Standardized laparoscopic right hemicolectomy technique for colon cancer

We analysed our experience of laparoscopic surgical treatment vs traditional surgery of right colon cancer.

A series of 27 patients was treated from January 2001 to December 2005 out of a total of 927 surgical colorectal operations in the same period (147 with the laparoscopic approach). Inclusion and exclusion criteria are reported. We compared this group with 25 patients treated by the same surgical group with open surgery. The mean operative time, the distance from the distal margin of resection, the number of lymphnodes, the mean period of canalization and the mean hospital stay are reported.

In the laparoscopic group, the mean operative time was 124.8+/-36.3 min vs open surgery group of 94+/-23.6 min; the distance from the distal margin was 6.7+/-3.1 cm vs 6.4+/-2.1 cm; number of lymphnodes was 15.2+/-4.3 vs 18.7+/-2.9 nodes; and canalization 1.7+/-0.9 vs 2.7+/-0.7 days. The hospital stay was 6.8+/-1.7 vs 7.2+/-0.8 days.

We consider laparoscopic right colon resection a safe procedure but it needs good laparoscopic practice and the observance of inclusion criteria.