[Indications for laparoscopic surgery of the large intestine]

Laparoscopic colon resection is feasible but not standardized regarding indication and surgical procedure. Indications are mainly benign diseases (diverticulitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and sessile dysplastic polyps or adenomas). Rare indications are benign tumors, angiodysplasia of the colon and dolichocolon. Laparoscopic rectopexy and sutural closure of iatrogenic colon perforation have minimal invasive indication, too. Indication for laparoscopic colon resection for malign tumors in T1-stage is still unclear. Use of minimal invasive procedures for palliative reasons (construction of colostomy or bypass anastomoses in malign tumors) is appropriate. In 32 laparoscopic bowel operations we found no lethality. In 5 cases early conversions to laparotomy were necessary. Postoperatively following complications occurred: 1 intraabdominal bleeding, 1 stenosis of anastomosis and 1 wound infection.