Short- and Long-term Outcomes of 2-Step Stapled Intracorporeal Extracorporeal Anastomosis in Laparoscopic Colectomy for Colon Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Intracorporeal anastomosis (IA) in laparoscopic colectomy for colon cancer is technically difficult, and there is a lack of consensus on the risk of bacterial contamination and cancer cell dissemination. In this study, short- and long-term outcomes of IA were examined.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Short and long-term outcomes of those who underwent IA (n=44) or extracorporeal anastomosis (EA) (n=61) were compared.

RESULTS

IA was better than EA for blood loss, incision length, and first stool. Maximum temperature and C-reactive protein on postoperative day 1 were higher for the IA group. The rate of positive cultures from intraoperative lavage was higher for IA. The rate of positive cultures improved to an equivalent level by replacing mechanical pretreatment with chemical pretreatment. IA and EA were equivalent for the results of ascites cytology from lavage.

CONCLUSION

With the use of appropriate preoperative treatment, IA takes advantage of the minimally invasive nature of laparoscopic surgery.