LAPAROSCOPIC-ASSISTED SIGMOID COLECTOMY AND LOW ANTERIOR RESECTION

Laparoscopic-assisted sigmoid colectomy or lon anterior resection was undertaken in 30 selected patients. The median age was 51 (range, 30-8 5) years. Eight patients had previous abdominal surgery: four hysterec tomies, two appendectomies, and two cholecystectomies. There was no mo rtality. Complications occurred in three patients. One patient develop ed a wound infection, there was one iliac artery injury, and one posto perative bleed, which did not require transfusion. Eighteen patients w ere operated on for primary cancer of the colon and 12 patients for be nign disease. Technical aspects are described in detail. The average h ospital stay was four days with most patients receiving oral analgesic s by the second postoperative day. Laparoscopic colon resection can be an alternative to open surgery.