PelvEx 7: A Review of Functional and Surgical Outcomes of Gynaecological Reconstruction in the Context of Pelvic Exenteration

The mainstay of treatment for patients with locally advanced pelvic malignancy is radical surgical excision combined, with (neo)adjuvant chemoradiotherapy where appropriate. The primary objective is to obtain a negative resection margin (R0) in order to achieve long-term survival. Centralisation of care and refinements in surgical technique have enabled surgeons specializing in advanced pelvic oncology to embark upon more aggressive approaches to accomplishing an R0 resection.

With improved oncological outcomes has come an increased focus on quality-of-life (QoL), functional sequelae and patient experience and survivorship. Adequate experience and proficiency with reconstructive techniques has become one of the key components for surgeons practicing in pelvic oncology. Reconstructive procedures should be undertaken with the goals of improving wound healing, reducing morbidity and restoring anatomic form and function. These factors are of utmost importance in the context of pelvic exenteration, where wound complications are prevalent as a result of a larger pelvic dead space and the potential for contamination. Adverse impact on sexual function following pelvic surgery is also common where the autonomic nerves are involved. This is further compounded by the need to resect part or all of the vulvovaginar complex as part of an extirpative procedure, with resultant declines in QoL and overall psychosexual wellbeing.

A number of methods have been proposed for reconstruction of the pelvic floor and vulva/vagina in females, including skin grafting, skin flaps, fasciocutaneous and myocutaneous flaps, as well as the formation of a neovagina in specific circumstances. Thereis a paucity of data with regard to the optimal approach to gynaecological organ reconstruction, with the majority of the literature referring to single-centre, retrospective series. This review sought to assess the preferred methods for gynaecological reconstruction at an international level, the clinical and technical particulars leading to the choice of each method and the short-term outcomes associated with each technique.