PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate long-term complications, quality of life, and survival rate in a series of colorectal cancer patients randomized to laparoscopic or open surgery. METHODS: A total of 391 patients with colorectal cancer were randomly assigned to laparoscopic (n = 190) or open (n = 201) res ection. Long-term follow-up was performed every six months by office visits. Q uality of life was assessed at 12, 24, and 48 months after surgery by a modified version of Short Form 36 Health Survey questionnaire. All patients were analyze d on an intention-to-treat basis. RESULTS: Eight (4.2 percent) laparoscopic gr oup patients needed conversion to open surgery. Overall long-term morbidity rat e was 6.8 percent (13/190) in the laparoscopic vs. 14.9 percent (30/201) in the open group (P = 0.018). Overall quality of life was significantly better in the laparoscopic group in the first 12 months after surgery, whereas at 24 months, p atients of the laparoscopic group reported a significant advantage only in socia l functioning. No difference was found in both overall and disease-free surviva l rates by comparing laparoscopic vs. open group. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic colo rectal resection was associated with a lower incidence of long-term complicatio ns and a better quality of life in the first 12 months after surgery compared wi th open surgery. No difference between groups was found in overall and disease- free survival rates.
展开▼
