Reduced-port laparoscopic right colonic resection with D3 lymph node dissection and transvaginal specimen extraction (NOSES VIIIa) for right colon cancer: clinical features

BackgroundReduced-port laparoscopic surgery (RPLS) uses the minimum possible number of ports or small-sized ports in laparoscopic surgery. The combination of RPLS and natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE) minimizes the procedural damage.MethodsA total of 17 patients diagnosed with right colon cancer were included: 5 patients in the RPLS + NOSE group and 12 patients in the conventional laparoscopic surgery (CL) + mini-laparotomy (ML) group. We highlight the key steps of the RPLS + NOSE procedure and compare the clinicopathological characteristics and short-term postoperative outcomes of the two groups.ResultsCompared to CL + ML, RPLS + NOSE was associated with short hospitalization (8.80 +/- 1.30 vs 13.75 +/- 2.63, p = 0.001), faster first flatus (1.80 +/- 0.45 vs 3.4 +/- 0.90, p = 0.020) and less postoperative pain on the first day (2.40 +/- 0.55 vs 4.25 +/- 1.60, p = 0.025). Regarding operation time, intraoperative bleeding, tumor size, proximal and distal margin, number of lymph nodes harvested, number of positive lymph nodes, R0 resection, bowel movements, postoperative complications, Clavien-Dindo classification, Benz's classification and postoperative pain on day 1, day 3 and day 5, no significant difference was observed.ConclusionIn selected patients, RPLS with D3 lymph node dissection and transvaginal specimen extraction results in fast recovery and is indicated for colon cancer patients.