Single-incision laparoscopic ileoproctostomy for chronic constipation

A 56-year-old woman who had undergone cesarean section thirty-five years ago and appendectomy forty years ago was referred to our department for surgical treatment of chronic constipation of over thirty years duration. She underwent laparoscopic ileoproctostomy using a single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) in July 2009. After laparoscopic mobilization of the ileocecal portion, the terminal ileum was transected by a stapler. Ileoproctostomy was performed by a circular stapler inserted transanally after the placement of an anvil on the ileal stump. The duration of the operation was 90 minutes and perioperative blood loss was less than 10mL. Her postoperative course was uneventful and she was discharged ten days after the operation. After discharge her bowel habits have been regular without any laxatives. SILS has been performed since the late 1990s for a wide variety of surgical procedures. To our knowledge however, this is the first report of ileoproctostomy using SILS for chronic constipation.