Mid-term Results of Laparoscopic Surgery and Open Surgery for Radical Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to assess the oncologic safety of laparoscopic colorectal surgery compared to that of conventional open surgery and to compare the disease-free survival (DFS) rates between laparoscopic and open colorectal surgery for radical treatment of colorectal cancer. METHODS: From January 2001 to December 2005, 583 patients underwent laparoscopic or conventional open surgery. To address only radical treatment of colorectal cancer, we excluded subjects who had undergone emergency or palliative operation. Four hundred ninety patients were identified for this study. The laparoscopic (LG) and open group (OG) had 74 and 166 patients, respectively, for colon cancer, and 92 and 158 patients, respectively, for the rectal cancer. RESULTS: No difference was noted in the lengths of the distal margins of the resected bowels between the LG and the OG for rectal cancer (P>0.05). In addition, no significant difference was found in DFS rates between the LG and the OG for both colon and rectal cancer (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic technique does not seem to present any disadvantages and is safe and feasible for the treatment of colorectal cancer. No difference was found between laparoscopic and open surgery in terms of DFS for colorectal cancer.