Does a laparoscopic approach to total abdominal colectomy and proctocolectomy offer advantages?
GROUND: Controversy exists regarding the feasibility, safety, and outcomes of laparoscopic total abdominal colectomy (LTAC) and laparoscopic total proctocolectomy (LTPC). The object of this study was to assess the outcomes of LTAC and LTPC and compare them with those of institutional open procedure used as controls. METHODS: Perioperative data and surgical outcomes of patients who underwent TAC or TPC were analyzed and compared retrospectively at a single institution between 1991 and 1999. RESULTS: A total of 73 TACs performed during a 9-year period were evenly distributed between laparoscopic (n = 37) and open (n = 36) approaches. There were no significant differences between patient groups with respect to genders, age, weight, proportion of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, and the number of patients undergoing ileorectal anastomosis. The median operative time was longer with the laparoscopic method (270 vs 178 min; p = 0.001), but the median length of hospital stay was signi
