Radical (Wertheim) hysterectomy for early stages (1B and 2A) cancer of the cervix

Abstract

A review of cases of early stages (1B & 2A) cancer of the cervix, managed by radical hysterectomy at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital Sagamu Nigeria between 1997 and 2004 was carried out to appraise the outcome in terms of the success and safety of the operation. Seventeen cases were so treated, and all were squamous cell carcinomas in patient aged mostly between 30 and 59 years (91.7%) and all were multiparous with more than half being grandmultiparous. Radical hysterectomy carried out was modified by initial bilateral internal iliac artery ligation. Blood loss at operation was 996±213 mls. Complications from the surgery were one case of bladder atony and four' cases of haemorrhage. There was no mortality. Two patients had pelvic node involvement on histopathology and died five years post operative. Though the cases appraised were small in number, the bilateral internal iliac artery ligation seemed to have helped in reducing blood loss during the surgery and should be more routinely carried out for a future assessment of more operated cases.

Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 50 (2) 2006: pp 33-35