Predictors of conversion in laparoscopic-assisted colectomy for colorectal cancer and clinical outcomes

This study investigated risk factors and impact of open conversion on outcomes of 207 consecutive patients who had laparoscopic resection of colorectal cancer at our institution. Conversion occurred in 15.9% of patients, mostly because of invasion to adjacent structures (30.3%), bulky tumor (21.2%), and adhesions (18.2%). Converted patients had significant larger tumor size, advanced stage, increased operative blood loss, time to walk independently, prolonged hospital stay, number of massive hemorrhage, ileus, anastomotic hemorrhage, abdominal hemorrhage, peritonitis/septic shock, and wound infection than completed laparoscopy patients. Factors associated with conversion were obesity [relative risk (RR)=6.92; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.7-28.09], date of operation (RR=0.37; 95% CI, 0.15-0.95), advanced tumor stage (RR=7.67; 95% CI; 1.19-49.2), size (RR=1.97; 95% CI, 1.42-2.72), and rectum location (RR=2.73; 95% CI, 1.09-6.84). Converted patients had worse cumulative disease-free (P < 0.001) and overall survival (P < 0.001) than laparoscopic completed patients