title: Minimally invasive surgery for endometrial cancer: a comprehensive review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this article is to review the recently published literature on the use of minimally invasive surgical approaches for patients with endometrial cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Narrative review of the pertinent literature on traditional laparoscopy and robotically assisted laparoscopy for the treatment of endometrial cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple studies have shown that minimally invasive surgical approaches for the treatment of endometrial cancer reduce blood loss, length of hospital stay and the incidence and severity of post-operative surgical complications compared with laparotomy. Minimally invasive techniques maintain equivalent oncologic results with regard to the number of dissected lymph nodes and overall and disease-free survival rates. Robotically assisted laparoscopy compared to traditional laparoscopy reduced the conversion rate to laparotomy, further reduces intra-operative blood lose and has significant ergonomic advantages for the surgeon. Laparoscopic and robotic surgery techniques are particularly advantageous in obese patients, reducing peri-operative and post-operative abdominal wound complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A thorough review of the literature indicates that minimally invasive approach has a number of established advantages over laparotomy that makes it the surgical treatment option of choice in endometrial carcinoma patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Soroka University Medical Center and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 151, 84101, Beer Sheva, Israel, drrabino@bgu.ac.il.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rabinovich
mesh_terms: D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods; D007902:Length of Stay; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery; D012371:Robotics