Laparoscopy May Be An Alternative To Laparotomy For Endometrial Cancer

Laparoscopy has short-term advantages and seemingly equivalent long-term outcomes as compared with laparotomy for endometrial cancer according to a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.  The results of the meta-analysis were published in the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics.

Hui Zhang, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China, et al, included eight randomized controlled trials conducted between 1966 and June 2010 in the analysis. The trials comprised data from more than 3500 patients.

No significant difference was observed between laparoscopy and laparotomy in overall disease-free or cancer-related survival. Laparoscopy was associated with fewer postoperative complications (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.46–0.75;P < 0.001), lower blood loss (SMD, –2.29; 95% CI, –3.67 to − 0.91;P = 0.001), and shorter hospital stay (SMD, –2.60; 95% CI, –3.47 to − 1.72;P < 0.001), but also with longer operative time (SMD, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.46–1.15;P < 0.001).

Authors concluded that “in experienced hands, [laparoscopy] might be a feasible alternative to laparotomy for endometrial cancer.”