Totally laparoscopic colectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis achieved using a laparoscopic linear stapler: experience of a single institute.

Purpose: Laparoscopic colonic surgery is now widely accepted. We assessed the safety and effectiveness of using a total intracorporeal surgical strategy to perform intracorporeal functional end-to-end anastomosis with an endoscopic linear stapler to treat colon cancer.
Methods: Forty-three selected patients underwent elective laparoscopic colon resection for carcinoma. A total intracorporeal colon resection was performed in all patients, using a functional end-to-end anastomosis with an endoscopic linear stapler.
Results: Good results were achieved in all 43 patients, none of whom required conversion to open surgery with extracorporeal anastomosis. There have been no intraoperative complications related to this technique and no instances of postoperative anastomotic leakage, intra-abdominal abscess, or wound infection.
Conclusion: Intracorporeal functional end-to-end anastomosis using a linear stapler can be performed safely and easily for the resection of any part of the colon. We consider it an effective modality for totally laparoscopic colon resection. Favorable results have been achieved by this method, particularly for small tumors, since natural-orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery remains a challenging method to perform.