Laparoscopic colorectal procedures: a multicenter Brazilian experience

An evaluation of the results of the Brazilian experience in colorectal laparoscopic procedures in a multicenter prospective protocol done by the Brazilian Society of Colo-Proctology is presented. From December 1991 to August 1998, 1,161 patients (583 men and 578 women; mean age, 49.8 years), were operated on laparoscopically. Most of the procedures (40.5%) were for cancer, and the most common procedure was anterior resection (22.5%). The mean operative time was 189 minutes (3.1 hours). There were 42 (3.6%) perioperative complications; visceral injuries were the most common (1.4%). Conversions occurred in 122 (10.5%) cases. There were 148 (12.7%) postoperative complications; wound infections were the most common (5.2%). A liquid diet was started at a mean time of 1.4 days after the operation, and the mean hospitalization period was 6.4 days.