LAPAROSCOPIC PELVIC LYMPH-NODE DISSECTION - A REVIEW OF 103 CONSECUTIVE CASES

Laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection is a recently introduced technique for the surgical evaluation of the regional pelvic lymph nodes in genitourinary malignancies. We report the results of a laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection performed on 103 consecutive patients for staging of clinically localized prostatic, bladder and penile carcinomas. In 20 patients (group 1) the adequacy of the laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection was evaluated with a subsequent open dissection. In this group 87 to 95% of the lymph nodes within a modified template could be reliably removed laparoscopically. In 73 patients (group 2) laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection was performed as a solitary operation. Mean hospitalization was 1.6 +/- 2.4 days, while postoperative narcotic requirements were minimal. Mean operative time for bilateral laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection was 156 +/- 41.2 minutes. The overall complication rate in these 2 groups was 13.5%. Group 3 includes 10 patients (9.7% of the total) in whom laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection was unsuccessful. The minimally invasive surgical techniques of laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection seem to provide adequate staging accuracy in patients with genitourinary neoplasms. The complication rate and recovery period appear to be decreased relative to those for open surgical lymphadenectomy.