Laterally extended endopelvic resection (LEER) is a surgical option for patients with laterally recurrent gynecological malignancies to preserve sciatic nerve function [1]. However, when a laterally recurrent tumor involves the sacrum, debulking surgery is generally abandoned because the surgical excision line is outside the standard LEER. Since its technical feasibility and oncological safety have been demonstrated, sacrectomy for recurrent rectal cancer is now considered the treatment of choice [2]. Theoretically, if complete resection is deemed possible, LEER and sacrectomy (beyond-LEER) may be the treatments of choice for recurrent gynecological malignancies. However, the technical feasibility of beyond-LEER has not been reported. In this video, we demonstrate the step-by-step procedure of laparoscopy-assisted beyond-LEER in a patient with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer. The patient, with stage IVA ovarian cancer, was in complete remission after debulking surgery and chemotherapy.At the 13-month-platinum-free interval, a solitary recurrent tumor, involving the right internal iliac vessels and infiltrating the right sacral foramen (S3), was detected. Thus, second-line chemotherapy was initially introduced. During 6 months of chemotherapy, the tumor size remained unchanged and no other metastatic lesions were detected. Therefore, surgical resection was planned. Laparoscopy-assisted beyond-LEER was performed, and complete resection without tumor exposure was accomplished. No sign of recurrence 9 months post debulking surgery has been noted. This is the first report to demonstrate the technical feasibility of laparoscopy-assisted beyond-LEER. Table 1 presents a comparison with cases wherein open total pelvic exenteration with low-sacrectomy (TPES) was performed for recurrent rectal cancer. Forty-nine cases of open TPES demonstrated operation time, 11.5 hours; blood loss volume, 2,630 mL; and length of stay, 24.5 days [3]. These results are similar to the findings in our case: operation time, 11 hours; blood loss volume, 1,700 mL; and length of stay, 35 days. We suggest that the benefit of laparoscopy cannot be demonstrated because TPES is a different procedure compared with the beyond LEER.Kimura et al. [4] demonstrated that laparoscopic TPES for recurrent rectal cancer might have a benefit of reduced blood loss. The advantages of laparoscopy during our multidirectional procedure include not only the possibility of reducing blood loss but also the quick closureof abdominal wound and ease of keeping wound clean while changing patient’s position during sacrectomy. However, due to the limited case and follow up periods, further studies are required to determine the efficacy of this novel surgery and real advantage of laparoscopy.The informed consent for use of this video was taken from the patient.

Objective: In advanced ovarian cancer, achieving R0 resection is a critical strategy for improving prognosis. However, even with R0 resection, the prognosis of patients with a high tumor burden remains poor. This study aimed to assess whether the introduction of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) has enhanced outcomes in such cases. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage III–IV ovarian cancer treated between January 2015 and December 2021. Patients were classified into Group A (pre-PARPi introduction) and Group B (post-PARPi introduction). Complete macroscopic resection was defined as R0. Progressionfree survival (PFS), stratified by the Aletti Surgical Complexity Score (Aletti_SCS), was the primary endpoint and was evaluated using Cox regression models. Results: A total of 434 patients were included. In Group A, among those who achieved R0, the median PFS was 23.5 months for patients with high Aletti_SCS (95% confidence interval [CI]=14–30) and not reached for those with low Aletti_SCS (95% CI=30–not reached; adjusted hazard ratio [HR]=0.36, 95% CI=0.20–0.62). In Group B, the median PFS was not reached in both patients with high Aletti_SCS (95% CI=not reached–not reached) and low Aletti_SCS (95% CI=22–not reached; adjusted HR=4.98, 95% CI=1.14–21.78). Conclusion Following the introduction of PARPi, there was a trend toward improved PFS in patients with a higher Aletti_SCS who underwent R0 resection. These findings suggest that R0 resection may improve prognosis even in cases with a high tumor burden in the PARPi era.

Objective: To describe anatomic patterns of the superficial uterine vein (sUV) and assess their association with aspects of the dissection procedure of the anterior layer of the vesicouterine ligament (aVUL) by retrospectively reviewing surgical videos. Methods: We analyzed patients who underwent laparoscopic radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer from 2014 to 2019. The primary endpoint was the time required for aVUL dissection. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors influencing the time required for aVUL dissection. Results: Fifty-three Japanese patients were included. Two sUV configurations were observed:type 1 (the vein ran ventral to the ureter along the uterine artery) and type 2 (the vein did not run along the usual ventral course; it ran dorsal to the ureter or was absent). Approximately 30% of the sUVs were type 2. The total time for dissection of both sides of the aVUL was significantly shorter for type 2 sUVs than for type 1 sUVs. The number of hemostatic interventions during dissection of each side of the aVUL was significantly lower for type 2 sUVs than for type 1 sUVs. In the multivariate analysis, the sUV configuration was the factor significantly influencing the duration of aVUL dissection on each side (right side: β=−143.4;left side, β=−160.4). Conclusion We demonstrated that the sUV had 2 types of courses, ventral and others, and its course affected the time required for dissection and the number of hemostatic interventions.Our results provide information supportive of improved radical hysterectomy outcomes.

Objective: To describe anatomic patterns of the superficial uterine vein (sUV) and assess their association with aspects of the dissection procedure of the anterior layer of the vesicouterine ligament (aVUL) by retrospectively reviewing surgical videos. Methods: We analyzed patients who underwent laparoscopic radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer from 2014 to 2019. The primary endpoint was the time required for aVUL dissection. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors influencing the time required for aVUL dissection. Results: Fifty-three Japanese patients were included. Two sUV configurations were observed:type 1 (the vein ran ventral to the ureter along the uterine artery) and type 2 (the vein did not run along the usual ventral course; it ran dorsal to the ureter or was absent). Approximately 30% of the sUVs were type 2. The total time for dissection of both sides of the aVUL was significantly shorter for type 2 sUVs than for type 1 sUVs. The number of hemostatic interventions during dissection of each side of the aVUL was significantly lower for type 2 sUVs than for type 1 sUVs. In the multivariate analysis, the sUV configuration was the factor significantly influencing the duration of aVUL dissection on each side (right side: β=−143.4;left side, β=−160.4). Conclusion We demonstrated that the sUV had 2 types of courses, ventral and others, and its course affected the time required for dissection and the number of hemostatic interventions.Our results provide information supportive of improved radical hysterectomy outcomes.

Objective: To describe anatomic patterns of the superficial uterine vein (sUV) and assess their association with aspects of the dissection procedure of the anterior layer of the vesicouterine ligament (aVUL) by retrospectively reviewing surgical videos. Methods: We analyzed patients who underwent laparoscopic radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer from 2014 to 2019. The primary endpoint was the time required for aVUL dissection. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors influencing the time required for aVUL dissection. Results: Fifty-three Japanese patients were included. Two sUV configurations were observed:type 1 (the vein ran ventral to the ureter along the uterine artery) and type 2 (the vein did not run along the usual ventral course; it ran dorsal to the ureter or was absent). Approximately 30% of the sUVs were type 2. The total time for dissection of both sides of the aVUL was significantly shorter for type 2 sUVs than for type 1 sUVs. The number of hemostatic interventions during dissection of each side of the aVUL was significantly lower for type 2 sUVs than for type 1 sUVs. In the multivariate analysis, the sUV configuration was the factor significantly influencing the duration of aVUL dissection on each side (right side: β=−143.4;left side, β=−160.4). Conclusion We demonstrated that the sUV had 2 types of courses, ventral and others, and its course affected the time required for dissection and the number of hemostatic interventions.Our results provide information supportive of improved radical hysterectomy outcomes.