[Colorectal laparoscopy in the Canary Islands. A multicenter study of 144 patients].
BACKGROUND
To analyze the short-term results of laparoscopic colorectal surgery (LCRS) in the Canary Islands.


METHODS
A questionnaire was sent to hospitals performing laparoscopy and retrospective data on demographic, perioperative and pathological variables in 144 patients who underwent LCRS between May 1993 and May 2003 were obtained.


RESULTS
Sixty-five men and 79 women underwent colon (n=126) and rectal (n=18) surgery in the last 16 months of the study period. The most frequently performed procedure was sigmoidectomy in 85 patients (59%). The most frequent diagnosis was colon adenocarcinoma in 73 patients (50%), followed by diverticular disease in 36 patients (25%). The mean values of the variables studied were: body mass index, 27.3 (range, 22-35); operating time, 175 min (range, 60-255); blood loss, 183.6 ml (range, 50-500). Peristalsis reinitiated at 45 h; oral diet was introduced at 67 h and the overall mean length of hospital stay was 7.8 days (range, 3-30). The length of hospital stay was significantly longer in patients with complications (14.5 vs 6.4; p <.01). There were 7 conversions (4.86%). There were no perioperative deaths. The overall morbidity rate was 28%. The most frequent early complication was surgical wound infection in 9 patients (6.2%). Anastomotic leak was detected in 5 patients (3.4%).


CONCLUSIONS
LCRS has been shown to be a safe and effective technique that has recently increased in the centers surveyed. The factor with the greatest influence on length of hospital stay was the development of postoperative complications.
Arteaga
Iván
I
Servicio de Cirugía General y Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, España. ivanhuc@hispavista.com
Martín
Antonio
A
Díaz
Hermógenes
H
Alonso
Marcos
M
Ramírez
José
J
Gómez
Gonzalo
G
Rius
Josep
J
Moneva
Enrique
E
Marchena
Joaquín
J
Soriano
Arturo
A
Carrillo
Angel
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003107:Colorectal Surgery / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires