Table I.

Comparison of the laparoscopic and open group. Demographic and basic oncologic data

Parameter	Laparoscopic		Open		Value of p
	n	%	n	%
Number of patients	53		72
Age [years]:					0.63
Mean	65.4		66.4
Median	65		66
Range	40–85		38–86
Gender:					0.51
Male	34	64.2	42	58.3
Female	19	35.8	30	41.7
BMI [kg/m2]:					0.021
Mean	26.6		28.4
Median	26.2		27.9
Range	19.4–38.2		19.9–41.9
Tumor location:					0.54
Middle rectum (5–10 cm)	28	52.8	34	47.2
Lower rectum (0–5 cm)	25	47.2	38	52.8
Tumor topography:					0.19
Circular	11	20.8	24	34.2
Anterior	10	18.9	19	27.1
Dorsal	13	24.5	9	12.9
Lateral on the right	9	17	9	12.9
Lateral on the left	10	18.9	9	12.9
Clinical stage:					0.17
I	23	43.4	21	29.2
II	8	15.1	21	29.2
III	15	28.3	17	23.6
IV	7	13.2	13	18.1