Fertility sparing surgery for treatment of early-stage cervical cancer: Open vs. robotic radical trachelectomy

ObjectiveTo compare the open versus robotic surgical approaches and provide surgical outcome data on patients who have undergone radical trachelectomy (RT).MethodsWe identified patients who underwent open (ORT) or robotic radical trachelectomy (RRT) between September 2005 and June 2011. Tumor characteristics, perioperative, operative and obstetrical outcomes were analyzed.ResultsThirty-seven patients with early stage cervical cancer that desired future fertility underwent attempted radical trachelectomy, and 32 patients (20 with 1B1, 11 with 1A2, and 5 with 1A1 with LVSI/poorly differentiated histology) had successful completion of RT. Five (1 open/4 robotic) underwent conversion to radical hysterectomy secondary to close (< 5 mm) endocervical margin (p = 0.08). The median age at diagnosis was 28.9 years (range; 21.4-37.2), 70% were nulliparous, and 9 had a visible lesion. Twenty-five patients (68%) underwent ORT and 12 (32%) underwent RRT. RRT was associated with less blood loss (62.5 mL vs. 300 mL, p = 0.0001) and decreased length of postoperative stay (1 vs. 4 days, p < 0.001), with no difference in operative time or histopathologic outcomes. Twenty-three patients (62%) had no residual cervical disease on final pathology. Common long-term morbidities were irregular menstrual bleeding or amenorrhea (25%), cerclage erosion (13%), or cervical stenosis (9%). Although there was a higher rate of conversion to hysterectomy in the robotic surgery cohort, rates of serious morbidities among the cohorts were comparable (robotic: 33% vs. open: 24%, p = 0.70). Eleven (36%) patients are actively attempting pregnancy and three have achieved pregnancy. The median time of follow up is 17.0 months (range 0.30-64.9 months). There are no documented recurrences.ConclusionsRRT results in less blood loss and decreased length of hospital stay with no compromise in histopathologic outcomes.

► We retrospectively compared robotic and open radical trachelectomy. ► Robotic radical trachelectomy was associated with less blood loss and decreased postoperative stay with no compromise in histopathologic outcomes. ► Patients undergoing robotic radical trachelectomy experienced comparable rates of serious morbidity.