title: Laparoscopic-assisted abdominoperineal resection for low rectal adenocarcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laparoscopic-assisted resection for colorectal lesions is feasible, but most reported series are heterogeneous and noncomparative. The aim of this study was to investigate whether laparoscopic-assisted resection was better than open abdominoperineal resection for low rectal adenocarcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five (study group) of 59 consecutive patients who were considered suitable were selected for laparoscopic-assisted abdominoperineal resection based on the availability of informed consent, laparoscopic instruments, and experienced surgeons. The results in these patients were compared with the other 34 patients operated on by the open method (control group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median follow-up times for the study and control groups were 30.1 and 28.3 months, respectively. The operation time was significantly longer (t-test, p < 0.001), while operative blood loss (Mann-Whitney U test, p = 0.02), postoperative analgesic requirement (Mann-Whitney U test, p = 0.02), time to resume normal diet (Mann-Whitney U test, p = 0.04), and total hospital stay (Mann-Whitney U test, p = 0.02) were significantly less in the study than in the control group. The oncological clearance, complication rate, disease-free interval, and survival were comparable in the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic-assisted abdominoperineal resection allowed earlier postoperative recovery, with equal oncological clearance, morbidity, mortality, disease-free interval, and survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.forename: W Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kwong
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*