Laparoscopic assisted colorectal resection; is it safe? does it provide a good quality specimen?

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic assisted resection (LAR) of Jarge bowel is now at accepted standard hybrid procedure in minimally invasive colonic surgery. OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and quality of the resected specimens between LAR and open colonic surgery (OPC). METHODS: Twenty three patients who underwent LAR were compared with 19 patients who has had open colonic surgery. There were 12 males in the LAR group and 7 in the OPC group. The median age was 63(27.81) in LAR group and 55 (25-80) years in OPC group. RESULTS: The length mean of (and SD) the bowel resected was 22cm (2.83) in LAR, 18cm (5.7) in OPC for abdomino perinea! resection, 19cm (7.80) and 22.5cm(O. 78) for anterior resection, 21 cm and 20cm for left hemicolectorny, 31 cm(2.2 I) and 12cm( 4.24) for right hemicolectomy, I 4cm(6.3) and 14.8cm(4.8) for sigmoid colectomy. The number of nodes resected were 7( 1.41) and 4(5.6) in abdomino perinea! resection, 6(2.83) and 9(7.1) in anterior resection, 3 and 16 for left hemicolectorny, I 0(3.54) and 7(7.8) for right hemicolectomy, 4(3.67) and 8(5.6) for sigmoid colectomy and 6(5.6) for transverse colectomy for the two groups. There were no perforation of bowel or tumour. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that there was no difference in length of bowel resected, number of nodes retrieved, disruption of bowel or tumour, port site/ abdominal wound recurrence and time taken for the operation. LAR is sate in trained hands and will provide a good quality specimen for pathology