Laparoscopic Resection for Colorectal Cancer: A USA Perspective

Laparoscopic surgery has gained in popularity in the last few years. As the technology for minimally invasive surgery improves and surgeons' laparoscopic skills progress, more advanced surgical procedures are being attempted with the laparoscope. The role of the laparoscope in the field of colon and rectal surgery is still being defined. Of particular controversy is the issue of laparoscopic colon resection for malignancy. The long-term effect of laparoscopic colectomy on either local or distant recurrence is not obvious in the immediate postoperative period, and how the use of the laparoscope for resection of colorectal malignancy will affect survival is unknown. This chapter reviews the published "USA Experience" with laparoscopic resection for colorectal cancer.