title: Lymphatic ascites after retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in gynecologic cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The incidence, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of lymphatic ascites (LA) are studied on 85 consecutive patients with gynecologic cancer who had undergone pelvic and/or paraaortic lymphadenectomy by means of laparotomy or laparoscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were distributed in two groups depending in the access: Laparoscopy (study group: 44 patients) and laparotomy (control group: 41 patients). All surgical parameters were collected and patients underwent ultrasound examination on postoperative days 7, 14, and 28. The main outcome measure was the development of symptomatic or asymptomatic LA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LA developed in 3 patients (6.8%) in the study group and 9 in the control group (22%), with statistical difference (p < 0.05). The relative risk to develop lymphatic ascites after surgery performed by laparotomy was 3.2 (95% CI 1.05-11.07). Mean nodes harvested during the surgery was 18.6 (SD 6.6) in the LA group and 20.4 (SD 9.1) in the group with no LA (p = 0.527).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of LA after retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in gynecologic cancer patients is lower in the patients treated by laparoscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Autónoma University of Madrid, Puerta de Hierro University Hospital, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: tperezm@sego.es.
authors.forename: Tirso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Perez-Medina
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Autónoma University of Madrid, Puerta de Hierro University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Autónoma University of Madrid, Puerta de Hierro University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: San-Frutos
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Autónoma University of Madrid, Puerta de Hierro University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: García-Espantaleón
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Autónoma University of Madrid, Puerta de Hierro University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Yoana
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chiverto
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Autónoma University of Madrid, Puerta de Hierro University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Engels
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Autónoma University of Madrid, Puerta de Hierro University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ronchas
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Canary Islands, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Troyano
mesh_terms: D001201:Ascites / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Laparoscopy; Lymphatic ascites; Paraaortic lymphadenectomy; Pelvic lymphadenectomy