Background: For complex right colon polyps, not removable using colonoscopy, right colon resection is considered the optimal treatment. Combined endoscopic-laparoscopic surgery, using both laparoscopy and CO2 colonoscopy, has been introduced as a new approach for these complex colon polyps with intent to avoid bowel resection.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the safety and outcomes of combined endoscopic-laparoscopic surgery used for treatment of complex right colon polyps.
Design: This is a retrospective study of patients undergoing combined endoscopic-laparoscopic surgery for treatment of benign right colon polyps from 2003 to 2008.
Settings: This is a single-institution study.
Patients: Twenty-three patients with complex right colon polyps were included.
Main outcome measures: The main outcome measures included the length of hospital stay, postoperative complications, and polyp recurrence.
Results: Of 23 patients, 20 (87%) patients had their polyp removed successfully by combined endoscopic-laparoscopic surgery and 3 (13%) needed laparoscopic resection, after laparoendoscopic evaluation. The median length of hospital stay was 2 days (range, 1-5), and there were no postoperative complications. Median follow-up time was 12 months. Three patients had recurrent polyps, and the recurrence-free interval at 36 months was 55.7% (95% CI = 8.6%, 87.0%). All recurrences were benign polyps and were removed by colonoscopic snaring.
Conclusions: Combined endoscopic-laparoscopic surgery can be safely offered to selected patients with benign right colon polyps that can not be removed by colonoscopy. This combined approach may provide a viable alternative to right colon resection for complex benign colon lesions and warrants future investigation.