Feasibility and surgical outcomes of conventional and robot-assisted laparoscopy for early-stage ovarian cancer: a retrospective, multicenter analysis

Purpose We aimed to investigate the safety, adequacy and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic surgery (LS) and robot-assisted laparoscopic (RALS) approach for the treatment of early-stage ovarian cancer. Methods We performed a multicentric, retrospective cohort study, enrolling patients affected by early-stage ovarian cancer who underwent laparoscopic management for early-stage ovarian cancer between 2006 and 2014. Surgical, pathologic and oncologic outcome data were analyzed to compare LS and RALS performances for early-stage ovarian cancer management. Results 39 patients underwent laparoscopic staging for presumed stage I ovarian cancer: 23 underwent LS and 16 underwent RALS. The mean operative time was 281 +/- 81 min (LS 288 +/- 88 min; RALS 270 +/- 72 min; p = 0.49). No conversion to laparotomy occurred, and one patient had intraoperative hemorrhage requiring blood transfusion. Four patients (10.2 %) experienced postoperative complications of grade 3 according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. The median hospital stay was 3 days (1-15); the differences were not statistically significant between two groups [LS = 4 (1-15); RALS = 3 (1-7); p = 0.43]. During a mean follow-up period of 19.4 months, tumor recurrence occurred in 3 patients: 2 (8.7 %) in the LS group and 1 (6.25 %) in the RALS group. Overall survival and disease-free survival for the entire cohort were 97.4 and 92.3 %, respectively. Conclusions LS and RALS seem to be adequate and feasible for the treatment of early-stage ovarian cancer in terms of the surgical outcomes and oncological safety. Furthermore, in our experience, perioperative outcomes are comparable between LS and RALS making them an acceptable approach in selected patients.