title: Endoscopic axillary lymphadenectomy without prior liposuction. Development of a technique and initial experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A new technique of endoscopic axillary lymphadenectomy without prior liposuction was developed by our group.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 33 patients with early stage breast cancer were treated by breast-conserving therapy and endoscopic axillary lymphadenectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median duration of the operation was 74.9 min (range, 30-130). Operation time was significantly shorter for the last 17 patients (p < 0.05) than for the first 16 patients. There were no intraoperative complications. The median number of removed lymph nodes was 14.5 (range, 2-28). Postoperatively three patients developed a seroma, one of which required evacuation. At postoperative day 5, arm mobility was unrestricted in 26 patients (78.7%); nine patients (27.2%) reported a loss of sensation in the outer side of the upper arm related to dermatome C5. One patient developed a temporary alar scapula, and one patient developed an axillary abscess 9 weeks after axillary lymphadenectomy during radiation therapy. After a median follow-up of 4.6 months seven patients reported persistent impairment of sensation, but all patients had regained full shoulder mobility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic axillary lymphadenectomy can be done safely without prior liposuction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Friedrich Schiller University, Bachstrasse 18, 07740 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamprath
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bechler
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kühne-Heid
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015187:Lipectomy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications