Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026
Clinical Application of Single-Surgeon, Three-Port, Laparoscopic Resection for Colorectal Cancer with Natural Orifice Specimen Extraction
Published on: March 24, 2023
Laparoscopic resection of rectal cancer results in higher lymph node yield and better short-term outcomes than open
Marylise Boutros1, Neha Hippalgaonkar, Emanuela Silva
1Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, Florida 33331, USA.
Background:
Prognosis in rectal cancer is closely related to mesorectal integrity, margin status, and adequate lymph node dissection. The impact of laparoscopy on the pathologic and short-term outcomes remains controversial.
Objective:
We aim to compare the pathologic and short-term outcomes of laparoscopic and open resections for rectal cancer.
Design:
This is a large single-center retrospective comparative study using a prospective database.
Patients:
All patients who underwent primary resections for rectal cancer from January 2007 to September 2011 were identified.
Main Outcome Measures:
Pathologic (nodal harvest, mesorectal integrity, circumferential, and distal margins) and operative outcomes were measured.
Results:
Two hundred thirty-four (mean age, 61 years; 65% male) patients underwent resections for primary rectal cancer, including 118 laparoscopic (99 restorative proctectomies, 19 abdominoperineal resections) and 116 open (69 restorative proctectomies, 47 abdominoperineal resections) resections. Both groups were similar in demographics, comorbidities, and tumor characteristics. The laparoscopic group had significantly more lymph nodes (26 vs 21, p = 0.02) than the open group, with no differences in circumferential margins, proportion of distal resection margins
Conclusions:
Laparoscopy for primary rectal cancer is associated with a greater number of lymph nodes as well as short-term benefits.
