Morbidity following robot-assisted surgery in a gynecological oncology setting: A cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of the study was to provide a comprehensive description of perioperative morbidity associated with robot-assisted surgery (RAS) in a gynecological oncology setting in order to improve the preoperative counseling of women and support shared decision-making. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All women scheduled for intended RAS between January 2015 and December 2022 were prospectively included in an electronic morbidity database for the analyses of perioperative complications. RESULTS: In total, 2225 women were included. Sixty-four patients (2.9%) experienced an intraoperative complication. Intraoperative complications were associated with a higher rate of conversion to laparotomy (15.6% vs. 1.8%, p < 0.001), a higher rate of major postoperative morbidity (9.3% vs. 2.4%, p < 0.001), and a higher rate of reoperation (9.3% vs. 1.7%, p < 0.001), compared to cases without intraoperative complications. Thirty-day postoperative morbidity was evaluated according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Surgical Secondary Events Grading System. Grade 3-5 events were considered major. A total of 57 patients (2.6%) experienced a major event after surgery, postoperative rupture of the vaginal vault being the most common complication requiring surgical intervention. Conversion to laparotomy occurred in 49 cases (2.2%) and was associated with higher intraoperative blood loss (300 mL vs. 25 mL, p < 0.001), a higher rate of postoperative major events (20.4% vs. 2.2%, p < 0.001), and a higher rate of reoperation (11.8% vs. 1.6%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates low rates of major perioperative morbidity and conversion to laparotomy after RAS performed by trained high-volume surgeons in a gynecological oncology setting.

Incidence and remission of urinary incontinence after hysterectomy--a 3-year follow-up study.

The aim of the study is to investigate the changes in continence status in a population of women hysterectomized in 1998-2000. Four hundred fifteen hysterectomized women who participated in a questionnaire study on continence status in September 2001 were retested with the same questionnaire on actual continence status in January 2005. As controls we used 97 women who had a laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 1999-2000 and were tested and retested similarly. Urinary incontinence was defined as involuntary urinary leakage at least once a week. Stress incontinence was defined as leakage when coughing, laughing, or lifting heavy weights. Urge incontinence was defined as an uncontrollable desire to void with leakage before reaching the toilet. Stress incontinence was reported by 30% of the hysterectomized women in 2005 vs 28% in 2001. The similar prevalences of urge incontinence were 15 and 13%, respectively. Women who had a subtotal hysterectomy significantly more often had stress incontinence compared to controls in 2005 and 2001. No other significant differences were found. However, the similar prevalences of incontinence reflected that 16% of the hysterectomized women changed from continent in 2001 to stress incontinent in 2005, while 32% changed from stress incontinent to continent. For urge incontinence the similar changes were 8 and 35%, respectively. A large proportion of women change from continent to incontinent or from incontinent to continent during the 3 years of investigation, which should be born in mind when prevalence studies on urinary incontinence are evaluated. Previous hysterectomy does not seem to be of great importance for the development of de novo incontinence or remission.

Hysterectomy is associated with stress incontinence in women who previously had a transcervical endometrial resection.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the prevalence of urological symptoms in a population of women, who had a transcervical endometrial resection (TCER) only, and a population of women, who had a TCER and a subsequent hysterectomy. The superior goal was to evaluate the possible association between hysterectomy and urinary incontinence. DESIGN: All women, who had a TCER at our department during the period of 1990-1996 received a questionnaire with focus on urological symptoms. The answers from women, who later had a hysterectomy were compared to the answers from women, who were sufficiently treated with TCER only. RESULTS: Of 356 women, who were alive, 16 were lost to follow-up, leaving 340 women to receive the questionnaire, which was returned by 310 women (85%). Ninety-three (31%) had a subsequent hysterectomy mainly indicated by metrorrhagia or dysmenorrhea. Of the hysterectomized women 24% reported bothersome stress incontinence against 14% in the group of women, who had TCER only (p = 0.03). No significant difference was seen with respect to urge incontinence, urgency, pollakisuria or nocturia. Significantly more women with a normal sized uterus reported bothersome stress incontinence after the hysterectomy compared to women with a slightly enlarged uterus. CONCLUSION: Hysterectomy is significantly associated with stress urinary incontinence in women, who previously had a TCER.