Comparison of short-term surgical results of single-port and multi-port laparoscopic rectal resection for rectal cancer

BackgroundSingle-port surgery is a recent advancement in minimally invasive techniques for colon disease. However, single-port laparoscopic rectal resection (SPLR) is rare. The aim of this study was to compare the short-term results of SPLR with those of multi-port laparoscopic rectal resection (MPLR) for rectal cancer.MethodsPatients who underwent SPLR (n = 50) or MPLR (n = 50) for rectal cancer from July 2010 to March 2014 were analyzed. Patients with tumor diameter less than 40 mm and body mass index less than 30 kg/m2 were matched for age, sex, tumor location, and preoperative evaluation. Operative parameters and outcomes were compared between groups. Patients with lower rectal cancer were excluded.ResultsSPLR was successful in 98.0% of cases. Operative procedure, operative time, blood loss, field of lymph node dissection, and rate of postoperative complications did not differ significantly. Length of hospital stay was shorter with SPLR than with MPLR (8 vs 10 days, respectively; P = .018). Oncological outcomes did not differ significantly between the 2 groups.ConclusionSPLR is safe and feasible in selected patients with rectal cancer.