Hand-assisted versus straight laparoscopy for colorectal surgery — a systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose Hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) is an alternative to straight laparoscopy (LAP) in colorectal surgery. Many studies have compared the two in terms of efficacy, complications, and outcomes. This meta-analysis aims to uncover if there are any significant differences in conversion rates, operative times, body mass index (BMI), incision lengths, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and length of stay. Methods Comprehensive searches were performed on databases from their respective inceptions to 16 December 2021, with a manual search performed through Scopus. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies, and case series involving more than 10 patients were included. Results A total of 47 studies were found fitting the inclusion criteria, with 5 RCTs, 41 cohort studies, and 1 case series. Hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery was associated with lower conversion rates (odds ratio [OR] 0.41, 95%CI 0.28–0.60, p < 0.00001), shorter operative times (Mean Difference [MD] − 8.32 min, 95%CI − 14.05– − 2.59, p = 0.004), and higher BMI (MD 0.79, 95%CI 0.46–1.13, p < 0.00001), but it was also associated with longer incision lengths (MD 2.19 cm, 95%CI 1.66–2.73 cm, p < 0.00001), and higher postoperative complication rates (OR 1.15, 95%CI 1.06–1.24, p = 0.0004). Length of stay was not different in HALS as compared to Lap (MD 0.16 days, 95%CI − 0.06–0.38 days, p = 0.16, and intraoperative complications were the same between both techniques. Conclusions Hand-assisted laparoscopy is a suitable alternative to straight laparoscopy with benefits and risks. While there are many cohort studies comparing HALS and LAP, more RCTs would be needed for a better quality of evidence.