Simultaneous laparoscopic anterior resection and left hepatic lobectomy for stage IV rectal cancer

We report the case of a 68-year-old female patient affected by rectal cancer and a synchronous metastatic lesion measuring 8 cm in diameter in the left hepatic lobe. After a laparoscopic ultrasonography exploration of the liver to detect possible occult metastases, a simultaneous colorectal resection and a left hepatic lobectomy including a partial resection of segment IV were performed. Five ports were used for the entire procedure. The resected specimens were extracted through a Pfannenstiel incision. The procedure was completed laparoscopically. Total operative time was 455 minutes with negligible intraoperative blood loss. The postoperative hospital stay was 12 days. At 4-month follow-up, the patient recovered completely. A computed tomography scan performed at this time showed no signs of recurrent disease. This report confirms the feasibility of the laparoscopic approach to simultaneous hepatic and colorectal resections in stage IV rectal cancer. The known advantages of the miniinvasive approach could make such complex procedures more endurable.