Laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer treatment is safe

The latest issue of Surgical Endoscopy finds no significant difference in the local recurrences rate or in the incidence of distant metastases in colorectal cancer patients.

Laparoscopic resection for cure of colorectal cancer is controversial, and more investigations on long-term results are required.

Dr Lezoche and colleagues from Italy compared the long-term outcome between laparoscopic or open approach for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

The treatment modality was related to the patients choice, and the outcomes were assessed over a 5-year period.

The investigative team assessed wound recurrences rate, local recurrences rate, incidence of distant metastases, and survival probability.

The team included 149 patients with colon cancer of which 85 treated by laparoscopic surgery, and 64 by open surgery.

In 86 patients with rectal cancer, 52 were treated by laparoscopic surgery, and 34 by open surgery.

Colon cancer recurred at 23 months with laparoscopy vs 7 months with open surgery

Surgical Endoscopy

In the patients with colonic cancer, the mean follow-up was 83 months.

The team observed no statistically significant difference in the local recurrences rate, and in the incidence of distant metastases in these patients.

Cumulative survival probability in laparoscopic surgery was 0.88 as compared to 0.86 after open surgery.

In the patients with rectal cancer, the mean follow-up was 79 months.

The investigators found no significant difference in the local recurrences rate or in the incidence of distant metastases in the rectal cancer patients.

Cumulative survival probability in laparoscopic surgery was 0.7 as compared to 0.6 after open surgery in the patients with rectal cancer.

In addition, the team noted that the recurrences were delayed after laparoscopic endoscopy.

In patients with colonic cancer, recurrences occurred at 23 months with laparoscopic surgery vs 7 months in the open surgery group.

The investigators found that patients with rectal resections, had recurrences at 26 months with laparoscopic surgery vs 13 months with open surgery.

Dr Lezoche's team concludes, “We suppose that laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of colo-rectal cancer is quite safe.”

“However, further investigation is needed. “