Aims: Laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer is still under discussion, but there is evidence that minimal access surgery can be feasible and safe also in this field. The aim of this study was to confirm that laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer can afford good results in terms of recurrence rate and survival.
Patients and methods: Since June 1998 through December 2007 as many as 252 patients underwent laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer. Laparoscopic anterior resection (LAR) was performed in 209 and laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection (LAPR) in 43. Neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (nCRT) was administered in 48 patients with mid-low rectal cancer stage II and III with evidence of nodal involvement in preoperative work up.
Results: Patients who received nCRT showed a significant longer duration of surgery compared to patients who did not (p=0.004). Conversion to laparotomy was needed in 24 cases, (21 LAR and three LAPR) but no patient receiving nCRT needed conversion. Postoperative surgical complications occurred in 38 patients, 20 of which were represented by anastomotic leak after LAR. Six patients died postoperatively, in half the cases for surgery related causes. Downstaging after nCRT was seen in 40 patients, and complete histological response was observed in six cases. The mean number of lymph nodes harvested was 12, also in patients receiving nCRT. The mean follow-up was 48+/-33 months (range 0.1-120.4), and 10 patients experienced local recurrence. Cumulative 5 year survival was 73.7%.
Conclusion: Laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer is feasible and safe, with morbidity and long-term results quite acceptable also in patients receiving neoadjuvant treatment.