title: Laparoscopic anterior resection and total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer: a prospective nonrandomized study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to present our experience of laparoscopic total mesorectal resection, including ultralow resection and coloanal anastomosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1993 and 2005, patients fit for general anesthesia, with resectable cancers, and with lower edge of tumor beyond 5 cm of the anal verge were subjected to laparoscopic anterior resection with sphincter preservation. Double stapling technique is used to establish bowel continuity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 170 patients, 88 males and 82 females, were subjected to successful laparoscopic anterior resection, which included high anterior resection (n=90), low anterior resection (n=52), ultralow anterior resection (n=20), and coloanal anastomosis (n=8). The average age of patients was 58.4 years (12-90 years). Mean operating time was 130 min and mean hospital stay was 7 days. The morbidity was 13.5% with nil mortality. With an average follow-up of 49 months (range 9 years to 3 months), 9 patients developed local recurrence and 45 patients developed distant metastasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In selected cases, laparoscopic anterior resection is possible for all levels of rectal tumors, allowing sphincter preservation and maintaining oncological safety.
authors.affiliation: Gem Hospital, 45 A, Pankaja Mill Road, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu 641045, India.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Palanivelu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sendhilkumar
authors.forename: Kalpesh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jani
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Rajan
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Maheshkumar
authors.forename: Roshan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parthasarthi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D017792:Surgical Stapling