title: Endoscopic axillary dissection: a systematic review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility, effectiveness and morbidity associated with Endoscopic Axillary Dissection.
  
  
  METHODS
  All studies published from 1990 until December 2008 in MEDLINE, LILACS, and COCHRANE. These studies were selected by two levels of criteria. Methodological designs, operating parameters, and postoperative follow-up were selected from each publication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We extracted 49 citations and 12 were analyzed. The average age was 54.95+/-5.84 years. The surgical time was longer than the open procedure. The average number of extracted nodes exceeded ten. Technical problems and intra-operative complications had a rare occurrence. The recurrence was 0.5% (4/752). Two port metastases were registered. The methodological quality score average was 14.75.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This procedure meets the tumor control and staging requirements. It has shown similar results to the traditional procedure in terms of patient recovery, although the available evidence is not methodologically appropriate and does not justify its oncological safety.
authors.affiliation: Endoscopic Surgery Unit, Service of Surgery 2, Caracas University Hospital, Central University of Venezuela, University City, Los Chaguaramos, Caracas 1040, Venezuela. maruaponte@gmail.com
authors.forename: María Eugenia
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Aponte-Rueda
authors.forename: Ramón A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Saade Cárdenas
authors.forename: Miguel J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Saade Aure
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D016387:Women's Health