Laparoscopic-assisted colectomy for diverticular sigmoiditis. A single-surgeon prospective study of 65 patients.

BACKGROUND

The feasibility of laparoscopic colectomy has now been established, but little attention has been paid to its indications. Therefore, we undertook a prospective study of the laparoscopic treatment of diverticular disease of the colon.

METHODS

A total of 65 patients were operated on by a single surgeon between July 1993 and March 1998. Indications for operation included a previous acute attack of diverticulitis, abscess, or colovesical fistula. All procedures were laparoscopic-assisted.

RESULTS

Three conversions (4. 6%) were necessary. There were no postoperative mortalities. Nine postoperative complications occurred (17%); one of them (1.5%) was directly related to the operation and required reoperation. Patients passed flatus after 2.2 +/- 1.2 days (range, 1-9), and oral feeding was started after 2.6 +/- 1.3 days (range, 1-9). The hospital stay was 7.6 +/- 3 days (range, 5-19). No patient with >6 months of follow-up (40 patients) had any complaints related to diverticular disease.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that this procedure is as safe as the traditional approach and provides superior comfort and cosmesis with the same long-term outcome.