Controversy of hand-assisted laparoscopic colorectal surgery

Laparoscopically assisted colorectal procedures are time-consuming and technically demanding and hence have a long steep learning curve. In the technical demand, surgeons need to handle a long mobile organ, the colon, and have to operate on multiple abdominal quadrants, most of the time with the need to secure multiple mesenteric vessels. Therefore, a new surgical innovation called hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) was introduced in the mid 1990s as a useful alternative to totally laparoscopic procedures. This hybrid operation allows the surgeon to introduce the non-dominant hand into the abdominal cavity through a special hand port while maintaining the pneumoperitoneum. A hand in the abdomen can restore the tactile sensation which is usually lacking in laparoscopic procedures. It also improves the eye-to-hand coordination, allows the hand to be used for blunt dissection or retraction and also permits rapid control of unexpected bleeding. All of those factors can contribute tremendously to reducing the operative time. Moreover, this procedure is also considered as a hybrid procedure that combines the advantages of both minimally invasive and conventional open surgery. Nevertheless, the exact role of HALS in colorectal surgery has not been well defined during the advanced totally laparoscopic procedures. This article reviews the current status of hand-assisted laparoscopic colorectal surgery as a minimally invasive procedure in the era of laparoscopic surgery.     

气腹与腹壁悬吊无气腹结合腹腔镜手术治疗滑动型食管裂孔疝17例疗效分析

目的评估气腹与腹壁悬吊无气腹结合腹腔镜食管裂孔疝修补和胃底折叠术治疗滑动型食管裂孔疝的临床价值。 方法回顾性分析2012年5月至2014年5月,北京同仁医院胸外科进行的17例气腹与腹壁悬吊无气腹结合腹腔镜食管裂孔疝修补和胃底折叠术的临床资料,其中采用Nissen术式15例,Toupet术式2例。 结果所有患者均顺利完成手术,无中转开腹,平均手术时间为45～220 min,术中出血量均小于50 ml,无术后并发症,全部治愈出院,术后平均住院时间10 d。随访时间1～24个月,16例患者临床症状完全消失,1例临床症状部分缓解,无明确复发病例。 结论气腹与腹壁悬吊无气腹结合腹腔镜滑动型食管裂孔疝修补和胃底折叠术是一种安全有效的外科治疗,具有广泛的推广价值。     

A Comparison of Open vs. Laparoscopic Abdominal Rectopexy for Full-Thickness Rectal Prolapse: A Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE Using meta-analytical techniques, this study was designed to compare open and laparoscopic abdominal procedures used to treat full-thickness rectal prolapse in adults. METHODS Comparative studies published between 1995 and 2003, cited in the literature of open abdominal rectopexy vs. laparoscopic abdominal rectopexy, were used. The primary end points were recurrence and morbidity, and the secondary end points assessed were operative time and length of hospital stay. A random effect model was used to aggregate the studies reporting these outcomes, and heterogeneity was assessed. RESULTS Six studies, consisting of a total of 195 patients (98 open and 97 laparoscopic) were included. Analysis of the data suggested that there is no significant difference in recurrence and morbidity between laparoscopic abdominal rectopexy and open abdominal rectopexy. Length of stay was significantly reduced in the laparoscopic group by 3.5 days (95 percent confidence interval, 3.1–4; P < 0.01), whereas the operative time was significantly longer in this group, by approximately 60 minutes (60.38 minutes; 95 percent confidence interval, 49–71.8). CONCLUSIONS Laparoscopic abdominal rectopexy is a safe and feasible procedure, which may compare equally with the open technique with regards to recurrence and morbidity and favorably with length of stay. However large-scale randomized trials, with comparative, sound methodology are still needed to ascertain detailed outcome measures accurately.     

Perioperative outcomes of esophagectomy preceded by the laparoscopic transhiatal approach for esophageal cancer

This study was designed to determine the efficacy of esophagectomy preceded by the laparoscopic transhiatal approach (LTHA) with regard to the perioperative outcomes of esophageal cancer. The esophageal hiatus was opened by hand‐assisted laparoscopic surgery, and carbon dioxide was introduced into the mediastinum. Dissection of the distal esophagus was performed up to the level of the tracheal bifurcation. En bloc dissection of the posterior mediastinal lymph nodes was performed using LTHA. Next, cervical lymphadenectomy, reconstruction via a retrosternal route with a gastric tube and anastomosis from a cervical approach were performed. Finally, a small thoracotomy (around 10 cm in size) was made to extract the thoracic esophagus and allow upper mediastinal lymphadenectomy to be performed. The treatment outcomes of 27 esophageal cancer patients who underwent LTHA‐preceding esophagectomy were compared with those of 33 patients who underwent the transthoracic approach preceding esophagectomy without LTHA (thoracotomy; around 20 cm in size). The intrathoracic operative time and operative bleeding were significantly decreased by LTHA. The total operative time did not differ between the two groups, suggesting that the abdominal procedure was longer in the LTHA group. The number of resected lymph nodes did not differ between the two groups. Postoperative respiratory complications occurred in 18.5% of patients treated with LTHA and 30.3% of those treated without it. The increase in the number of peripheral white blood cells and the duration of thoracic drainage were significantly decreased by this method. Our surgical procedure provides a good surgical view of the posterior mediastinum, markedly shortens the intrathoracic operative time, and decreases the operative bleeding without increasing major postoperative complications.     

Peritoneoscopic cholecystectomy has opened the door to minimally invasive surgery

In 1989 a new trend occurred in the surgical treatment of a diseased gall-bladder, laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Laparoscopic surgery is now accepted world-wide as the choice of treatment with the advantages of less pain, good cosmesis, short hospital stay and early recovery. It is also a curative procedure for cholelithiasis as well as a cholecystectomy. The rate of conversion to open surgery is about 5% and the rates of bile duct injury are 0.1–0.6%. This new approach revives controversies concerning cholecystectomy; namely indication, use of intra-operative cholangiography, ductal calculi and pregnancy. There are new issues to consider, including use of a Veress needle for pneumoperitoneum, type of trocars, cardiovascular responses to pneumoperitoneum using carbon dioxide and so on. With increasing use, these difficulties will be overcome. Advances in technology are expected to make even more new types of surgery possible, even perhaps extending into robotic surgery.     

经腹与腹腔镜下Vechitti阴道成形术临床效果比较

目的对经腹与腹腔镜Vechitti阴道成形术的临床应用效果进行对比。方法将同期收治的57例先天性无阴道患者分为观察组27例和对照组30例,分别行经腹Vechitti阴道成形术和腹腔镜Vechitti阴道成形术。观察两组手术时间、术中出血量、膀胱损伤、术后排气时间、手术失败率,随访其阴道成形效果。结果观察组手术时间及术后排气时间均显著短于对照组（P〈0．05）,手术失败率显著低于对照组（P〈0．05）,两组术中出血量及膀胱损伤情况无显著差异;随访1a,两组阴道成形效果相似。结论腹腔镜下Vechitti阴道成形术比经腹术式具有明显优势,有推广价值。     

Laparoscopic versus open stoma creation for fecal diversion

This study compared the results for laparoscopic and conventional laparotomy techniques of intestinal stoma creation. All patients who underwent only fecal diversion without any other abdominal procedures were included. Neither prior laparotomy, inflammatory bowel diseases, nor recurrent or metastatic carcinoma were absolut contraindications. Parameters evaluated included age, indications, previous abdominal surgery, operative time, time until stoma function, and the length of postoperative hospitalization. Patients were divided into two groups: laparoscopy and laparotomy. Between March 1993 and October 1996, 41 laparoscopic and 11 intestinal stomas by laparotomy were performed for fecal diversion. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups relative to mean age of patients or history of previous abdominal surgery. No significant differences in mean operation time were noted among patients with prior abdominal surgery: laparoscopy group. 98 min vs. laparotomy group, 95 min. Among patients without prior abdominal surgery, the mean operation time was: laparoscopy group, 78 min vs. laparotomy group, 63 min (p = NS). Morbidity rates were not statistically different between the 2 groups. Stomas began to function in the laparoscopic group earliet (2.3 days) than in the laparotomy group (4.5 days) (p<0.05). Similarly, the length of postoperative hospitalization was shorter in the laparoscopic group (5.3 days vs. 7.6 days, p<0.05). Interestingly, at a mean follow-up of 22 months, none of the patients in the laparoscopic group had stoma prolapse vs. 2 patients in the laparotomy group. Laparoscopic stoma construction was accomplished without significantly longer operative time or complications and was associated with earlier function and more rapid hospital discharge than were stomas created by laparotomy. Moreover, in this small group of patients at short follow-up, stoma prolapse has not been observed. Received: 30 March 2000 / Accepted in revised form: 18 May 2000     

Laparoscopic Total Colectomy: An Evolutionary Experience

Purpose Laparoscopic total abdominal colectomy and total proctocolectomy are technically challenging operations. Advances in minimally invasive techniques, including sleeveless hand-assist devices, may influence performance of these procedures. This study was designed to evaluate the results of laparoscopic total colectomy and to compare the hand-assisted approach with straight laparoscopy. Methods Sequential patients undergoing hand-assisted and straight laparoscopic total abdominal colectomy and total proctocolectomy from 1997 to 2004 were identified from a single institution prospective database involving four colorectal surgeons, of which three had limited laparoscopic experience. Patient characteristics, perioperative parameters, and outcomes were assessed. Results A total of 130 patients were analyzed. Sixty-nine patients underwent total abdominal colectomy (hand-assisted 17 vs. straight laparoscopic 52), and 61 underwent total proctocolectomy (hand-assisted 28 vs. straight laparoscopic 33). For both total abdominal colectomy and total proctocolectomy, the hand-assisted and straight laparoscopic groups were well matched. Although no differences were observed in operative blood loss and intraoperative complications, hand assistance resulted in fewer overall conversions to open (1/45 (2.2 percent) vs. 6/85 (7.1 percent); P < 0.01), with no conversions in the total abdominal colectomy group (0 vs. 9.6 percent; P = 0.05). There was a trend toward reduced operative time with hand assistance, and nonlaparoscopic staff surgeons performed a greater proportion of the hand-assisted cases (22.2 vs. 10.6 percent; P < 0.05). Conclusions Laparoscopic total colectomy is technically feasible and safe. With a significant reduction in conversions and a greater proportion of cases performed by nonlaparoscopic surgeons, there was an evolutionary shift to a hand-assisted technique. A hand-assisted approach may be a useful alternative to a straight laparoscopic approach for this technically challenging operation. Read at the meeting of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 30 to May 5, 2005. Dr. Marcello is a consultant for Applied Medical, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Olympus, and Valleylab. He has received honoraria from each company.     

上腹部术后行腹腔镜胆总管探查术的难点与对策

目的探讨上腹部术后腹腔镜胆总管探查术(LCBDE)的难点与对策。方法回顾性分析遵义医学院附属医院2008年1月-2013年10月期间72例上腹部手术后行LCBDE的临床病例资料。对术中的困难情况及处理进行总结分析。数据分析采用SPSS19.0统计软件,计量资料组间比较采用成组t检验。结果术中出现相对困难情况共16例。其中9例严重腹腔及术区粘连,4例胆总管确认困难,3例取石困难。总体手术时间为(164.36±19.06)min,术中困难组为(179.31±13.25)min,非术中困难组为(160.09±18.37)min。术中困难组手术时间明显长于非术中困难组和总体手术时间,差异有统计学意义(t=-3.898,P=0.000;t=-2.976,P=0.004)。非术中困难组与总体手术时间比较,差异无统计学意义(t=-1.278,P=0.204)。结论上腹部术后LCBDE是一项高难度、高风险、高技术含量的手术。术中困难情况会导致手术时间延长,须根据术中具体情况,采用相应的个体化对策,以确保手术成功。     

腹腔镜胆囊切除术切割时间与碳氧血红蛋白含量的关系

目的探讨腹腔镜胆囊切除手术中切割时间与外周静脉血碳氧血红蛋白（COHb）含量的关系。方法选择腹腔胆囊切除术患者40例,分别于手术切割开始及结束时抽取患者外周静脉血测定COHb含量,对比其前后变化、分析其与切割时间变化的关系。结果腹腔镜手术完成38例,2例患者中转开腹。患者外周静脉血COHb含量术后（11.07%±1.18%）较术前（1.44%±0.26%）明显升高（P〈0.05）,且在一定时间内与手术切割时间呈正相关（r=0.85）。结论腹腔镜胆囊切除手术中产生的CO可导致外周静脉血COHb含量升高,且手术切割时间越长,COHb含量升高越明显。     

Personal experience of laparoscopic cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We performed laparoscopic cholecystectomy with a surgical team consisting of the same operator and the same first assistant to evaluate a personal learning curve of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODOLOGY: In the 135 patients who underwent the laparoscopic cholecystectomy, operative complications, postoperative complications and operative time were evaluated on the basis of using different camera assistants and the chronological advancement of the same operator and the same first assistant. RESULTS: The average operative time was 120 +/- 54 minutes. The operative time was statistically longer in the first ten cases. The major complication during operation, which was ligation of the common bile duct, occurred in the 7th case. The other operative complications, such as minor bile duct injury or mild bleeding, occurred occasionally in spite of experience or inexperience; the operative complications, however, tended to occur under the same camera assistant. On the other hand, the operative time was not related to the use of different camera assistants. CONCLUSIONS: From the personal learning curve of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, operative time is relatively longer in the early 10 cases. Complications tend to occur under the same camera assistant.     

Metal endoclips for the closure of the appendiceal stump in laparoscopic appendectomy

Closure of the appendiceal stump in laparoscopic appendectomy is the most crucial part of the procedure. In this retrospective clinical study, we describe a technique for laparoscopic appendectomy, in which the appendiceal stump is secured by metal endoclips. Medical data of the patients who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis between January 2005 and January 2011 at our institution were reviewed. The patients who had their appendiceal stump secured by metal endoclips were recruited for the study. The outcome measures were the rate of intraoperative and postoperative complications, operative time, and the length of hospital stay. A total of 233 patients were included to the study. The rate of intraoperative and postoperative complications, the mean operative time, and median length of hospital stay were 3 and 4%, 31.1 (15–75) min, and 18 (8–96) h, respectively. The closure of the appendiceal stump with metal endoclips in laparoscopic appendectomy is simple, quick, and safe with outcomes comparable to those of other methods.     

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the grossly obese: 4 years experience and review of literature

BackgroundConventional abdominal surgery in grossly obese patients is associated with an increased rate of postoperative complications; thus, laparoscopic surgery may be preferred in these patients.Patients and methodsA prospective analysis was performed of 20 grossly obese patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy between April 1996 and April 2000 for symptomatic non-complicated gallstone disease.ResultsTechnical problems at operation included difficulty with induction of pneumoperitoneum and introduction of the most lateral subcostal port, retraction of the gallbladder fundus, the need for longer instruments and the closure of the fascia. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was successfully completed in 19 patients, but one patient required conversion to open operation. There were no anaesthetic difficulties. Two patients developed minor chest infections. The mean hospital stay was 2.9 days.ConclusionLaparoscopic cholecystectomy is feasible and can be recommended for symptomatic gallstone disease in grossly obese patients.     

Abdominal aortic aneurysm and hepatocellular carcinoma: a one-stage approach

BackgroundThe operative management of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and co-existing intra-abdominal malignancy has been a long-standing controversy. It is unclear whether a single-stage or a two-stage approach is the more appropriate therapeutic option and also which lesion should be treated first.Case outlineAn 82-year-old man with a 4×5-cm mass in the left liver (segment IV), suspected to be a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), had a concomitant 6-cm infrarenal AAA. At the same operation he underwent a left hepatectomy followed by repair of the aneurysm. He was discharged on the 17th postoperative day. To the best of our knowledge, this is the third report in the world literature of a patient who underwent a successful simultaneous resection of an AAA and HCC and the first in which the liver resection was performed first.DiscussionWe recommend liver resection and AAA repair in a single-stage procedure, regardless of the time sequence of the procedures. This approach can be considered safe, and the theoretical risk of graft infection can be kept to a minimum.     

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: 111 Consecutive Cases

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy removes the gallbladder through three or four puncture wounds in the abdominal wall. The technique reduces the recuperative time to full activity, from as long as 4 wk to as little as 3 days, compared with conventional cholecystectomy. We herein present our initial experience with this procedure. In this series of 111 laparoscopic cholecystectomies, there were no mortalities and only one morbidity. Thirty-nine patients (35%) had a history of prior abdominal surgery. Fourteen underwent laparoscopic lysis of adhesions. Intraoperative cholangiograms were performed in 24 patients (21%), demonstrating choledocholithiasis in three. Two of the three patients underwent postoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP); in the other, laparoscopic common bile duct exploration was performed. In each case, the common bile duct (CBD) was completely cleared of stones. Incidental laparoscopic appendectomy was also performed in three patients. The average time for completion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in cases of chronic cholecystitis was 40 min. If the gallbladder was acutely inflamed, the procedure took a mean of 126 min. This series had a higher percentage of patients (19%) with acute cholecystitis then previously reported; therefore, the 2% conversion rate in this series emphasizes the broad applicability of the technique. The average length of stay in the hospital was 1.4 days, and patients returned to work in about 7 days.     

The transesophageal echocardiographic evaluation of the hemodynamic effects of the pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopic hemicolectomy]

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients undergoing laparoscopic left hemicolectomy were monitored by transesophageal echocardiography in order to assess the effects of pneumoperitoneum and head-down tilt on the following parameters: end-diastolic left ventricular volume, stroke volume, cardiac output, left ventricular ejection fraction, mean blood pressure and cardiac frequency. Pneumoperitoneum, by a mean CO2 pressure of 13 mmHg, was performed in five of them; for the other patients, mechanical abdominal wall suspension was used, without any increase in abdominal pressure. RESULTS: The group treated by abdominal wall suspension underwent an increase in end-diastolic left ventricular dimension, stroke volume, cardiac output and blood pressure, while the group treated by pneumoperitoneum had no significant changes in hemodynamic parameters. CONCLUSIONS: In this surgical context, pneumoperitoneum seems to be safe and to have a low hemodynamic impact, as its effects on venous return seem to be opposite to those of the Trendelenburg position.     

Laparoscopic vs. Hand-Assisted Laparoscopic Sigmoidectomy for Diverticulitis

Introduction Sigmoid colectomy for diverticulitis can be technically challenging because of severe inflammation in the left-lower quadrant and pelvis. We hypothesized that hand-assisted laparoscopic technique may facilitate laparoscopic completion of this surgery while retaining the short-term benefits associated with “pure” laparoscopic surgery, in which an incision is made only for extracting the specimen. This study was designed to compare the outcomes of patients who underwent totally laparoscopic or hand-assisted laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for diverticulitis. Methods We reviewed our prospectively collected patient database from July 2001 to June 2004 and compared the intraoperative data and postoperative outcomes of patients who underwent elective laparoscopic or hand-assisted laparoscopic sigmoidectomies for diverticulitis. Complicated patients (with abscess or fistulas) also were separately analyzed. Results The hand-assisted laparoscopic (mode age, 57 years; 48 percent male) and laparoscopic sigmoidectomy (mode age, 56 years; 90 percent male) groups were similar with regard to age and gender. Overall, patients who underwent laparoscopic (n = 21) vs. hand-assisted laparoscopic (n = 21) sigmoidectomies had a significantly longer operative time (197 ± 42 vs. 171 ± 34 minutes, P = 0.04) and shorter incision length (5 ± 2.1 vs. 9.3 ± 4.1 cm, P = 0.0001). Patients with complicated diverticulitis (n = 14; abscess, colovesical fistula, enterocolic fistula) who underwent laparoscopic sigmoidectomies (n=4) had a significantly longer operative time compared with hand-assisted laparoscopic sigmoidectomy (n = 10) group (255 ± 18 vs. 177 ± 34 minutes, P = 0.001). Conversion rate for the laparoscopic group was significantly higher (3/4 vs. 1/10, P = 0.04, Fisher exact) when complicated diverticulitis was present. There were no differences in postoperative outcomes or incision lengths in thecomplicated group. Conclusions Outcomes after hand-assisted laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for diverticulitis are similar to those seen in the pure laparoscopic method, with lower conversion rates and shorter operative times. Hand-assisted laparoscopic sigmoid resection for diverticulitis is an attractive alternative to a “pure” laparoscopic method in complicated cases. Podium presentation at the meeting of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 30 to May 5, 2005. Reprints are not available.     

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Patients with Previous Gastrectomy

Abstract: This study was designed to assess outcome, morbidity and mortality in patients with a previous history of gastrectomy who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy at Teikyo University Hospital at Mizonokuchi. From May 1990 through April 1995, 18 patients who had an upper midline incision from previous gastric surgery underwent attempted or successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Previous gastric operations included subtotal gastrectomy with Billroth l/ll anastomosis for ulcer diseases and total gastrectomy with jejunal interposition for gastric cancer. Preoperative ultrasound was done in all cases, ERCP in nine cases and drip infusion cholangiography in three cases to assess and evaluate the biliary system. Intraoperative cholangiography was done in the latter eight cases. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was successful in all but one patient who had severe adhesions necessitating conversion to an open cholecystectomy. Overall results were very similar in patients with and without a previous history of gastric surgery who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy at this institution. It was also found that intraoperative difficulties and a prolonged operative time did not correlate with the nature of the previous operation, but rather with the severity of adhesions identified during surgery. Although the number of cases in this study was very small, the results indicate that if the surgeon is experienced and well prepared patients with a previous history of gastrectomy can also undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy safely and with maximum benefit. We conclude that these patients should not be denied the advantages of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A trial laparoscopic procedure is warranted although the conversion rate to open cholecystectomy may be high.     

Cardiac outcome of major noncardiac surgery in patients undergoing preoperative coronary angioplasty

Patients with significant coronary artery disease are at increased risk for myocardial infarction and death when undergoing major noncardiac surgery, particularly vascular, thoracic and upper abdominal procedures. Revascularization with coronary bypass surgery has shown to be effective in reducing perioperative coronary events in such patients. Little data is available on the role of preoperative coronary angioplasty in this setting. The objective of this study was to determine the perioperative cardiac outcome in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty within six weeks of major noncardiac surgery. We analyzed our experience with 108 consecutive patients (85 males) with a mean age of 68 years (range 41-83) who underwent coronary angioplasty within 42 days of a major operative procedure, which was defined as either a vascular, thoracic or upper abdominal procedure. Multivessel disease was present in 48% of patients. Angioplasty success rate was 97% with 33 (31%) patients having more than one lesion dilated. Angioplasty complications included 1 stroke and 4 non-Q wave myocardial infarctions. The mean time from angioplasty to operative procedure was 14.5 days (range 0-41 days). Ninety six (91%) of the patients underwent vascular surgery--including 42 abdominal aneurysm repairs, 29 carotid endarterectomies, 21 lower extremity bypass operations and four renal artery bypass procedures. Eight patients had major abdominal surgery and one patient had a thoracic procedure. Postoperative cardiac complications included three non-Q wave myocardial infarctions and one Q-wave myocardial infarction which resulted in the only cardiac death (0.9%). There were no sustained ventricular arrhythmias.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Transvaginal laparo-endoscopic single-site sigmoidectomy

We report a case of sigmoid colon resection by single-incision laparoscopic surgery using transvaginal access. The patient was a 54-year-old woman with early stage sigmoid cancer who had no previous surgery and had a body mass index of 23.5?kg/m(2). The operative time was 270?min, and the blood loss was negligible. We used only transvaginal access, since no transabdominal assistance was required. No complications occurred. Minimal postoperative pain and a rapid recovery of gastrointestinal function were observed. As novel equipment is introduced into clinical practice, transvaginal laparoscopic procedures will most likely become increasingly popular in abdominal surgery. In particular, this type of procedure will have a more defined role in colorectal surgery. Indeed, in the future, it may become an alternative for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery.