title: Short-term outcomes after laparoscopic surgery following preoperative chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The safety and the feasibility of performing laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) have not yet been established. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery performed after preoperative CRT.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 124 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer. Of these patients, 56 received preoperative CRT (CRT group), whereas 68 did not (non-CRT group). The patients who were found to have distant metastasis and open conversion during surgery were excluded. The clinicopathologic parameters were evaluated and the short-term outcomes were compared between the CRT and non-CRT groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean operation time was longer in the CRT group (294 minutes; range, 140 to 485 minutes; P = 0.004). In the non-CRT group, the tumor sizes were larger (mean, 4.0 cm; range, 1.2 to 8.0 cm; P < 0.001) and more lymph nodes were harvested (mean, 12.9; range, 0 to 35; P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in time to first bowel movement, tolerance of a soft diet, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complication rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Performing laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer after preoperative CRT may be safe and feasible if performed by a highly skilled laparoscopic surgeon. Randomized controlled trials and long-term follow-up studies are necessary to support our results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Byong Hyon
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Kyung Ha
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jun Beom
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Min Sang
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Ji Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim