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Over the past decades, advances in surgical robotics have led to significant improvements in the care provided to women with gynecologic cancer. These advancements have occurred during a time when healthcare systems are changing their focus from a traditional fee for service model to value-based healthcare. The focus on value and risk sharing has led to institutions choosing quality outcomes over complications. This has been emphasized from the recent addition of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement modification of the Triple AIM to the Quadruple Aim: better care, better quality, better cost, and better experience. The added focus on better experience includes the patient and healthcare professional. This comes at an important time in medicine, where the implementation of electronic medical records (EMRs) such as Epic and Cerner has been met with a significant increase in physician burnout. more...

IntroductionRisk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy has been established as one of the most effective strategies in risk reduction for ovarian and breast cancers among women at increased genetic risk. However, there are limited data regarding the single-port laparoscopic platform in the field of risk-reducing surgery. Our objective was to describe outcomes after single-port risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy with or without hysterectomy for reduction of ovarian, breast, or endometrial cancer risk.MethodsA retrospective, single institution (Canadian Task Force Classification II.2) analysis was performed in women at high genetic or familial risk for ovarian/tubal/primary peritoneal cancer or with personal history of breast cancer who underwent single-port laparoscopic risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy with or without hysterectomy between October 2009 and December 2015. Data were collected on patient demographics, surgical procedure and characteristics, intra-operative findings, and post-operative outcomes.ResultsIn total, 187 single-port laparoscopic surgeries were performed with a median follow-up of 204 (IQR 25–749) days. BRCA1/2, Lynch syndrome, or Cowden syndrome was diagnosed in 64.0% of patients. Additionally, 32.1% had a personal history of breast cancer, and 3.2% reported strong family history of ovarian and/or breast cancer. Single-port risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy with hysterectomy was performed in 53.5% of patients. The rate of adverse outcomes, including conversion to multiport laparoscopy or laparotomy (1.6%), intra-operative injury (1.6%), deep vein thrombosis (0.5%), urinary tract infection (2.7%), and/or incisional cellulitis (4.3%) were low. Three patients (1.6%) were diagnosed with malignancy on final pathology. All three patients were BRCA1-positive and their CA125 values were significantly lower than those without malignancy (p=ConclusionsSingle-port laparoscopy is a safe option for patients undergoing risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy with or without hysterectomy. Standardized pre-operative evaluation criteria are needed to determine absolute risk of incidental malignancy, and the risk of identifying a malignancy should be reiterated to patients during pre-operative counseling. more...

Summary Background Accurate identification of sentinel lymph nodes in patients with cancer improves detection of metastatic disease and decreases surgical morbidity. We sought to establish whether indocyanine green fluorescent dye is non-inferior to isosulfan blue dye in detecting sentinel lymph nodes in women with cervical and uterine cancers. Methods In this non-inferiority, within-patient comparison study, patients aged 18 years or older with clinical stage I endometrial or cervical cancer undergoing curative surgery were randomly assigned 1:1 to lymphatic mapping with isosulfan blue dye (visualised by white light) followed by indocyanine green (visualised by near-infrared imaging), or indocyanine green followed by isosulfan blue dye. Permuted block randomisation with stratification by study site was done with a computerised random number generator. All participants were masked to their randomisation assignment until after the procedure; however, investigators were not masked to the procedure used. Laparoscopic surgery with the PINPOINT near-infrared fluorescence imaging system (Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI, USA) was used in all cases. The primary outcome was efficacy of intraoperative indocyanine green with near-infrared fluorescence imaging versus that of isosulfan blue dye in the identification of lymph nodes, defined as the number of lymph nodes identified by indocyanine green and isosulfan blue dye, respectively (and confirmed as lymphoid tissue by histology), divided by the number of lymph nodes identified intraoperatively and excised. The study had a 5% non-inferiority margin needed to show non-inferiority of the frequency of lymph node detection with indocyanine green to that with isosulfan blue dye with 80% power at a 5% two-sided significance level. Analyses were done in both per-protocol and modified intention-to-treat populations. The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02209532, and is completed and closed. Findings Between Dec 21, 2015, and June 19, 2017, 180 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to the two groups (90 to each group); 176 patients received the intervention and were evaluable (modified intention-to-treat population). 13 patients with major protocol violations were subsequently excluded from the per-protocol population. 517 sentinel nodes were identified in the per-protocol population (n=163), of which 478 (92%) were confirmed to be lymph nodes on pathological processing: 219 (92%) of 238 nodes that were both blue and green, all seven nodes that were blue only, and 252 (95%) of 265 nodes that were green only (p=0·33). Seven sentinel lymph nodes were neither blue nor green but were removed for appearing suspicious or enlarged on visual examination. In total, 471 (97%) of 485 lymph nodes were identified with the green dye and 226 (47%) with the blue dye (difference 50%, 95% CI 39–62; p Interpretation Indocyanine green dye with near-infrared fluorescence imaging identified more sentinel nodes than isosulfan blue dye in women with cervical and uterine cancers, with no difference in the pathological confirmation of nodal tissue between the two mapping substances. Funding Novadaq. more...

Objective To assess, in two separate groups of baboons, uterine viability after ligation of the uterine veins and uterine viability after ligation of both the uterine arteries and veins, respectively. Design Prospective, observational study. Setting Baboon breeding colony. Animal(s) Six naive female Papio hamadryas baboons with indicators of normal reproductive function. Intervention(s) Three baboons underwent surgical interruption of the uterine veins bilaterally, and three baboons underwent surgical interruption of the uterine arteries and the uterine veins bilaterally. All baboons also underwent colpotomy, cervico-vaginal reanastomosis, and intraoperative near-infrared fluorescence imaging after vessel ligation. In the postoperative period, transabdominal sonography, vaginoscopy, and endocervical biopsy were performed on all animals. Main Outcome Measure(s) Postoperative uterine and ovarian viability. Result(s) Near-infrared imaging confirmed intraoperative perfusion of the uterus and cervico-vaginal anastomosis in all cases. In all subjects, sonography revealed normal uteri, and vaginoscopy revealed well-healed anastomoses. Endocervical biopsies (five of six) demonstrated pathologically normal endocervical tissue without evidence of necrosis. Cyclical sex skin turgescence and menstruation were unanimously observed. Conclusion(s) Disruption of bilateral uterine vessels does not affect uterine or ovarian viability in the baboon. Bilateral uterine artery and vein ligation furthers development of a minimally invasive approach to donor hysterectomy. more...

Study Objective To determine feasibility of using laser angiography with indocyanine green (ICG) to assess vaginal cuff vascular perfusion during total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH). Design Pilot feasibility trial (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting Academic-affiliated hospital. Patients Twenty women undergoing TLH for benign disease. Interventions Participants underwent 1:1 randomization of energy method used for colpotomy (ultrasonic vs monopolar) and vaginal cuff closure suture (barbed vs nonbarbed). After intravenous administration of ICG, laser angiography was used to capture images of the vaginal cuff before and after closure. Three reviewers analyzed fluorescent images of vaginal cuffs to determine percent of cuff perimeter with adequate perfusion when open and length of vaginal cuff adequately perfused when closed. Measurements and Main Results ICG fluorescence was visible at the vaginal cuff in all participants. Mean time to appearance of ICG in the pelvis after administration was 19.8 ± 6.8 seconds (mean ± SD) preclosure, and 26.0 ± 22.2 seconds postclosure. With ultrasonic energy 67.5% ± 17.4% of open cuff perimeter and 74.4% ± 20.5% of closed cuff length were adequately perfused, whereas with monopolar energy use 59.1% ± 17.4% of the open cuff perimeter and 66.3% ± 15.4% of closed cuff length were adequately perfused. Cuffs closed with barbed suture showed adequate perfusion along 71.5% ± 15.1% of the length, whereas those closed with nonbarbed suture showed 68.9% ± 20.9% adequate perfusion. When normalized to cervical cup circumference, ultrasonic energy required 1.0 ± .2 s/mm, whereas monopolar energy required .8 ± .3 s/mm (p = .162). Linear regression showed no association of normalized time of energy activation to percentage of perimeter of open cuff (R 2 = .007) or length of closed cuff (R 2 = .005) with adequate perfusion. No complications related to intravenous ICG administration occurred. Conclusion Laser angiography with ICG allows evaluation of vascular perfusion at the vaginal cuff during TLH. This technique may facilitate future prospective studies examining causes for vaginal cuff dehiscence, a complication with potential for severe morbidity. more...

In patients with early-stage cervical cancer, radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy is the gold standard. However, this disease commonly affects women of childbearing age; thus an option to spare fertility is ideal. This option came to fruition in the early 90s when the Dargent procedure or radical trachelectomy was first reported. The procedure has subsequently been modified as technology has improved and now may be performed via minimally invasive techniques. Additionally, with the advent of the sentinel lymph node procedure, the morbidity in this usually young patient population has continued to improve. There is a multitude of data to show that oncologic outcomes, concerning recurrence and mortality, are comparable to radical hysterectomy, as well as obstetrical outcomes are favorable. Data to support its acceptance within the gynecologic oncology community has led to radical trachelectomy being implemented into governing body guidelines and should be offered to appropriate candidates with early-stage cervical cancer who wish to preserve fertility. more...

Background and objectives Vaginal cuff dehiscence may be a vascular-mediated event, and reports show a higher incidence after robot-assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy (RATLH), when compared with other surgical routes. This study was conducted to determine the feasibility of using laser angiography to assess vaginal cuff perfusion during RATLH. Methods This was a pilot feasibility trial incorporating 20 women who underwent RATLH for benign disease. Colpotomy was made with ultrasonic or monopolar instruments, whereas barbed or nonbarbed suture was used for cuff closure. Time of instrument activation during colpotomy was recorded. Images were captured of vaginal cuff perfusion before and after cuff closure. Reviewers evaluated these images and determined areas of adequate cuff perfusion. Results Indocyanine green (ICG) was visible at the vaginal cuff in all participants. Optimal dosage was determined to be 7.5 mg of ICG per intravenous dose. Mean time to appearance for ICG was 18.4 ± 7.3 s (mean ± SD) before closure and 19.0 ± 8.7 s after closure. No significant difference (P = .19) was noted in judged perfusion in open cuffs after colpotomy with a monopolar (48.9 ± 26.0%; mean ± SD) or ultrasonic (40.2 ± 14.1%) device. No difference was seen after cuff closure (P = .36) when a monopolar (70.9 ± 21.1%) or ultrasonic (70.5 ± 20.5%) device was used. The use of barbed (74.1 ± 20.1%) or nonbarbed (66.4 ± 20.9%) sutures did not significantly affect estimated closed cuff perfusion (P = .19). Decreased cuff perfusion was observed with longer instrument activation times in open cuffs (R2 = 0.3175). Conclusion Laser angiography during RATLH allows visualization of vascular perfusion of the vaginal cuff. The technology remains limited by the lack of quantifiable fluorescence and knowledge of clinically significant levels of fluorescence. more...

Sentinel lymph node biopsy has proven safe and feasible in a number of gynecologic cancers such as vulvar cancer, cervical cancer, and endometrial cancer. The proposed aim of lymphatic mapping and sentinel node identification is to decrease the associated morbidity of a complete lymphadenectomy, particularly the rate of lymphedema, while also increasing the detection of small tumor deposits in the node. Different tracers have been shown to be useful, including technetium-99 and blue dye, with a detection reported in 66% to 86%. Recently, there has been increasing interest in the use of fluorescent dies such as indocyanine green (ICG). In this report we provide a review of the existing literature regarding the use of ICG in cervical or endometrial cancer with the goal to provide details on its utility and compare it with other tracers. more...

Radical trachelectomy is considered standard of care in patients with early-stage cervical cancer interested in future fertility. The goal of this study was to compare operative, oncologic, and fertility outcomes in patients with early-stage cervical cancer undergoing open vs. minimally invasive radical trachelectomy.A retrospective review was performed of patients from four institutions who underwent radical trachelectomy for early-stage cervical cancer from June 2002 to July 2013. Perioperative, oncologic, and fertility outcomes were compared between patients undergoing open vs. minimally invasive surgery.A total of 100 patients were included in the analysis. Fifty-eight patients underwent open radical trachelectomy and 42 patients underwent minimally invasive surgery (MIS=laparoscopic or robotic). There were no differences in patient age, body mass index, race, histology, lymph vascular space invasion, or stage between the two groups. The median surgical time for MIS was 272min [range, 130-441min] compared with 270min [range, 150-373min] for open surgery (p=0.78). Blood loss was significantly lower for MIS vs. laparotomy (50mL [range, 10-225mL] vs. 300mL [50-1100mL]) (p0.0001). Nine patients required blood transfusion, all in the open surgery group (p=0.010). Length of hospitalization was shorter for MIS than for laparotomy (1day [1-3 days] vs. 4days [1-9 days]) (p0.0001). Three intraoperative complications occurred (3%): 1 bladder injury, and 1 fallopian tube injury requiring unilateral salpingectomy in the MIS group and 1 vascular injury in the open surgery group. The median lymph node count was 17 (range, 5-47) for MIS vs. 22 (range, 7-48) for open surgery (p=0.03). There were no differences in the rate of postoperative complications (30% MIS vs. 31% open surgery). Among 83 patients who preserved their fertility (33 MIS vs. 50 open surgery), 34 (41%) patients attempted to get pregnant. Sixteen (47%) patients were able to do so (MIS: 2 vs. laparotomy: 14, p=0.01). The pregnancy rate was higher in the open surgery group when compared to the MIS group (51% vs. 28%, p=0.018). However, median follow-up was shorter is the MIS group compared with the open surgery group (25months [range, 10-69] vs. 66months [range, 11-147]). To date, there has been one recurrence in the laparotomy group and none in the MIS group.Our results suggest that radical trachelectomy via MIS results in less blood loss and a shorter hospital stay. Fertility rates appear higher in patients undergoing open radical trachelectomy. more...

Background: Single-port laparoscopy (LESS) utilizes a single, multichannel port in an attempt to decrease postoperative pain, while enhancing cosmesis and minimizing the potential risks and morbidities associated with the multiple ports used in conventional laparoscopy. Methods: We performed a retrospective study examining three tertiary care referral centers. From September 2009 until March 2013, 31 patients with ovarian cystic lesions were treated using the LESS technique. A control group of 57 patients who underwent conventional laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy was included for comparison. Results: All patients underwent a technically successful cystectomy. There were no statistically significant differences in the mean operative time or estimated blood loss between the two groups. Narcotic use during the recovery period was reported in less patients in the LESS group than in the laparoscopic group (p = 0.05). Conclusions: The LESS technique can be used to safely perform cystectomies on women with benign ovarian cysts. Additional investigation is needed to evaluate the safety, cost-effectiveness and long-term outcomes of this new approach. more...

Surgical advances in minimally invasive surgery, including laparoscopic and robotics, have revolutionized the practice of medicine and surgery in gynecologic oncology. During this time, an emphasis has been made to improve quality metrics such as complications, readmissions, and length of stay. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement has recommended health systems and surgeons to improve performance focused on better care, better quality, and better cost. Minimally invasive surgery may help to achieve these measures and serve as the foundation upon which these goals are reached. Despite the availability of laparoscopic tools at many hospitals, the majority of patients who had gynecologic cancer surgery in the United States had a laparotomy prior to the introduction of robot-assisted surgery. Reasons for this have been attributed to limitations of laparoscopy, which include 2D vision and rigid instruments without articulation. One of the greatest advancements in gynecologic surgery occurred in 2005, when the FDA approved the da Vinci surgical platform (Intuitive Surgical Inc, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) for use in gynecologic surgery. This platform provides a 3D vision system paired with wristed articulating instruments. Together, these enhancements may overcome some of the limitations of laparoscopy allowing for surgeons to perform less open surgery. The introduction of robotics in 2005 has led to an increase in minimally invasive surgery and significantly less open surgery – especially for the gynecologic oncology patient. This review will focus on recent advancements in robotic surgery in the field of gynecology oncology. It will also discuss the role for standardizing education and training through the development of training and educational networks to improve surgical outcomes. more...

Objectives Minimally invasive surgery for recurrent ovarian cancer is generally not performed. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and surgical outcomes of robotic-assisted surgery in the management of recurrent ovarian cancer. Methods Eligible patients included those with confirmed recurrent ovarian cancer amenable to surgical resection and in which a complete resection was thought to be feasible with the use of the robotic platform. Patients with evidence of carcinomatosis were not considered for a robotic approach. Clinical and pathologic data were abstracted from the medical records. Appropriate statistical tests were performed using SPSS statistical software program (SPSS 20.0 Inc., Chicago, IL). Results A total of 48 patients were identified. Thirty-six (75%) patients had a recurrent mass or masses isolated to one anatomic region (pelvis or abdomen). Conversion to laparotomy was necessary in 4 (8.3%) cases. In cases not requiring conversion to laparotomy, the median operative time, EBL, and length of stay were 179.5min, 50cc, and 1day, respectively. An optimal debulking was achieved in 36 (82%) cases. Complications occurred in 6 (13.6%) cases. The median operative time, EBL, length of stay, and complications were all statistically significantly lower in the cases not converted to laparotomy compared to those that were (p Conclusions This study suggests that select patients with recurrent ovarian cancer in the absence of carcinomatosis may be candidates for secondary surgical cytoreduction via a robotic approach. Surgical and postoperative outcomes appear to be favorable compared to reports of laparotomy in recurrent ovarian cancer. more...

Background and Objectives: To compare our initial experience in laparoscopic surgery for ovarian endometriomas performed through an umbilical incision using a single 3-channel port and flexible laparoscopic instrumentation versus traditional laparoscopy. Methods: This study was conducted in 3 tertiary care referral centers. Since September 2009, we have performed laparoendoscopic single-site surgery in 24 patients diagnosed with ovarian endometriomas. A control group of patients with similar diagnoses who underwent traditional operative laparoscopy during the same period was included (n = 28). In the laparoendoscopic single-site surgery group, a multichannel port was inserted into the peritoneum through a 1.5- to 2.0-cm umbilical incision. Results: Patients in the laparoendoscopic single-site surgery group were significantly older (P = .04) and had a higher body mass index (P = .005). Both groups were comparable regarding history of abdominal surgery, lateral pelvic side wall involvement, and cul-de-sac involvement. After we controlled for age and body mass index, the size of the resected endometriomas, duration of surgery, and amount of operative blood loss were comparable in both groups. When required, an additional 5-mm port was inserted in the right or left lower quadrant in the laparoendoscopic single-site surgery group to allow the use of a third instrument for additional tissue retraction or manipulation (10 of 24 patients, 41.6%). However, adhesiolysis was performed more frequently in the conventional laparoscopy group. The duration of hospital stay was more...

Since the introduction of robotic technology, there have been significant changes to the field of gynecology. The number of minimally invasive procedures has drastically increased, with robotic procedures rising remarkably. To date several authors have published cost analyses demonstrating that robotic hysterectomy for benign and oncologic indications is more costly compared to the laparoscopic approach. Despite being more expensive than laparoscopy, other studies have found robotics to be less expensive and more effective than laparotomy. In this review, controversies surrounding cost-effectiveness studies are explored. more...

Since the introduction of robotic technology, there have been significant changes to the field of gynecologic oncology. The number of minimally invasive procedures has drastically increased, with robotic procedures rising remarkably. With recent evidence suggesting that minimally invasive techniques should be the standard of care for early endometrial and cervical cancers, the push for new technology and advancements has continued. Several emerging robotic technologies have significant potential in the field of gynecologic oncology. The single-site robotic platform enables robotic surgery through a single incision; the Firefly camera detects the fluorescent dye indocyanine green, which may improve sensitivity in sentinel lymph node biopsy; and a robotic vessel-sealing device and stapler will continue to improve efficiency of the robotic surgeon. more...

Objective To evaluate the detection of near-infrared fluorescence from prostate tumors stained with a prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)–targeted tracer developed in our institution with a novel robotic imaging system. Methods Prostate cancer cell lines PC3-pip (PSMA positive) and PC3-flu (PSMA negative) were implanted subcutaneously into 6 immunodeficient mice. When tumors reached 5 mm, a PSMA-targeted fluorescent conjugate was injected intravenously. The first 3 mice underwent near-infrared imaging immediately and hourly up to 4 hours after injection to determine the time necessary to obtain peak fluorescence and were killed. The last 3 mice were imaged once preoperatively and were euthanized 120 minutes later. Excision of the tumors was performed by using a novel robotic imaging system to detect near-infrared fluorescence in real time. Specimens were submitted for pathology. Results In the first 3 mice, we found 120 minutes as the time needed to observe peak fluorescence from the PSMA-positive tumors. We identified discrete near-infrared fluorescence from 2 of 3 PSMA-positive tumors with the robotic imaging system. Surgical margins were negative for all excised specimens except for one PSMA-negative tumor. Conclusions Real-time near-infrared fluorescence imaging of prostate cancer is feasible with a novel robotic imaging system. Further research is needed to optimize the signal intensity detectable from prostate cancer with our tracer. Toxicologic studies are needed before its clinical use. more...

Background/Aims: To review the literature and compare detection rates, false negative (FN) rates, and negative predictive values (NPVs) of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in endometrial cancer to those in breast and vulvar cancer. Secondary objectives were to evaluate techniques of SLN biopsy in endometrial cancer. Methods: The PubMed database was searched for applicable scientific articles. Detection rates, FN rates, and NPVs were calculated for all studies. Studies were stratified by techniques and compared. Results: Nineteen articles met criteria for this review. The overall detection rates ranged from 62 to 100%, the FN rate ranged from 0 to 50%, and the NPVs ranged from 95 to 100%. There is no technique that is definitively superior to any other with regard to surgical modality, injectant used, injection site, or pathologic techniques. Conclusions: Studies on SLN biopsy in endometrial cancer have a large range of detection rates and FN rates, and larger studies including more patients with metastatic disease are needed for comparison with breast and vulvar cancers. While no techniques are definitively superior to others, minimally invasive surgery, cervical injection, and pathologic analysis utilizing HE staining, immunohistochemistry, and ultrastaging may be clinically advantageous. more...

Objectives The aim of our study was to measure and analyze uterine perfusion utilizing laser angiography with ICG during uterine artery sparing and non-sparing radical trachelectomy. Methods Data were collected from all patients diagnosed with early-stage cervical cancer that underwent laser angiography with ICG during open or laparoscopic radical trachelectomy from June 2012 to December 2015. Regression analysis was use to determine the p values and R-squares on fluorescence, surgical time, hospital stay, age and BMI; a p -value Results A total of 20 patients met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study. Ten patients underwent uterine artery-sparing surgery, and ten patients underwent uterine artery non-sparing surgery. The most frequent stage for the entire cohort was IA2 (55%), and the most common histologic subtype was squamous cell carcinoma (49%). Lymph-vascular invasion was noted in 30% of the patients. There was no statistical significance difference in the mean ICG fundal fluorescence intensity between the uterine artery-sparing group 162.5 (range, 137–188) and the uterine artery non-sparing group 160.5 (range, 135–186), p =0.22. In both groups, 100% of the patients regained their menstrual function by postoperative week 8. A total of 4 (40%) pregnancies have occurred in the uterine artery-sparing group and 3 (30%) in the non-uterine artery-sparing group. Conclusions Based on our real-time intraoperative angiography observations, there is no need to preserve the uterine artery during radical trachelectomy to maintain uterine viability. more...

Objective We sought to analyze the published literature on bowel injuries in patients undergoing gynecologic robotic surgery with the aim to determine its incidence, predisposing factors, and treatment options. Data Sources Studies included in this analysis were identified by searching PubMed Central, OVID Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases. References for all studies were also reviewed. Time frame for data analysis spanned from November 2001 through December 2014. Study Eligibility Criteria All English-language studies reporting the incidence of bowel injury or complications during robotic gynecologic surgery were included. Studies with data duplication, not in English, case reports, or studies that did not explicitly define bowel injury incidence were excluded. Study Appraisal and Synthesis Methods The Guidelines for Meta-Analyses and Systematic Reviews of Observational Studies were used to complete the systematic review with the exception of scoring study quality and a single primary reviewer. Results In all, 370 full-text articles were reviewed and 144 met the inclusion criteria. There were 84 bowel injuries recorded in 13,444 patients for an incidence of 1 in 160 (0.62%; 95% confidence interval, 0.50–0.76%). There were no significant differences in incidence of bowel injury by procedure type. The anatomic location of injury, etiology, and management were rarely reported. Of the bowel injuries, 87% were recognized intraoperatively and the majority (58%) managed via a minimally invasive approach. Of 13,444 patients, 3 (0.02%) (95% confidence interval, 0.01–0.07%) died in the immediate postoperative period and no deaths were a result of a bowel injury. Conclusion The overall incidence of bowel injury in robotic-assisted gynecologic surgery is 1 in 160. When the location of bowel injuries were specified, they most commonly occurred in the colon and rectum and most were managed via a minimally invasive approach. more...

The study aim was to compare outcomes in women with high-grade endometrial cancer (EC) who underwent surgical staging via minimally invasive surgery (MIS) versus laparotomy.This is a retrospective, multi-institutional cohort study of patients with high-grade EC who were comprehensively surgically staged by either MIS or laparotomy. Demographic, surgical variables, complications, and survival were analyzed.Three hundred and eighty-three patients met criteria: 191 underwent laparotomy and 192 MIS (65% robotic, 35% laparoscopy). Subgroups were well matched by age (mean 66 years), stage, body mass index, histology and adjuvant therapies. Median operative time was longer in the MIS group (191 vs. 135 min; p.001). However, the MIS cohort had a higher mean lymph node count (39.0 vs. 34.0; p=.03), shorter hospital stay (1 vs. 4 days) and significantly fewer complications (8.4% vs. 31.3%; p.001). There was no significant difference in lymph node count with laparoscopic versus robotic staging. With a median follow-up time of 44 months, progression-free (PFS) and overall survival were not significantly different between the surgical cohorts. On multivariable analysis, stage, treatment were associated with PFS.Women with high grade endometrial cancers staged by minimally invasive techniques experienced fewer complications and similar survival outcomes compared to those staged by laparotomy. As this population is elderly and most will receive adjuvant therapies, minimization of surgical morbidity is of interest. When managed by expert laparoscopists or robotic surgeons, a high-risk histologic subtype is not a contraindication to minimally invasive surgery in women with apparent early-stage disease. more...

Background The paper describes specific technical requirements, limitations, anthropometrical, docking and suturing considerations on the performance of robotic hysterectomy using the da Vinci® Single-Site Platform in the cadaver model Methods A data set was collected for each procedure including port placement, docking sequence, robotic arms placement and angles, robotic instrumentation, optimal ergonomics, operative time, and cadaver anthropometrical measurements. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to determine whether age, BMI or docking approach were correlated with docking difficulty and likelihood of successful procedure completion. Analysis of the data was performed using SPSS v19.0.0. Results The planned surgical procedure was successfully completed with single-port robotics in 87.5% of cases. High BMI was correlated with difficulty docking the robot, correlation coefficient 0.98. Conclusions Further work is needed in the development and advancement of single-site robotic platforms, articulated instrumentation, and optics. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. more...

The aim of this study was to evaluate single-port laparoscopy (SPL) for the surgical treatment of presumed early-stage endometrial cancer and to compare surgical outcomes to laparoscopy and robotics. A multi-institutional, matched retrospective cohort study was performed. All patients with clinical stage I or occult stage II endometrial cancer who underwent SPL hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy +/− lymphadenectomy from April 2009 to September 2010 were identified. Outcomes were compared with patients matched by age, body mass index (BMI), tumor histology, and grade, who underwent laparoscopy or robotic surgery. Data was analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis 1-way analysis of variance and chi-square test for frequency data. A P value of more...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and validity of a modified single-port robotic lightweight endoscope in the performance of single-port hysterectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection in the porcine model. Task completion times were recorded for each component of the procedure: port placement, docking of the surgical robot, operative time for the procedures. For each task, linear regression modeling was performed using SPSS to determine whether a correlation existed between task completion time and increasing surgeon experience. All robotic-assisted LESS procedures were performed successfully without the addition of laparoscopic ports or open conversion. Regression analysis demonstrated a strong correlation between the number of procedures and task completion time for robot docking and pelvic lymph node dissection, correlation coefficients 0.74 and 0.77, p = 0.001, respectively. This study demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of a new, compact single-port robotic voice-activated endoscope at improving laparoscope guidance during the performance of single-port hysterectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection in the porcine model. Further work is needed to better define the ideal operative procedure for single-site surgery in oncology and integration of new single-port robotic platforms into clinical practice. more...

Interest in single-incision laparoscopic techniques continues to grow. A learning curve certainly exists, and although the techniques have improved, technical considerations including external clashes, poor visualization of critical structures, and surgeon fatigue remain. Applications of robotics to these newer techniques are evolving. The da Vinci Single-Site robotic surgery platform is a new semi-rigid robotic operative system designed to work with the Intuitive Surgical da Vinci Si operative system. The authors present the first human experience with this new device used to perform single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This study aimed to present the first human experience performing cholecystectomy with a novel robotic single-port platform.After Cleveland Clinic Institutional Review Board approval, patients with symptomatic biliary disease fitting standard criteria for cholecystectomy were enrolled in the study. A total of 13 consecutive single-port, robotic cholecystectomy operations were performed. Patient demographics and operative results were evaluated.All 13 operations were completed successfully with the Single-Site platform. A critical view of safety as determined by the operative surgeon was obtained in all cases. One patient required placement of an additional extra-umbilical trocar for appropriate visualization secondary to gallbladder necrosis, and this incision also was used for eventual drain placement. For two patients, an intraoperative choloangiogram was performed. The mean operative time was 107 ± 54 min, and the mean docking time was 15 ± 9 min. Discharge for 11 patients was within 24 h. No significant complications occurred.Cholecystectomy using the da Vinci Single-Site system is feasible. Availability of this new semi-rigid, robotic surgery platform may increase access to the potential advantages of single-site surgery. Additional advantages of single-site surgery may be elucidated with further studies. more...

This prospective cohort study reports our initial experience with laparoscopic surgery in ectopic pregnancy performed exclusively through an umbilical incision using a single 3-channel port. Since September 2009, we have performed single-port laparoscopic surgery in 11 patients with ectopic pregnancy. In all 11 patients, laparoendoscopic single-site salpingectomy was completed successfully without conversion to a standard laparoscopic approach or to laparotomy. The median (range) operative time was 35 (25-65) minutes, operative blood loss was 30 (5-50) mL, and duration of hospital stay was 8 (5-18) hour. No patient required a blood transfusion, and no intraoperative complications occurred. Laparoendoscopic single-site surgery is a feasible surgical approach for treatment of ectopic pregnancy. Additional studies are needed to compare this approach with conventional laparoscopic treatment. more...

OBJECTIVES To describe novel robotic laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (R-LESS) instruments, and present the initial laboratory experience in urology. METHODS The VeSPA surgical instruments (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA) were designed to be used with the DaVinci Si surgical system. A multichannel port and curved cannulae were inserted through a single 3.5-cm umbilical incision. The port allowed 1 scope, 2 robotic instruments, and a 5- to 12-mm assistant instrument. Four pyeloplasties (right 2, left 2), 4 partial nephrectomies (right 2, left 2), and 8 nephrectomies (right 4, left 4) were performed in 4 female farm pigs (mean weight, 34.5 kg). Technical feasibility and efficiency were assessed in addition to perioperative outcomes. RESULTS All 16 R-LESS procedures were performed successfully without the addition of laparoscopic ports or open conversion. Mean total operative time was 110 minutes (range, 82-127), and mean blood loss was 20 mL (range, 10-100). Mean warm ischemia time for partial nephrectomy was 14.8 minutes (range, 12-20). There were no intraoperative complications. No robotic system failures occurred, and robotic instrument clashing was found to be minimal. One needle driver malfunctioned and assistant movement was limited. CONCLUSIONS R-LESS kidney surgery using the VeSPA instruments is feasible and efficient in the porcine model. The system offers a wide range of motion, instrument and scope stability, improved ergonomics, and minimal instrument clashing. Although preliminary experience is encouraging, further refinements are expected to optimize urological applications of this robotic technology. more...

Objective To evaluate the current literature on the use of single port and natural orifice surgery in gynecology. Design Appraisal of articles published on the use of this technology in gynecology. Result(s) Most reports on single port and natural orifice surgery are case reports or case series. However, most have reported successful outcomes such as diagnostic or extirpative gynecologic procedures. The main limitation is the availability of instrumentation to successfully accomplish the task. Conclusion(s) Single port and natural orifice surgery offers the potential for advancing the minimally invasive approach to gynecologic surgery. more...

Objective Based on considerable prospective data, risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) is one of the most beneficial interventions available to reduce ovarian/breast cancer risk in BRCA carriers and high-risk women. The purpose of this study was to describe the initial surgical outcomes and learning curve analysis associated with laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) RRSO with and without hysterectomy. Methods A retrospective, multi-institutional analysis of BRCA carriers and women at high risk for breast/ovarian cancer who underwent LESS RRSO with and without hysterectomy in 2009 was performed. Data collected included age, BMI, procedure, operative time, length of hospital stay, postoperative pain scores, and post operative complications. Student t -test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multivariate linear regression were used for analysis. Results A total of 58 patients were evaluated; 36 (63%) were BRCA1/2 carriers and 38 (63%) had breast cancer. Patients' mean age and BMI were 46years and 27kg/m 2 , respectively. Most patients were Caucasian (76%), and at the time of prophylactic surgery, 53% of patients were undergoing active breast cancer treatment. Mean operative time was 38.1minutes (16–80minutes). All cases were performed successfully via the LESS approach, and there were no surgical complications. Multivariate linear regression analysis was done, and after controlling for study site, previous abdominal surgery, active cancer treatment, and BMI, operative time was only influence by number of cases performed, p =0.019. Conclusions LESS RRSO is feasible and safe with favorable surgical and cosmetic outcomes. In our experience, surgical proficiency is possible after 10–15 cases. The LESS approach may be ideal for BRCA mutation carriers and breast cancer patients because of a short convalescence, permitting minimal interruption in any ongoing cancer treatment and the potential psychological benefits from improved cosmesis and pain control. Prospective studies are needed to assess the relative benefits of LESS compared with more conventional minimally invasive approaches. more...

Purpose of review To review the contemporary literature on laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) advances in gynecology. Recent findings Minimally invasive surgery has become a standard of care for the treatment of many benign and malignant gynecologic conditions. Both conventional laparoscopy and robotic assisted surgery have impacted the entire spectrum of gynecologic surgery. Ongoing efforts to improve upon the morbidity and cosmetic sequelae of laparoscopic surgery have led to minimization of size and number of ports required for these procedures. LESS surgery is a recently coined surgical term used to describe various techniques that aim at performing laparoscopic surgery through a single, small skin incision concealed within the umbilicus.LESS surgery is not a new endeavor but recent developments in surgical technology and techniques have resulted in an exponential increase in utilization of LESS across many surgical subspecialties. Recently published outcome data demonstrate feasibility, safety and reproducibility for LESS in gynecology. The contemporary LESS literature, gamut of gynecologic procedures and limitations of current technology will be reviewed in this article. Summary LESS represents the latest innovation in minimally invasive surgery but comparative data and prospective trials are required to determine the clinical impact of LESS in treatment of gynecologic conditions. more...

Objectives To identify proteins unique to metastatic ovarian cancer and test their potential involvement in cell adhesion. Methods We purified plasma membrane from paired metastatic and primary tumor tissues from patients with stage IIIC ovarian cancer. Membrane proteins unique to metastases were identified by liquid chromatographic mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The role of one of the identified proteins, ovarian cancer immuno-reactive antigen domain containing 1 (OCIAD1) in cell adhesion was determined in the presence of LPA using both over-expression and down regulation approaches. Results We identified a differentially expressed 29 kDa protein as OCIAD1 over-expressed in metastatic tissues, when compared to primary tumor tissues. OCIAD1 over-expression in HEY ovarian cancer cells increased LPA-induced, but not basal level cell adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins collagen I and laminin 10/11. This enhancement was not blocked by LY294002 and GF109203X, suggesting that OCIAD1 does not use PKC and PI3K signaling pathways to exert its effect on adhesion. In addition, LPA induced cell adhesion to collagen I was unaffected by paclitaxel (5 µM) in OCIAD1 overexpressing cells. Conclusions This is the first report that OCIAD1 is over-expressed in metastatic ovarian cancer tissues. The effect of OCIAD1 on cell adhesion may be related to its function in ovarian cancer. Failure of paclitaxel to affect ovarian cancer cell adhesion in presence of OCIAD1 raises the possibility of OCIAD1's role in tumor metastasis. Ongoing studies using a mouse orthotopic LPA-dependent ovarian cancer metastasis model are focused on strategies to inhibit the potential role of OCIAD1 in tumor metastasis. more...

We report our experience with coaxial robot-assisted laparoendoscopic single-site (RA-LESS) myomectomy, including a detailed description of the technique and outcomes from our first 21 cases. This was a retrospective cohort study carried out at the reproductive endocrinology and gynecologic oncology divisions at two academic medical centers. RA-LESS myomectomy was performed with the da Vinci Si Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Inc, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) employing standard rigid 8 or 5 mm instrumentation in a coaxial arrangement through a standard laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) port (GelPOINT Advanced Access Platform, Applied Medical, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, USA). Cases were completed between October 2011 and November 2013. Twenty-one patients underwent surgery. Mean age (±SD) was 38.1 ± 5.8 years, and mean BMI was 29.4 ± 4.7 kg/m2. Menorrhagia, pelvic pressure, and urinary frequency were the main presenting symptoms. Mean diameter of the largest tumor was 5.7 ± 1.9 cm (median 5.9 cm, range 2.1-9.5 cm), while mean number of tumors removed was 2.2 ± 1.8, ranging from 1 to 8 per surgery. Mean operative time was 154.2 ± 55.2 min (median 152 min, range 85-290 min). Mean blood loss was 57.9 ± 53.7 cc (median 50 cc, range 5-200 cc) and length of hospital stay ranged between 0 and 3 days (median 0). All procedures were successfully performed without conversion to conventional LESS surgery, multi-port laparoscopy or laparotomy. RA-LESS myomectomy with coaxial use of standard rigid instrumentation is a safe and reproducible addition to the minimally invasive surgeons' armamentarium, with excellent cosmetic and postoperative outcomes in selected patients. Further investigation is needed to define the patient groups that will most benefit from it. more...

Small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is a rare and aggressive extra-pulmonary variant of small cell tumors. This carcinoma of the cervix comprises less than 5% of all cervical carcinomas and is know to be highly undifferentiated. It is associated with a poor prognosis and characterized by premature distant nodal involvement. The survival rate at all stages ranges from 17% to 67%. We describe the case of a 41 year old female patient with a rare, and aggressive, clinical stage IB1 small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix. The goal of this case report is to describe this rare pathology and contribute information to the scant available data. more...

The purpose of this study was to quantify and describe nonmammary neoplasms (n-MN), particularly gynecological neoplasms, in a patient population previously diagnosed with breast cancer. Data were collected prospectively in our institutional review board-approved registry for patients diagnosed with infiltrating breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ. Patients who developed a second, n-MN were identified; neoplastic site, time to development after breast cancer, and clinical outcomes were recorded. FIGO stage was recorded for patients who developed a gynecological neoplasm. Synchronous bilateral breast cancer was defined as a second, contralateral diagnosis made within 12 months of the first and, similarly, synchronous n-MN were defined as those identified within 1 year of a breast cancer diagnosis. Outcome curves were generated using the method of Kaplan and Meier, and compared using the log-rank test. Of 4126 patients diagnosed with breast cancer, 3% developed a n-MN, the majority of which were nongynecological and asynchronous to the initial breast cancer diagnosis. Three percent of patients diagnosed with breast cancer were diagnosed with a second, n-MN. Among patients who developed a n-MN, most developed a nongynecological cancer more than 1 year after the initial breast cancer diagnosis, and their outcomes were significantly worse than those patients who did not develop a n-MN. more...

Obesity has become a foremost health problem. More than half of US adults are overweight or obese. This has been due to sedentary lifestyles, increased intake of refined carbohydrates, and fat-rich diets. Obese women are particularly susceptible to a variety of health risks including cancer, especially cancers of the breast, endometrium, and colon. Bariatric surgery appears to be a viable option for the treatment of severe obesity. As the role of surgery in the management of this condition becomes increasingly frequent, it is important for gynecological oncologists to recognize the potential for gynecological malignancies in this patient population. more...

Background Mammary ductoscopy (MD) allows direct visualisation of the mammary ducts using sub-millimetre fiberoptic microendoscopes inserted through the ductal opening onto the nipple surface. The sharp clear magnified images are viewed on a video monitor. Such scopes have working channels that allow irrigation and ductal lavage for cytological analysis. MD can be performed under local anaesthesia in the office setting. This article reviews the evolving role of MD in the diagnosis and treatment of intraductal breast disease. Methods A literature search was carried out from Pubmed for indexed articles published over the last 30 years using the keywords ‘mammary ductoscopy’ and ‘breast ductoscopy’. Results The search yielded 27 indexed published articles and reports. Important major reports and studies were reviewed, screened and tracked for other relevant publications. The most important articles were analysed and discussed. The review also includes our published and unpublished original work in the field of MD. Conclusions MD is a useful diagnostic adjunct in patients with pathological nipple discharge (PND). Furthermore, it can reduce the number and extent of duct excision operations for PND. However, its potential use in the early detection of breast cancer, guiding breast conserving surgery (BCS) for cancer, therapeutic ablation of intraductal disease, and guiding risk-reducing strategies among high risk women requires further research and evaluation. Future developments include the development of a biopsy kit, combining MD with molecular diagnostic markers and real-time optical biopsy system for the diagnosis of pre-malignant and early malignant disease and radiofrequency for curative ablation of intraductal lesions. more...