Laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection for lower rectal cancers: How do we do it?
Journal
Surgical Endoscopy and Other Interventional Techniques
Journal Volume
20
Journal Issue
4
Pages
695-696
Date Issued
2006
Author(s)
Abstract
Background: The appropriateness of the laparoscopic approach for the resection of rectal cancer has been controversial, although it is well established in colon cancer. This is a phase II study of laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection (APR) in the treatment of lower rectal cancers. Methods: Patients with lower rectal adenocarcinoma located within 6 cm above the anal verge were recruited and subjected to laparoscopic APR. The surgical principle included en bloc resection with high ligation of inferior mesenteric vessels by no-touch isolation and total mesorectal excision. Details of the surgical procedures are presented in the video. The technical efficiency and outcome of this surgical approach were evaluated prospectively. This study was approved by the institutional review board of National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH). Results: A total of 22 patients were enrolled in the study from January 2003 to December 2004 under the ethical guidelines of clinical trials in NTUH. There were 12 females and 10 males, with an age distribution of 62.5 ± 10.4 years. The body mass index was 24.8 ± 4.0 kg/m2. Physical status (American Society of Anesthesiology classification) was class I in 12, class II in eight, and class III in two patients. Tumor size was 44.0 ± 12.0 mm in diameter. Two patients were in pathologic TNM stage I, 14 in stage II, and six in stage III. The operation time was 214.0 ± 28.4 min. Blood loss was 54.0 ± 14.0 ml. Because the tumor specimen was retrieved from a perineal wound, the five 5 to 12 mm working ports constituted the abdominal wound. There were no major complications. However, wound infection of port sites was detected in one patient. The patients had a quick convalescence, as evaluated by the length of postoperative ileus (48.0 ± 12.0 h), length of hospitalization (8.0 ± 2.0 days), and degree of postoperative pain (3.5 ± 0.5 visual analogue scale). Return to partial activity, full activity, and work was 2.0 ± 0.5, 4.0 ± 0.8, and 6.0 ± 0.5 weeks, respectively. The number of cleared lymph nodes was 14.0 ± 2.0. During follow-up (median, 18 months; range, 6-30), lung metastasis and local pelvic recurrence developed in one and two patients, respectively. Besides the expenses covered by the National Bureau of Health Insurance of Taiwan, the additional payment by patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures was NT $24,000 ± 3000 (1 U.S. dollar = 32 NT$). Conclusions: In our clinical setting, laparoscopic APR can be performed with good technical efficiency, quick functional recovery, and mild disability. The short-term oncologic results of laparoscopic APR seem to be acceptable, but further long-term follow-up for these patients is mandatory to define the oncologic outcomes of this approach. ? Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2006.
SDGs
Other Subjects
abdominal injury; adenocarcinoma; adult; age distribution; aged; article; bleeding; body mass; cancer localization; cancer recurrence; cancer staging; cancer surgery; clinical article; clinical trial; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; convalescence; endoscopic surgery; female; follow up; health care cost; health insurance; health status; human; ileus; laparoscopic surgery; length of stay; ligation; lung metastasis; lymph node metastasis; male; medical ethics; operation duration; pelvis cancer; perineum injury; postoperative complication; postoperative infection; postoperative pain; practice guideline; priority journal; prospective study; rectum abdominoperineal resection; rectum carcinoma; surgical approach; surgical technique; Taiwan; treatment outcome; tumor volume; videorecording; visual analog scale; wound infection; abdomen; adenocarcinoma; laparoscopy; methodology; middle aged; perineum; rectum tumor; Abdomen; Adenocarcinoma; Aged; Female; Humans; Laparoscopy; Male; Middle Aged; Perineum; Prospective Studies; Rectal Neoplasms; Treatment Outcome
Type
journal article