Mei Ji

Initial experience with the Carina™ platform in robotic-assisted hysterectomy for gynecological malignant disease

This retrospective study was performed to evaluate the efficiency and safety of a new modular robotic system, the Carina™ Platform (Ronovo Surgical, Shanghai, China), in gynecological surgery. All patients underwent robotic hysterectomies (RH) using the Carina performed by a single gynecologist experienced in laparoscopic and robotic surgery from November to December 2023. Patients were evaluated for estimated blood loss (EBL), intraoperative and postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, conversion rate, as well as console and docking times. Two separate populations were involved: 10 cervical cancer patients (group 1) and six endometrial cancer patients (group 2). There were no conversions to laparotomies or laparoscopies. The mean docking time was 5.75 ± 2.38 min. The mean console time and mean operative time were 154.60 ± 26.01 min and 211.90 ± 53.65 min in group 1, respectively. The mean console time and mean operative time were 98.67 ± 26.71 min and 153.33 ± 22.77 min in group 2, respectively. The median estimated blood loss for group 1 and group 2 were 30 ml (20, 50) and 20 ml (7.5, 20), respectively. No intraoperative or postoperative complications related to the device were recorded. Our experience allows us to state that the modular Carina Platform is safe and efficient in complex gynecologic surgery. researchregistry10353  https://www.researchregistry.com/browse-the-registry#home/registrationdetails/665c1a398a97c302739cce06/.

Intraoperative frozen section pathology of vaginal margin in radical hysterectomy on the prognosis and quality of life for patients with IB2–IIA2 cervical cancer: study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial

Several risk factors have been identified that compromise the treatment outcome in patients with early-to-mid-stage cervical cancer (CC) who are primarily treated with radical surgery. However, there is no report on the impact of intraoperative frozen pathology examination of vaginal margins on the prognosis of patients with CC. This study aimed to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to determine whether selective vaginal resection can reduce the incidence of operative complications and the risk of postoperative radiotherapy. The impact of the length of the vagina removed in radical hysterectomy (RH) on prognosis and quality of life (QoL) for IB2-IIA2 CC patients will be investigated. A multicenter, non-inferiority, RCT at 7 institutions in China is designed to investigate the effect of intraoperative frozen pathology exam of vaginal margin in RH on the survival outcomes for patients with IB2-IIA2 CC. Eligible patients aged 18-70 years will be randomly assigned online by one-to-one random allocation to receive intraoperative frozen pathology exam of vaginal margin or not. If frozen pathology indicates positive margin, continue resection of 1 centimeter of vaginal tissue until negative margin is achieved. The primary end point is 2-year disease-free survival (DFS). Adverse events (AEs) caused by further vagina resection, 5-year DFS, 2-year overall survival (OS), 5-year OS and AEs caused by radiotherapy and QoL are secondary end points. A total of 310 patients will be enrolled from 7 tertiary hospitals in China within 3-year period and followed up for 5 years. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2000035668.

Risk factors for and delayed recognition of genitourinary fistula following radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer: a population-based analysis

This study aimed to identify the risk factors for genitourinary fistulas and delayed fistula recognition after radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer. This study was a retrospective analysis of data collected in the Major Surgical complications of Cervical Cancer in China (MSCCCC) database from 2004-2016. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and hospital characteristics were extracted. Differences in the odds of genitourinary fistula development were investigated with multivariate logistic regression analyses, and differences in the time to recognition of genitourinary fistula were assessed by Kruskal-Wallis test. In this study, 23,404 patients met the inclusion criteria. Surgery in a cancer center, a women's and children's hospital, a facility in a first-tier city, or southwest region, stage IIA, type C1 hysterectomy, laparoscopic surgery and ureteral injury were associated with a higher risk of ureterovaginal fistula (UVF) (p<0.050). Surgery in southwest region, bladder injury and laparoscopic surgery were associated with greater odds of vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) (p<0.050). Surgery at cancer centers and high-volume hospitals was associated with an increase in the median time to UVF recognition (p=0.016; p=0.005). International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIA1-IIB was associated with delayed recognition of VVF (p=0.040). Intraoperative urinary tract injury and surgical approach were associated with differences in the development of UVFs and VVFs. Patients who underwent surgery in cancer centers and high-volume hospitals were more likely to experience delayed recognition of UVF. Patients with FIGO stage IIA1-IIB disease were more likely to experience delayed recognition of VVF.