A comparative study of hand-assisted laparoscopic versus open anterior resection for rectal cancer

Objective To study the safety and invasiveness of hand-assisted laparoscopic anterior resection for rectal cancer.Methods Sixty patients undergoing anterior resection for rectal cancer were randomly divided into HALS group and open group,and all the lesions were located up the peritoneal reflection.Data of patients of two groups,which included operating time,intraoperative blood,lymph node harvests,postoperative flatus time,hospital stay,complications and C-reactive protein were compared.Results The mean intraoperative blood loss,postoperative flatus time,hospital stay and C-reactive protein in HALS group were significantly less than that in open anterior resection for rectal cancer group;bu t there was no significant difference in operating time,complication and recurrence rate.Conclusion HALS is feasible and safe in rectal cancer patients.