title: Robot-assisted laparoscopic staging surgery for endometrial cancer--a preliminary report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The robotic surgical system is reported to overcome some technical difficulties in traditional laparoscopic hysterectomy. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and surgical outcomes of a robotic surgery program for endometrial cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with endometrial cancer with the intention to receive treatment using robot-assisted laparoscopic staging surgery were recruited in a university hospital from July 2007 to August 2008. All of these surgeries were performed with the da Vinci system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six patients (mean age, 47.5 ±1.4 years; mean body mass index, 26.2 ±3.5 kg/m(2)) were enrolled and completed robot-assisted laparoscopic staging surgery. The robot docking time was 45.0 ±13.6 minutes and the robot-assisted operation time was 200.3 ±30.0 minutes. The mean estimated blood loss was 180.0 ±147.6 mL. The mean number of lymph nodes retrieved was 23.2 ±7.4. No laparoconversion and no intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. All patients were alive and free of disease up to the date of this report, at a median follow-up of 6.5 months (range, 5-17 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Robot-assisted laparoscopic staging surgery is a feasible treatment and helps overcome the technical limitations in conventional laparoscopy for endometrial cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Endoscopy, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and Chang Gung University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chyi-Long
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chien-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Hsuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Kai-Yun
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chin-Jung
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chih-Feng
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Yen
mesh_terms: D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000379:methods*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods*; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012371:Robotics