title: Surgical outcomes of laparoscopic vs. open surgery for rectal carcinoma--a matched case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study evaluated the short- and middle-term surgical outcomes of laparoscopic surgery (LS) for rectal carcinoma in comparison with a case-control series of open surgery (OS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between February 1998 and December 2004, 47 patients with rectal carcinoma underwent LS. These patients were compared with a conventional OS group matched for age, gender, location of tumor, surgical procedure, extent of resection and pathological stage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median follow-up period for the LS group and the OS group was 25 and 49 months, respectively. In the LS group, median operative time was significantly longer but median blood loss was lower than those in the OS group. There was one requiring conversion to OS. Postoperative intervals until liquid and solid intakes, and hospital stay were significantly shorter in the LS group. Postoperative complications rates are similar and anastomotic leakage occurred in one patient in each group. In the LS group, the levels of white blood cell count on postoperative day 1 and C-reactive protein on postoperative days 1 and 2 were significantly lower than those in the OS group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LS for rectal carcinoma provides benefits during the early postoperative period without increase in morbidity or mortality.
authors.affiliation: Division of Colorectal Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital in Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uehara
authors.forename: Seiichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akasu
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Moriya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome