Robotic trachelectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy for cervical cancer: a prospective study investigating minimally invasive radicality.

OBJECTIVE

The importance of minimally invasive fertility-sparing surgery for cervical cancer is gaining increasing interest, both to achieve a cure and for future fertility. Procedures for robotic radical trachelectomy involving uterine reconstruction are not fully established.

METHODS

This study prospectively verified the feasibility and safety of robotic radical trachelectomy between February 2018 and May 2022. The criteria were almost identical to those for our standard abdominal radical trachelectomy. Larger tumors (> 2 cm in diameter) were acceptable for surgery, provided a secure ≥ 1 cm cancer-free space was identified between the tumor and internal os.

RESULTS

Eight patients (median age, 32 y) were registered; the median body mass index was 21.8, and the median tumor size was 11.5 mm (range 0-30 mm). Robotic radical trachelectomy could be achieved in all patients with hybrid sentinel lymph node navigation surgery, confirming the precise cervical amputation line with a newer small knob ultrasonography probe, adequate cervical cerclage with non-absorbable monofilament stitches, and avoiding looseness between vaginal-uterine anastomosis with uninterrupted barbed U-shaped sutures. None of the cases were converted to laparotomy or radical hysterectomy, and there were no major complications. The median follow-up period was 49.5 mo (range 21-58 mo) and no patient had disease recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Robotic radical trachelectomy is safe and feasible using newer technologies without reducing radicality; it is also less invasive. Procedures are consistently reproducible and have the potential to be generalized to minimally invasive approaches.