Best Resident Poster Award: Evaluation of anastomotic techniques for laparoscopic resection of isolated small intestine pathology

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to compare perioperative outcomes for intracorporeal versus extracorporeal anastomotic techniques for isolated laparoscopic small-intestine resection.MethodsA retrospective database was created for all adult patients who underwent a laparoscopic segmental small-intestine resection. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease or requiring an ileocolectomy were excluded.ResultsLaparoscopic resection was performed in 52 patients (ratio of men:women, 30:22) with a mean age of 47 ± 21 years. A laparoscopic intracorporeal anastomosis was performed in 30 patients (58%), and an extracorporeal anastomosis was performed in 22 patients (42%). There was no difference in mean operating room time, estimated blood loss, perioperative complication rate, or length of stay between the 2 groups. Ten patients had a complication, and 5 patients experienced a Clavien grade II or greater complication.ConclusionsLaparoscopic segmental small-bowel resection using either intracorporeal or extracorporeal anastomotic techniques is equally efficacious for pathology isolated to the small bowel.