title: [Results of laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of diverticular disease of the colon].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The laparoscopic approach is an alternative for the elective treatment of diverticular colon disease (DCD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the results of patients electively operated for DCD using a laparoscopic technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data of patients with DCD operated using laparoscopy at the Catholic University of Chile Clinical Hospital were prospectively recorded from January 1999 to August 2006. Indications for surgery were repetitive crises of acute diverticulitis, the persistence of the symptoms or anatomic deformity after the first crisis and complicated diverticulitis (Hinchey 1-2) that responded to the medical treatment. The laparoscopic technique used five ports and the surgical specimen was extracted through a suprapubic approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and six patients aged 32 to 82 years (49% females) were operated in the study period. Fifty five percent had a previous abdominal surgery. The mean operative time was 213 minutes (range: 135-360). Four patients were converted to open surgery (3.7%). One or more early post-operative complications were observed in five patients (4.7%). The mean time for passing gases and reinitiate liquid diet was 1.7 and 2.4 days respectively. The median post operative stay after surgery was 4 days. There was no operative mortality. Mean follow-up time was 27 months and only one patient (0.9%) had a new episode of acute diverticular disease, with a satisfactory response to medical treatment. No patient has developed bowel obstruction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The laparoscopic approach is a safe alternative in the elective surgical treatment of DCD.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Coloproctología, Clínica Las Condes, Santiago, Chile. flopez@clinicalascondes.cl
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: López-Köstner
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zárate
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pinedo
authors.forename: María E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kronberg
authors.forename: Javiera
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pardo