Gasless laparoscopic surgery for ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis:initial experience of 7 cases

We evaluated the data on initial experience of gasless laparoscopic surgery for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).

Seven patients (male/female = 3:4, median age 23, UC/FAP=5:2) underwent gasless laparoscopic total (procto) colectomy. Our basic surgical procedure involved (1) a 6- to 8-cm incision made at the beginning of the operation, (2) the wound pulled upward and/or laterally by retractors, and (3) conventional surgical instruments used through the wound; occasionally laparoscopic assistance and abdominal lifting were employed. The results were compared to those of 7 patients who had undergone conventional open surgery.

Oral intake started earlier (p = 0.03) and C-reactive protein level on POD 4 was lower (p = 0.03) in the gasless group than in the control group. Duration of surgery, blood loss, requirement of analgesia, and morbidity rate were not significantly different between the groups.

Our preliminary results suggest that gasless laparoscopic surgery for UC and FAP is feasible and can be an alternative method for minimally invasive surgery.