Laparoscopic-assisted versus open resection of right-sided colonic cancer—a prospective randomized controlled trial

Purposes This study aims to compare the perioperative outcomes and survival between laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy (LARH) and open right hemicolectomy (ORH) for right-sided colon cancer. Methods Between July 1996 and October 2005, 145 patients were randomized to receive LARH ( n = 71) or ORH ( n = 74). Results The median follow-up of living patients was 99.7 months. The demographic data of the two groups were similar. The time to resume diet (4 vs. 5 days, p = 0.045) and the hospital stay (7.8 vs. 10 days, p = 0.033) were significantly shorter in LARH group, but these benefits were at the expense of longer operating time (198 vs. 129 min, p = 0.002) and higher direct cost (USD8745 vs. USD6293, p < 0.001). The morbidity and mortality were comparable between the two groups. After curative resection, the probabilities of survival at 5 years of the LARH and ORH groups were 74.2% (SE 7.4%) and 75% (SE 7.1%), respectively. The probabilities of being disease free at 5 years were 82.3% (SE 6.9%) and 84.1% (SE 6.2%), respectively. Conclusions Laparoscopic-assisted resection of right-sided colonic cancer has the advantage over open surgery in allowing earlier recovery. However this is at the expense of a longer operating time and higher direct cost (registration number: NCT00485316 ( http://www.clinicaltrials.gov )).