Comparative Study of Laparoscopic Versus Open Low Anterior Resection (LAR)

Abstract

Introduction: Rectal cancer is among the most common cancers and one of the leading causes for cancer death in both males and females. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment, with about 84% of patients with cancer of rectum treated surgically, with or without chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Material & methods: From August 2011 to February 2014, 44 patients with rectal malignancy undergoing LAR were included in the study, out of which 19 (43%) underwent laparoscopic LAR & 25 (57%) underwent open LAR. Both type of surgeries were performed by surgeons with similar expertise and experience in a single institute to make comparison and conclusions valid. Conclusion : Laparoscopic LAR surgery results have been shown to be similar in safety and oncological adequacy and completeness of the resection compared to open procedure, with benefit of reduction in the morbidity, hospital stay, returns to normal daily activities ,lesser blood loss and analgesia requirement. These favourable findings of laparoscopic resection for colorectal malignancy warrant further longer follow-up and results of prospectively randomized studies.