[Planning, management and results of the implantation of laparoscopic surgery of the colon and rectum in a general hospital].

Introduction: The introduction of laparoscopic surgery in a hospital is a slow process requiring the involvement of a multidisciplinary team.

Patients And Method: We performed a prospective, descriptive study of all patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery of the colon and rectum in the Mataró Hospital between 2003 and 2006. We also describe the model used to introduce laparoscopic surgery of the colon and rectum in our center.

Results: Between 2003 and 2006, 166 patients with colorectal disease underwent laparoscopic surgery. Patients included for rectal disease represented 36% of the total. The conversion rate was 7% of the mean in all the periods studied, with a complications rate of 13.25%.

Conclusions: The controlled development of laparoscopic surgery allows satisfactory results to be obtained in colorectal disease.