To assess feasibility, advantages, oncological safety, cost-effectiveness and short-term results of laparoscopic vs open total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer in a government sector hospital.

This comparative nonrandomized retrospective study analyzes the data of 70 patients with rectal cancer treated with low anterior resection (LAR) or abdominoperineal resection (APR) from May 2007 to June 2012. Of these 40 patients underwent laparoscopic TME and 30 underwent open TME. Both the groups were comparable.

Laparoscopic surgery took longer to perform (200 vs 150 min), but was accompanied by less blood loss (200 vs 800 ml) and fewer postoperative complications. Enteric function recovered sooner after laparoscopy than open surgery. Hospital stay was shorter for patients who underwent a laparoscopic surgery (7 vs 10 days). The mean number of harvested lymph nodes was greater in the laparoscopic group than in the open group (12 ± 3 vs 9 ± 2). Mean follow-up time was 30 months (range: 28-32 months). No local recurrence was found.

This study shows that laparoscopic TME for rectal cancer is a safe and feasible technique with some short-term benefits over open TME.

Sahoo MR, Kumar TA, Jaiswal S. Laparoscopic vs Open Total Mesorectal Excision for Rectal Cancer: A Clinical Comparative Study in a Government Sector Hospital. World J Lap Surg 2013;6(3):127-131.