Background
Chagas disease is a frequent cause of acquired megacolon in several countries of Latin America. Several procedures have been described to treat this condition. Recently a report of 147 patients treated with an open rectosigmoidectomy with an ileal loop interposition showed a low rate of complications (8.5 percent) and recurrence (3.1 percent).1
Technique
We present the video of a 42-year-old Latin American man who had a diagnosis of chagasic megacolon and was treated with the technique described by Netinho et al. 1 but with the use of laparoscopy. The patient was placed in a supine modified lithotomy position in Allen stirrups; the monitor was placed near the left leg of the patient, and both the surgeon and the assistant stood at the right side of the patient. Four trocars were used. Exploratory laparoscopy was performed. The proximal third of the rectum, sigmoid, and left colon were fully mobilized. Vascular pedicles were sectioned. The rectum was divided by using a linear laparoscopic cutter. A Pfannensteil incision was made and the colon was proximally divided. An ileal loop was interposed isoperistaltically between the descending colon and the rectum. Both the ileoileal and the ileocolic anastomoses were handsewn, and the distal ileorectal anastomoses were performed with a circular stapler under laparoscopic control. The patient is without symptoms or recurrence one year after the surgery.
Conclusions
Laparoscopic approach allows the easy and correct dissection of the lateral attachments and offers the advantages of a more cosmetic and less painful procedure. Laparoscopic rectosigmoidectomy with ileal loop interposition is a technique that can be performed by laparoscopy with good results and should be an option in the treatment of chagasic megacolon.
Reference
Netinho JG, Cunrath GS, Ronchi LS. Rectosigmoidectomy with ileal loop interposition: a new surgical method for the treatment of chagasic megacolon. Dis Colon Rectum 2002;45:1387–92.
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Video presentation at the 2nd International Congress of Colorectal Surgery, Florida, February 13 to 14, 2007.
An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10350-008-9432-z
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Espin-Basany, E., Vallribera-Valls, F., Lopez-Cano, M. et al. Laparoscopic-Assisted Rectosigmoidectomy with Ileal Loop Interposition. Surgical Treatment of Chagasic Megacolon. Dis Colon Rectum 51, 1421 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10350-008-9275-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10350-008-9275-7