Left extraperitoneal laparoscopic para-aortic lymphadenectomy: morbidity and learning curve of the technique

Description of the morbidity and the learning curve of the left extraperitoneal laparoscopic paraaortic lymphadenectomy in patients with gynecologic cancers. Retrospective study of patients treated with the left extraperitoneal laparoscopic paraaortic lymphadenectomy between August 1999 and January 2005. Duration of surgery, per and post-operative complications, duration of the hospital stay, number of retrieved nodes, and pathologic results were studied. A comparative analysis of the results was performed between trained and training surgeons. Eighty-one patients were planned for the left extraperitoneal laparoscopic paraaortic lymphadenectomy. The major indication (90% of cases) was advanced cervical carcinomas (stage IB2 and more). The median number of retrieved nodes was 14, with a mean operative time of 109 minutes. The median hospital stay was 3 days. Two major complications related to the surgical technique were observed: a laceration of the inferior vena cava and an acute abdominal syndrome. Seven lymphocysts (8.6%) were observed (with associated symptoms in 2 cases). Trained surgeons to the technique displayed higher success rate of this surgical technique and higher number of retrieved lymph nodes. The left extraperitoneal laparoscopic paraaortic lymphadenectomy allows the accurate staging and management of patients with gynecologic cancers and mainly women affected by advanced cervical carcinoma. The surgical technique is safe and reproducible when performed by trained surgeons.