title: Laparoscopic conversion rate for uterine cancer surgical staging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the conversion rate of attempted laparoscopic staging for primary endometrial adenocarcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred thirty-five consecutive patients with primary endometrial adenocarcinoma underwent attempted laparoscopic staging regardless of age, body mass index (BMI, calculated as weight (kg)/[height (m)]²), uterine size, and prior surgery. No patients were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean BMI was 39 (range, 22-77), and 85 patients (36%) had a BMI higher than 40 kg/m². Mean blood loss was 162 mL (range, 25-1850 mL), mean operating room time was 2 hours (range, 1-4 hours 20 minutes), and mean hospital stay was 1 day (range, 1-4 days). There were six conversions (3%) to laparotomy or vaginal hysterectomy, all occurring in patients with a BMI higher than 40; mean BMI of conversions was 66 (range, 55-77).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Of 235 consecutive cases of attempted laparoscopic staging for primary endometrial adenocarcinoma, conversion to laparotomy or vaginal hysterectomy occurred in 3% of the total patients and 7% in patients with a BMI of 40 or higher.
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pennsylvania State University, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fanning
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hossler
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007045:Hysterectomy, Vaginal; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007813:Laparotomy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010388:Pelvis