title: Results of laparoscopic treatment of rectal cancer: analysis of 520 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic resection of rectal carcinoma in curative intent.
  
  
  METHODS
  Within a subgroup analysis of a multicentre study, initiated by the "Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery Study Group (LCSSG)", 520 patients with rectal cancer were included in a prospective, clinical observational study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and ninety patients underwent an abdominoperineal resection (APR) and 330 patients an anterior resection (AR) of the rectum. The demographic parameters, intraoperative complication rates, morbidity and mortality rates were comparable in both groups. In patients undergoing AR a trend towards limited oncologic radicality, and a significant increase in the anastomotic leak rate related to the distance of the tumour from the anal verge were observed. Calculated survival data revealed stage-related survival rates for UICC stages I, II and III of 82.0%, 68.8% and 63.3%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While APR is highly suited to the laparoscopic approach, laparoscopic AR cannot at present be generally recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Hannover Hospital (Siloah), Roesebeckstr. 15, D-30449 Hannover, Germany. scheidbach@t-online.de
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Scheidbach
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Huegel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Köckerling
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011351:Proctoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome