Efficacy and safety of gasless single-port laparoscopic-assisted radical rectal cancer surgery: A single-center prospective observational study

Abstract Purpose Gasless single-port laparoscopic-assisted surgery (GSLR) has more applications in gynecologic surgery, but its safety and efficacy still need to be explored in rectal cancer surgery. Methods Patients who underwent GSLR surgery and carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum laparoscopic surgery (LR) from June 2017 to June 2022 were collected. General information data of the patients were collected along with the relevant central venous pressure (CVP), peak airway pressure (PIP), postoperative pain scores, T-cell subpopulations and postoperative complications. Results In this study, a total of 186 patients were enrolled, including 90 patients in the GSLR and 96 patients in the LR groups, and no significant differences were observed in the general data of the two groups. The results of the study showed that the CVP and PIP of the GSLR group were significantly lower than those of the LR group during and at the end of the operation (P < 0.05). Also, the GSLR group had lower postoperative pain scores and smaller abdominal incisions than LR (P < 0.05). Similarly, on postoperative day 7, CD3+, CD4 + and CD8 + cell levels resumed more rapidly in the GSLR group than in the LR group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the incidence of postoperative lung infection was also lower in the GSLR group than in the LR group (P < 0.05). Conclusions This study demonstrates that the GSLR procedure is a favorable safety and efficacy profile in rectal cancer and can be used as a new surgical treatment option for rectal cancer patients.