Laparoscopy for Colon Cancer

The use of laparoscopy has become widespread across many surgical specialties. Its utility as treatment for colon cancer was initially met with hesitancy due to concern for port site and wound recurrences; however, this was later disproven by large retrospective series. Subsequently, there have been multiple, large, prospective, randomized studies evaluating laparoscopic versus open colectomy for colon cancer. All studies yielded similar results and showed no statistical difference in overall survival, disease-free survival, and recurrence. Additionally, these studies revealed similar operative outcomes with respect to complication rates, perioperative mortality, and conversion to open colectomy, as well as equivalent oncologic resections. Overall in the laparoscopic colectomy groups, hospital stays were shorter, and often times patients required less narcotics postoperatively, but laparoscopic operative times were longer. With adequate training, the use of laparoscopy can be safely employed for patients with colon cancer.