• Trine Stigaard Larsen, Svend Schulze, and Henrik Kehlet.
• Glostrup Hospital, Kirurgisk Gastroenterologisk Afdeling D, Glostrup.
• Ugeskr. Laeg. 2007 Mar 19; 169 (12): 1089-91.

IntroductionThe postoperative course following colorectal surgery has improved since the introduction of "fast track surgery", and laparoscopic surgery will probably optimize the results further. The aim of this study was to evaluate the implementation of laparoscopic colorectal surgery in Denmark.Materials And MethodsThe number of laparoscopic colorectal resections performed in the period between 1 January 2004 and 1 November 2005 was obtained from the National Patient Register of the National Board of Health.ResultsA total of 441 laparoscopic colorectal resections were performed. 350 of these were colonic resections without creation of a stoma. These operations were performed in 23 departments, of which only 5 performed more than 20 laparoscopic resections. The median length of stay was 5 days, with a mean of 6.7 days after laparoscopic colon resection.ConclusionIt is not appropriate that so many departments have started using this advanced laparoscopic procedure, due to the high learning curve, cost considerations and need for international consensus. It is proposed that the treatment be coordinated nationwide in order to optimise research and clinical results.

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