Laparoscopic surgery for colorectal polyps

Refael Itah, Ron Greenberg, Smadar Nir, Eliad Karin, Yehuda Skornick, Shmuel Avital*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Size, location, and type of colonic polyps may prevent colonoscopic polypectomy. Laparoscopic colectomy may serve as an optimal alternative in these patients. We assessed the perioperative outcome and the risk for cancer in patients operated on laparoscopically for colonic polyps not amenable to colonoscopic resection. Methods: An evaluation was conducted of our prospective accumulated data of a consecutive series of patients operated on for colonic polyps. Results: Sixty-four patients underwent laparoscopic resection for colonic polyps during a 6-year period. This group comprised 18% of all our laparoscopic colorectal procedures. Forty-six percent were males, mean age was 71. Most of the polyps (66%) were located on the right side. No deaths occurred. Conversion was necessary in 3 patients (4.6%). Significant complications occurred in 3 patients (4.6%). Nine patients (14%) were found to have malignancy. Three of them had lymph-node involvement. No difference existed in polyp size between malignant and nonmalignant lesions. Conclusions: Laparoscopic colectomy for endoscopic nonresectable colonic polyps is a safe, simple procedure as reflected by the low rate of conversions and complications. However, invasive cancer may be found in the final pathology following surgery. This mandates a strict adherence to surgical oncological principles. Polyp size cannot predict the risk of malignancy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)555-559
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons
Volume13
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Colorectal cancer
  • Colorectal surgery
  • Laparoscopy
  • Polyps

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