Safety and efficacy of single-port colectomy for sigmoid colon cancer: a phase II clinical trial.
BACKGROUND
Recently, single-port surgery for colon cancer has been increasingly attempted. However, prospective studies investigating the efficacy of single-port colectomy for colon cancer are lacking. The aim of this study is to determine whether single-port colectomy for sigmoid colon cancer is a safe and effective surgical option.


METHODS
Forty-eight patients were enrolled for this prospective single-arm Phase II trial. All patients underwent single-port laparoscopic-assisted sigmoidectomy through the umbilicus. The primary outcome was the number of retrieved lymph nodes. Secondary measures included the conversion rate, postoperative morbidities, mortalities, and short-term clinical outcomes.


RESULTS
The mean number of retrieved lymph nodes was 21.1 (95% confidence interval, 18.1-23.99). The conversion rate was 14.6% (open conversion, 4.2%), and the overall proportion of morbidity was 31.2%. The majority of complications involved wound problems (18.8%); the mortality rate was 0%. The median postoperative hospital stay was 8 days (range, 7-12 days), and the median time from surgery until the first episode of flatus was 3 days (range, 1-5 days).


CONCLUSIONS
Single-port colectomy for sigmoid colon cancer is safe and oncologically feasible in selected patients. Considering the relatively high conversion rates, improvement of the instruments for single-port colectomy is needed.
Center for Colorectal Cancer, Research Institute & Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
Ji Won
JW
Park
Dea Kyung
DK
Sohn
Sohee
S
Park
Sung Chan
SC
Park
Hee Jin
HJ
Chang
Hae-Jung
HJ
Son
Jae Hwan
JH
Oh
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012811:Sigmoid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome