OBJECTIVETo compare the oncologic clearance and long-term outcomes between laparoscopic surgery and open surgery in radical resection of rectal cancer.

METHODSClinicopathological and follow-up data of 1184 cases with rectal cancer undergoing radical resection from July 2005 to December 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. According to the surgical method, cases were divided into laparoscopy group (104 cases) and open group(1080 cases). Demographics, number of harvested lymph nodes, distance between distal margin and tumor, incidence of anastomotic complications, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival(OS) were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the number of harvested lymph nodes (15.5 vs. 14.4, P>0.05), length of distal margin (2.5 cm vs. 2.1 cm, P>0.05) and incidence of anastomotic complications (1.9% vs. 1.9%, P>0.05) between the two groups. And there were no significant differences in DFS and OS between the two groups (both P>0.05). The 3-year and 5-year DFS in laparoscopy group were 79.0% and 69.3%, and were 78.0% and 72.5% in open group. The 3-year and 5-year OS in laparoscopy group were 93.5% and 81.2%, which were 87.6% and 80.7% in open group. There were no significant differences in DFS and OS after stratification by TNM stage.

CONCLUSIONThe oncologic clearance and long-term outcomes after laparoscopic surgery are comparable with open surgery in radical resection of rectal cancer.