[Laparoscopy-assisted colorectal surgery. Early outcome in benign and malignant diseases--a prospective study of 120 patients].

We present our results with laparoscopic-assisted colorectal surgery in 120 patients during the time from January 1993 to September 1996. The types of procedures cover almost the whole spectrum of colorectal surgery. They included hemicolectomies, signmoid resections, low anterior resections, Hartmann closures, proctocolectomies and rectopexies. 127 patients were subjected to laparoscopic operation, 7 needed conversion to open surgery (7% conversion rate). Average operation time was 145 +/- 58 min, length of postoperative stay 12 +/- 4 days. Oral food intake was started at the second day postoperatively without major problems. We observed perioperative complications in 21 cases (17%). There were 5 anastomotic leaks, 4 wound infections, 1 pneumothorax and 2 postoperative bleedings, 4 patients had clinical signs of prolonged bowel paralysis, 2 patients died as a consequence of anastomotic leaks, 2 of other reasons. In the postoperative period we saw a marked faster recovery and a lower complication rate compared to our conventionally operated patients and postoperative pain was less. In cases of malignant disease no rise in rate of recurrence was observed during follow-up (average 18 months) compared to open surgery. Until the results of long-term studies are published laparoscopic procedures should still be restricted to early tumor stages and palliative procedures.