General surgical laparoscopic procedures for the "nonlaparologist".
OBJECTIVE
To assess our initial experience with a variety of laparoscopic procedures that can be performed by general surgeons with the basic skills used for laparoscopic cholecystectomy and without advanced laparoscopic expertise.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed a 36-month experience (1991 through 1994) at our institution with a consecutive series of patients who underwent basic laparoscopic surgical procedures but specifically excluding cholecystectomy, appendectomy, herniorrhaphy, and colectomy.


RESULTS
Procedures performed laparoscopically included gastrostomy, jejunostomy, small bowel resection, intra-abdominal and retroperitoneal biopsy, staging of intra-abdominal malignant lesions, and adhesiolysis for relief of small bowel obstruction. During the 3-year study period, 106 patients underwent 107 procedures, 89 of which were successful. Four patients had substantial complications, two of whom underwent surgical repair.


CONCLUSIONS
A spectrum of procedures may be safely performed with the skills learned from laparoscopic cholecystectomy and without the need for advanced laparoscopic skills such as intracorporeal suturing or tying of knots.
D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004766:Enterostomy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome