Lot of debate hovered around the technique for rectal cancer surgery. Laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery has been compared with open surgery in four major randomised trials with conflicting results. Until further data become available, the best surgical approach needs to be determined individually by tumour and patient characteristics, as well as surgeon experience.
When performing laparoscopic rectal surgery for cancer, surgeons should have a low threshold for converting to open surgery when difficulties arise with dissection. The details of the four trials are summarised below: A European multicenter trial (Colorectal cancer Laparoscopic or Open Resection [COLOR II]) Results showed that the rates of macroscopic completeness of resection (88 versus 92 percent) and positive (<2 mm) circumferential resection margin (10 versus 10 percent) were similar comparing laparoscopic and open…
