Laparoscopic surgery is associated with less tumour growth stimulation than conventional surgery: an experimental study.

Background: The role of laparoscopic surgery for malignant disease is controversial. To evaluate differences in tumour growth after conventional and laparoscopic surgery, an experimental study was performed in rats.

Methods: After intraperitoneal injection of CC-531 colonic cancer cells or subcapsular renal implantation of CC-531 cancer cells, rats underwent either laparoscopically assisted small bowel resection, open small bowel resection or anaesthesia only. Peritoneal tumour growth and subcapsular renal tumour growth were assessed after operation.

Results: Peritoneal tumour growth was the least after anaesthesia only (P < 0.05) and less after laparoscopic than open resection (P < 0.05). Subcapsular renal tumour growth after either laparoscopic resection or anaesthesia only was less than after open resection (P < 0.01).

Conclusion: Laparoscopic surgery was associated with less tumour growth than conventional surgery in this experimental study.