title: Laparoscopic low anterior resection for early rectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Early rectal cancer (ERC) is adenocarcinoma that has invaded into, but not extended beyond, the submucosa. Endoscopic or minimal access surgical procedures, such as laparoscopic resection, have emerged as a useful tool in the surgical treatment of such diseases. The aim of this study is to present and analyze the feasibility, the short- and long-term results of laparoscopic colorectal surgery (LCS) in patients with ERC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2002 and 4/2011, a total of 164 patients with colorectal cancer underwent laparoscopic surgery (LS). Of these, 7 patients (4.2%) had ERC and underwent laparoscopic anterior resection (LAR). The median follow-up was 41 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean operative time was 2.5 h. None of the laparoscopic procedures was converted to open surgery. Liquids and solid food were started on median postoperative days 1 and 3, respectively. The median length of postoperative stay was 5 days. Postoperative complications occurred in 2 patients (28.5%), including wound infection in one patient (14.2%) and atelectasis in one patient (14.2%). None of the patients required an urgent re-operation. There was no mortality related to LS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LS for ERC can be used as a strategy sited between endoscopic mucosal resection and open anterior resection with beneficial long- and short-term results. It appears as a technically and oncologically safe procedure when performed by surgeons with sufficient experience in laparoscopic techniques.
authors: Department of Surgery, Interbalkan European Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece. dr.ckosmidis@gmail.com
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Kosmidis
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Efthimiadis
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Anthimidis
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Grigoriou
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Fotiadis
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Vasiliadou
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Mekras
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Ioannidou
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Baka
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Basdanis
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D007902:Length of Stay; D008875:Middle Aged; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000209:etiology; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome