LAPAROSCOPIC APPROACH IN RECTAL CANCER SURGERY: A RETROSPECTIVE SINGLE-CENTER STUDY ANALYSIS OF CLINICAL OUTCOMES

Authors

  • F. C. STANCULEA Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
  • C. O. UNGUREANU Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
  • O. GINGHINA Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
  • N. IORDACHE Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
  • V. T. GRIGOREAN Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
  • M. LITESCU Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22551/MSJ.2026.02.13

Abstract

Along with total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT), surgical resection is the cornerstone of rectal cancer treatment. Minimally invasive techniques include: laparoscopic, robotic, transanal total mesorectal excision and transluminal local excision. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility and outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer in a single-center cohort. Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients, who underwent surgical treatment for primary rectal cancer at a tertiary institution. A total of 99 patients were included and divided in two groups: laparoscopic (66 patients) and open (33 patients). Clinical and perioperative variables analyzed included age, sex, body mass index, comorbidities, tumor location, surgical technique, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complications. Results: The mean age was 68.9 years. Laparoscopy was performed in 66.7% of the patients (conversion to open resection - 15.1%) and was applicable across all age groups. Approximately half of the cases were cancers of the upper rectum. Patients underwent low anterior resection in 61.61%, 24.24% underwent abdominoperineal resection, 14.14% underwent resection with colostomy, and all cases were elective. The median length of hospital stay was 10 days in the laparoscopic group and 11 days in the open surgery group; however, no significant differences were observed between the two groups (p=0.287). According to the Clavien-Dindo classification, for the laparoscopic group, the complications were distributed as grade I (n = 12), grade II (n = 5), and grade III (n = 4); for the open group, grade I (n = 5). Anastomotic leakage (AL) was present in <10 % of cases. Conclusions: Rectal cancer is a complex disease that presents oncological, anatomical and functional challenges, which are addressed using a variety of surgical modalities. Our study demonstrates that the laparoscopic approach in rectal cancer is feasible regardless of age and tumor location, and showed a trend toward shorter hospital stay, the difference was not statistically significant.

Author Biographies

  • F. C. STANCULEA, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania

    Sf. Ioan Clinical Hospital of Emergency, Bucharest, Romania

  • C. O. UNGUREANU, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania

    Sf. Ioan Clinical Hospital of Emergency, Bucharest, Romania

  • O. GINGHINA, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania

    Prof. Dr. Al. Trestioreanu Oncological Institute, Bucharest, Romania

  • N. IORDACHE, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania

    Sf. Ioan Clinical Hospital of Emergency, Bucharest, Romania
    The Academy of Romanian Scientists, Bucharest, Romania

  • V. T. GRIGOREAN, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania

    Bagdasar-Arseni Clinical Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania

  • M. LITESCU, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania

    Sf. Ioan Clinical Hospital of Emergency, Bucharest, Romania

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Additional Files

Published

2026-06-01

Issue

Vol. 130 No. 2 (2026): The Medical-Surgical Journal

Section

SURGERY

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