Laparoscopy versus laparotomy: An evaluation of adhesion formation after pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy in a porcine model

• Published in: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology 1998-03, Vol.178 (3), p.499-503
• Main Authors: Chen, M.Dwight, Teigen, Gregg A., Reynolds, Happy T., Johnson, Peter R., Fowler, Jeffrey M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adhesion formation; Animals; Aorta; Biological and medical sciences; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Humans; Laparoscopy; Laparoscopy - methods; Laparotomy - methods; Lymph Node Excision - adverse effects; Lymph Node Excision - methods; lymphadenectomy; Medical sciences; Pelvis; porcine; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the genital tract and mammary gland; surgical staging; Swine; Tissue Adhesions - diagnosis; Tissue Adhesions - etiology
• ISSN: 0002-9378; 1097-6868
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9378(98)70428-4

Objective: Our purpose was to determine whether there is a difference in adhesion formation after pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy with transperitoneal laparoscopy compared with both extraperitoneal laparotomy and transperitoneal laparotomy in a porcine model. Study Design: Ninety female hogs underwent pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy: 40 with transperitoneal laparoscopy, 40 with extraperitoneal laparotomy, and 10 with transperitoneal laparotomy. Three weeks after the initial surgery, a laparotomy was performed to assess adhesion formation. Results: The transperitoneal laparotomy group had significantly higher adhesion formation, with a 100% (10 of 10) adhesion rate. In the transperitoneal laparoscopy group, 12 of 40 hogs (30%) had adhesions develop versus 8 of 38 (21%) in the extraperitoneal laparotomy group ( p = not significant). Also no differences were found in the transperitoneal laparoscopy and extraperitoneal laparotomy groups when comparing adhesion thickness or the total surface area of adhesions. More anterior abdominal wall adhesions were noted in the extraperitoneal laparotomy group (5 of 38) than in the transperitoneal laparoscopy group (0 of 40, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy performed with transperitoneal laparoscopy does not increase adhesion formation when compared with extraperitoneal laparotomy in a porcine model. The transperitoneal laparoscopy (and extraperitoneal laparotomy) approach also induces significantly fewer adhesions than transperitoneal laparotomy. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1998;178:499-503.)