Laparoscopic colon resection and intracorporeal hand-sewn anastomosis.

The application of laparoscopic surgical techniques to colonic surgery is restricted to selected cases and to rather few surgical centers. On the one hand, the disadvantages of the open approach involves the sizable laparotomy incision for mobilization of the viscera, especially if the colonic flexures are to be mobilized. On the other hand, in the minimally invasive approach the extent of dissection requires additional skills and a well honed endoscopic surgical team is needed especially if laparoscopic reconstruction of the large colon is to be accomplished. The teamwork is more critical for colon procedures than for laparoscopic gallbladder surgery.