title: Impact of conversion on short and long-term outcome in laparoscopic resection of curable colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Long-term outcome of patients following conversion during laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer is not often reported. Recent data suggest a negative impact of conversion on long-term survival. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of conversion on the perioperative outcome and on long-term survival in patients who underwent laparoscopic resection for curable colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evaluation of our prospective in-hospital collected data of patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for curable colorectal cancer over a 5-year period. Long-term data were collected from our outpatient's clinic data and personal contact when necessary.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, 175 patients were operated on laparoscopically for curable colon cancer (stage I-III). Mean follow-up was 33±18 months with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. For various reasons, 25 patients (14.4%) had to be converted to open surgery. Short-term outcome revealed a trend towards longer operations, a higher rate of surgical complications, and a longer hospital stay in the converted group. Five-year, Kaplan-Meier, disease-free analysis was worse for converted patients. Overall survival did not differ between the 2 groups. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed that conversion and AJCC stage were independent risk factors for recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conversion in laparoscopic surgery for curable colorectal cancer is associated with a worse perioperative outcome and worse disease-free survival.
authors: Department of Surgery A, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
authors: Ian
authors: I
authors: White
authors: Ron
authors: R
authors: Greenberg
authors: Refael
authors: R
authors: Itah
authors: Roy
authors: R
authors: Inbar
authors: Shlomo
authors: S
authors: Schneebaum
authors: Shmuel
authors: S
authors: Avital
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome