title: Laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of rectal cancer: short-term results.
abstract: The aim of this study was to establish the efficiency, safety and feasibility of laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer by assessing the short-term outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective clinical study, from 2008 to 2011, 60 patients with laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer were included, treated in "Prof. Dr. Octavian Fodor" Gastroenterology and Hepatology Institute, Department of Surgery and Surgery Clinic I, Cluj-Napoca.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surgical procedures included 38 abdominal-perineal resections, 21 anterior resections and 1 Hartmann procedure. Average blood loss was 250 ml (100-800 ml) and median length of postoperative hospital stay was 9 days (4-91 days). Blood loss was significantly higher in patients with low rectal cancer than those with upper rectal cancer (300 ml vs 200 ml, p=0.031). Conversion to open surgery was required in 8 patients (13.3%). Overall postoperative complications were 28.8%. Positive circumferential margins occurred in 1 patient (1.7%), while distal margins were negative in all patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic surgery is safe and feasible in selected patients with rectal cancer, with favorable shortterm results.
authors.affiliation: Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology "Prof. Dr. Octavian Fodor", UMF "Iuliu Haţieganu" Cluj-Napoca, Romania. alin.fetti@yahoo.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fetti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zaharie
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geza
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Graur
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scurtu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seiceanu
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Binţinţan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Motocu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mocanu
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fetti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ciuce
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iancu
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D061887:Conversion to Open Surgery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome