In patients with a foreign body seen on plain cervical radiography, presentation delayed for more than 2 days after ingestion, and foreign body impacted at the level of the cricopharyngeus or oesophagus there is a high degree of correlation with the occurrence of complications. Awareness should be raised when these risk factors are present.

ObjectiveThe authors described their experience with laparoscopic-assisted colorectal resection for colorectal carcinoma, both curative and palliative, with emphasis on patient selection. The techniques of the operations were described. Summary Background Data ResultsFourteen of 83 patients eventually required conversion to open surgery. The median operative time was 180 minutes. The patients could return to a normal diet in a median of 4 days. The median number of doses of analgesics required was two, and the median hospital stay was 6 days. The morbidity rate was 12%, and there was no deaths attributable to the procedure. There were four distant recurrences and one pelvic recurrence. ConclusionsLaparoscopic-assisted colorectal resection for selected patients is feasible, and early postoperative results are encouraging. This procedure does not appear to be associated with an excessive recurrence rate, and long-term follow-up is necessary for late survival figures.170

The immediate and medium-term results of laparoscopic-assisted resection of rectosigmoid carcinoma are promising.

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