Laparoscopic colectomy in inflammatory bowel disease: indications and special considerations

Laparoscopic surgery for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has lagged behind laparoscopic surgery for other colorectal pathologies due in part to challenges related to the fragility of tissues as well as patient factors such as malnourishment and immunosuppression. However, there remain significant advantages to laparoscopy for IBD such as decreased postoperative pain and narcotic requirements, quicker recovery, and decreased postoperative complications such as adhesions, infections, and female infertility. Given the unique challenges of IBD surgery, there are specific considerations that are important for any surgeon planning a laparoscopic colon resection for IBD. The workup and technical considerations that pertain to the most common laparoscopic operations performed for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are discussed.