Minilaparotomy approach for colonic cancer: initial experience of 54 cases

The early outcomes of minilaparotomy for resection of colonic cancer were evaluated.

In this study, 54 patients (34 Dukes' A, 15 Dukes' B, and 5 Dukes' C) successfully underwent curative resection of colonic cancer via minilaparotomy (skin incision, > or = 7 cm). The major exclusion criteria for this approach required a body mass index greater than 25 kg/m2, a tumor size exceeding 7 cm, a preoperative ileus, and tumor invading the adjacent organs. Patients (n = 54) who had undergone conventional open surgery before the introduction of this technique served as the control group by matching several clinicopathologic factors including body mass index.

The passage of flatus (p < 0.01) and the beginning of oral intake (p = 0.02) were earlier, analgesic requirements were lower (p < 0.01), and postoperative serum C-reactive protein levels were lower in the minilaparotomy group (p < 0.01). The blood loss and frequency of postoperative complications did not differ between the groups.

A minilaparotomy approach is a feasible, minimally invasive, and attractive alternative to conventional laparotomy for selected patients with colonic cancer.