Mini-laparotomy pelvic lymph node dissection minimizes morbidity, hospitalization and cost of pelvic lymph node dissection.

PURPOSE We compared efficacy, morbidity and cost of mini-laparotomy pelvic lymph node dissection and laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 40 patients underwent mini-laparatomy, laparoscopic or standard pelvic lymph node dissection during a 24-month period. Nodal yield, complications, hospitalization and postoperative analgesic requirements were retrospectively evaluated. Operative expenses and the cost of postoperative hospitalization were standardized to a base cost for comparison. RESULTS Mini-laparotomy pelvic lymph node dissection has an operative time (90 minutes) and nodal yield (9) similar to those of standard pelvic lymph node dissection, and morbidity and postoperative hospitalization (1.3 days) are comparable to those of laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection. The expense of the mini-laparotomy procedure is approximately 50% that of the laparoscopic procedure due primarily to the prolonged operative time (190 minutes) and disposable instrument costs ($665) of laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection. CONCLUSIONS Mini-laparotomy pelvic lymph node dissection competes successfully with laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection in terms of efficacy and morbidity at significant cost savings.