Single-port laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery in Korea: retrospective analysis of the multicenter, pooled...

Single-port laparoscopic surgery (SPLS), one of the advanced techniques of laparoscopic surgery, is performed through a single multichannel port. Regarding colorectal surgery, several colorectal procedures, including right colectomy, sigmoidectomy, and total proctocelectomy with ileal pouch anal anastomosis, have been performed successfully. The aim of this study was to elucidate the feasibility and safety of SPLS for the treatment of the patient with colorectal cancer in Korea.

Data were collected retrospectively from six hospitals through a Web-based case reporting form, which requested baseline characteristics of the patient, intraoperative findings, postoperative course, pathologic results of the tumor, and postoperative surveillance.

From May 2009 to June 2012, 257 patients were included in this study. Anterior resection was performed in 117 patients, low anterior resection in 66 patients, and right colectomy in 53 patients. The primary entry incision site was umbilicus in all patients except for 2 cases; in these, stoma sites were used for the entry of the single port. The total mean incision length was 3.8±2.3 cm. Among 257 initially SPLS-attempted patients, 45 (17.5%) patients needed additional ports (one additional port in 44 patients), and 2 patients (0.78%) had to be converted to open laparotomy. Intraoperative complications were noted in 5 patients, including anastomotic failures in 3 patients and bleeding in 1 patient. Postoperative complications were noted in 34 patients (13.2%). Anastomotic leak developed in 11 patients, urinary retention in 5 patients, and wound complications in 4 patients. Re-admission was needed in 15 patients (5.8%).

SPLS could be performed safely and appropriately in selected colorectal cancer cases by experts in laparoscopic colorectal surgery in Korea. Prospective randomized trials to demonstrate the benefit and effectiveness of SPLS in colorectal cancer surgery with long-term oncologic results are needed.