Results of laparoscopically assisted colon resection for carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Surgical resection is the primary treatment for colorectal carcinoma. Laparoscopically assisted colon resection technically is feasible for both benign and malignant disease. However, the role of laparoscopically assisted colon resection for carcinoma is controversial.


METHODS
We prospectively studied our first 100 patients with colorectal carcinoma who successfully underwent laparoscopically assisted colon resection for the carcinoma.


RESULTS
The pathologic stages were Dukes' categories A-16, B-52, C-25, and D-7. Operative mortality and morbidity were 2% and 22%, respectively. During a mean follow-up period of 40.3 months, recurrence by stage was zero patients with stage A disease, five patients with stage B disease, nine patients with stage C disease. Thirteen of these patients died as a result of their disease. At this writing, 60 patients are alive without evidence of disease, and 23 have completed the study disease free after more than 60 months. The 5-year survival probabilities by stage were 100% for stage A, 76.8% for stage B, and 51.7% for stage C.


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopically assisted colectomy for cancer can be performed safely. The recurrence rate after laparoscopically assisted resection appears to be at least as good as after open resection. Results from ongoing prospective, randomized trials are needed to confirm these findings.
Anderson
C A
CA
Department of Surgery, Olathe Medical Center, 20375 West 151st Street, Olathe, KS 66061, USA.
Kennedy
F R
FR
Potter
M
M
Opie
H L
HL
Flowers
S
S
Lewis
S
S
Belmont
M
M
Fowler
D L
DL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods*; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D011350:Proctocolitis / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate