title: Laparoscopic-assisted bowel surgery.
abstract: The use of laparoscopic surgical techniques is now being applied to a variety of operations traditionally performed in an open fashion. Twenty patients underwent laparoscopic-guided large and small bowel surgery at our institution from March 1991 to April 1992. The indications for surgery included polyps, obstruction, bleeding, and perforation, and pathologic diagnoses included benign polyps, lipomas, inflammatory bowel disease, perforation of a jejunal diverticulum, colonic arteriovenous malformations, and adenocarcinoma. Mobilization of the colon, ligation of the mesentery, and closure of the mesenteric defect were performed using the laparoscopic equipment. One trocar site was enlarged to 3 cm to deliver the bowel through the abdominal wall. All anastomoses were hand-sewn. Postoperative hospitalization ranged from 2 to 31 days (median, five days). No mortality was noted, and morbidity was 20 percent. We conclude that laparoscopic-guided bowel surgery is technically feasible and should translate into shorter hospitalization and less patient discomfort.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Scott & White Clinic, Temple, Texas 76508.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Scoggin
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Frazee
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hendricks
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Symmonds
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D007422:Intestines / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications