Laparoscopic colorectal surgery - results from 200 patients

Area of Science:

• Colorectal Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Laparoscopic surgery is increasingly adopted for colorectal diseases, both benign and malignant.
• Evaluating short-term outcomes is crucial for assessing the efficacy and safety of this approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the short-term results of a consecutive series of laparoscopic colorectal procedures.
• To assess outcomes including operative duration, conversion rates, hospital stay, morbidity, and mortality.

Main Methods:

• A prospective database was maintained for elective laparoscopic colorectal surgeries performed by a single surgeon.
• Key outcome measures included operative time, conversion to open surgery, length of hospital stay, complication rates, and lymph node yield.

Main Results:

• 200 patients underwent laparoscopic colorectal procedures (116 malignancies). Median operating time was 120 minutes, with a 5% conversion rate to open surgery.
• Median lymph node harvest was 21 for malignancies, with no positive resection margins. Two deaths and 29 significant complications (14.5%) were recorded.
• Median postoperative hospital stay was 4 days, with a 6.5% re-admission rate within 30 days.

Conclusions:

• Laparoscopic colorectal surgery is a viable option for a majority of benign and malignant conditions.
• The procedure is associated with low rates of conversion and complications, alongside a reduced hospital stay.