[Preservation of the saphenous vein during inguinal lymphadenectomy for vulval malignancies].
OBJECTIVE
The conventional operation for the patients with vulval malignancies is radical vulvectomy and bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy with partial saphenous vein trunk ligation and resection, but the quality of life of the patients was declined severely because of multiple postoperative complications. This study was to explore the influences of preserving the saphenous vein during inguinal lymphadenectomy for vulval malignancies on operation, prognosis, and complications.


METHODS
A total of 64 patients with vulval malignancies, treated in Shandong Provincial Cancer Hospital from Jan. 1989 to Dec. 2005, were divided into 2 groups: the saphenous vein was preserved in 31 patients and ligated in 33 patients during inguinal lymphadenectomy. The operating time, intraoperative blood loss, 5-year survival rate, recurrence rate, and complications were compared between the 2 groups.


RESULTS
The median operating time of bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy was 155 min (130-170 min) in preservation group, and 140 min (120-170 min) in ligation group (P>0.05). The median intraoperative blood loss was 295 ml (100-450 ml) in preservation group, and 270 ml (150-390 ml) in ligation group (P>0.05). The 5-year overall survival rate was 67.3%û it was 68.0% in preservation group and 66.7% in ligation group (P>0.05). Till Mar. 2006, 5 sides of inguinal lymph nodes relapsed in 3 patients in preservation group, and 7 sides in 5 patients in ligation group; the recurrence rates were 8.9% (5/56), and 12.1% (7/58) (P>0.05). The occurrence rates of acute low extremity lymph edema, low extremity phlebitis, chronic low extremity edema, and chronic leg pain were significantly lower in preservation group than in ligation group (11.3% vs. 25.8%, P<0.05; 43.5% vs. 66.7%, P<0.01; 25.0% vs. 48.3%, P<0.01; 23.2% vs. 46.6%, P<0.01); the occurrence of leg cellulitis and sense abnormity were also less in preservation group than in ligation group (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Preserving the saphenous vein trunk during inguinal lymphadenectomy for vulval malignancies reduces multiple postoperative complications without compromising treatment outcome. This modified operative modality is valuable to be recommended.
Zhang
Xiao-Ling
XL
Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Shandong Provincial Cancer Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, P. R. China. 13608921932@jnmobile.com.
Sheng
Xiu-Gui
XG
Li
Hui-Qin
HQ
Chen
Zhen-Yun
ZY
Li
Da-Peng
DP
Li
Qing-Shui
QS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014844:Vulva / Q000601:surgery; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*