Aim: Combined surgery for colorectal cancer with synchronous liver metastases (CRCSLM) is addressed to selected patients. Technically, by conventional surgery this simultaneous approach raises a problem of adequate access. The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility and safety of the laparoscopic approach in combined surgery.
Methods: From August 2016 to January 2020 a monocentric prospective comparative study was conducted. Short and long-term outcomes of simultaneous laparoscopic surgery (SLS) were evaluated. Short-term outcomes of SLS were compared to those of laparoscopic colorectal surgery alone (LCRS).
Results: Forty patients were included in each arm. In SLS group, the median age was 62.5 years. Hybrid surgery was performed for 60% of patients, down staging laparoscopic surgery for 22.5% of patients and totally laparoscopic surgery for 10% of patients. The conversion rate was 7.5%. Mean operating time was 323 minutes. Overall morbidity rate was 27.5%. Multivariate analysis showed that anemia (p = 0.046) and number of liver resections (p = 0.018) were independent factors of morbidity. Ninety-five percent of colorectal resections were R0, 90% of liver resections were R0. The mean length of hospital stay was 5.1 ± 2.58 days. The recurrence rate was 22.5%. Median diseasefree survival was 27 months. There was no difference in short-term outcomes between the two arms except for operating time which was longer in SLS arm (p < 0.0005).
Conclusion: Laparoscopy is feasible in combined surgery in selected patients. Minor liver resection may be associated with laparoscopic colorectal surgery without increasing morbidity.
Keywords: Laparoscopy; liver resection; portal vein ligation colorectal cancer.; simultaneous resection; synchronous liver metastases.