Background: Massive bleeding from an exophytic tumor is a serious complication in advanced cases of cervical carcinoma. With persistent bleeding the embolization or ligation of an artery is required.
Case: This report describes the technique of laparoscopic ligation of the hypogastric artery in patients with massive bleeding in advanced cases of cervical cancer (FIGO Stage III). Laparoscopy was performed before or at the beginning of radiation therapy. Three cases are presented.
Conclusions: Laparoscopic ligature of the hypogastric artery can replace laparotomy in patients with advanced cervical cancer and persistent bleeding. The laparoscopic procedure is less traumatic than laparotomy and enables the continuation of external radiotherapy without delay.
©2001 Elsevier Science.