LAPAROSCOPIC ASSISTED RIGHT HEMICOLECTOMY WITH VALTRAC BAR (BIOFRAGMENTABLE ANASTOMOTIC RING) ILEOTRANSVERSE ANASTOMOSIS

Laparoscopic techniques have been employed in a group of medically com promised patients requiring right hemicolectomy, permitting a shorter and lower placed abdominal incision than may have been expected with a conventional surgical approach. In eight patients requiring right hem icolectomy, full mobilization of the right colon from the caecum to th e proximal transverse colon was performed laparoscopically. Resection and anastomosis then proceeded through a small right-sided transverse abdominal incision. End to end ileotransverse anastomosis was performe d in each instance employing the Valtrac BAR (Biofragmentable Anastomo tic Ring) compressive anastomotic technique. The average operating tim e was 133 min. There was no mortality, but one patient developed pulmo nary complications and three developed minor wound infections. An addi tional three patients developed urinary tract infections. There were n o anastomotic complications. The average postoperative stay was 10 day s. This study has indicated that laparoscopic techniques can be succes sfully applied to large bowel surgery, and may be of benefit to high r isk patients.