title: Total laparoscopic Wertheim's radical hysterectomy versus Wertheim's radical abdominal hysterectomy in the management of stage I cervical cancer in Singapore: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For many decades, Wertheim's radical hysterectomy via laparotomy, also known as Wertheim's radical abdominal hysterectomy (RAH), has been the traditional surgical approach for operable stage IB cervical cancer. However, many established cancer centres worldwide have recently shown total laparoscopic Wertheim's radical hysterectomy (TLRH) to be a safe and feasible alternative to the conventional abdominal route for early cervical cancer management. This technique was introduced in Singapore in 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective pilot study comparing TLRH with RAH in a single large tertiary institution in Singapore. Inclusion criteria included surgically fit patients with early cervical cancer and no radiological evidence of regional or distant metastases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From November 2009 to February 2011, a total of 18 TLRHs and 30 RAHs were performed. The median blood loss in the TLRH group was significantly lower than that in the RAH group (300 mL vs. 500 mL; p = 0.04). However, there was no statistically significant difference found between the two techniques in terms of operative time, hospital stay, bladder recovery, total lymph node yield or adjuvant treatment. No intraoperative bladder, ureteric or bowel complications were observed in the two groups. Postoperative complications occurred in 2 (11.1%) TLRH patients and 4 (13.3%) RAH patients. With a median follow-up of 37.3 (range 10-68) weeks, the rate of recurrence was found to be 5.6% for the TLRH group and 10.0% for the RAH group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study suggest that with appropriate patient selection and increased experience, TLRH can be a safe and effective procedure for the management of early cervical cancer in Singapore.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecologic Oncology, Level 6, Women's Tower, KK Women's & Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 229899. yongkuei@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Yong Kuei
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecologic Oncology, Level 6, Women's Tower, KK Women's & Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 229899. yongkuei@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Yin Nin
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Chia
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecologic Oncology, Level 6, Women's Tower, KK Women's & Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 229899. yongkuei@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Kwai Lam
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Yam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000379:methods*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D061646:Operative Time; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012846:Singapore; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000473:pathology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*