Advantages of Laparoscopic Abdominoperineal Resection for Anastomotic Recurrence of Rectal Cancer

Background: Surgery offers the only potential for cure and long-term survival of recurrence of rectal cancer. Few studies about laparoscopic recurrent lesion resection have been reported. This study was designed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic abdomino-perineal resection for anastomotic recurrence of rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: Data for 42 patients with recurrence of rectal cancer were collected retrospectively. Of the 42 patients, 22 underwent laparoscopic surgery (LR group) and 20 received open surgery (OR group). Outcomes between the two groups were compared. Results: Operation time in LR group was shorter compared with the OR group ($164.6{\pm}27.7min$ vs $203.0{\pm}45.3min$); intra-operative blood loss was $119.7{\pm}44.4ml$ and $185.0{\cdot}94.0ml$ in LR group and OR group, respectively (p<0.001); time to first flatus in LR group was shorter than in OR group, and the difference was statistically significant ($2.6{\pm}0.8$ days vs $3.1{\pm}0.8$ days, p=0.013); hospital stay in the LR and OR groups was $8.6{\pm}1.3$ days and $9.8{\pm}2.2$ days; 3-year survival rates in the LR and OR groups were 44.4% and 42.8% (p=0.915) and the 3-year disease-free survival rates were 36.4% and 30.0%, respectively (p=0.737). Conclusions: Laparoscopic abdomino-perineal resection is safe and feasible for anastomotic recurrence of rectal cancer.