The value of single-incision laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer: a systematic literature review.

Background/aims: Recently, single-incision laparoscopic colectomy (SILC) for colorectal malignancy is rapidly becoming the central issue for explorers of minimally invasive surgery worldwide. The aim of this systematic review was to establish the safety and efficacy of SILC for colorectal malignancy when implemented by experienced surgeons.

Methodology: PubMed, WHO international trial register and Embase were searched for publications concerning SILC and MLC from 2000 to 2013, with the last search on September 10, 2013. Only pure single-incision laparoscopic colonic surgery for malignant disease was included. Primary outcomes were the early postoperative complication profiles of SILC. Secondary outcomes were duration of operation time, blood loss, lymph node yields, conversion rate, distal margin of the resected tumor, and duration of hospital stay.

Results: Eight studies involving 547 patients met the inclusion criteria. Compared with multiport laparoscopic colectomy (MLC), SILC has less postoperative complication and bleeding. The conversion, the median lymph node retrieval, proximal margin of the resected tumor and distal margin of the resected tumor for malignant disease achieved with SILC was acceptable. There was no significant reduction in length of hospital stay with SILC.

Conclusion: SILC is a technically reliable and realistic approach with short-term results similar to those obtained with the MLC procedure.