Objective: The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate, in a series of 16 consecutive patients, the technique, feasibility and oncological safety of laparoscopic anterior exenteration for locally advanced pelvic cancers.
Study design: Since August 2003, 16 patients with locally advanced pelvic cancer were considered. All patients were in a good general condition, in the age group of 50-60 years of which 12 had cervical carcinoma and 4 had bladder carcinoma.
Results: The median operative time was 180 min. The mean number of harvested pelvic iliac nodes was 14. All margins were tumor-free. The median postoperative hospital stay was 3 days. Three patients had postoperative complications; two had subacute intestinal obstruction and one had ureteric leak. The median follow-up was 15 months.
Conclusions: Our results have demonstrated the feasibility and oncological safety of performing anterior exenteration laparoscopically in advanced pelvic cancer patients with acceptable morbidity. Intermediate-term follow-up validates the adequacy of this procedure.