LAPAROSCOPIC COLORECTAL SURGERY;

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of laparoscopiccolorectal procedures performed in a district general hospital within 5 years period and tocompare it with patients who had an open procedure during the same period. Patients andMethods: Data were collected retrospectively from patient’s case notes retrieved from hospitalmedical records. One hundred consecutive cases of laparoscopic colonic resection includingboth benign and malignant diseases between 2005 and 2010 were analysed for perioperativeand long term outcome and were compared with consecutive one hundred cases of opencolectomies. Results: Overall conversion rate was 6% for laparoscopic group. The mean majorcomplication rates in laparoscopic group were 5% (3% in open group) and minor complicationsoccurred in 18% (28% in open group). There was no mortality in either group. The overallmorbidity rate was 23% in laparoscopic group as compared to 31% in open colectomy group. In64 cases, curative laparoscopic resections were performed for colorectal malignancy while 72patients had resections for cancer in open group. The mean lymph node harvest in laparoscopicgroup was 13.2 nodes as compared to 12.4 in open group; no port-site recurrence wasdocumented at a mean follow-up of 26 months. Average duration of surgery was 180 minutes ascompared to 140 minutes in open group. Mean postoperative hospital stay was reduced from 13days to 7 days. (Open Vs. Lap). There was no statistically significant difference in majorcomplication rates and mortality. Conclusions: Laparoscopic colorectal surgery is safe andfeasible in elective colorectal cases and reduces the hospital stay without any added morbidity.