Laparoscopic versus open radical hysterectomy for elderly patients with early-stage cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE: We sought to compare surgical and survival outcomes of laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (LRH) vs open radical hysterectomy (ORH) in elderly patients with early-stage cervical cancer. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis was performed on elderly patients (>= 65 years) who underwent either LRH (n = 99) or ORH (n = 159) due to stage IA2-IIA2 cervical cancer. RESULTS: One patient (1%) in LRH group required conversion to laparotomy. Operating time (P = .035), estimated blood loss (P = .002), recovery of bowel movement (P < .001), and postoperative hospital stay (P < .001) were significantly shorter or lower in LRH group. Post-operative complications were significantly less frequent in LRH group (P = .026). After the median follow-up time of 45 months, the 5-year disease-free survival (95% vs 93%, P = .350) and overall survival (96% vs 95%, P = .361) did not differ between LRH and ORH groups. CONCLUSION: Elderly patients tolerated well both LRH and ORH. LRH was associated with better surgical outcomes compared to ORH without increasing intraoperative complications or decreasing survival.