[Experience of laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for middle or low rectal cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To study the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic surgery for middle or low rectal cancer.


METHODS
83 patients with middle or low rectal cancer received laparoscopic surgery and 85 patients received conventional open surgery. The cutting edge of specimens and number of lymph nodes were analyzed retrospectively.


RESULTS
The mean distance between resected margin and the tumor was 3.21 +/- 1.25 cm in laparoscopic operation group, while it was 1.15 +/- 1.11 cm in the open surgery group (P = 0.001). The mean number of disected lymph nodes was 12.53 +/- 1.88 in the laparoscopic operation group and 10.85 +/- 1.81 in the open operation group (P = 0.01). The incidence of postoperative complications was 12.0% in the laparoscopic operation group and 23.5% in the open operation group (P = 0.026). The mean time of food intake and using analgesics after surgery were 2.43 +/- 1.06 days and 2.53 +/- 1.01 days, respectively, in the laparoscopic operation group, while the corresponding figures were 3.67 +/- 1.13 days and 4.55 +/- 1.78 days, respectively, in the open operation group (P = 0.005, P = 0.008).


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic surgery is a safe and effective procedure for middle or low rectal cancer, with less postoperative complications and better recovery after treatment.
Qin
Hai
H
Second Department of Anorectal Surgery, Tianjin Unin Medical Center, China. superbuyeree@sohu.com
Zhang
Xi-peng
XP
Zhou
Yi
Y
Li
Hui-chen
HC
Li
Tao
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult