OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of simultaneous laparoscopic excision for the treatment of rectal carcinoma and synchronous hepatic metastasis.

METHODSTotally 38 patients with rectal carcinoma and synchronous hepatic metastasis detected by CT scan were included in this study. Among them, 23 patients in the group A were treated with laparoscopic surgery, and the other 18 patients in the group B with traditional abdominal operation to resect the rectal tumor and hepatic metastasis simultaneously. All patients received postoperative chemotherapy.

RESULTSAll the patients were treated successfully with no postoperative death in both groups. The mean operative time was 350 +/- 45 min in group A versus 342 +/- 38 min in group B (P > 0.05). The mean blood loss was 275 +/- 96 ml in group A versus 590 +/- 85 ml in group B (P < 0.01), and the average hospital stay was 12 +/- 1.5 days in group A versus 16 +/- 2.5 days in group B (P < 0.05). Only one patient in group A received blood transfusion of 200 ml during operation, while the average blood transfusion in group B was 500 +/- 100 ml (P < 0.01). The follow-up duration was from 36 to 72 months with an average duration of 45.3 months. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 82.6%, 43.5% and 8.6% in the group A, versus 77.8%, 38.9% and 0% in group B, respectively (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSimultaneous laparoscopic excision of rectal carcinoma and synchronous hepatic metastasis is safe, effective and minimally invasive with a similar survival achieved by traditional open abdominal operation.