Clinical outcomes of single incision laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer: A propensity score‐matched analysis between well‐experienced and novice surgeons

Abstract Background Single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) is a recent advancement in minimally invasive techniques for colorectal cancer (CRC). However, SILS is a technically challenging procedure for novice surgeons. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes of SILS for CRC performed by novice surgeons compared with those performed by well‐experienced surgeons. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 1004 consecutive patients with stage I‐IV CRC who underwent SILS between May 2009 and December 2018, using propensity score‐matched analysis. Results After propensity score‐matching, we enrolled 344 patients (n = 172 in each group). Before matching, significant group‐dependent differences were observed in terms of age (P = 0.034) and tumor location (P