K Hospital in Hanoi has successfully performed Vietnam’s first scarless gynecologic cancer surgery using transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES).

This pioneering case involved a 52-year-old patient, Nguyen Thi L., who was admitted with abnormal postmenopausal vaginal bleeding.

Following a comprehensive examination, advanced testing, and a multidisciplinary consultation, she was diagnosed with stage IA endometrial cancer.

The surgical team proceeded with the vNOTES procedure. Within two hours, the doctors removed the entire uterus, both adnexa, and bilateral pelvic lymph nodes.

The surgery left no external scars, caused minimal pain, and enabled the patient to recover quickly and be discharged just three days later.

The vNOTES technique introduces endoscopic instruments through the vaginal canal, eliminating the need for abdominal incisions.

It combines the clarity and precision of laparoscopic surgery with the scar-free advantage of the vaginal route.

This results in less pain, lower risk of infection, faster recovery, improved quality of life, and reduced treatment costs.

Initially, this method was applied to benign gynecological conditions such as ovarian cysts or uterine fibroids. It is now indicated for early-stage gynecologic cancers, ensuring oncologic treatment principles are met while enhancing cosmetic outcomes.

Associate Professor Dr. Pham Van Binh, Deputy Director of K Hospital, stated that vNOTES offers a safe, minimally invasive option for patients and represents a significant advancement in the application of modern surgical technology aligned with global medical trends.

K Hospital plans to continue training and expanding indications for this technique to offer patients more optimal treatment opportunities.

Phuong Thuy