OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical significance of laparoscopic extraperitoneal para-aortic lmphadenectomy(PAL)in high para-aortic lymphadenectomy.METHODS: A non-randomized controlled method was used to analyze the clinical data of laparoscopic extraperitoneal PAL in 35 patients(extraperitoneal group)and laparoscopic transabdominal PAL in 40 patients(transabdominal group)in the Gynecological Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University from March 2018 to April 2019.RESULTS: All the 35 cases of laparoscopic extraperitoneal PAL reached the level of renal vein.Endometrial cancer accounted for the largest proportion,with an average age of 47.57 years and an average body mass index of 23.77.The average operation time was 109 minutes in the first 6 cases and 74.73 minutes in the other 29 cases.The amount of hemorrhage was 15.19 mL,and the average number of para-aortic lymph nodes(PALN)resected was 17.87.There were 5 cases of positive PALN metastasis,and the average gastrointestinal recovery time was13.43 hours.The average postoperative pelvic drainage was 76.57 hours and the average postoperative hospital stay was8.24 days.Intraoperative and postoperative complications included 1 case of inferior vena cava rupture,1 case of chyle leakage,and 1 case of vulvar edema.None of the 40 cases of laparoscopic transabdominal PAL reached the level of renal vein,and endometrial cancer accounted for the largest proportion,with the average age of 46.78 years and the average body mass index of 24.03.The average operation time was 90.55 min;the average intraoperative blood loss was 67.40 mL The average number of para-aortic lymph nodes was 3.30.There was one case of PALN metastasis.The average gastrointestinal recovery time was 22.35 hours,and the average postoperative pelvic drainage time was 75.75 hours.The average length of hospital stay was 8.90 days.There were 2 cases of rupture of the inferior mesenteric artery,3 cases of chyle leakage,and 2 cases of vulvar edema.The number of PALN resection,intraoperative blood loss,and operation time in the extraperitoneal group were not related to the body mass index,but the number of PALN in obese patients in the laparoscopic transabdominal group was significantly reduced,the operation time was longer,the intraoperative blood loss was more,and postoperative gastrointestinal recovery time is longer(P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic extraperitoneal PAL can solve the problems of laparoscopic transabdominal PAL lymph node resection,which is difficult to reach the level of renal vein,intraoperative intestinal tube interference,and the number of lymph nodes resected.It is especially suitable for obese patients.Laparoscopic extra-peritoneal high-grade PAL is safe,feasible,and recommended.