Nerve-Sparing Radical Hysterectomy Local Recurrence Rate, Feasibility, and Safety in Cervical Cancer Patients Stage IA to IIA

Objective: To clarify the debate about the possible threat of sparing the pelvic autonomic nerves in radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer to radicality., comparative studies of nerve-sparing and conventional Surgery are necessary. The aim Of his Study was to analyze and compare local recurrence rate, feasibility, and safety of nerve-sparing and non-nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy. Methods: In a cohort Study with 2 years of follow-up, 246 patients with cervical cancer of stages IA to IIA were analyzed: 124 in the non-nerve-sparing group (1994-1999) and 122 in the group where nerve-sparing was the intention-to-treat (2001-2005). Local recurrence rate, local recurrence-free Survival, feasibility, and safety were analyzed and compared. Results: The clinical characteristics of the treatment groups were comparable. Sparing the nerves unilaterally or bilaterally was possible in 80% of cases Of the nerve-sparing group. Local recurrence rates in the non-nerve-sparing (4.9%) and nerve-sparing (8.3%) group were not significantly different. Mean local recurrence-Free survival within 2 years were 22.7 and 22.0 months, respectively. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses showed that nerve-sparing treatment was not a significant prognostic factor for local recurrence. With respect to perioperative and postoperative parameters, operating time and blood loss were less in the nerve-sparing group and mortality was equal (1 patient); the Postoperative course of the nerve-sparing group was similar to the state-of-the-art of conventional radical hysterectomy. Conclusions: On the basis of the results of our study, we consider the nerve-sparing technique for cervical cancer stages IA to IIA feasible and safe.