Comparison of robot-assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy and total abdominal hysterectomy for treatment of endometrial cancer in obese and morbidly obese patients

The objective of our study was to compare clinical and pathologic outcomes of robot-assisted and open abdominal techniques for treatment of uterine cancer in obese patients. Institutional review board approval was obtained. Patient demographic data, pathological data, and surgical data were collected by retrospective chart review. Data were analyzed using SAS statistical software. One-hundred and eighty-nine consecutive cases of suspected uterine cancer were identified from October 2003 until January 2009. Of these, 116 patients (61%) had a body mass index (BMI) over 30. There were 66 completed robot-assisted hysterectomies (RAHs), 43 total abdominal hysterectomies (TAHs), and seven patients that were converted from RAH to open abdominal hysterectomy. There were no significant differences in preoperative patient demographics, including body mass index (BMI), medical co-morbidities, or preoperative cytology, except for parity. There were no differences in postoperative grade, stage, lymph vascular space invasion, positive pelvic washings, mean number of pelvic lymph nodes, or proportion of patients undergoing pelvic lymphadenectomy. Length of stay and estimated blood loss were lower for the robotic technique; RAHs had a significantly longer operative time, however. Postoperative blood transfusions and wound infections were more frequent in the TAH group. Of the RAH group there were seven conversions to TAH (10%). Differences in surgical times with and without lymphadenectomy were least in patients in the largest BMI category of >50. Length of time required for RAH was significantly longer then TAH in obese and morbidly obese patients, however benefits to patients of a minimally invasive approach included reduced incidence of wound infections, reduced transfusion rates, reduced blood loss, and shortened length of stay. These data also suggest the greatest advantage of robotic technology over laparotomy in patients with BMI over 50.