Laparoscopic-assisted reversal of Hartmann's procedure: a simplified technique and audit of twelve cases.

ABSTRACT Laparoscopic-assisted reversal of Hartmann's procedure was performed in 12 patients over a 2-year period. The group comprised three patients with colonic carcinoma and nine with diverticular disease, their mean age being 62 years (range 40–73). In all twelve cases, intestinal continuity was successfully restored, without conversion to open surgery, in a median anesthetic time of 165 min (range 110–240). One patient required a temporary defunctioning colostomy and two other patients had three complications. The median postoperative hospital stay was 8 days (range 5–12). We report a retrospective audit of this consecutive series of 12 patients, showing that laparoscopic-assisted reversal of Hartmann's is technically feasible. We also give details of the morbidity associated with the technique.