In patients with stage IV colorectal cancer, removing the primary tumor may prevent future tumor-related complications, enhance quality of life, and reduce the likelihood of emergency colostomies. Laparoscopic surgery offers a minimally invasive alternative that can potentially lower perioperative risks in this high-risk patient group. This study evaluates short-term surgical outcomes in 17 patients with stage IV colorectal cancer who had unresectable liver metastases and/or pulmonary or peritoneal metastases. Delays in chemotherapy due to postoperative complications remain a significant concern affecting survival. A retrospective review was conducted on 17 patients who underwent laparoscopic palliative colorectal surgery. Data were collected on perioperative complications, hospital stay duration, intraoperative blood loss, transfusion needs, operative time, and type of procedure performed.
Laparoscopic surgery included 10 sigmoid resections, five left colectomies, and two right colectomies. Fourteen patients also underwent liver biopsies during the same procedure. No deaths or perioperative complications were reported, yielding a 0% mortality and morbidity rate. The median hospital stay was 5.3 days, the median blood loss was 47.9 mL, and a total of three units of blood were transfused (median 0.17 units per patient). The median operative time was 130.2 minutes. Laparoscopic palliative resection in stage IV colorectal cancer is associated with excellent early outcomes, minimal surgical trauma, and rapid recovery, allowing timely initiation of postoperative chemotherapy.
