Surgical adjuncts in radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy.

The effectiveness of radical hysterectomy depends upon the skill and the experience of the individual surgeon. A most important requirement of this operation is that it remove all of the cancerous tissue, while causing minimal damage to other structures. The data presented indicate that the use of suprapublic cystostomy, suction drainage of the retroperitoneum and closure with retention sutures of the abdomen can cause a statistically significant reduction in major postoperative complications that occur after radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy.