Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for colon cancer: technically feasible and safe to perform in terms of oncologic outcomes.

Abstract

See Article on Page 42-48 It has already proved that laparoscopic surgery is not any less inferior to conventional open surgery in terms of its safety and efficacy to treat colon cancer [1, 2]. From this point of view, this study reviewed the outcomes of laparoscopic right hemicolectomy retrospectively as a treatment of colon cancer. The study was considered to be significant as the outcome of a single surgery although it was not the randomized prospective study with large scale of samples. In South Korea, the outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer have been reported but they have not been extensive yet. Therefore, the outcomes of a single surgery such as laparoscopic right hemicolectomy performed by the author of this study are judged to be a good evidence to support the outcomes of laparoscopic surgeries. Nevertheless, this study had several flaws to demonstrate the advantages of laparoscopic right hemicolectomy perfectly comparing to conventional open right hemicolectomy. It is mainly because this study is not prospective study and there aren't control groups as well as the sample size was too small. However, data is collecting prospectively with a larger scale of sample and more solid evidence is expected to be produce with this data. In addition to this, if more surgeons are participated in researches expanding the range of subjects, more reliable evidence will be constructed.