Comparison of laparoscopic and classical methods in patients operated on for colorectal cancer

Introduction:
The aim of the study was to compare the results of surgical removal of colorectal cancer using laparoscopic and conventional methods.

Material and methods:
The study included 269 consecutive patients hospitalized in the surgical oncology department who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer and underwent surgical removal of the lesion. Patients included in the study were operated on with minimally invasive surgery or the classic method. Based on available medical documentation and careful observation, a retrospective assessment of selected perioperative factors affecting the patients’ convalescence was made.

Results:
The influence of the choice of operational method on the factors examined was demonstrated. The length of the incision of the surgical site was 20.87 (±1.92) cm in the laparoscopic method with the final mini-laparotomy to remove the specimen and 32.29 (±3.26) cm in the classic method. However, the analysis showed that the laparoscopic surgery time was significantly longer (laparoscopic = 170.09 (±45.09) min; open approach = 145.38 (±64.03) min). A significantly shorter hospitalization time was observed in patients operated on using the minimally invasive method (10.13 (±1.77) days) compared to patients operated on using the classic method, whose hospitalization time was 11.64 (±2.87) days. In addition, a positive effect of the laparoscopic method on faster positioning of the patient and lower level of blood loss in the perioperative period was demonstrated. However, the operation time of the method used was significantly shorter in the case of a conventional operation.

Conclusions:
It was found that the selection of the surgical method influences the factors responsible for the appropriate course of the patient’s convalescence process.