LAPAROSCOPIC RADICAL HYSTERECTOMY AND LAPAROSCOPICALLY ASSISTED VAGINAL RADICAL HYSTERECTOMY WITH PELVIC AND PARAAORTIC NODE DISSECTION

Nineteen women underwent laparoscopic radical hysterectomy or laparosc opically assisted vaginal radical hysterectomy, with pelvic node disse ction and paraaortic node dissection when indicated. One procedure was converted to laparotomy due to equipment failure (at The University o f Puerto Rico). There were two minor postoperative complications. The first, febrile morbidity resulting from a urinary tract infection, res ponded to medical therapy. The second was incisional bleeding, which w as controlled with sutures applied using a local anesthetic. No major postoperative complications were noted, there have been no incidents o f recurrence, and the follow-up results are encouraging.