Three-port colectomy: reduced port laparoscopy for general surgeons. A single center experience.

Aim: To evaluate three-port colectomy as an alternative reduced-port laparoscopy technique in colonic surgery.

Material Of Study: Retrospective study carried out through the analysis of 32 consecutive patients that underwent alternatively to a three ports left colectomy or a conventional laparoscopic colectomy for colonic diseases in order to evaluate the benefits of the reduced-port technique. A multivariate analysis among duration of surgery, hospital stay and conversion rate was performed using the OLS regression and the binary logistic regression.

Results: We found a reduced operative time in the three-port colectomy in comparison to the four-port technique (p=0.07). The hospital stay was not found related to the number of port. Conversion rate was higher in the three-port colectomy group and in patients admitted in emergency (p=0.009).

Discussion: We did not found difference between three-port and traditional lap in relation to hospital stay. The reduced port technique allows to reduce operative times even adds more conversions.

Conclusions: Three-port colectomy seems an affordable reduced port laparoscopy technique. General surgeons can use it without the need of specific tools minimizing the port-related complications.

Key Words: Colon Colectomy, Laparoscopy, Three ports.