Standard laparoscopic versus single-incision laparoscopic colectomy for cancer: early results of a randomized prospective study

BACKGROUND: Standard laparoscopic colectomy (SLC) for cancer is a safe, feasible, and oncologically effective procedure with better short-term and similar long-term results of open colectomy. Conversely, owing to technical difficulties in colonic resection and full mesenteric dissection, single-incision laparoscopic colectomy (SILC) has been considered unsuitable for oncologic purposes. We compared the technical feasibility and early clinical outcomes of SLC and SILC for cancer. METHODS: In this prospective randomized clinical trial, 16 (50%) patients underwent SLC (10 left and 6 right) and 16 (50%) patients underwent SILC (8 left and 8 right). RESULTS: Demographics, preoperative data, and characteristics of the tumor were similar. The mean number of resected lymph nodes was 16 +/- 5 in the SLC and 18 +/- 6 in the SILC group (P = NS). Surgical time was 124 +/- 8 minutes and 147 +/- 5 minutes, respectively (P = NS). Surgical mortality was nil and the major morbidity rate was 6.3% in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: SILC for cancer is a technically feasible and safe oncologic procedure with short-term results similar to those obtained with a traditional laparoscopic approach. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.