Short-term outcomes of laparoscopic versus open surgery for low rectal cancer

In recent decades, laparoscopic surgery has been increasingly performed to treat rectal cancer. However, it remains challenging to achieve oncological outcomes equivalent to open surgery, particularly for low rectal cancer. The randomized non-inferiority LASRE trial, in 22 Chinese centers performing more than 30 laparoscopic TME surgeries per year, evaluated short-term outcomes of laparoscopic versus open surgery for low rectal cancer. The trial showed that laparoscopic surgery, if performed by experienced surgeons, provided pathologic outcomes comparable to open surgery, with a higher sphincter preservation rate and favorable postoperative recovery.