Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery

Laparoscopic (keyhole or minimally invasive) surgery on the colon and rectum offers significant advantages over open surgery for many patients. Using small incisions and advanced video technology, expert laparoscopic surgeons are able to perform a wide range of complex colorectal surgical procedures for conditions like colorectal cancer, diverticular disease, inflammatory bowel disease and rectal prolapse. Research has demonstrated that patients having laparoscopic procedures have less pain, smaller incisions, faster return of intestinal function, shorter hospital stays and faster return to work. Some of these benefits are only very modest, in comparison to some other laparoscopic procedures where the advantages are far greater. Laparoscopic surgery achieves equivalent cancer outcomes and has fewer complications overall than traditional open surgery.