Modified Laparoscopic Inguinal Lymphadenectomy Using an Abdominal Subcutaneous Approach

Inguinal lymph node metastases significantly impact the prognosis of patients with penile cancer. Therefore, timely inguinal lymph node dissection is essential for the comprehensive treatment of penile cancer. Compared with the traditional open inguinal lymphadenectomy, laparoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy offers similar tumor control with fewer complications. The current techniques for the laparoscopic surgical approach include L-lymphoid clearance sequence and preservation of the great saphenous vein. In this study, a transabdominal subcutaneous anterograde approach was employed to improve laparoscopic inguinal lymph node dissection and conserve the great saphenous vein, resulting in favorable outcomes. Furthermore, only 2 out of 21 patients experienced wound infections, and only 1 exhibited lymphatic leakage from the drainage orifice. These findings indicate that the use of an innovative subcutaneous transperitoneal retrograde approach is safe for abdominal endoscopic common iliac plexus dissection with fewer complications in patients with penile cancer compared with traditional open surgery. Notably, the postoperative survival rate of penile cancer patients is significantly influenced by the presence or absence of inguinal lymph node metastasis and the extent of metastasis. Timely inguinal lymph node dissection is essential since it significantly impacts the treatment of penile cancer. Besides, laparoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy offers comparable tumor control to open surgery with significantly reduced complications. Notably, standardized approaches for laparoscopic surgery, cleaning procedures, and preservation of the saphenous vein are crucial for inguinal lymph node dissection. The laparoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy technique can be improved by employing the abdominal subcutaneous anterograde approach. This article provides a comprehensive account of the procedures and technical improvements associated with the modified laparoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy using the abdominal subcutaneous approach.