Laparoscopic-assisted Colectomy and Abdominoperineal Resection

Abstract

Colon resection is a natural extension of laparoscopic techniques that were applied so successfully to cholecystectomy. Preliminary studies have shown the same excellent patient acceptance and accelerated postoperative course as in laparoscopic cholecystectomy [1,2]. The development of laparoscopic-assisted colectomy began with benign lesions on the right side, and as experience increased, the technique was applied to all portions of the colon and rectum. Vascular inflammatory and neoplastic lesions are amenable to the technique, though careful follow-up of laparoscopic-assisted colectomy for malignancy is ongoing to ensure equivalent locoregional clearance of tumor and recurrence rates.