ROLE OF LAPAROSCOPY IN COLORECTAL CANCER MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Cancer colon is the third most common cancer in men and women in the developed world, and resection is the only curative treatment. Traditionally, cancers of the colon were removed through large abdominal incisions. (Jemal et al., 2007). The growing experience in laparoscopic surgery expanded the indications and laparoscopic colectomy was successfully done. Even, in the surgical treatment of not only benign but also malignant colonic diseases. (Leung et al., 2007). The use of laparoscopic techniques to treat colonic diseases, both benign and malignant, is by either the standard laparoscopic surgery (SLS). Or hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS). (Ringley et al., 2007) . Short-term benefits of laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer are related to less surgical trauma such as less postoperative pain, earlier resolution of postoperative ileus, quicker resumption of diet, a shorter hospital stay, and an earlier return to social life than with conventional open surgery.(Gao et al., 2006). The long term benefits of laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer accomplish adequate oncological clearance as disease control with no significant difference in the involved radial margin or number of LNs harvested and overall survival and associated with less post operative complications comparable to open colectomy (J. Kay et al., 2007). The major disadvantage of laparoscopic colectomy is increased operative time. Surgeon's experience is important, and there is a significant learning curve for laparoscopic colectomy. It is noted that operative time decreases significantly the greater surgeon's experience (Lacy et al., 2002). So it is concluded that laparoscopic colectomy is an accepted alternative to conventional open surgery for colon cancer even better provided that skilled surgeon and operative staff and good selection of cases.