Laparoscopic-Assisted Proctectomy for Rectal Cancer: On Trial

Excerpt

In 2005, the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) issued a statement regarding the role of laparoscopy in proctectomy for cancer: “The absence of five-year survival data makes it premature to endorse laparoscopic proctectomy for curable cancer.”1 In this issue, Ng and colleagues2 provide new evidence in support of the short-term advantages for laparoscopic proctectomy and the long-term equivalence in oncologic outcomes. The question of the day for laparoscopic colorectal surgery is, therefore, whether the current study by Ng et al. and other recent literature provide the strength of evidence necessary to revise the 2005 ASCRS practice parameters on laparoscopic proctectomy for cancer. As we will discuss below, we believe that the cumulative literature now supports a state of equipoise on short-term advantages and long-term oncologic outcomes, making the case for large prospective randomized trials. …