Role of Minimally Invasive Surgery in Colon Cancer

Abstract

Colon cancer is a major public health problem. The treatment of colon cancer is primarily surgical using open and minimally invasive techniques. Minimally invasive surgery approaches for colon cancer include single-port laparoscopy, natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, and robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery. The techniques are based on the same principles: complete mesocolic excision, high vascular ligation, and extended lymphadenectomy. Laparoscopic surgery is characterized by short hospital stay, reduced postoperative pain, and less need for painkillers. Laparoscopic resections are less expensive than open surgery, but with similar quality of life outcomes. Robotic surgery is an alternative to open and laparoscopic techniques. This type of surgery results in a lower conversion rate and a shorter learning curve than laparoscopic surgery. When comparing the clinical outcomes of laparoscopic surgery versus open surgery no difference in disease free survival and overall survival were found. This article shows the role of minimally invasive surgery in colon cancer, the clinical outcomes of laparoscopic and open colon being similar.