title: Role of laparoscopy in colorectal surgery. A prospective evaluation of 200 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the role of laparoscopic-assisted surgery in patients presenting for routine colorectal surgical procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred consecutive patients were assessed for the possible use of laparoscopic surgery. The decision regarding suitability of the patient for the procedure was made by the operator. For the purpose of analysis, patients were assigned to open, converted, and laparoscopic groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-five of 200 patients were considered appropriate for laparoscopic surgery, 62 (65.3 percent) being successfully completed. These completed operations included right colectomy (24/30), sigmoid colectomy (22/36), appendectomy (9/10), anterior resection (3/8), abdominoperineal resection (3/5), and left colectomy (1/2). Complications attributable to laparoscopy were infrequent (6.3 percent) and were not responsible for any deaths. Patients in the laparoscopic group required less analgesia, tolerated oral intake earlier, and were discharged from the hospital earlier than those who were converted or who had open procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic-assisted surgery is safe, effective, and applicable to many of the standard colorectal procedures. Observed benefits include less postoperative pain and shorter hospital stay.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Beart
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goes
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Schlinkert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000698:Analgesia; D001062:Appendectomy; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D002648:Child; D003082:Colectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012809:Colon, Sigmoid / Q000601:surgery; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*