Abstract
Background: This study aimed to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes after laparoscopic resection for low rectal cancer (LRC) compared with mid/high rectal cancer (M/HRC). Methods: Patients with rectal cancer undergoing laparoscopic resection with curative intent were retrospectively reviewed between 2009 and 2015. After matched 1:1 by using propensity score analysis, perioperative and oncological outcomes were compared between LRC and M/HRC groups. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify independent factors of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Results: Of 373 patients who met the criteria for inclusion, 260 patients were matched for the analysis. Laparoscopic surgery for LRC required longer operative time (P＜0.001) and more blood loss volume (P＜0.001) compared with M/HRC, and the LRC group tended to have a higher incidence of postoperative complications (18.5% vs. 10.0%, P=0.051). There was no significant difference in local recurrence between the two groups (6.2% vs. 2.3%, P=0.216), whereas distant metastasis was more frequent in LRC patients compared with M/HRC (19.2% vs. 9.2%, P=0.021). The LRC group showed significantly inferior 5-year OS (78.1% vs. 88.8%, P=0.008) and DFS (76.2% vs. 89.0%, P=0.004) compared with the M/HRC group. Multivariate analysis indicated that tumor location was an independent predictor of OS (HR=2.095, 95% CI 1.142-3.843, P=0.017) and DFS (HR=2.320, 95% CI 1.251-4.303, P=0.008). Conclusion: Tumor location of the rectal cancer significantly affected the clinical and oncological outcomes after laparoscopic surgery, and it was an independent predictor of OS and DFS.
Laparoscopic modified mesocolic excision with central vascular ligation in right-sided colon cancer shows better short- and long-term outcomes compared with the open approach in propensity score analysis