Subtotal colectomy in severe ulcerative and Crohn's colitis: what benefit does the laparoscopic approach confer?

Background: Comparative outcome data for laparoscopic and open subtotal colectomy in IBD are lacking and often difficult to interpret owing to low case volumes, heterogeneity in case mix, and variation in laparoscopic technique.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the safety of laparoscopic subtotal colectomy in severe colitis and to determine whether the laparoscopic approach improved short-term outcomes in comparison with the open approach.

Design: This was a retrospective cohort study using data from a prospectively maintained clinical database.