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Initial experience with 150 cases of laparoscopic assisted colectomy
1Department of Surgery, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, 200 15th Ave East, Seattle, WA 98112, USA. lauter.d@ghc.org
American Journal of Surgery
|July 13, 2001
Summary
Laparoscopic assisted colectomy (LAC) is safe and offers better quality of life than open surgery. Complications and conversion rates decreased with experience, suggesting LAC may become the standard for colon resection.
Area of Science:
- Colorectal Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Surgical Outcomes
Background:
- Laparoscopic assisted colectomy (LAC) faces limited adoption despite a decade of reports.
- Concerns include unproven benefits and procedural complexity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the initial experience with 150 laparoscopic assisted colectomies.
- To assess the safety, efficacy, and learning curve of LAC.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 150 consecutive laparoscopic assisted colectomies.
- Analysis of operative times, conversion rates, complications, and length of stay.
Main Results:
- Mean operative time varied by procedure type.
- 12% conversion rate; 8 major and 16 minor complications.
- No port site metastases; complication and conversion rates decreased over time.
Conclusions:
- LAC can be safely performed, offering superior quality of life outcomes compared to open colectomy.
- The learning curve is an ongoing process, not a fixed number of procedures.
- LAC is proposed to become the gold standard for colon resection.