1995 Volume 28 Issue 10 Pages 2042-2046
Laparoscopic colectomy has been associated with earlier recovery and increased patient comfort like other kinds of laparoscopic surgery. We successfully performed a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy in an 18-year-old patient with remakable stenosis of the ascending colon due to Crohn's disease. After intraabdominal insufflation and introduction of 5 access ports, the terminal ileum and right sided colon were completely mobilized. The right side colon was comletely resected intracorporeally, and then a so-called functional end-to-end anastomosis was made by Endocutter. Postoperatively, bowel function and walking ability promptly returned to normal, and no complications were noted. This experience with laparoscopic right hemicolectomy leads us to believe that it will have a useful role in the surgical management of Crohn's disease. However, intracorporeal anastomosis may deserve further study.
