RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to measure and analyze uterine perfusion utilizing laser angiography with ICG during uterine artery sparing and non-sparing radical trachelectomy. METHODS: Data were collected from all patients diagnosed with early-stage cervical cancer that underwent laser angiography with ICG during open or laparoscopic radical trachelectomy from June 2012 to December 2015. Regression analysis was use to determine the p values and R-squares on fluorescence, surgical time, hospital stay, age and BMI; a p-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study. Ten patients underwent uterine artery-sparing surgery, and ten patients underwent uterine artery non-sparing surgery. The most frequent stage for the entire cohort was IA2 (55%), and the most common histologic subtype was squamous cell carcinoma (49%). Lymph-vascular invasion was noted in 30% of the patients. There was no statistical significance difference in the mean ICG fundal fluorescence intensity between the uterine artery-sparing group 162.5 (range, 137-188) and the uterine artery non-sparing group 160.5 (range, 135-186), p=0.22. In both groups, 100% of the patients regained their menstrual function by postoperative week 8. A total of 4 (40%) pregnancies have occurred in the uterine artery-sparing group and 3 (30%) in the non-uterine artery-sparing group. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our real-time intraoperative angiography observations, there is no need to preserve the uterine artery during radical trachelectomy to maintain uterine viability.