title: Clinical feasibility of laparoscopic lateral pelvic lymph node dissection following total mesorectal excision for advanced rectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the technical feasibility, safety and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic lateral pelvic lymph node dissection in patients with advanced low rectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laparoscopic lateral pelvic lymph node dissection was performed in 18 patients from November 2009 to September 2012. The data regarding the patient demographics, surgical outcomes and short-term oncological outcomes were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all 18 patients, the procedures were completed without conversion to open surgery. The mean length of the operation was 603.7 min (473-746 min). The mean number of harvested lateral pelvic lymph nodes was 16.9 (7-27), and five patients (27.8 %) had lymph node metastases. The postoperative mortality and morbidity rates were 0 and 16.7 %, respectively. Three patients developed Grade 2 urinary retention. No local recurrence had developed after a mean follow-up period of 23.6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic lateral pelvic lymph node dissection is technically feasible, safe and oncologically acceptable within the limitations of the short-term follow-up period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Surgical Oncology and Science, Sapporo Medical University, South 1 West 16, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Japan, furuhata@sapmed.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Tomohisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Furuhata
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okita
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishidate
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueki
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Akizuki
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meguro
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Kazuharu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kukita
authors.forename: Yasutoshi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mizuguchi
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirata
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010388:Pelvis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome