Laparoscopic surgical treatment of colonic diverticular disease

Our initial experience with treatment of diverticular colon disease by the laparoscopic method is analysed. A group of 15 patients with criteria for symptomatic diverticular disease in descending and sigmoid colon underwent laparoscopy with average resections of 40 cm and intra-abdominal mechanical anastomosis. No intraoperative complications arose. Two patients relapsed in diverticulitis phase and three cases presented postoperative rectorrhagia which ceased spontaneously. No long-term complications have been found. P.o. hospitilization was 5-6 days and surgery time 165 minutes. The low morbi-mortality rates which the laparoscopic method presents with these high-risk groups have modified the criteria indicating surgery for the disease, offering first-choice operative treatment with efficiency and safety.