title: Robotic-Assisted Video Endoscopic Inguinal Lymphadenectomy in Carcinoma Vulva: Our Experiences and Intermediate Results.
abstract: To describe the technique of robotic-assisted video endoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy (R-VEIL) in patients with carcinoma vulva and discuss the advantages of the technique and oncological outcome.
  
  
  
  Twelve patients of squamous cell cancer of vulva underwent 22 R-VEIL procedures from February 2011 to February 2015. Their preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data were retrospectively analysed.
  
  
  
  The mean age of patients was 61 years (range, 32-78 years). The mean operative time was 69.3 minutes (range, 45-95 minutes). The mean blood loss was 30 mL (range, 15-50 mL). No intraoperative complication was observed. The mean drain output was 119 mL (range, 50-250 mL), and the drains were removed at a mean of 13.9 days (range, 8-38 days). The average number of superficial and deep inguinofemoral lymph nodes retrieved was 11 (range, 4-26). Two patients had positive lymph nodes on histopathology (16.67%). Postoperative complications were lymphocele (6 groins), chronic lower limb lymphedema (6 cases), prolonged lymphorrhea (1 groin), and cellulitis (2 groins). Over a follow-up period ranging from 7 to 67 months, 1 patient developed recurrence in the inguinal nodes and died 7 months after the recurrence.
  
  
  
  The R-VEIL allows the removal of inguinal lymph nodes within the same limits as the open procedure for inguinal lymph node dissection and has a potential to reduce the surgical morbidity associated with the open procedure. Long-term oncological results are not available though our initial results appear promising. Prospective multi-institutional studies are required to prove its efficacy over open inguinal lymph node dissection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Uro-Gynae Oncology, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Vandana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Rupinder
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sekhon
authors.forename: Shveta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giri
authors.forename: Nahida
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Kanika
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Batra
authors.forename: Swati H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Sudhir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rawal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery / Q000379:methods; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*