Laparoscopic left colon resection for diverticular disease

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to review our experience with laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy for diverticular disease. METHODS: All patients presenting with acute or chronic diverticulitis, obstruction, abscess, or fistula were included. Symptomatic diverticular disease was the main surgical indication (95%). RESULTS: Between March 1992 and August 1999 170 consecutive patients underwent surgery. Of these, 21 patients (12%) had significant obesity, with body mass index (BMI) greater than 30. The average length of surgery was 141 +/- 36 min. In 163 patients (96%), the procedure was performed solely with the laparoscope. The nasogastric tube was removed on postoperative day 2 +/- 1.9, and oral feeding was started on postoperative day 3.4 +/- 2.1. The average length of hospital stay after surgery was 8.5 +/- 3.7 days. During the first postoperative month, there were no deaths. However, 11 patients (6.5%) had surgical complications: 5 anastomotic leaks (2.9%), 1 intraabdominal abscess (0.6%), and 3 wound infections (1.7%). There were four reinterventions (2.4%), with two diverting colostomies. Secondarily, 10 anastomotic stenoses (5.9%) were observed. Eight patients required a reintervention: seven anastomotic resections by open laparotomy and one terminal colostomy. Seven patients (4.1%) reported retrograde ejaculation, and one reported impotence. CONCLUSIONS: The feasibility of the laparoscopic approach to diverticular disease is established with a conversion rate of 4%, a low incidence of acute septic complications (5.3%), and a mortality rate of 0%. Therefore, laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy has become our procedure of choice in the treatment of diverticular disease.