Comparison between the clinical efficacies of laparoscopic radical resection and open radical resection for 101 patients with low rectal cancer

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacies of laparoscopic radical resection and open radical resection for low rectal cancers.Methods Clinical data of 101 patients with low rectal cancers treated by laparoscopic radical resection(n = 52) or open radical resection(n = 49) from June 2006 to December 2008 were analyzed retrospectively.Results Two patients(3.8%) in the laparoscopic surgery group were converted to open surgery.The average intraoperative blood loss in laparoscopic surgery group was significantly less than that in open surgery group [(90 ± 40) mL vs.(270 ± 140) mL,P = 0.023].There were 24 and 9 patients with the intestinal function restored within 48 hours after surgery in laparoscopic surgery group and open surgery group,respectively(P = 0.003),and were 9 and 27 patients needed analgesic drugs(P = 0.000).The average hospital stay was shorter in laparoscopic surgery group than that in open surgery group [(8.7 ± 5.5)d vs.(12.5±7.3)d,P = 0.028).No significant difference was found between the two groups in gender,age,lymph node harvest,TNM staging,and postoperative complications(P 0.05).Conclusion As compared with open radical resection,the laparoscopic radical resection for low rectal cancer is associated with less intraoperative blood loss,shorter length of hospital stay,and enhanced recovery.