title: Single access laparoscopic left hemicolectomy with or without inferior mesenteric artery preservation: our preliminary experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We report our preliminary experience in single access laparoscopic left hemicolectomy (SALLH) with or without inferior mesenteric artery preservation, showing the results of a selected group of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective case series enclosed all patients operated between October 2009 and June 2012 of a left hemicolectomy with single laparoscopic access for benign and malignant diseases. The mean follow-up was 18 months. Intraoperative and postoperative results were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This retrospective case series enclosed 24 patients. Mean operative time was 157.8 min. The mean final skin incision length was 3.65 cm. All operations were completed by a single access laparoscopic approach. There were no conversion or intraoperative mortality. There were no required any intraoperative blood transfusion. Only three cases of postoperative complication were registered. The mean flatus canalization was two days. The mean discharge time was seven days. At a mean 18-month follow-up there were no incisional hernia or deaths.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As best of our knowledge, we report one of the largest experience gained in Italy about SALLH. We think that although SALC could be safe and feasible, it cannot be considered as a "new standard" procedure used by anyone. In contrast we retain that it is mandatory that SALC continued to be evaluated into larger multicentric RCT.
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Vascular and Thoracic Surgery, "Federico II" University, Naples, Italy - umbertobracale@gmail.com.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bracale
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lazzara
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Merola
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Andreuccetti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barone
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pignata
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D017537:Mesenteric Artery, Inferior / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009926:Organ Preservation; D012189:Retrospective Studies