Resection of rectal cancer: laparoscopy or open surgery?

摘要

The development of laparoscopic surgery has provided a major opportunity to improve the management of colorectal cancer. Early doubts over oncological safety have been quashed in numerous randomised control trials (RCTs) which have shown that laparoscopic resection is associated with better short-term outcomes without oncological compromise. However, many who might accept that laparoscopic resection may be appropriate and optimal for colonic carcinoma still have reservations regarding its use for rectal cancer and question whether an oncologically sound total mesorectal excision (TME) is feasible laparoscopically.