OBJECTIVETo explore the radicality, safety, feasibility and indication of right colectomy by laparoscopy-assisted surgery using three ports.

METHODSClinical data of 109 patients undergoing laparoscopy-assisted right colectomy in the Ruijin Hospital from 2013 to 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into triple-port group(n=65, 3 ports) and traditional group(n=44, 4 or 5 ports). In the triple-port group, 21 cases were converted, including 14 cases added an additional port, 4 cases added 2 ports and 3 cases converted to laparotomy. The radicality, safety and feasibility were compared between the two groups. Difficulty of the triple-port procedure was summarized and the indication was concluded.

RESULTSNo significant differences were observed in specimen length, number of harvested lymph node, CME rate, time to resume fluids, postoperative hospital stay, morbidity of complication, reoperation rate, operation time, blood loss and incidental bowel damage between the two groups (all P>0.05). Among triple-port group, body mass index(BMI) and history of previous surgery were significantly different between those succeed and failed in the procedure [(22.4±2.9) kg/m(2) vs. (25.4±3.8) kg/m(2), P=0.001; 22.7%(10/44) vs. 47.6%(10/21), P=0.017], while other factors were not significantly different(all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSFor right-colectomy, triple-port and traditional laparoscopic procedures are comparable in terms of oncologic clearance, safety and feasibility. In selection of suitable patients for the triple-port procedure, BMI and history of previeus surgery should be considered.