Laparoscopic procedures for colorectal cancer: analysis of 134 cases

Laparoscopic procedures to treat colorectal cancer have been increasingly adopted in the last 15 years and seem to be well accepted by the patients. We studied 134 patients treated by laparoscopic colon resection, analysing the reasons for conversion to open laparotomy and outcomes. Over the period from July 2002 to January 2005, 134 patients with different colorectal cancers were treated with a laparoscopic approach in our department. We analysed the conversion rates and reasons for conversion, perioperative complications, hospital stay and recourse to blood transfusions. The laparoscopic procedures led to shorter hospitalisation and a reduction of the blood transfusion requirement, and were well accepted by the patients. The laparoscopic approach for malignant disease of the colon and rectum can improve many aspects of this treatment: Shorter hospitalisation, reduction of blood transfusions and a better quality of life. It also seems to lead to a lower non-specific depression of the immunological response. All these aspects may contribute to better treatment of patients with colorectal cancer. All kinds of laparoscopic colectomy can be performed with oncological criteria but the rate of conversion for rectal cancer is significantly higher (28.6%). In this study the complication rates in the laparoscopic colectomy and converted group were similar.