Predictors of complications after inguinal lymphadenectomy

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify predictors of complications in patients undergoing inguinal lymphadenectomy (LND) in the treatment of vulvar carcinoma. METHODS: Clinical information was abstracted from records of patients with invasive vulvar cancer. All patients underwent LND. Closed suction drains were placed in groin incisions and removed when output was less than 30 ml/24 h. Associations between variables were studied by chi(2) and t tests. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients undergoing 112 LND were evaluated. Eighty-eight percent of patients underwent radical vulvar surgery and LND while 12% underwent LND alone. Patients were treated with either unilateral (22) or bilateral (45) LND. Seventy-three percent received extended postoperative prophylactic antibiotics. The median duration of suction drainage was 15 days for one drain and 14 days for two drains. Early postoperative cellulitis (<30 days after surgery) developed in 35.4%, early wound breakdown in 19.4%, early lymphedema in 4.8%, and early lymphocyst formation in 13.1%. Late cellulitis (>30 days after surgery) developed in 22.2%, late wound breakdown in 3.2%, late lymphedema in 29.5%, and late lymphocysts in 5%. Patients developing early cellulitis were more likely to have early wound breakdown (P = <0.001, RR 14.2) or early lymphocyst formation (P = 0.016, RR 7.6). Type of procedure, antibiotic use, need for adjuvant therapy, and duration of suction drainage did not influence early complications. Early complications and management strategies did not predict late complications. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic lymphedema occurs in nearly 30% of patients after LND. Late complications after LND were not predicted by early complications. New strategies for prevention of chronic lymphedema are needed.     

Saphenous vein sparing during inguinal lymphadenectomy to reduce morbidity in patients with vulvar carcinoma

OBJECTIVES: To compare short- and long-term morbidity associated with saphenous vein sparing versus ligation during inguinal lymphadenectomy for vulvar carcinoma. METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of patients with carcinoma of the vulva that underwent inguinal lymphadenectomy was performed. Operative reports were evaluated and patients were divided into those who had sparing of the saphenous vein versus ligation. Postoperative short- and long-term complications were compared between the two groups using Pearson chi squared analysis. RESULTS: There were a total of 49 inguinal lymphadenectomies performed on 29 patients. The saphenous vein was spared in 18 (37%) groin dissections compared to 31(63%) in which the saphenous vein was ligated. The two groups were similar in regards to clinical characteristics. All patients received closed suction drains and prophylactic antibiotics. Median number of nodes dissected was similar. Cellulitis was more common in the vein-ligated group compared to the vein-spared group (45% vs. 0%; P < 0.001). Wound breakdown occurred in 25% of dissections where the saphenous vein was ligated versus 0% in dissections where the vein was spared (P = or < 0.02). Short-term edema (< or = 6 months) was similar between vein-ligated and vein-spared groups (67% vs. 72%, P < 1.0). Subsequently, chronic lymphedema (> 6 months) persisted in 38% of the vein-ligated group compared to 11% in the vein-spared group (P < 0.05). The incidence of recurrent disease was similar in both groups (19.3 % vs. 22.2% P < 0.1). CONCLUSIONS: Routine preservation of the saphenous vein during inguinal lymphadenectomy for vulvar carcinoma may reduce the incidence of wound cellulitis, wound breakdown, and chronic lymphedema.     

Femoral vessel coverage with dura mater after inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy

Twenty patients undergoing inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy for vulvar malignancy had the femoral vessels covered with freeze-dried human cadaver dura mater; 5 patients had a radical vulvectomy and 15 had a modified radical vulvectomy, and a total of 38 groins were explored. The dura mater was sutured to the inguinal ligament, sartorius muscle fascia, and adductor longus muscle fascia. Three of the thirty-eight wounds had wound breakdown uncovering the dura mater; each of the groins healed satisfactorily by secondary intention without exposing the femoral vessels. Three patients developed cellulitis without wound breakdown and three patients developed lymphocysts. All groin wounds have healed completely and there have been no delayed complications. The mean follow up was 12.5 months (range, 2-30 months). Coverage of the femoral vessels with dura mater after inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy appears to be a safe and effective alternative to the technically more difficult and more time-consuming sartorius muscle transplant.     

Morbidity and recurrence with modifications of radical vulvectomy and groin dissection.

Vulvar carcinoma has been managed in recent years with modifications of radical vulvectomy and groin dissection. Separate groin incisions, superficial inguinal lymphadenectomy, unilateral groin dissection, and wide excision have been utilized to reduce the morbidity of treatment. In this study, the surgical management of 82 patients with vulvar squamous cell carcinoma was reviewed in order to assess morbidity and risk of recurrence. A modification of radical vulvectomy and groin dissection was employed in 67 patients, while 15 patients underwent classical en-bloc vulvar and groin dissection. Wound complications of the vulva occurred in 1 of 12 patients undergoing hemivulvectomy, in 8 of 55 undergoing radical vulvectomy, and in 7 of 15 who had en-bloc vulvar resection and groin dissection (P = 0.01). Among the 46 patients undergoing bilateral groin dissection through separate incisions, groin breakdown, lymphocyst, and lymphedema occurred in 10 (22%), 7 (15%), and 7 (15%), versus 0, 1 (7%), and 2 (13%) of the 15 who had unilateral groin dissection. Modification of vulvar resection did not increase the risk of local recurrence. Groin recurrence developed in 2 of 15 patients who underwent en-bloc groin dissection and in 1 of 46 who underwent bilateral groin dissection through separate incisions. Two of 15 who had a unilateral groin dissection recurred in the contralateral groin. The risk of recurrence as well as morbidity following modifications of radical vulvectomy with groin dissection should be considered when planning treatment.     

Radical vulvectomy and bilateral groin lymphadenectomy utilizing separate groin incisions: report of a case with recurrence in the intervening skin bridge

Postoperative wound breakdown is very common following the en bloc dissection of the vulva and inguinal/femoral lymph nodes for carcinoma of the vulva. To decrease the incidence of wound morbidity, techniques have been described for performing the inguinal/femoral lymphadenectomy through separate groin incisions. This approach leaves a bridge of tissue between the vulvar excision and the lymph node dissection. A case of stage I squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva that was treated with a radical vulvectomy and bilateral inguinal/femoral lymphadenectomy utilizing separate groin incisions is presented. This patient later developed a recurrence in the tissue bridge between the vulvar and groin excisions. The mechanism for this recurrence is discussed.     

Invasive carcinoma of the vulva. Changing trends in surgical management

Four hundred fifteen patients who had invasive carcinoma of the vulva were treated with primary surgery from July 1, 1955, through June 30, 1989. Three hundred seventy-six (90%) of the patients had squamous carcinoma. Two hundred fourteen patients (52%) had radical vulvectomy with inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy. Twenty-four patients (6%) underwent radical vulvectomy with pelvic exenteration for advanced disease, and 55 patients (13%) had nonradical operations. The remaining 122 patients (29%) underwent radical vulvectomy, inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy, and pelvic lymphadenectomy. The primary morbidity was associated with lymphedema (8.6%) and groin wound breakdown (54%). No intraoperative deaths occurred among the 415 patients treated surgically, but there were 17 deaths (4%) within 28 days of operation. The absolute 5-year survival rate was 85% in patients with negative inguinofemoral lymph nodes and 39% when these lymph nodes were positive for metastatic carcinoma. The overall absolute 5-year survival rate was 67%.     

Radical vulvectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva

Twenty-one patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva who were subjected to radical vulvectomy and inguinal-pelvic lymphadenectomy were studied. The overall mortality rate was 24%. Operative- and tumor-related mortalities were 9.5% and 14.2%, respectively. Recurrence was seen in 5 patients. The most common complication was wound infection and breakdown.     

Squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva with bulky positive groin nodes—nodal debulking versus full groin dissection prior to radiation therapy

Patients with clinical palpable involved groin lymph nodes and squamous cell cancer of the vulva are frequently treated by a full inguinal-femoral lymph node dissection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy to the groins and pelvis. Theoretically, less radical surgery for the groin such as nodal debulking, where only the macroscopically involved nodes are resected, allowing radiotherapy to treat any remaining microscopic disease may potentially decrease morbidity without compromising survival The objective of this retrospective study was to compare the groin recurrence rate and survival (disease specific and overall survival) of patients with clinically involved groin nodes and squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva treated either by a full inguino-femoral lymphadenectomy or by a nodal debulking followed by radiotherapy. Forty patients from three separate databases who met these criteria were identified. Patients were treated either by a full inguino-femoral lymphadenectomy or by a debulking of the clinically involved inguinal lymph nodes. All patients received adjuvant radiotherapy to the groins. In these two groups, there was no difference in groin recurrence rate expressed as groin recurrence-free survival (P= 0.247). In a univariate analysis, both overall and disease-free survival were better in the group of patients treated by nodal debulking. However, in a multivariate analysis, other variables such as extracapsular growth were independent predictors for survival while the method of surgical dissection for the groin had no independent significant impact on survival.     

Prognostic factors and the significance of cytologic grading in invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva: a clinicopathologic study

Clinical staging, tumor size, histologic differentiation, cytologic grading, depth of stromal invasion, and vascular channel involvement by tumor cells were studied in 42 patients with invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva who were treated with radical vulvectomy and inguinal-femoral lymphadenectomy. All parameters were found to correlate well in predicting groin node metastasis. Cytological grading was found to be more significant compared to histologic grading in regard to nodal metastasis (P less than 0.02). No patient with cytologic or histologic grade 1 tumor and less than 5 mm stromal invasion was found to have nodal metastasis.     

The use of TachoSil for the prevention of postoperative complications after groin dissection in cases of gynecologic malignancy

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of TachoSil in preventing postoperative complications after groin dissection performed for primary or recurrent gynecologic malignancy.MethodsIn a case–control analysis, the incidence of postoperative complications—including lymphocyst formation, wound breakdown and/or infection, and chronic lymphedema—was examined among 8 patients who received TachoSil and 16 controls (standard technique) treated for vulvar cancer or recurrent ovarian/breast cancer at San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy, from 2008 to 2011.ResultsThirty-eight inguinal dissections were performed in the 24 patients. Bilateral groin dissection was performed in 14 patients (n = 4 in the study group; n = 10 in the control group). Patients in the study group had a lower mean daily drainage volume than those in the control group (133 mL [range, 50–356 mL] vs 320 mL [range, 67–472 mL]; P < 0.001) and a lower incidence of lymphocyst requiring drainage (25.0% vs 62.5%), cellulitis (12.0% vs 25.0%), and wound infection (0.0% vs 25.0%).ConclusionThe use of TachoSil seems to be effective in reducing the rate of postoperative complications after inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy in cases of gynecologic malignancy.     

Large or persistent lymphocyst increases the risk of lymphedema, lymphangitis, and deep vein thrombosis after retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy for gynecologic malignancy

Purpose

This retrospective study examined the incidence of lymphocyst formation after retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in patients with gynecologic malignancy as well as the relation between lymphocyst formation and such complications as lymphedema, lymphangitis, ileus, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Methods

Three hundred twenty-one patients who underwent primary surgery with pelvic (90 patients) or combined pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy (231 patients) for gynecologic malignancy between January 2001 and December 2009 were enrolled. The incidences of lymphocyst identified by computed tomography at 3 weeks and 1 year after surgery were analyzed in relation to the types of surgery and types of complications.

Results

At 3 weeks after surgery, lymphocysts were observed in 282/321 patients (88 %). At 1 year after surgery, lymphocysts persisted in 69 patients (21 %). Lymphedema was observed in 34/321 (11 %) patients, lymphangitis in 36/321 (11 %), ileus in 14/321 (4 %), and DVT in 24/321 (7 %). The incidence of lymphedema was significantly greater in patients with persistent lymphocyst than in those with without (17 vs. 9 %) (p = 0.038); the incidences of lymphangitis (20 vs. 9 %) (p = 0.007) were also greater in this group. Multivariate analysis showed a large lymphocyst (>50 mm) at 3 weeks after surgery to be an independent risk factor for lymphedema (odds ratio 2.76, p = 0.009).

Conclusions

A large lymphocyst at 3 weeks after surgery or persistent lymphocyst increases the risk of lymphedema, lymphangitis, and DVT.     

The video endoscopy inguinal lymphadenectomy for vulvar cancer: A pilot study

Objective

This prospective pilot study aims to validate feasibility, efficacy and safeness of the innovative technique of video endoscopy inguinal lymphadenectomy (VEIL) and compare it to open inguinal lymphadenectomy (OIL) in the staging and treatment of vulvar cancer (VC).

Management of symptomatic pelvic lymphocyst after radical pelvic or pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy for cervical and endometrial cancer

Pelvic and paraaortic lymph node dissection, as part of the staging surgery for cervical and endometrial carcinoma, interrupts the afferent lymphatics. The high acceptance by the community of gyn-oncologists was after finding that laparoscopic lymphadenectomy can be performed in the majority of patients and is associated with low complication rate. Incidence of lymphocele formation and incidence of severe complications associated with lymphocele, such as infection, deep venous thrombosis, or urinary tract occlusion, were retrospectively evaluated in the past years (01.2001–01.2007) after surgery. From January 2001 to January 2007, 226 women underwent surgery including pelvic or pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy for primary gynecological pelvic malignancies, of which 68 (30%) patients had cervical cancer and 158 (60%) patients had endometrial cancer; all of them were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with symptoms such as pain in the pelvic area, lymphedema, or suspicious cyst in the pelvis were sent to our clinic for further evaluation. The identification was made by physical examination and confirmed by US or CT. Twenty three out of 226 (10.2%) patients were diagnosed to have symptomatic pelvic lymphocyst. Additionally, two of the 23 patients had lymphedema, another two patients had lymphocyst infection, one patient had deep venous thrombosis, and one patient had ureteral stenosis. A partial (ventral) resection of the lymphocyst was performed. Median duration of hospital stay was 12.5 days and median duration of drainage was 10 days. Laparoscopic lymphocyst resection and drainage was successful in 22 patients. In one patient, a re-laparoscopy was necessary because of a recurrent lymphocyst formation 6 months after the operation. The laparoscopic lymphocyst resection is a safe and effective procedure and was applied in all 23 patients successfully.     

Sentinel lymph node mapping in gynecologic malignancies.

Lymph node status is the most important prognostic factor for women with vulvar, cervical and endometrial carcinoma and complete lymph node dissection has historically been an integral part of the surgical treatment of these diseases. Lymphadenectomy can be morbid for patients, who may experience wound breakdown, lymphocyst formation or chronic lymphedema, among other problems. Sentinel lymph node mapping is a newer technology that allows selective removal of the first node draining a tumor thereby allowing a potentially less aggressive procedure to be performed. Sentinel node mapping is well accepted for the management of breast carcinoma and cutaneous melanoma, and has resulted in reduced morbidity without adversely affecting survival. Sentinel node mapping is currently being investigated for treatment of gynecologic cancers. Recent studies show promise for incorporating the sentinel node mapping technique for treatment of several gynecologic malignancies.     

A Randomized Study Comparing Retroperitoneal Drainage with No Drainage after Lymphadenectomy in Gynecologic Malignancies

Objective:To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of retroperitoneal drainage following lymphadenectomy in gynecologic surgery.Methods:One hundred thirty-seven consecutive patients undergoing systematic lymphadenectomy for gynecologic malignancies were randomized to receive (Group A, 68) or not (Group B, 69) retroperitoneal drainage. The pelvic peritoneum and the paracolic gutters were not sutured after node dissection. Perioperative data and complications were recorded.Results:Clinical and surgical parameters were comparable in the two groups. Postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in Group B (P< 0.001), whereas the complication rate was significantly higher in Group A (P= 0.01). This was mainly due to a significant increase in lymphocyst and lymphocyst-related morbidity. Sonographic monitoring for lymphocyst showed free abdominal fluid in 18% of drained and 36% of not-drained patients (P= 0.03). Symptomatic ascites developed in 2 drained (3%) and 3 not-drained (4%) patients (NS), respectively.Conclusions:Prophylactic drainage of the retroperitoneum seems to increase lymphadenectomy-related morbidity and postoperative stay. Therefore, routine drainage following lymphadenectomy seems to be no longer indicated when the retroperitoneum is left open.     

Robot-assisted Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping and Inguinal Lymph Node Dissection Using Near-infrared Fluorescence in Vulvar Cancer

The surgical treatment of vulvar cancer has undergone many changes over the last century. The morbidity of open inguinal incisions prompts the search for a minimally invasive approach to lymph node dissection. This study reports the outcomes of 4 patients with vulvar cancer undergoing robotic sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping and lymph node (LN) dissection with near-infrared fluorescence. From 2015 to 2017, 3 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva underwent robot-assisted SLN mapping and inguinal LN dissection. One patient with a vulvar melanoma had robotic bilateral SLN mapping only. The da Vinci Xi System with Firefly technology (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA) and indocyanine green radiotracer was used in all cases. Eight groins underwent robot-assisted SLN mapping, 6 of which underwent inguinal LN dissection. The average operating time was 234 minutes with vulvectomy. The mean blood loss was 124 mL. The operative time decreased, and the lymph node yield increased with each case. There were no wound separations or long-term negative outcomes, such as persistent lymphedema or recurrence. This case series of robot-assisted SLN mapping and inguinal lymph node dissection shows the safety and feasibility of this new technique in vulvar cancer. It may be a valid approach to reduce short- and long-term morbidity.     

Squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva stage IA: long-term results

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of metastases to lymph nodes and long-term results of radical and modified radical surgery in patients with a T1 squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva and 相似文献   

Infectious morbidity after radical vulvectomy

Objective: This retrospective investigation describes the infectious morbidity of patients following radical vulvectomy with or without inguinal lymph node dissection.Methods: The charts of patients undergoing radical vulvectomy between January 1, 1986, and September 1, 1989, were reviewed for age, weight, cancer type, tumor stage, operative procedure(s), prophylactic antibiotic and its length of use, febrile morbidity, infection site, culture results, significant medical history, and length of use and number of drains or catheters used.Results: The study group was composed of 61 patients, 14 of whom underwent a radical vulvectomy and 47 who also had inguinal lymph node dissection performed. Twenty-nine patients (48%) had at least 1 postoperative infection. Five patients (8%) had 2 or more postoperative infections. The site and incidence of the infections were as follows: urinary tract 23%, wound 23%, lymphocyst 3%, lymphatics (lymphangitis) 5%, and bowel (pseudomembranous colitis) 3%. The most common pathogens isolated from both urine and wound sites were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, enterococcus, and Escherichia coli. A significant decrease in wound infection was demonstrated when separate incisions were made for inguinal lymph node dissection (P <0.05). The mean number of days to onset of postoperative infection for wound, urine, lymphatics, lymphocyst, and bowel were 11, 8, 57, 48, and 5, respectively.Conclusions: We conclude that the clinical appearance of post-radical vulvectomy infections is delayed when compared with other post-surgical wound infections. Second, utilizing separate inguinal surgical incisions may reduce infectious morbidity. Finally, tumor stage and type do not necessarily increase the infectious morbidity of radical vulvar surgery.     

A prospective randomized study comparing retroperitoneal drainage with no drainage and no peritonization following radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy for invasive cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the postoperative morbidity and lymphocyst formation in invasive cervical cancer patients undergoing radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy (RHPL) with no drainage and no peritonization compared with retroperitoneal drainage and peritonization. METHODS: Between July 1999 and May 2000, 100 patients with stage IA-IIA cervical cancer undergoing RHPL in Chiang Mai University Hospital were prospectively randomized to receive either no peritonization and no drainage (Group A = 48 cases) or retroperitoneal drainage and peritonization (Group B = 52 cases). Perioperative data and morbidity were recorded. Transabdominal and transvaginal sonography were performed at 4, 8 and 12 weeks postoperatively to detect lymphocyst formation. RESULTS: Both groups were similar regarding age, size and gross appearance of tumor, tumor histology and stage. There was no difference between groups in respect of operative time, need for blood transfusion, intraoperative complications, hospital stay, number of nodes removed, nodal metastases, and need for adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy. Asymptomatic lymphocysts were sonographically detected at 4, 8 and 12 weeks postoperatively in 3 (6.8%), 2 (4.6%), and 3 (7.7%) of 44, 43, and 39 patients, respectively in Group A, whereas none was found in Group B (P = 0.2). No significant difference was found in term of postoperative morbidity in the two groups. CONCLUSION: Routine retroperitoneal drainage and peritonization after RHPL for invasive cervical cancer can be safely omitted.     

Significant venous thromboembolism caused by pelvic lymphocysts: Diagnosis and management

Lymphocysts are an infrequent complication of pelvic lymphadenectomy, but may lead to serious complications. Previous reviews have discussed the etiology, diagnosis, and management of lymphocysts. We present three cases of venous thromboembolic complications secondary to venous compression and stasis from a lymphocyst. Evaluation of venous dynamics by impedance plethysmography differentiates between venous obstruction and/or lymphedema. The subsequent management of extrinsic venous obstruction with and without thrombosis is discussed.