EARLY POSTOPERATIVE RESULTS OF A PROSPECTIVE SERIES OF LAPAROSCOPIC VS OPEN ANTERIOR RESECTIONS FOR RECTOSIGMOID CANCERS

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to compare postoperatively laparosc opic (LAR) with open (OAR) anterior resection in patients with rectosi gmoid cancers. METHODS: Forty consecutive patients were divided into t wo groups: 20 patients (9 males) were allocated to LAR and 20 patients (6 males) to OAR, RESULTS: Median age in the LAR group was 62 (range, 39-77) years, and in the OAR group, it was 61 (range. 43-84) years (P = 0.9). Median lengths of the distal margin of clearance beyond the t umor were 4 (range, 2-8) cm and 4.5 (range, 3-7.5) cm in the LAR and O AR groups, respectively (P = 0.35). Median numbers of lymph nodes harv ested were 20 (range, 7-43) and 19 (range, 7-97) for the LAR and OAR g roups, respectively (P = 0.44). Median operating times were 90 (range, 55-185) minutes and 73 (range, 40-140) minutes in the LAR and OAR gro ups, respectively (P = 0.08). Blood losses were 50 (range, 50-800) mi and 50 (range, 50-1,500) mi in the LAR and OAR groups, respectively. T here was no intraoperative complication in either group, and no laparo scopic patient was converted to all open procedure. Median length of e xtraction site incision in the LAR group was 5.5 (4-13) cm, and length of incision in the OAR group was 18 (8-25) cm (P < 0.002). CONCLUSION : There were no significant differences between the two groups with re gard to duration of parenteral analgesia, starting of fluid and solid diet after surgery, or time to first bowel movement and time to discha rge from the hospital.