title: Totally laparoscopic versus laparoscopic-assisted right colectomy for colon cancer: is there any advantage in short-term outcomes? A prospective comparative assessment in our center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several techniques are described in the literature about laparoscopic treatment of the right colon. Among them, laparoscopic-assisted colectomy (LAC) with creation of an extracorporeal ileocolonic anastomosis remains the favourite approach in most centers. So far, total laparoscopic colectomy (TLC) with intracorporeal anastomosis is not widely performed, because it requires adequate skills and competence in the use of mechanical linear staplers and laparoscopic manual sutures. The purpose of this study was to determine prospectively if TLC offers some advantages in short-term outcomes over LAC.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective comparative study was designed for 80 consecutive patients who were alternatively treated with TLC and LAC for right colon neoplasms. The following data were collected: operative time, intra- and postoperative complication rate, time to bowel movement, hospitalization time, length of minilaparotomy, number of harvested lymph nodes, and specimen length.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Operative time in TLC resulted significantly longer than in LAC (230 vs. 203 min), complication rate was similar in both groups, with no case of anastomotic dehiscence, two anastomotic bleedings in TLC vs. three in LAC and one case of postoperative ileus for each group. One case of death occurred in LAC patient developing a postoperative severe cardiopulmonary syndrome. Time to first flatus was in favour of TLC (2.2 vs. 2.6 days), whereas hospitalization was comparable. As regards to the oncological parameters of radicality, the specimen length was superior in TLC group, but the number of lymph nodes excised was equivalent. The length of the minilaparotomy was clearly shorter in TLC group (5.5 vs. 7.2 cm).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No evidence of relevant differences in terms of functional and safety outcomes between the two laparoscopic procedures. TLC determines less abdominal manipulation and shorter incision length, but clear advantages must be still demonstrated. Larger series are necessary to test the superiority of totally laparoscopic procedures for right colectomy.
authors: Chirurgia Generale Oncologica e Mininvasiva, Ospedale Niguarda Cà Granda, Milan, Italy. carmelo.magistro@ospedaleniguarda.it
authors: Carmelo
authors: C
authors: Magistro
authors: Stefano Di
authors: SD
authors: Lernia
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Ferrari
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Zullino
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Mazzola
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: De Martini
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: De Carli
authors: Antonello
authors: A
authors: Forgione
authors: Camillo Leonardo
authors: CL
authors: Bertoglio
authors: Raffaele
authors: R
authors: Pugliese
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D003082:Colectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005414:Flatulence; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D045823:Ileus / Q000209:etiology; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061646:Operative Time; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function
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