[Conversion of laparoscopic access in colorectal cancer surgery (in Russian only)]

To analyze the problem of access conversion in laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer.

There were 876 procedures for colorectal cancer T14N01M0 performed at the Rostov Research Institute of Oncology in 2015-2017. Open and laparoscopic surgery was applied in 562 and 309 patients, respectively. Conversion of laparoscopic procedures was required in 35 (10.2%) patients.

Conversions were 2.7 times more frequent in men (p<0.05) (probably due to anatomical features - a narrow pelvis) and predominantly with rectosigmoid (22.2%, 2 patients) and rectal cancer (12%, 22 patients). Conversions in women were as well in right-sided colon cancer (9.7%, 3 cases) and sigmoid cancer (7.4%, 4 patients). Conversions were performed mostly due to locally advanced tumors (37.1%, 13 patients) which are especially baffling in case of narrow pelvis. Visceral obesity (20%, 7 patients) and abdominal adhesions (17.1%, 6 patients) were also important causes of conversions. Conversions did not affect time of surgery (256 min vs. 240 min in laparoscopic and 237 min in open surgery). Intraoperative blood loss (284 ml) was higher than in laparoscopy (240 ml) but did not exceed that in open surgery (291 ml).

It is necessary to assess risks and benefits of laparoscopy in patients with high probability of conversion in colorectal cancer surgery.