OBJECTIVETo explore the safety and feasibility of reduced-port laparoscopic-assisted resection for cancer at the sigmoid colon and upper rectum.

METHODSClinical data of 70 patients with sigmoid colon or upper rectal cancer undergoing laparoscopic-assisted resection in our department from February 2013 to July 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into reduced-port group (44 cases, 3 or 4 ports) and conventional group (26 cases, 5 ports). The operative time, blood loss, retrieved lymph nodes, postoperative exhaust recovery, dietary recovery, hospital stay and morbidity of complication were compared between two the groups.

RESULTSNo significant differences were observed in operative time [(144.0 ± 40.1) min vs. (115.8 ± 30.8) min], blood loss [(72.9 ± 50.2) ml vs. (45.5 ± 52.4) ml], number of retrieved lymph nodes [(10.2 ± 8.4) vs. (12.0 ± 5.6)], time to bowel function return [(3.2 ± 0.7) d vs. (2.8 ± 0.8) d], time to liquid diet [(4.2 ± 1.1) d vs. (3.8 ± 0.9) d], time to semisolid diet [(8.6 ± 2.1) d vs (8.1 ± 1.7) d], and postoperative hospital stay [(13.0 ± 3.4) d vs. (12.8 ± 7.2) d] between two groups (all P>0.05). Complication rate of conventional group and the reduced-port group was 15.4% and 7.2% without significant difference (P=0.233).

CONCLUSIONSFor cancer at the sigmoid colon and upper rectum, reduced-port laparoscopic surgery is feasible, safe and radical as the five-port in terms of technical and oncologic issues. These two procedures have the same short-term outcome.