Clinical study of laparoscopic para-aortic lymphadenectomy using a Cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator

Objective: To evaluated the utility and safety of the Cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator (CUSA) for laparoscopic paraaortic lymphadenectomy in gynecologic malignancies.Methods: Between January 2007 and January 2008, we performed laparoscopic treatment of gynecologic cancer in 22 patients. In all patients, laparoscopic lymphadenectomy was included in the surgical procedures. In 10 of 22 patients, CUSA was used for the dissection of the left-sided para-aortic lymph nodes. The range of lymphadenectomy was up to the renal vein for patients with endometrial and ovarian cancers, and up to the inframesentric artery for patients with cervical cancer. We analyzed the number of removed lymph nodes and the time needed for the procedure. The results in the group with CUSA and those without CUSA were compared.Result: The number of lymph nodes removed was equivalent between the groups, irrespective of the range of lymphadenectomy. However, the operative time was shortened in the group with CUSA. We had no particular complications in either group.Conclusion: We safely performed laparoscopic lymphadenectomy using CUSA. There is a possibility that by using CUSA, the time required for laparoscopic lymphadenectomy may be shortened.