Laparoscopic surgery in the management of inflammatory bowel disease

The role of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of various upper and lower gastrointestinal disorders is still under investigation. However, a variety of laparoscopic procedures may be applied in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

We present our initial results of laparoscopic and laparoscopic-assisted management of IBD in 72 consecutive patients (37 women and 35 men; mean age 36 years, range 20 to 79). The indications for surgery included: terminal ileitis in 29 patients, mucosal ulcerative colitis in 23 patients, Crohn's colitis in 11 patients, severe perianal Crohn's disease in 4 patients, duodenal Crohn's disease in 3 patients, Crohn's rectovaginal fistula in 1 patient, and rectourethral fistula in 1 patient. The procedures performed included: total abdominal colectomy (TAC) in 30 patients (22 with total proctocolectomy with ileoanal reservoir, 6 with TAC with ileorectal anastomosis, and 2 with TAC with end ileostomy), ileocolic resection in 30 patients, diverting loop ileostomy in 6 patients, closure of an end ileostomy as an ileorectal anastomosis in 3 patients who already underwent a TAC with end ileostomy, and duodenal bypass gastrojejunostomy in 3 patients.

There were 16 complications in 13 (18%) patients: 3 enterotomies, 4 episodes of bleeding, 3 pelvic abscesses, 2 intestinal obstructions, 2 prolonged ileus, 1 anastomotic leak, and 1 efferent loop obstruction after gastrojejunostomy. However, only 3 patients required laparotomy for morbidity, and there was no mortality. In 7 (10%) patients, the laparoscopic procedure was converted to a laparotomy due to a large inflammatory mass with fistula in 4 patients, bleeding in 2 patients, and an enterotomy in 1 patient. The mean operating time was 2.9 hours (range 0.7 to 6) and the mean length of hospital stay was 6.5 days (range 3 to 19). When compared with ileocolic resection, total colectomy was associated with higher morbidity (30% versus 10%, P < 0.05) and longer hospitalization (8.7 days [range 4 to 19] versus 5.2 days [range 3 to 7], respectively; P < 0.05).

According to this initial experience, laparoscopic surgery is a versatile and effective modality in the surgical management of inflammatory bowel disease in selected patients. However, laparoscopic total colectomy is associated with higher morbidity when compared with ileocolic resection.