Abdominal Radical Hysterectomy

Radical hysterectomy remains the standard recommendation for patients with early-stage (stage IA2-IIA) cervical cancer. Patient selection is critical to decrease the risk of adjuvant therapy. Excellent knowledge of anatomic landmarks is paramount when this complex pelvic procedure is performed. The extent of the procedure is based on the extent of radicality, as determined by the Morrow and Querleu classification, and it should be tailored according to disease characteristics. This chapter aims to describe key elements in patient selection, evaluation, and surgical approaches. The steps of the procedure are outlined with a major emphasis on crucial anatomic landmarks. In addition, details on the perioperative complications, along with diagnosis and management of such complications, are discussed.