Survey: Few Surgeons Perform Laparoscopic Surgery for Colorectal Cancer

While the number of surgeons performing laparoscopic colorectal surgery has increased over the last three years, a survey found that many remain hesitant to perform the less invasive surgery on patients they are treating for colorectal cancer.

Surveys sent to members of the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons found that 85 percent of the respondents now perform laparoscopic surgery.

However, they found that only 8.5 percent operate laparoscopically for upper rectal cancer and only 7 percent operate for the cure of lower rectal cancer.

"Surgeons are more hesitant to perform laparoscopic surgery for the cure of colonic cancer," the researchers reported in the journal Surgical Endoscopy.

Other Sources: Surgical Endoscopy