Short-term and midterm outcomes of single-incision laparoscopic surgery for right-sided colon cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to clarify the usefulness of SILS for right-sided colon cancer by evaluating the short-term and midterm outcomes.

METHODS: Between 2012 and 2017, 65 selected patients with right-sided colon cancer underwent ileocecal resection, right hemicolectomy, or transverse colectomy; all were enrolled in the study. The same well-trained surgeon performed each procedure by using a multi-instrument access port with three channels, which was placed at the umbilicus via an approximately 3-cm skin incision.

RESULTS: The pathological disease stage distribution was stage 0, 4 cases; stage I, 23 cases; stage II, 19 cases; stage III, 17 cases; and stage IV, 2 cases. The surgical procedures performed were ileocecal resection, 23 cases; right hemicolectomy, 35 cases; and transverse colectomy, 7 cases. The median operative time and intraoperative blood loss were 216 min and 10 mL, respectively. Although 18 cases needed additional ports, none required conversion to open surgery. The median number of harvested lymph nodes was 24. No major perioperative morbidities occurred in this patient series. The median postoperative hospital stay was 7 days. The median follow-up period was 30 months, and the 3-year relapse-free and overall survival rates were 100% and 100%, respectively, in the stage 0-I cases and 89% and 96% in the stage II-III cases, respectively.

CONCLUSION: We concluded that SILS is as feasible as multiport laparoscopic surgery and a reliable surgical option in selected cases of right-sided colon cancer.