Community hospital laparoscopic colectomy

Laparoscopic colectomy is controversial. Experience in community hospitals with 56 patients over a 5-year period is reported. Average patient age was 69 years and the indication for surgery was colorectal cancer (35), diverticulitis (12), and other benign conditions (9). Procedures performed were right colectomy (17), sigmoid colectomy (16), low anterior resection (14), left colectomy (3), abdominoperineal resection (2), and colostomy closure (4). No patient died or required conversion to open surgery. Seven patients (12.5%) had post-operative complications. Mean length of stay was 4.3 days, with 3.8 days postoperative stay. Median follow up of cancer patients was 36 months and actuarial 5 year survival was 75% overall (Duke's A & B: 94%, C & D: 46%). There were no port or operative site metastases. Laparoscopic colectomy performed in community hospitals has acceptable morbidity, length of stay and cancer survival.