Use of laparoscopic techniques in colorectal surgery. Preliminary study.

This study evaluated the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic bowel surgery performed by colorectal surgeons not previously experienced in laparoscopic biliary or appendiceal surgery.Thirty-two patients underwent ileocolic resection/anastomosis (n = 12), loop ileostomy (n = 7), colostomy (n = 4), ileostomy takedown/ileorectal anastomosis (n = 3), subtotal colectomy/ileorectal anastomosis (n = 2), sigmoid resection (n = 2), or other procedures (n = 2). No curative cancer surgery was undertaken.Time to first bowel movement was one to eight (median, four) days. Length of stay ranged from 4 to 11 (median, 6) days. There were no major complications seen in follow-up from 6 to 15 (median, 7) months after surgery.Large intestinal and distal ileal surgery using laparoscopic techniques, performed by surgeons with training only in laparoscopic intestinal surgery, is feasible and safe. Faster recovery and need for less postoperative analgesia in laparoscopic surgery compared with conventional surgery cannot be surmised from this study. A randomized study design is needed to evaluate many of the differences between conventional and laparoscopic intestinal surgery.