Laparoscopically Monitored Colonoscopic Polypectomy: an Established Form of Endoluminal Therapy for Colorectal Polyps

Background: Benign polyps, the most common disorders of the colon, are considered by many to be premalignant lesions. Colonoscopy is widely used to remove the majority of these polyps. However, a variety of "difficult polyps" are not accessible for colonoscopic removal because of their location and size, the tortuosity of the colon, or the complexity of the lesion (sessile vs pedunculated). In the past, a formal segmental resection usually was suggested for these difficult polyps.

Methods: For 110 patients with a median age of 73 years, a total of 149 polyps were removed as follows: 88 from the right colon, 18 from the transverse colon, 10 from the left colon, and 33 from the rectosigmoid colon. Pathologic evaluation showed adenomatous polyps in 13 patients (11.81%), hyperplastic polyps in 1 patient (0.9%), adenocarcinomas in 10 patients (9.09%), carcinoma in situ in 1 patient (0.9%), and adenomas in the remaining patients (tubulovillous, 40.18%; villous, 19.31%, and tubular, 17.77%). All the specimens were evaluated for margins and depth of resection.

Results: The median size of the polyps was 2.30 cm (range, 0.2-6 cm). The average hospital stay was 1.14 days, with a liquid diet started 6 h postoperatively. Mild abdominal pain/trocar-site pain was the most common complaint. The patients were followed with colonoscopy 6 months postoperatively and yearly thereafter.

Conclusions: A combined endoscopic-laparoscopic approach provides a valid alternative for treating difficult colonic polyps and eliminating the morbidity of a segmental resection. This approach seems to be safe and effective.