Benefits of laparoscopic surgery in cancer cases

Laparoscopic cancer surgery offers huge benefits to patients compared to conventional open surgery. Evidence from published reports in literature suggests an increase in the incidence of cancer in the Middle East compared to the rest of the world.

In the UAE alone, around 12 people every day (ie over 4,000 per year) get diagnosed with cancer and these numbers show a rising trend according to the literature review and regional study reports from clinicians.

Cancers of the gastrointestinal (GI) system such as food pipe, stomach, liver, pancreas, bile duct, intestines or rectum constitute a high portion of these newly diagnosed cancers in the Middle East.

In operable cases of gastrointestinal cancer, laparoscopic approach (also known as keyhole approach) saves patient from significant post operative morbidity compared to conventional open surgery. Laparoscopic cancer surgery is advantageous to the patients in many aspects. The patient undergoing surgery through a laparoscopic approach experiences minimal or no pain after surgery, has less chance of infection at the incision sites, much shorter hospital stay, earlier return to their normal daily activities, earlier return of intestinal functions, and similar or even better long term outcomes compared to open surgery.

Essentially, a laparoscopic cancer surgery is done with three to four miniature keyhole incisions of about 1/4 inch each on abdomen, whereas conventional open surgery requires a large 8 to 9 inch incision along the abdomen above the belly button, thus conferring the above mentioned advantages to laparoscopic approach.

Sometimes, patients are scared that laparoscopic cancer surgery may increase the chances of recurrence of tumors. However, this is a myth which has been disproved by evidence form published literature. Laparoscopic cancer surgery specialists operate in strict compliance with oncological principles and well within the evidence based guidelines to produce superior outcomes than open surgery.

Clear guidelines have been laid by reputed world bodies such as SAGES (Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons) and NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, UK) to perform laparoscopic cancer surgeries.

In spite of favourable evidence, not many centres around the world perform laparoscopic cancer surgery because it is technically demanding and requires skill and experience. Hence, currently only highly skilled and equipped centres are able to produce reliable results from laparoscopic surgery.

We also find that sharing results of our laparoscopic cancer surgery patients with those considering surgery helps resolve much of the patient’s anxiety and their families’. In summary, laparoscopic cancer surgery in specialist hands significantly improves quality of life without compromising on long term outcome.