Oncologic Outcomes Of Laparoscopic Surgery Research Articles

Comparison of short- and long-term outcomes between laparoscopic and open multivisceral resection for clinical T4b colorectal cancer: A multicentre retrospective cohort study in China

BackgroundLaparoscopic surgery is controversial for patients with clinical T4b colorectal cancer (CRC) who require multivisceral resection (MVR). This study aims to explore and compare the safety and long-term oncological outcomes of laparoscopic surgery and open surgery for patients with clinical T4b CRC. Materials and methodsThis study was a retrospective cohort study based on a multicentre database. According to the operation method, the patients were divided into a laparoscopic MVR group and an open MVR group. The short-term and long-term outcomes were compared. ResultsFrom January 2010 to December 2021, a total of 289 patients in the laparoscopic MVR group and 349 patients in the open MVR group were included. After propensity score matching, patients were stratified into a laparoscopic MVR group (n = 163) and an open MVR group (n = 163). Compared with the open MVR group, the laparoscopic MVR group had less blood loss (100 vs. 200, p < 0.001), a shorter time to first flatus (3 vs. 4, P < 0.001), a shorter postoperative hospital stay (10 vs. 12, P < 0.001), and a lower incidence of surgical site infection (2.5 % vs. 8.0 %, P = 0.043). The Kaplan–Meier curves showed that the two groups had similar overall survival (P = 0.283) and disease-free survival (P = 0.152). ConclusionCompared with open MVR, laparoscopic MVR had less blood loss, fewer surgical site infection complications, faster recovery and a shorter hospital stay. The long-term survival outcome of laparoscopic MVR was not inferior to that of open MVR.

Laparoscopic versus open surgery for gallbladder carcinoma: safety, feasibility, and oncological outcomes

BackgroundGallbladder carcinoma (GC) is a rare malignant tumor. Laparoscopic technology has revolutionized the reality of surgery. However, whether laparoscopic surgery is suitable for GC has not been clarified. We aimed to analyze the safety, feasibility, and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic surgery in GC.MethodsThe medical records of patients with GC treated at our hospital between January 2016 and December 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who underwent laparoscopic and open surgery were compared. Propensity score matched analysis was performed to balance the basic characteristics of the two groups. Kaplan–Meier curves were used to describe and compare the overall and disease-free survival rates between the groups.ResultsA total of 163 patients with GC were included. Cholelithiasis was detected in 64 (39.3%) patients. Seventy patients were matched after propensity score matching. The laparoscopic group was significantly better than the open group in terms of operation time (p < 0.001), blood loss (p = 0.002), drain time (p = 0.001), and hospital stay (p < 0.001). After a median follow-up time of 19 (12, 35) months, there was no significant difference in the cumulative overall (p = 0.650) and disease-free (p = 0.663) survival rates between the laparoscopic and open groups according to Kaplan–Meier curves.ConclusionLaparoscopic surgery can reduce the operation time and blood loss, and shorten drain time and hospital stay without increasing the incidence of complications. Patients undergoing laparoscopic and open surgery have a similar prognosis. Laparoscopic surgery is worth promoting in patients with GC.

Technical feasibility of robotic vs. laparoscopic surgery for locally advanced colorectal cancer invading the urinary bladder.

The aim of this study was to determine if robotic surgery can reproduce the technical advantages and oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of locally advanced colorectal cancer invading the urinary bladder. We retrospectively reviewed the prospectively maintained data of patients with locally advanced colorectal cancer invading the urinary bladder undergoing robotic or laparoscopic surgery between June 2006 and November 2020. Clinicopathologic features, surgical outcomes, and oncologic efficacy were compared between patient groups of robotic or laparoscopic surgery. All patients underwent surgery with the intent of R0 resection for the primary tumor. Major surgical complications were defined as Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ III. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors. A total of 41 patients (M:F = 32:9; median age: 63 [42-88] years) were analysed; 32 underwent laparoscopic surgery and 9 underwent robotic surgery. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in baseline demographic and clinicopathologic features. There were no significant differences in terms of mean operative time (353.24 vs. 387.33min), mean blood loss (315.00 vs. 171.11mL), mean number of lymph nodes harvested (27.16 vs. 23.50), R0 resection (89.7 vs. 66.7%), conversion (12.5 vs. 11.1%), major complication rate (9.4 vs. 22.2%), mean time to flatus passage (4.8 vs. 4.1days), mean postoperative length of hospital stay (18.9 vs. 19.8days), 5-year disease-free survival rate (64.6 vs. 62.5%) and overall survival rate (75.3 vs. 83.3%). Multivariate analysis showed that R1 resection was the only independent prognostic factor for reduced disease-free survival (hazard ratio 21.386; 95% confidence interval 1.991-229.723; p = 0.0115). Robotic surgery can reproduce the technical advantages and oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of locally advanced colorectal cancer invading the urinary bladder. However, larger studies are mandatory to clarify the role of robotic surgery in such a scenario.

Long-term follow-up of patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for phaeochromocytoma.

IntroductionPhaeochromocytomas are rare tumours with a recurrence after open surgery ranging between 6–23 per cent. Long-term follow-up studies after laparoscopic surgery for phaeochromocytoma are lacking. The aim of this study was to look at the long-term oncological outcome of a consecutive series of patients from a single centre undergoing laparoscopic surgery for a phaeochromocytoma.MethodsDemographic data on all patients with an adrenal tumour or paraganglioma were prospectively kept on a database between September 1999 and December 2017. Electronic hospital records, including imaging from a national linked archiving and communication system, were reviewed for patients with a phaeochromocytoma in November 2021.ResultsDuring the study interval 135 patients with a phaeochromocytoma were operated on in the unit, of which 118 (87.4 per cent) were attempted laparoscopically. Five (4.2 per cent) were converted to open surgery, whereas 117 had a potentially curative operation. There was no peri- or postoperative mortality. At a median follow-up of 10 (interquartile range 6–12.9) years, only 3 (2.6 per cent) patients died from metastatic phaeochromocytoma. One further patient developed lymph node metastases, which were removed at open surgery. No patient had a local recurrence and the only significant predictor of recurrence was the presence of lymph node metastases (P < 0.001). Two patients developed a contralateral adrenal phaeochromocytoma, while one of these also had a paraganglioma. The Kaplan–Meier estimate of phaeochromocytoma-free survival was 96 per cent (95 per cent c.i. 92.2 to 98.8) at 5 years and 92 per cent (95 per cent c.i. 86.7 to 97.3) at 10 years.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that long-term oncological outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for patients with a phaeochromocytoma are at least as good as that with an open operation.

Impact of sarcopenia on surgical and oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer

BackgroundThe study aimed to evaluate the impact of sarcopenia on short- and long-term outcomes for laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery. MethodsStudy participants were 209 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for any stage of colorectal cancer between 2016 and 2017. Skeletal muscle indices were calculated with preoperative computed tomography. Patients were divided into sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic groups based on index cut-off values and variables were compared. ResultsThe prevalence of sarcopenia was 41.1%. Sarcopenic patients experienced shorter operative times and a lower incidence of surgical site infections; however, the incidence of severe postoperative complications and readmission were increased for this group. Although the 3-year disease-free survival rate was not statistically different between groups, sarcopenic patients had a significantly worse 3-year overall survival rate compared with than the non-sarcopenic group. ConclusionSarcopenia has both favorable and unfavorable effects on patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery.

Mid- and low-rectal cancer: laparoscopic vs open treatment-short- and long-term results. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

The laparoscopic approach in the treatment of mid- or low-rectal cancer is still controversial. Compared with open surgery, laparoscopic resection of extraperitoneal cancer is associated with improved short-time non-oncological outcomes, although high-level evidence showing similar short- and long-term oncological outcomes is scarce. The aim of our paper is to study the oncological and non-oncological outcomes of laparoscopic versus open surgery for extraperitoneal rectal cancer. A systematic review of MedLine, EMBASE, and CENTRAL from January 1990 to October 2020 was performed by combining various key words. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing laparoscopic versus open surgery for extraperitoneal rectal cancer were included. The quality of RCTs was assessed using the Cochrane reviewer's handbook. This meta-analysis was based on the recommendation of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. This study analyzes laparoscopic versus open surgery for extraperitoneal rectal cancer. Primary outcomes were oncological parameters. Fifteen RCTs comprising 4,411 patients matched the selection criteria. Meta-analysis showed a significant difference between laparoscopic and open surgery in short-time non-oncological outcomes. Although laparoscopic approach increased operation time, it decreases significantly the blood loss and length of hospital stay. No significant difference was noted regarding short- and long-term oncological outcomes, but 4 and 5years disease-free survival were statistically higher in the open group. There are still questions about the long-term oncological outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for extraperitoneal rectal cancer being comparable to the open technique. Considering that all surgical resections have been performed in high volume centers by expert surgeons, the minimally invasive surgery in patients with extraperitoneal cancer could still be not considered equivalent to open surgery in terms of oncological radicality.

Laparoscopic approach for T4 colon cancer can be associated with poor prognosis in right-sided T4b tumours

IntroductionAlthough recent studies have demonstrated the safety of laparoscopic surgery in T4 colon cancer, some patients could have poor prognosis. In this study, we aimed to analyse the risk factors affecting oncologic outcome of laparoscopic surgery. Materials and methodsAmong the 1033 T4 colon cancer patients collected from a multicentre database (2004–2017), 584 patients (458 T4a and 126 T4b) underwent laparoscopic approach for radical surgery. Risk factors associated with 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated through multivariate analysis. In addition, subgroups were classified using a combination of risk factors, and the survival rate was evaluated. ResultsDuring this period, 188 (32.2%) had recurrence, and 151 (25.9%) died. In the multivariate analysis for oncologic outcome, elevated carcinoembryonic antigen level (hazard ratio [HR] 1.37) and absence of adjuvant chemotherapy (HR 1.60) were associated with poor DFS. T4b (HR 1.56, 1.46), right-sided location (HR 1.52, 1.42), and open conversion (HR 2.70, 2.12) were independently associated with both poor DFS and OS. When four subgroups were analysed through the combination of tumour location and T stage, the DFS and OS rates were significantly lower in patients with right-sided T4b cancer than in other groups (log-rank p < 0.001). ConclusionRight-sided T4b colon cancer for laparoscopic surgery may lead to poor oncologic outcome. This approach could be a caution in suspected cases preoperatively.

Laparoscopic surgery for oncologic extended resection of T1b and T2 incidental gallbladder carcinoma at a high-volume center: a single-center experience in China.

Surgical treatment is still the most effective treatment for gallbladder cancer. For the patients with stage T1b and above, the current guidelines recommend the extended radical operation, and oncologic extended resection can benefit the survival of the patients. The laparoscopic approach is still in the early phase, and its safety and oncological outcomes are not well known. To evaluate the technical feasibility and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for oncologic extended resection of early-stage incidental gallbladder carcinoma. This study included 18 male and 32 female patients. Twenty patients underwent laparoscopic oncologic extended resection and 30 patients underwent open oncologic extended resection. All of the patients had R0 resection. A laparoscopic approach was associated with less intraoperative blood loss (242 ± 108.5 vs 401 ± 130.3; p < 0.01) and shorter duration of postoperative hospital stay (6.2 ± 2.4 vs 8.6 ± 2.3; p < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference between two groups for lymph nodes yield (5.4 ± 3.5 vs 5.8 ± 2.1; p > 0.05), incidence of lymphatic metastasis (15% vs 16.67%; p > 0.05), residual disease (20% vs 23.3%; p > 0.05), and postoperative morbidity (15% vs 20%; p > 0.05). During follow-up time of median 20.95 (12-29.5) months, no significant difference was found between the two groups for early tumor recurrence (10% vs 13.33%; p > 0.05) and disease-free survival (p > 0.05). Laparoscopic surgery may offer similar intraoperative, perioperative, and short-term oncological outcomes as an open oncologic extended resection for incidental gallbladder carcinoma.

A retrospective study on oncologic outcome of laparoscopic surgery for endometrial cancer

A retrospective study on oncologic outcome of laparoscopic surgery for endometrial cancer

Laparoscopic surgery in patients diagnosed with clinical N2 colon cancer.

The benefits of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer have been well established. Several randomized controlled trials have demonstrated similar oncological outcomes between laparoscopic and open surgery for colon cancer. However, whether or not laparoscopic surgery is acceptable in patients with clinical N2 colon cancer is unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the safety and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for clinical N2 colon cancer. This retrospective study assessed a prospective database and identified 262 consecutive patients with clinical N2 colon cancer who underwent either laparoscopic or open primary resection between 2000 and 2016. After propensity-score matching, 162 patients were analyzed. The primary outcome of interest was the 3-year recurrence-free survival rate, and the secondary outcome of interest was the postoperative complication rate. The 3-year recurrence-free survival rate did not differ markedly between the laparoscopic and open surgery groups (77.4% vs. 76.5%, p = 0.620). In addition, the incidence of postoperative complications did not differ markedly between the laparoscopic and open surgery groups (16.6% vs. 24.0%, p = 0.317). Our findings suggest that laparoscopic surgery is safe and effective for clinical N2 colon cancer. Laparoscopic resection can be considered in patients diagnosed with clinical N2 colon cancer.

Controversies in Surgical Oncology: Does the Minimally Invasive Approach for Rectal Cancer Provide Equivalent Oncologic Outcomes Compared with the Open Approach?

Compared with open surgery, minimally invasive surgery for colon cancer has been shown to improve short-term outcomes and yield equivalent long-term oncologic results. It remains to be seen if oncologic outcomes for the minimally invasive approach for rectal cancer are equivalent to traditional open rectal resection. We conducted a systematic review of Medline, SCOPUS, and Cochrane databases. Relevant studies were selected using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Five key questions comparing minimally invasive and open oncologic outcomes for rectal cancer were specifically analyzed. A meta-analysis was not done due to heterogeneity of studies. Forty-five studies met inclusion criteria, including six randomized controlled trials. The laparoscopic approach to rectal resection was not more likely than the traditional open approach to have clear circumferential and distal margins, a complete total mesorectal excision grade, ≥ 12 lymph nodes in the resected specimen, reduced local recurrence rates, or reduced overall survival rates. Two randomized trials revealed that successful laparoscopic resection was not noninferior to open. Caution should be exercised when choosing surgical options for rectal cancer. Results of randomized trials could not prove that short-term oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic surgery were equivalent to those after open surgery even when performed by surgeons with laparoscopic expertise. However, reported long-term data have not shown a difference in outcomes between laparoscopic and open surgery. Future advances in minimally invasive technology may improve oncologic margins but these will require careful study and scrutiny.

Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of Laparoscopic Multivisceral Resection for Clinically Suspected T4 Colon Cancer.

The use of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer has become widespread recently. However, the safety and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for primary advanced colorectal cancer need extensive investigation. We analyzed the short- and long-term outcomes after laparoscopic multivisceral resection for primary colon cancer with suspected invasion of other organs at a single institution. Between January 2000 and December 2014, 118 patients underwent laparoscopic multivisceral resection for primary colon cancer invading or adhering to adjacent organs or structures; their short- and long-term outcomes were retrospectively evaluated. The median operating time was 254min (range 130-1051min), and median blood loss was 48ml (range 0-2777ml). The overall conversion rate was 6.8%. The postoperative complication rate was 17.8%. The number of patients with R0 and R1 resection was 112 (94.9%) and 6 (5.1%), respectively. At a median follow-up period of 32months (range 0-157months), the local recurrence rate in patients who underwent R0 resection was 1.8%, while for R1 resection it was 66.7%. In multivariate analysis, R1 resection and LN metastases were found to be predictors of poor prognosis. The cancer-specific 5-year survival was 87% when R0 resection was achieved; within these, the 5-year survival rates for patients with stages II, III, and IV disease were 94, 81, and 40%, respectively. Laparoscopic en bloc multivisceral resection for clinically suspected T4 colon cancer is a safe and feasible procedure for precisely selected patients, attaining satisfactory oncological outcomes when R0 resection is achieved.

Long-term oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for splenic flexure colon cancer are comparable to conventional open surgery

PurposeFew studies about laparoscopic surgery for splenic flexure colon cancer have been published. This study aims to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for splenic flexure colon cancer with those of conventional open surgery.MethodsFrom January 2004 to December 2010, 51 consecutive patients who underwent curative resection for stages I–III splenic flexure colon cancer were enrolled. Thirty-three patients underwent laparoscopy-assisted colectomy, while 18 patients underwent conventional open colectomy. Short- and long-term outcomes of the 2 groups were compared.ResultsThere were no differences in baseline characteristics, intra- and postoperative complications. The laparoscopy group showed longer operation time (median [interquartile range, IQR]: 295.0 [255.0–362.5] minutes vs. 180.0 [168.8–206.3] minutes, P < 0.001). In the laparoscopy group, return of bowel function was faster (median [IQR]: 3 [2–4] vs. 4 [3–5], P = 0.007) and postoperative hospital stay was shorter (median [IQR]: 9 [8–11] vs. 10.5 [9–19], P = 0.026). There were no statistically significant differences in overall survival rate (84.3% vs. 76.0%, P = 0.560) or disease-free survival rate (93.8% vs. 74.5%, P = 0.078) between the 2 groups.ConclusionLaparoscopic surgery for splenic flexure colon cancer has better short-term outcomes than open surgery, as well as acceptable long-term outcomes. Laparoscopic surgery can be a safe and feasible alternative to conventional open surgery for splenic flexure colon cancer.

Feasibility and surgical outcomes of conventional and robot-assisted laparoscopy for early-stage ovarian cancer: a retrospective, multicenter analysis.

We aimed to investigate the safety, adequacy and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic surgery (LS) and robot-assisted laparoscopic (RALS) approach for the treatment of early-stage ovarian cancer. We performed a multicentric, retrospective cohort study, enrolling patients affected by early-stage ovarian cancer who underwent laparoscopic management for early-stage ovarian cancer between 2006 and 2014. Surgical, pathologic and oncologic outcome data were analyzed to compare LS and RALS performances for early-stage ovarian cancer management. 39 patients underwent laparoscopic staging for presumed stage I ovarian cancer: 23 underwent LS and 16 underwent RALS. The mean operative time was 281±81min (LS 288±88min; RALS 270±72min; p=0.49). No conversion to laparotomy occurred, and one patient had intraoperative hemorrhage requiring blood transfusion. Four patients (10.2%) experienced postoperative complications of grade 3 according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. The median hospital stay was 3days (1-15); the differences were not statistically significant between two groups [LS=4 (1-15); RALS=3 (1-7); p=0.43]. During a mean follow-up period of 19.4months, tumor recurrence occurred in 3 patients: 2 (8.7%) in the LS group and 1 (6.25%) in the RALS group. Overall survival and disease-free survival for the entire cohort were 97.4 and 92.3%, respectively. LS and RALS seem to be adequate and feasible for the treatment of early-stage ovarian cancer in terms of the surgical outcomes and oncological safety. Furthermore, in our experience, perioperative outcomes are comparable between LS and RALS making them an acceptable approach in selected patients.

A Comparison of Laparoscopic and Open Surgery Following Pre-operative Chemoradiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Lower Rectal Cancer

Although pre-operative chemoradiation therapy for advanced lower rectal cancer is a controversial treatment modality, it is increasingly used in combination with surgery. Few studies have considered the combination of chemoradiation therapy followed by laparoscopic surgery for locally advanced lower rectal cancer; therefore, this study aimed to assess the usefulness of this therapeutic combination. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with locally advanced lower rectal cancer treated by pre-operative chemoradiation therapy and surgery from February 2002 to November 2012 at Oita University. We divided patients into an open surgery group and a laparoscopic surgery group and evaluated various parameters by univariate and multivariate analyses. In total, 33 patients were enrolled (open surgery group, n = 14; laparoscopic surgery group, n = 19). Univariate analysis revealed that compared with the open surgery group, operative time was significantly longer, whereas intra--operative blood loss and intra-operative blood transfusion requirements were significantly less in the laparoscopic surgery group. There were no significant differences in post-operative complication and recurrence rates between the two groups. According to multivariate analysis, operative time and intra-operative blood loss were significant predictors of outcome in the laparoscopic surgery group. This study suggests that laparoscopic surgery after chemoradiation therapy for locally advanced lower rectal cancer is a safe procedure. Further prospective investigation of the long-term oncological outcomes of laparoscopic surgery after chemoradiation therapy for locally advanced lower rectal cancer is required to confirm the advantages of laparoscopic surgery over open surgery.

Comparison of laparoscopy and laparotomy for the management of early-stage ovarian cancer: surgical and oncological outcomes.

ObjectiveTo investigate the surgical and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic surgery compared with laparotomy for the treatment of early-stage ovarian cancer.MethodsData from patients who underwent surgical management for early-stage ovarian cancer between 2006 and 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients presented with stage I or II disease, and underwent comprehensive staging surgery consisting of a total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy, omentectomy, and peritoneal cytology.ResultsSeventy-seven patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery (24 patients) or laparotomy (53 patients) were identified. Surgery for none of the patients was converted from laparoscopy to laparotomy. The mean operation time was shorter and the estimated blood loss was lower in the laparoscopy group than in the laparotomy group, though the differences were not statistically significant (193 min vs. 224 min, p=0.127; 698 mL vs. 973 mL, p=0.127). There were no differences in the intraoperative or postoperative complications. During a mean follow-up period of 31 months, tumor recurrence occurred in 4 patients: 2 (8.3%) in the laparoscopy group and 2 (3.8%) in the laparotomy group. The mean disease-free survival was 59 months after laparoscopy and 66 months after laparotomy (p=0.367).ConclusionLaparoscopic surgery seems to be adequate and feasible for the treatment of early-stage ovarian cancer with comparable results to laparotomy in terms of the surgical outcomes and oncological safety.

Clinical outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for transverse and descending colon cancers in a community setting

The feasibility, safety and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for transverse and descending colon cancers in a community hospital setting were evaluated. Twenty-six patients with transverse or descending colon cancers who underwent laparoscopic surgery at our hospital were included in this retrospective analysis (group A). Their outcomes were compared with those of 71 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer at other tumor sites (group B). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of operative time, estimated blood loss, postoperative hospital stay and morbidity rate. Extended lymphadenectomy was performed more frequently and the number of harvested lymph nodes was significantly higher in group B than in group A. However, no recurrence developed in group A, while recurrence occurred in four patients from group B. The 3-year disease-free survival rates were 100% for group A and 93.5% for group B. The 3-year overall survival rates were 100% for group A and 91.6% for group B. Laparoscopic surgery for transverse and descending colon cancers can be performed safely with oncological validity in a community hospital setting, provided there is careful selection of the patients and adequate lymphadenectomy considering the clinical stage of their disease.

Higher rate of perineural invasion in stent–laparoscopic approach in comparison to emergent open resection for obstructing left-sided colon cancer

We compared oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic surgery following self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) insertion with one-stage emergency surgical treatment of obstructive left-sided colon and rectal cancers. From April 1996 to October 2007, 95 consecutive patients with left-sided obstructive colorectal cancers were included: 25 underwent preoperative stenting and elective laparoscopic surgery (SLAP) and 70 underwent emergency open surgery with intraoperative colon lavage (OLAV). Long-term oncologic outcomes were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics of patients between groups. Perineural invasion of the primary tumor was more frequent with SLAP (76 vs. 51.4 %, p = 0.033). The median follow-up was 51 months (range, 4-139 months). There were no significant differences between groups in 5-year overall survival rates (SLAP vs. OLAV, 67.2 vs. 61.6 %, p = 0.385). Five-year disease-free survival rates were also similar between groups (SLAP vs. OLAV, 61.2 vs. 60.0 %, p = 0.932). Laparoscopic surgery after SEMS was feasible and safe for patients with obstructive left-sided colorectal cancer, and oncologic outcomes were comparable to emergency open surgery with intraoperative colon lavage. These results support the continued use of SLAP in this setting. Further large-scale study is needed to investigate any clinical impact attached to the higher rates of perineural invasion observed in SLAP.

Oncological Outcome of Laparoscopic Surgery for Advanced Colon Cancer: A Community Hospital’s Experience

Similar oncological outcomes of laparoscopic and open surgery for advanced colon cancer have been reported by several large-scale studies. Whether those results are applicable to community hospitals is questionable. From January 2007 to December 2010, 95 patients with colon cancer underwent laparoscopic surgery at Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital. Of these, 40 patients with pathological stage II/III colon cancer were subjected to this retrospective analysis (laparoscopic resection (LAP) group). Their outcomes were compared with those of 58 patients with pathological stage II/III colon cancer who underwent open surgery between January 2005 and December 2006 (open resection (OP) group). Surgical complications were significantly less frequent in the LAP group than in the OP group. Three-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) for stage II colon cancer were 88.9% and 100% in the LAP group, and 90% and 86.7% in the OP group (p=0.976 and p=0.285), respectively. Three-year DFS and OS for stage III colon cancer were 85.4% and 86.9% in the LAP group, and 75.3% and 83.8% in the OP group (p=0.613 and p=0.837), respectively. Laparoscopic surgery for advanced colon cancer seems feasible and the oncological outcome is adequate in a community hospital setting.

Oncological Outcomes of Laparoscopic Surgery in Elderly Patients with Colon Cancer: A Comparison of Patients 64 Years or Younger with those 75 Years or Older

We compared the results of laparoscopic resection of colon cancer between patients 75 years or older and those 64 years or younger, to confirm whether this procedure is warranted in elderly patients. The study group was comprised of patients with stage I to III colon cancer treated by laparoscopic surgery from 1995 through 2006. Oncologic outcomes were compared between 74 patients 75 years or older (elderly group) and 74 patients 64 years or younger (younger group) who were matched for gender, tumor location and pathological tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage. In patients with stage I or II disease, the disease-free survival rate and overall survival rate were similar in the elderly group (100% and 100%, respectively) and the younger group (95.6% and 95.8%, respectively). In patients with stage III disease, the disease-free survival rate and overall survival rate were also similar in the elderly group (76.7% and 88.5%, respectively) and the younger group (88.5% and 88.5%, respectively). Postoperative complications and long-term oncologic outcomes were similar in elderly patients and younger patients with colon cancer who underwent laparoscopic colectomy in our hospital. These results demonstrate that laparoscopic resection of colon cancer is warranted in patients 75 years or older.