Laparoscopic versus open radical hysterectomy for elderly patients with early-stage cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to compare surgical and survival outcomes of laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (LRH) vs open radical hysterectomy (ORH) in elderly patients with early-stage cervical cancer.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective analysis was performed on elderly patients (≥65 years) who underwent either LRH (n = 99) or ORH (n = 159) due to stage IA2-IIA2 cervical cancer.

RESULTS

One patient (1%) in LRH group required conversion to laparotomy. Operating time (P = .035), estimated blood loss (P = .002), recovery of bowel movement (P < .001), and postoperative hospital stay (P < .001) were significantly shorter or lower in LRH group. Postoperative complications were significantly less frequent in LRH group (P = .026). After the median follow-up time of 45 months, the 5-year disease-free survival (95% vs 93%, P = .350) and overall survival (96% vs 95%, P = .361) did not differ between LRH and ORH groups.

CONCLUSION

Elderly patients tolerated well both LRH and ORH. LRH was associated with better surgical outcomes compared to ORH without increasing intraoperative complications or decreasing survival.