Does laparoscopy decrease incisional hernia and bowel obstruction rates after rectal cancer surgery?—results of 5 years follow-up in a randomized trial (COLOR II)

In the management of rectal cancer, surgical resection remains the most important management modality in terms of curative resection, staging, prognosis and subsequent treatment decisions (1). However rectal cancer surgery is technically challenging because of the limited boundaries and the complex nature of the pelvis with close proximity to the presacral veins, autonomic nerves (2).