Three-Dimensional Against 2-Dimensional Laparoscopic Colectomy for Right-sided Colon Cancer

Major limitations of conventional 2-dimensional (2D) laparoscopy are a lack of depth perception and spatial orientation. Three-dimensional (3D) laparoscopy was developed to overcome the limitations of the 2D technique. However, it has not been widely accepted due to a lack of conclusive evidence of benefit. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 3D laparoscopy on the operative performance during elective laparoscopic right colectomy.

A total of 58 consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic colectomy for right-sided colon cancer by a single experienced surgeon between January 2014 and July 2015. Patients were classified into 2 groups according to the vision system of laparoscopy: 27 patients were operated by 3D laparoscopy (3D group, n=27) and 31 patients were performed by 2D laparoscopy (2D group, n=31). Data of these patients were collected and analyzed retrospectively.

The operative time was significantly shorter in the 3D group than in the 2D group (130.5±27.6 vs. 152.2±28.9 min, P=0.005). There was no significant difference in blood loss in the 3D group when compared with the 2D group. There was no operative mortality in the 2 groups. The number of lymph nodes resected was similar in both groups. Time to pass the first flatus and postoperative hospital stay showed no significant differences between the 2 groups. The postoperative complication rate for the 3D and the 2D groups were similar: 14.8% (4/27) and 9.7% (3/31), respectively.

3D laparoscopy appears to reduce the performance time of laparoscopic colectomy when compared with 2D laparoscopy. Further studies are required to address the role of the 3D vision system in laparoscopic colectomy.