Extraction of natural orifice specimens has been demonstrated to improve aesthetic outcomes and minimize postoperative discomfort and wound problems. It was still debatable, nevertheless, whether transvaginal specimen extraction has an impact on sexual function. For a study, researchers sought to examine how colon cancer surgery with transvaginal specimen extraction affected short-term results, sexual function, aesthetic outcomes, and prognosis.
The study was a propensity score-matched comparative retrospective analysis based on data obtained prospectively in a single institution. Between November 2015 and November 2020, 70 pairs of female patients with propensity score matching had laparoscopic curative resection for stage I–III colon cancer with transvaginal and conventional specimens extraction. Age, tumor diameter, tumor differentiation, T stage, and American Joint Committee on Cancer stage were covariates utilized in the propensity score. The outcome measures were postoperative complications, postoperative sexual function, aesthetic results, disease-free survival, and overall survival.
Less extra analgesics were given to patients in the transvaginal group (P=0.008), and they also experienced fewer wound problems (P=0.028). None of the patients in the two groups experienced vaginal fistula, incisional disruption, or anastomotic leaking. The preoperative baseline scores for the two groups on the Female Sexual Function Index were identical, and there was no difference in the postoperative values between the two groups (P=0.790). The aesthetic score in the transvaginal group was considerably higher than in the group undergoing traditional laparoscopy (P=0.000). There were no changes in OS or DFS between the two groups over the follow-up period (P=0.658, P=0.663).
Transvaginal specimen extraction is oncologically safe, results in superior short-term outcomes, improved aesthetic results, and had fewer negative effects on female sexual function compared to laparoscopic colon cancer radical resection with specimen extraction. More suitable patients can have this treatment in the future.
Reference: sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1743919122005647
