Laparoscopic right colectomy: changes in surgical technique and perioperative management allow better postoperative results in a comparative series of 361 patients

To compare the short-term outcomes in patients who underwent laparoscopic right colectomy with a traditional minimally invasive approach versus patients who underwent a laparoscopic colectomy with an enhanced perioperative pathway. A retrospective analysis was conducted on a consecutive series of patients who underwent elective laparoscopic right colectomy for neoplastic disease between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2020. The patients were divided into two groups: the first cohort (FC), who underwent a traditional laparoscopic colectomy, mainly with extracorporeal anastomosis, between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2015 and the second cohort (SC), who underwent a laparoscopic colectomy with an enhanced intraoperative (intracorporeal anastomosis) and perioperative pathway (ERAS protocol) between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2020. There were a total of 361 patients, including 177 in the FC and 184 in the SC. In the SC a higher number of intracorporeal anastomoses was performed (91.8% vs. 19.2%, p < 0.001), drains were placed in 42 patients only (22.8% vs. 100% in the FC) and nasogastric tubes were placed in 21 patients only (11.4% vs. 100% in the FC). In the initial period of the SC. the procedures required a slightly longer operative time (median 105 vs. 95 min; p = 0.002), but postoperative surgical complications were lower (12% vs. 17.4%, p = 0.179). Postoperative recovery was faster in SC along with time to discharge (4 vs. 7 days; p < 0.001). Intraoperative anastomosis and enhanced pathways in right laparoscopic colectomy seem to guarantee better results with lower surgical complications and faster postoperative recovery.