Laparoscopic colectomy: indications, standardized technique and results after 6 years experience

The aim of the present study was to perform a retrospective study of our experience in performing laparoscopic colon surgery after 6 years experience.

From April 1992 to April 1998, 215 patients underwent colon laparoscopic surgery. There were 121 females and 94 males, whose average age was 66.7 (range: 31-92).

170 laparoscopic procedures were completed out of 215 (79%): 151 resections (22 for a benign lesion and 129 for a malignant one), 4 reversal of Hartmann's procedures, 6 rectopexy, 3 ileotransverstomies and 6 suture of traumatic colon perforation. There were 3 mortalities out of 215 (1.9%). The conversions were 45 out of 215 (20.9%); 22 (10.2%) cases were, however, converted to a laparoscopic facilitated procedure. The most common causes for conversion were the presence of bulky tumors and/or tumors that contaminated the adjacent structures (16/215), adhesions due to previous operations (9/215) and the patient's obesity (8/215). There were 39 complications (18.1%), 10 (4.6%) out of which required reoperation (2 anastomotic fistula, 2 anastomotic leak, 2 anastomotic stenosis, 2 hemorrhage, 1 colic iatrogenic perforation and 1 occlusion to rotation of anastomosis). There were only 2 recurrences (1.3%), 15 months (C2) and 8 months (B2) after the operation for intraoperative technical error. The average number of lymph nodes harvested in resected specimens was 12.8 (range: 1-41), whereas the mean distance of the tumor from the proximal margin of resection was 11.5 cm (range: 5-35), and from the distal margin 7.5 cm (range: 1-25). The average operative time was 165 min (range: 40-360), and the mean hospital stay was 9.2 days (range: 6-40).

A colon resection for a malignant lesion, if performed with the highest respect for the oncologic principles, proves that it is impossible to develop a wall and intraluminal recurrence, which, in our opinion, may be caused by an improper surgical technique. Therefore, neoplastic colon laparoscopic surgery must be the perogative of a few selected and specialized centers.