[Laparoscopic surgery in endometrial carcinoma]

We wanted to evaluate initial results and feasibility of laparoscopic surgery in patients with stage I endometrial cancer.51 women with presumed endometrial cancer stage I were operated February 2000 to February 2001. Without prior randomisation, 27 patients (median age 64.5 years) were operated with a laparoscopic approach and 24 (median age 71.3 years) with laparotomy. Follow-up time was 6-18 months.The laparoscopic operation was feasible in all 27 patients. Conversion to laparotomy was done in one patient due to damage to the bladder. Mean operative time was 143 minutes in the laparoscopy group and 86 minutes in the laparotomy group (p0.001); mean hospital stay 4.3 days and 6.6 days, respectively, and the number of lymph nodes removed 155 and 111. In the laparoscopy group, one patient was converted to laparotomy due to a bladder perforation, and laparotomy was done in one patient due to septicaemia. In the laparotomy group, one patient developed a wound dehiscence and one a vesicovaginal fistula requiring a secondary repair. Perioperative blood transfusions were needed in two patients, both in the laparotomy group.The laparoscopic approach is feasible and may obtain an important place in the treatment of early endometrial cancer.