Thirteen-year experience with hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery in colorectal patients

We report outcomes on 324 consecutive cases of hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) in colorectal patients over 13 years performed by a single surgeon.

A prospectively maintained database was used to identify all patients undergoing HALS colorectal procedures for benign or malignant indications from September 2004 to February 2018, at two major tertiary centres in Sydney, Australia.

Median age was 64 years, 51% were female and median body mass index was 26. Colorectal cancer (55%), diverticular disease (13%) and polyp related conditions (13%) were common indications. Anterior resection (65%) and right hemicolectomy (18%) were most commonly performed. Median operative time was 244 min (190-300) and 75% of Gelport incisions were Pfannenstiel. Sixty-three percent of colorectal cancer patients had a T3 or T4 cancer. Median tumour size was 35 mm (25-45). Seven percent required conversion to open and 4% a re-operation in the early post-operative period. Thirty-six percent had a post-operative complication, and 11% were major complications. Follow-up extended to 12.8 years and there were 33 late deaths. Being in a high dependency unit or intensive care unit was significant for late mortality (odds ratio 2.8, 95% confidence interval 1.06-7.78, P = 0.037). Three percent developed an incisional hernia and 6% had small bowel obstruction at long-term follow-up.

HALS is an effective technique for both benign and malignant colorectal indications with the added advantage of tactile feedback and a lower rate of conversion to open.