Minimally invasive versus open multivisceral resection for rectal cancer clinically invading adjacent organs: a propensity score-matched analysis

Surg Endosc. 2024 Jun;38(6):3263-3272. doi: 10.1007/s00464-024-10844-5. Epub 2024 Apr 24.

Abstract

Background: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS), such as laparoscopic and robotic surgery for rectal cancer, is performed worldwide. However, limited information is available on the advantages of MIS over open surgery for multivisceral resection for cases clinically invading adjacent organs.

Patients and methods: This was a retrospective propensity score-matching study of consecutive clinical T4b rectal cancer patients who underwent curative intent surgery between 2006 and 2021 at the University of Tokyo Hospital.

Results: Sixty-nine patients who underwent multivisceral resection were analyzed. Thirty-three patients underwent MIS (the MIS group), while 36 underwent open surgery (the open group). Twenty-three patients were matched to each group. Conversion was required in 2 patients who underwent MIS (8.7%). R0 resection was achieved in 87.0% and 91.3% of patients in the MIS and open groups, respectively. The MIS group had significantly less blood loss (170 vs. 1130 mL; p < 0.0001), fewer Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ 2 postoperative complications (30.4% vs. 65.2%; p = 0.0170), and a shorter postoperative hospital stay (20 vs. 26 days; p = 0.0269) than the open group. The 3-year cancer-specific survival rate, relapse-free survival rate, and cumulative incidence of local recurrence were 75.7, 35.9, and 13.9%, respectively, in the MIS group and 84.5, 45.4, and 27.1%, respectively, in the open group, which were not significantly different (p = 0.8462, 0.4344, and 0.2976, respectively).

Conclusion: MIS had several short-term advantages over open surgery, such as lower complication rates, faster recovery, and a shorter hospital stay, in rectal cancer patients who underwent multivisceral resection.

Keywords: Locally advanced rectal cancer; Minimally invasive surgery; Multivisceral resection; Open surgery; Outcome; Propensity score-matching.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Blood Loss, Surgical / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Laparoscopy* / methods
  • Length of Stay* / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / methods
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness*
  • Postoperative Complications* / epidemiology
  • Postoperative Complications* / etiology
  • Propensity Score*
  • Rectal Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Rectal Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Robotic Surgical Procedures / methods
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Viscera / surgery