[Comparison of clinical outcomes between laparoscopic-assisted and hand-assisted laparoscopic operations in...

To compare the clinical outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted versus hand-assisted laparoscopic radical operations in colorectal cancer and evaluate the safety and indications of hand-assisted laparoscopic operations.

A total of 64 consecutive colorectal cancer patients enrolled from November 2009 to December 2011 at our hospital were randomly and prospectively divided into 2 groups: hand-assisted laparoscopic operation (HALS) (n = 32) and laparoscopic-assisted operation (n = 32). And such clinicopathologic features as safety, operative curability and postoperative recovery were compared between two groups.

Neither death nor conversion-to-open-surgery was reported among all patients. There were no statistical differences in such clinicopathologic features as age, gender, body mass index, mass size and location (all P > 0.05). There were statistically a shorter operation time [(127 ± 31) min vs (184 ± 71) min, P = 0.022] and a smaller number of Trocar (2.4 vs 5.0, P = 0.015) in the HALS group. However, the laparoscopic-assisted group had a lesser volume of blood loss [(82 ± 31) ml vs (150 ± 42) ml, P = 0.008] and a smaller postoperative 48 h drainage flow [(170 ± 52) ml vs (208 ± 58) ml, P = 0.020]. Moreover, no statistical differences existed in the length of bowel resection [(19 ± 5) cm vs (18 ± 4) cm], amount of lymph nodes dissection (16 ± 4 vs 16 ± 3), postoperative complications [12.5% (4/32) vs 25.0% (8/32)], time of intestinal function recovery [(1.7 ± 0.9) d vs (1.8 ± 0.7) d], time of semifluid tolerance [(2.9 ± 1.3) vs (2.8 ± 1.2) d], hospitalization expenses [(4.8 ± 0.6) 10 000 yuan vs (4.9 ± 0.4) 10 000 yuan] and postoperative hospital stay [(6.7 ± 2.3) d vs (6.6 ± 2.3) d] (all P > 0.05).

HALS is both safe and efficacious for colorectal cancer patients.