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The Short- and Long-Term Feasibility of Laparoscopic Surgery in Colon Cancer Patients with Bulky Tumors

Abstract

Background

Compared to open surgery for colon cancer, randomized controlled trials have shown that laparoscopic approaches have equivalent short- and long-term outcomes. However, the feasibility of laparoscopy for removal of bulky tumors has not been evaluated. The aim of our study was to determine the short- and long-term feasibility of laparoscopic surgery for bulky (> 8 cm) colon cancer.

Methods

A total of 80 patients with bulky tumors (defined as greater than 8 cm in diameter) underwent curative resection from July 2004 to July 2014. Short- and long-term outcomes were compared between patients undergoing laparoscopic (n = 48) and open (n = 32) resection.

Results

Compared to open, the operative time was significantly longer (213 vs. 148 min, p < 0.001), return of bowel function quicker (time to oral intake; 2 vs. 5 days, p < 0.001), and length of stay shorter (10 vs. 13 days, p < 0.001) in the laparoscopic group. Five-year cancer-specific and relapse-free survival was similar with no patients developing local recurrence in either group.

Conclusions

Laparoscopic resection of colon cancers greater than 8 cm in diameter is feasible and oncologically safe with better short-term and equivalent long-term outcomes compared to open surgery.

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Authors

Contributions

Toshiya Nagasaki mainly designed the study and analyzed the data. All coauthors contributed substantially to the study and fulfilled the requirements for authorship as per the guidelines of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Toshiya Nagasaki.

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Cite this article

Nagasaki, T., Akiyoshi, T., Fukunaga, Y. et al. The Short- and Long-Term Feasibility of Laparoscopic Surgery in Colon Cancer Patients with Bulky Tumors. J Gastrointest Surg 23, 1893–1899 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-019-04114-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-019-04114-2

Keywords

  • Laparoscopic surgery
  • Bulky tumor
  • Colon cancer