Research shows that peephole surgery provides benefits in treating colorectal cancer

For rectal cancer, patients are usually first treated with radiation and chemotherapy before surgery. In contrast, colon cancer patients usually go straight to surgery, but often receive chemotherapy afterward.

– In the past, operations were mainly performed with open techniques, but new techniques offer advantages such as less bleeding, less pain and faster recovery. Today, the majority of surgeons in Sweden use peephole surgery, which is a minimally invasive technique, which means that the operation is performed with minimal impact on the patient, says Kaveh Dehlaghi Jadid, a specialist in surgery at Örebro University. Hospital and former doctoral student at Örebro University.

Peephole surgery can be performed either using the classic laparoscopic technique or with the help of robot-assisted technology.

– We have seen many advantages with the new technology, as the treatment time has been shortened so that patients can go home earlier, he says.

The research results are evidence that the shift to minimally invasive surgery that has occurred in Sweden has been positive and has led to better outcomes.

In some analyses, the research was also able to show a better overall survival rate for patients who underwent peephole surgery. Locally advanced tumors were slightly more likely to undergo surgery with an open technique, in which the patient undergoes a large incision in the abdomen.

Socioeconomic factors influence the choice of surgical method

– In my thesis, the influence of socio-economic factors on the choice of surgical method was also studied. The results showed that patients with higher education or income had an increased likelihood of receiving minimally invasive surgery. Women are also more likely to use this method, and this may have something to do with their wider pelvis, he explains.

In order to verify how the surgical method was chosen, Kaveh Dehlaghi Jadid's research team wants to conduct further studies. If these studies show a continuing influence of social and economic factors, there is reason to take measures to reduce these potential differences.

– In Sweden we have public care and everyone should receive equal care regardless of social and economic factors.