Radical hysterectomy for invasive cervical cancer: A 25‐year prospective experience with the Miami technique

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Miami modification of the traditional Wertheim-Meigs radical hysterectomy was used to treat Stage IB-IIA cervical cancer in a 25-year prospective study involving 978 patients. METHODS: The modifications included: vaginal reconstruction and closure using bladder and rectosigmoid serosa, retroperitoneal drainage through abdominal suction catheters, and suspension of the denuded ureters with the ipsilateral obliterated hypogastric artery. RESULTS: The overall corrected 5-year survival rate was 90.1%, with a surgical mortality rate of 1.4% and an overall urinary fistula rate of 1.4%. This fistula rate was significantly better than a 4.4% incidence rate in a literature survey. Although not measured, the Miami modification appeared to lengthen the vagina. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, it was concluded that radical hysterectomy with the Miami modifications can be done safely in most patients with Stage IB-IIA cervical cancer.