title: Laparoscopic-assisted resection of colorectal malignancies: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic-assisted resection of colorectal malignancies with open colectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two search strategies were devised to retrieve literature from the Medline, Current Contents, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases until July 1999. Inclusion of papers was determined using a predetermined protocol, independent assessments by two reviewers, and a final consensus decision. English language papers were selected. Acceptable study designs included randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, case series, or case reports. Fifty-two papers met the inclusion criteria. They were tabulated and critically appraised in terms of methodology and design, outcomes, and the possible influence of bias, confounding, and chance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Little high-level evidence was available. Laparoscopic resection of colorectal malignancy was more expensive and time-consuming, but little evidence suggests high rates of port site recurrence. The new procedure's advantages revolve around early recovery from surgery and reduced pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The evidence base for laparoscopic-assisted resection of colorectal malignancies is inadequate to determine the procedure's safety and efficacy. Because of inadequate evidence detailing circumferential marginal clearance of tumors and the necessity of determining a precise incidence of cardiac and other major complications, along with wound and port site recurrence, it is recommended that a controlled clinical trial, ideally with random allocation to an intervention and control group, be conducted. Long-term survival rates need to be a primary aim of such a trial.
authors.affiliation: Australian Safety & Efficacy Register of New Interventional Procedures-Surgical (ASERNIP-S) project, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Adelaide, South Australia.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Levitt
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hewett
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sheiner
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Maddern
mesh_terms: D003082:Colectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate