Evolution of Laparoscopic Surgery for Colorectal Cancer: The Impact of the Clinical Outcomes of Surgical Therapy Group Trial

Abstract

The Clinical Outcomes of Surgical Therapy Group (COST) Trial established laparoscopic procedures offer short-term benefits while preserving the same oncologic outcomes in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients compared with open procedures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the trend of laparoscopic resection for CRC before and after the publication of the COST Trial. Retrospective study of surgically treated CRC patients was conducted from January 2000 to December 2009. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program and Medicare. Between 2000 and 2009, 147,388 patients underwent resection for CRC, 9,901 resections were performed laparoscopically. In 2000, 1.0 per cent of colorectal resections were performed laparoscopically. There was a dramatic increase in laparoscopic resections in 2009 to 30.4 per cent. During this time period, rates of laparoscopic resections increased for all tumor stages. Right colectomies and early stage tumors had the most significant rise from 3.1 per cent (2004) to 38.7 per cent (2009) and 4.41 per cent (2004) to 39.17 per cent (2009), respectively; whereas, rectal and later stage tumors resection rates were more modest from 2.1 per cent (2004) to 13.2 per cent (2009) and 1.41 per cent (2004) to 17.10 per cent (2009), respectively. This study demonstrates the COST Trial had a significant impact on utilization of laparoscopic colorectal resection for CRC. Although laparoscopic colorectal resections have been accepted for all types of CRCs, more difficult procedures are being adopted at slower rates.