing, and the prognosis were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTSThe average number of excised lymph nodes per side is 8.8 ± 3.7 (4–18) among the 37 patients and after the new method was more mature, is 9.6 ± 3.6 among the 34 patients treated. Primary healing was found in 36 cases, whereas delayed healing occurred in 1 case complicated with diabetes. The lymph node–positive patients (6 cases) were supplemented with postoperative radiochemotherapy (RCT). All patients survived during the follow-up. Of the 2 recurrent patients, one patient who received surgery again and RCT survived without tumor. The other patient undergoing RCT survived with tumor. CONCLUSIONSCompared with open lymphadenectomy, VEIL via the 3-incision lateral approach provides a feasible, but more cosmetic, and promising minimally invasive modality in clinic for treating patients with vulvar cancer.