OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility and safety of a minilaparotomy approach for curative resection of colorectal cancer in comparison with the conventional laparotomy.

METHODSSeventy-eight patients underwent radical resection for rectal cancer with minilaparotomy during April 2001 to December 2002. The minilaparotomy involved complete resection and a skin incision 2 cm above the link line of left anterior superior iliac spine to pubic symphysis and was about 7-10 cm in length. Another 86 patients who served as control group underwent a similar resection with a conventional laparotomy during the same period.

RESULTThe minilaparotomy approach was successful in all 78 patients. The general status of patients, operative types and histopathological features of tumor were similar in the two groups (P>0.05). Operative blood loss in control group was greater (P<0.001), whereas incision length in minilaparotomy group was significantly shorter than that in conventional laparotomy (9.38 cm compared with 17.32 cm). The operative time, analgesia requirement, first passing flatus,first oral fluids and postoperative hospital stay were significantly shorter in the minilaparotomy group (P<0. 001). In an average 25.4-month follow-up, there were no tumor recurrences in the minilaparotomy group.

CONCLUSIONA minilaparotomy approach for curative resection of rectal cancer may be an ideal alternative approach to conventional laparotomy.