Lymphovascular clearance in laparoscopically assisted right hemicolectomy is similar to open surgery

Background: The application of laparoscopic techniques to malignant colorectal disease has led to concerns regarding the adequacy of excision achieved. This study was performed to compare specimen histopathology following laparoscopically assisted right hemicolectomy (LARHC) with that following open right hemicolectomy (ORHC). Methods: Data regarding patient details and tumour pathology were obtained by case-note review and from the Concord Hospital Colorectal Cancer Database. Thirty-two patients had LARHC for neoplastic lesions and 34 had ORHC for similar lesions over the same period. The two groups were well matched with respect to age, sex, weight and tumour characteristics. Early stage disease was more common in the LARHC group. Results: There was no clinically significant difference between the groups in terms of margins of clearance or number of lymph nodes harvested. Conclusions: LARHC allows lymphovascular clearance indistinguishable from that afforded by open surgery. Long-term outcome and survival data are required to confirm its role in the treatment of malignant colorectal disease.