Survival and outcomes after laparoscopic versus open curative resection for colon cancer

BACKGROUND: Many studies have shown that open and laparoscopicsurgery for resection of colonic cancers produce similar short- and long-term results, but no data have been reported from Saudi Arabia. OBJECTIVE: Compare 3-year disease-free and overall survival after laparoscopic versus open curative resection for potentially curable colon cancer. DESIGN: Multicenter retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary academic hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed data of patients who underwent curative resection for potentially curable colon cancer using the laparoscopic or open approach at three tertiary care centers during the period 2000-2015. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Overall and disease-free 3-year survival were the primary endpoints. Secondary endpoints included conversion rate, duration of surgery, length of hospital stay, rate of wound infection, resumption of bowel function, number of lymph nodes retrieved, adequacy of resection and rate of recurrence. Risk factors for recurrence, including complete mesocolic excision, were assessed. SAMPLE SIZE: 721. RESULTS: Patient and tumor characteristics were similar in the two groups except for ASA class (P<.01), weight (P<.05) and tumor stage (P<.05). Over a median follow-up of 46 months, the 3-year overall survival was 76.7% for open resection and 90.3% for laparoscopic colon resection (P<.05). The 3-year disease-free survival was 55.3% for open colon resection and 64.9% for laparoscopic colon resection (P=.0714). CONCLUSION: Overall and disease-free survival after the laparoscopic approach for curative resection of colon cancer is comparable to the open approach. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective design and the possibility of selection bias. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.