Early Postoperative Outcome Following Laparoscopic Surgeries in Rectal Malignancies

Area of Science:

• Surgical Oncology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Gastrointestinal Surgery

Background:

• Rectal malignancies frequently necessitate abdominoperineal resection (APR) or anterior resection (AR).
• Conventional open surgical methods are standard for these procedures.
• Laparoscopic approaches are emerging as potential alternatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection (APR) and anterior resection (AR) for rectal cancer.
• To compare the outcomes of laparoscopic rectal surgery with conventional open methods.
• To assess the safety and efficacy of the laparoscopic technique.

Main Methods:

• A prospective observational study was conducted.
• Nineteen patients diagnosed with rectal cancer underwent laparoscopic APR or AR between November 2015 and April 2016.
• Data on patient demographics, surgical procedures, analgesic requirements, ambulation, and hospital stay were collected.

Main Results:

• Twelve patients had laparoscopic APR, and six had laparoscopic AR, with one conversion (5.3% conversion rate).
• Patients required significantly less analgesics (mean 5.61±1.57 opioid doses) for a shorter duration (4.05 days).
• Early postoperative ambulation (mean 2.16±0.76 days) and a shorter mean hospital stay (11.53±1.98 days) were observed.

Conclusions:

• Laparoscopic APR and AR are safe, effective, and technically feasible for treating rectal cancer.
• The laparoscopic approach demonstrates improved early postoperative outcomes, including reduced analgesic needs, earlier ambulation, and shorter hospital stays.
• This minimally invasive technique represents a viable alternative to open surgery for rectal malignancies.