Laparoscopic colectomy is a reliable option for colon cancer treatment.

AIMS: To report oncological results in a remarkable single institution series of laparoscopic colectomy for cancer. METHODS: 340 not selected patients with adenocarcinoma of colon underwent laparoscopic colonic resection in a five years period (2004-2008). Of the 340 patients, there were 185 male and 155 female. The mean age was 68 years (31-92). Of the 340 procedures, 175 were laparoscopic right colectomy and 165 laparoscopic left colectomy. No tumor touch technique, ligation at vascular origin, adequate lymphadenectomy and minilaparotomy protection against cells implant was the main landmarks of all cases. RESULTS: There was no intraoperative mortality. Twenty patients (5.8%) were converted to open surgery. Two patients (0,58%) died in the postoperative period. Five major complications occurred (1,5%) in the postoperative period. The average hospital stay for patients who underwent right colectomy was 6.7 days (4-27) and 6.9 for patients underwent left hemicolectomy (4-23). The average number of lymph nodes removed was 15.6. In a mean 38 months follow-up (25-78) there were 16 incisional hernias, 12 after right colectomy and 4 after left. Eight patients (4,5%) who underwent laparoscopic right colectomy and ten (6%) of the left colectomy group developed a metastatic disease. The overall mortality rate was 10.8%; 14.3% for patients who underwent resection of the right colon and 7.2% for the left colectomy series. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic colectomy for cancer is feasible, safe and not encumbered by an higher complications rate compared to open colectomy. If the oncological criteria are respected, the results are at least noniferior to the open access.

[Laparoscopic surgery of rectal cancer: state of art and long-term results]. / Chirurgia laparoscopica del cancro del retto. Stato dell'arte e risultati a lungo termine.

BACKGROUND: From the first laparoscopic colectomy that we performed 18 years ago, several studies showed equivalent oncologic results of this technique compared to open surgery Despite this evidence traditional surgeons remain skeptical in the use of this technique, although it may favor an early return of bowel function and therefore a shorter hospitalization, as reported in recent comparative studies. Many colorectal surgeons, who have appreciated the advantages of laparoscopic colectomy, extended this approach also in rectal cancer, finding a better view in the pelvis during dissection. METHOD: From 1992 to july 2009 we performed more than 400 laparoscopic resection and amputation for rectal cancer. One hundreds eighteen patients (TNM stage I-III) with a 36 month minimum follow-up were enrolled in this analysis. Converted patients to open surgery and patients staged as iT1N0 are not present in this series because we treat with local excision by TEM. RESULTS: Mean operative time was 160 minutes (90-265). Mortality was 1% in 186 patients and conversion rate was 1.5%. Major complications occurred in 10.7%, including anastomotic leakage in 14 patients (7.5%) and mean hospital stay was 7.7 days. With a mean follow up of 96.8 (36-175) months in the stage I-III, the local recurrence rate was 12.5%. Systematic recurrence occurred in 13.1%. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic resection in rectal cancer would allow the use of the same Heald's technique, respecting the Heald's principle of meticulous dissection during total mesorectal excision, furthermore we are waiting 5 years data from randomized trials (COLOR II and CLASICC).