Laparoscopic treatment of colonic polyps. A review

Laparoscopy is now utilized to surgically treat a wide variety of intra-abdominal disorders and an increasing number of colorectal procedures can be performed with these techniques. Laparoscopic surgery for colorectal disorders has gained increased popularity among many general and colorectal surgeons. The advantages of laparoscopic and laparoscopic assisted segmental resection for endoscopically irretrievable colonic polyps seems evident. Potential advantages include increased pain, decreased length of ileus, hospitalization, and ultimately cost, improved cosmesis, and in the longer term, potentially decreased adhesions and bowel obstructions due to adhesions. These goals can be achieved while still performing an oncologically appropriate operation. However, it is unclear as to whether invasive malignant polyps can be adequately treated using laparoscopic techniques. As the current generation of surgical trainees employ laparoscopic techniques for a variety of intraabdominal conditions, this method may become favored for managing endoscopically irretrievable polyps. In this article, we will discuss techniques and review the published data for the laparoscopic excision of colonic polyps.