Background: The role of laparoscopic colon resection in the management of colon cancer is unclear. The aims of this study were to compare perioperative results and long-term outcomes in patients randomized to either open (O) or laparoscopically assisted (LA) colon resection for colon cancer. Methods: A prospective randomized trial comparing O to LA colon resection was conducted from January 1993 to November 1995. Preoperative workup, intraoperative results, complications, length of stay, pathologic findings, and long-term outcomes were compared between the two groups. Statistical analysis was performed with t -test. Follow-up periods ranged from 3.5 to 6.3 years (mean, 4.9 years). Results: No port-site or abdominal wall recurrences were noted in any patients. Conclusions: These results suggest that laparoscopically assisted colon resection for malignant disease can be performed safely, with morbidity, mortality, and en bloc resections comparable with those of open laparotomy. Long-term (5-year) follow-up assessment shows similar outcomes in both groups of patients, demonstrating definite perioperative advantages with LA surgery and no perioperative or long-term disadvantages.

BACKGROUND:Recently, investigators have reported the use of endoscopic myotomy in the treatment of esophageal achalasia. As with the open operation, considerable disagreement exists regarding the appropriate length of the myotomy and the need for a concomitant antireflux procedure. METHODS:Patients presenting with symptomatic achalasia between 1993 and 1997 were included in this prospective study. Preoperative studies included barium upper gastrointestinal study, endoscopy, and esophageal manometry. Laparoscopic myotomy was completed in all 20 patients; 18 had concomitant Toupet fundoplication. RESULTS:Operative times ranged from 95 to 345 minutes (mean 216). Blood loss ranged from 50 to 300 cc (mean 100 cc). There were 7 minor complications (5 mucosal injuries repaired laparoscopically, 1 bile leak and 1 splenic capsular tear). Nine patients began a liquid diet on the first day postoperatively; 19 were tolerating liquids by postoperative day 3. Hospital stay ranged from 2 to 20 days (mean 5). Eighteen patients had complete relief of dysphagia, with less than one reflux episode per month. One individual continues to have mild persistent solid food dysphagia. Another patient initially did well but subsequently developed mild recurrent dysphagia and reflux. One patient required laparoscopic take-down of the wrap because of recurrent dysphagia and now has no problems swallowing, but does complain of mild reflux. Two other patients also have mild reflux, 1 of whom did not undergo fundoplication. CONCLUSIONS:Laparoscopic Heller myotomy can be performed safely with excellent results in patients with achalasia. Adding a partial fundoplication appears to help control postoperative symptoms of reflux. This procedure should be considered the procedure of choice in patients with symptomatic esophageal achalasia.

The rapid evolution and acceptance of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for the management of symptomatic cholelithiasis and acute and chronic cholecystitis are unprecedented in modern surgical practice. With rapid advances in laparoscopic and endoscopic instrumentation and surgical skills, many surgeons are developing minimally invasive techniques and strategies for treating the patient with known, suspected, or unsuspected choledocholithiasis. Recent articles describing the current status, complications, results, and future directions of laparoscopic and endoscopic management of common bile duct stones are reviewed. The role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and sphincterotomy, laparoscopic exploration of the common bile duct, choledochoscopy, and percutaneous transhepatic extraction techniques are discussed.

The popularity and success of laparoscopic biliary tract surgery have persuaded surgeons to explore other applications for rigid endoscopic surgery. From July 1990 to February 1993 a total of 65 patients (mean age 57 years; range 41-82) underwent attempted laparoscopic colon resection. Indications for surgical intervention included cancer (39), adenomatous polyps (14), diverticulosis (10), stricture (1), and foreign-body perforation (1). A laparoscopic-assisted technique whereby the specimen was removed and the anastomosis was completed outside of the abdomen was used in all patients. A dilated umbilical opening was used for right-sided lesions and a left-lower-quadrant muscle-splitting incision for descending and sigmoid colon resections. Two patients required conversion to open laparotomy. There were no deaths and only four complications (pneumonia 1, urinary tract infection 1, prolonged ileus 1, and subfascial abscess 1). The mean postoperative stay was 4.4 days (range 3-8 days) and the average interval for return to normal activity was 8 days. Laparoscopic-assisted colon resection appears to be a safe and beneficial option for many patients with pathologic disorders of the large intestine. Future clinical trials are needed to fully determine the appropriateness of this procedure in patients with localized malignancies.

Pharmacokinetics is the study of variables that affect drug concentrations at the effector site. The descriptive terms peak concentration, elimination half-life, volume of distribution, and bioavailability are commonly used to express pharmacokinetic variability among drugs used in patient care. The pharmacokinetic characteristics of drugs are important for surgeons to understand because they represent differences that may assume clinical significance when selecting antibiotics for preoperative preventive indications. In addition, the changing hemodynamic pattern of the stressed and septic patient may result in changing pharmacokinetic patterns for an antibiotic, which, in turn, may require changes in the dosing regimen during the course of treatment.