Laparoscopic Restorative Proctocolectomy for Ulcerative Colitis

Laparoscopic restorative proctocolectomy is becoming more frequently employed in the surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis. The technique was first described in the early 1990s and has grown in acceptance. Multiple studies confirm that laparoscopic restorative proctocolectomy is safe and delivers a functional result equivalent to the result of an operation performed though a conventional midline incision. Patients value the superior cosmetic result of a laparoscopic restorative proctocolectomy. Hand-assisted techniques and tissue-sealant devices have enabled more surgeons to perform the operation and encouraged operative times to decrease. Laparoscopic subtotal colectomy for severe colitis has been demonstrated to be safe.