LAPAROSCOPIC COLECTOMY

Abstract

F ollowing the success and wide implementation of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, reports on the use of laparoscopy for colon resections soon appeared. Unfortunately, due to initial concerns regarding the oncologic quality of the operation and reports of port site implants, there was hesitance in the application of laparoscopy to colon and rectal cancer. Between 1994 and 2004 there were multiple randomized control trials conducted to study the use of laparoscopy for the treatment of colon cancer. The indications of laparoscopic colectomy are essentially the same as the indications for an open procedures , and can be subgrouped into colectomy for benign as inflamatory bowl diseases (ulcerative colitis & chron's disease), diverticular disease, rectal prolapse and colonic dismotility. and malignant diseases as polyps not amenable for colonscopic resection, colorectal cancer, and hereditary colon cancer syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis, hereditary non polyposis colorectal cancer. Laparoscopic colectomy for malignant disease is widely used and has been readily accepted as being more advantageous than the open approach. Its benefits include less intraoperative blood loss, less postoperative pain, shorter hospital stay, faster return to work, and fewer adhesions formation, short duration of postoperative paralytic ileus. concerns about port-site recurrence and adequacy of the extent of resection have been dismissed.